EDUCATION
SPECIAL SECTION:
MANAGING DEBT POST-COLLEGE
Student loan debt continues to increase and has become a
burden on both graduates and the U.S. economy. There are a
variety of loan repayment options for students. Here are some tips
on how to approach repayment.
• Figure out what you’ll owe and start to save early – Creating
a budget early will allow you to build a solid foundation for
repayment after graduation. Setting aside money each month
toward future savings for repayment will set you up for success
come graduation day.
• Understand your repayment options – There are several
different options available to start paying off student loans
based on the type of loan you received. Common federal loan
plans include standard, graduated, extended, or income-based.
Standard plans are payments in fixed amounts that ensure loans
are paid off in 10-30 years (these payments are often very high
for new graduates). Graduated plans are payments that start out
lower and increase every two years, also ensuring loans are paid
off within 10-30 years (based on loan). This plan assumes you’ll
continue to make more money as you continue your career
path, so additional money is allotted to repayment as you go.
Extended plans may be made in a fixed amount or a graduated
amount and ensure payment in full within 25 years. Income-
based plans take 10-15 percent of your discretionary income
and are recalculated each year. Once you are married, your
spouse’s income will also be considered, if filing jointly on tax
returns. Any outstanding balance on the loan will be forgiven
after 20-25 years.
• Consolidate for ease – If you have multiple federal loans,
consolidating them into one can make repayment easier.
But there may be fees or other conditions associated with
consolidating, so be sure to do your research.
• Is forgiveness an option? Some programs offer loan
forgiveness if you meet certain criteria or work in a particular
field. People in government, nonprofit, and other public service
jobs may have the remainder of their loans forgiven after 10
years of service. Additional forgiveness options are available for
nurses, teachers, AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteers, and
some state and private programs.
PRE-K – HIGH SCHOOL
The first public school opened in the United States in 1635, and
the Boston Latin School remains the nation’s oldest public school.
Early education didn’t focus on math or science, but on the virtues
of family, religion and community. Nearly 400 years later, schools
are harnessing the fundamental principles of community, and
although it may look very different in this day and age, a strong
focus is being put on the importance of creating a safe school
culture and tapping into technology for limitless learning.
In 2019, students, parents, teachers, and administrators are
seeing changes both inside and outside of the classroom. One
of the biggest changes in recent years comes in the form of
technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to change
education tools and is expected to increase in implementation in
U.S. classrooms by 47.5% in the next three years, according to the
Artificial Intelligence Market in the U.S. Education Sector report.
In addition to AI, other technologies are providing students with
the opportunity to connect with classmates in other countries,
giving teachers the ability to educate a virtual classroom from the
comfort of their own home, and expanding access to applications
that were once inaccessible.
Another key focus in education this year is on ensuring
that students feel safe, connected, supported, and challenged
through a variety of different ways. School culture and safety
are being addressed and adapted based on recent school safety
concerns across the country. Teachers, administrators, families,
and community groups are putting a critical focus on social-
emotional learning activities to facilitate a better look into dealing
with anger management, conflict resolution, empathy, and other
important life skills. School is often the only place where social
and emotional learning deficiencies can be addressed; therefore
teaching students these invaluable life skills ultimately prepares
them to become active members of society. This is another pivotal
point in a teacher’s role in the classroom.
Teachers continue to play an integral role in the lives of
students, one that cannot be replaced with even the most
advanced type of technology. This isn’t to say that the way we
taught even 15 years ago is suitable. Teachers’ roles are continually
changing, and their need to adapt is critical to students’ success.
School administrators must also support and train educators with
the tools and techniques they are being given to ensure successful
integration in the classroom.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
It was recently reported that teenagers spend nine hours a day
with technology. Whether in the form of social media, listening to
music, playing games, or texting with friends, technology plays an
integral role in their lives. Educators have taken note and are now
reaching teenagers where they are spending a majority of their
time. Digital tools are providing teachers with the opportunity
to incorporate personalized learning to students in a way that
benefits them. For example, AI is being used to allow for greater
individualized and differentiated learning to be conducted
by teachers. Applications that provide learning and testing
for students can identify opportunities for them to excel, flag
potential gaps in understanding, and provide feedback on learning
progress.
One exciting feature that will dramatically enhance technology
capabilities in the classroom is the integration of 5G technology.
Predicted to be ubiquitous by 2020, 5G technology allows for
data speeds almost 1,000 percent faster than 4G, empowering
educators with the ability to provide a seamless platform for
limitless learning. 5G will allow for applications to run without
fail or interruption, download speeds to increase dramatically,
and a significantly greater number of devices to be able to connect
without delays. Just another exciting way technology is expected
to enhance learning.
EARLY EDUCATION
The next generation is starting to have children. This generation
grew up in the 1980s and early 1990s, when televisions were “old
news” and computers were just starting to creep into people’s
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MONROEVILLE
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FALL 2019
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