Author Archives: Learn4Life

By Damian Ramsey  While student exploration in college is generally considered a good thing, there is a hidden cost to students changing their majors after their first year. Changing majors after sophomore year has been linked to declines in college graduation, extended time to degree, and increased  student debt. Students change majors for many reasons. […]

By Rebecca Parshall, PhD Learn4Life (L4L) recently released the 6th annual State of Education in Metro Atlanta. The report highlights three focus areas: our region’s educational data, how to use data as a flashlight, and some of the strategies that are improving outcomes for traditionally underserved students. The data can help all stakeholders play a […]

By Damian Ramsey  The College Bound Partnership: Making College More Affordable  The government sets aside funds each year to help students pay for postsecondary education, but too often students are unable to access them. In fact, $2B+ is left unclaimed annually. Why? Because the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is intensely complicated, especially […]

By Rebecca Parshall, PhD It’s becoming an all too familiar story: teachers are leaving the profession at high rates, entering at low rates, and many school districts are struggling to fill open positions. And it’s no surprise as to why. A recent RAND study found that, nationally, teachers experience two times as much “frequent, job-related […]

by Ken Zeff, Ed.D  Georgia Milestones data for the 2021-22 school year was released last week, and as expected, the data revealed that educational recovery is underway, but at this pace, it will take years to return to pre-pandemic achievement levels. And lest we forget, pre-pandemic levels still served far too few students. While Milestones […]

By: Damian Ramsey  Since fall of 2019, 1 million fewer students nationwide have enrolled in college. Uncertain times, brought on by the pandemic, have compelled prospective students (especially low-income students, first-generation students, and students of color) to ponder the opportunity costs of postsecondary education (2-year, 4-year, or technical programs), and have forced college access professionals […]

By Rebecca Parshall, PhD Childcare challenges. Illiteracy. Innumeracy. Low and inequitable rates of postsecondary attainment. Gaps between workforce supply and demand. Metro Atlanta’s challenges are not unique from the rest of our country, and they’ve only been exacerbated by the pandemic. When we stack them side by side, the disparities and challenges can feel overwhelming. […]

By Damian Ramsey Laila Williams is a senior at Towers High School in DeKalb County. She is the editor of the school newspaper, the secretary of the student council, and a participant in multiple organizations including the Technology Student Association, Future Business Leaders of America, Young Ladies of Purpose, and College AIM. Laila boasts an […]

By Rebecca Parshall As we conclude yet another semester of school amidst this pandemic, Learn4Life reflected on this year’s bright spots and challenges across metro Atlanta through our annual State of Education report and event. While we believe these resources are helpful in summarizing our region’s educational data and charting a path forward, some of […]

By Damian Ramsey Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a nationwide drop in the number of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enrolling in postsecondary institutions. Postsecondary enrollment is fundamental to the establishment of a skilled and educated workforce, and a thriving local economy. To gain a […]

By Damian Ramsey Imagine winning the lottery and refusing to redeem your ticket. You would leave potentially life-changing sums of money on the table. In a sense, that is what happens when high school graduates do not complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Each year, thousands of students fail to complete the […]

By Rebecca Parshall Do you remember your 8th grade math class? Was learning math easy for you, or did you struggle? Did that class prepare you for high school math? How did your parents and teachers make you feel about math? For too many adults, both the middle school years and math class evoke painful […]

By Rebecca Parshall, Senior Program Officer, Learn4Life A bold, new commitment to literacy for all its children is underway in Marietta. The goal of Literacy and Justice for All is to eradicate illiteracy by investing in the science of reading from birth through 3rd grade. Literacy and Justice for All partners are working to ensure […]

By Ken Zeff, Ed.D., Executive Director, Learn4Life There has been rising apprehension in Georgia about the role of standardized testing in public education. This tension burst into open conflict between policymakers debating whether these tests should be given at all this year. The US Department of Education has now decided assessments will happen this spring, […]

By Ken Zeff, Ed.D., Executive Director, Learn4Life We all share a lengthy list of grievances against the past year, especially its impact on our children. Articulating these challenges can be overwhelming, but now is not the time to give up on hope, but rather to be energized by the bright spots of success that exist […]