It seems like every day, we see a new survey or report about the growing number of students (and parents) who are questioning the value of college. Headlines have pronounced Gen Z the ”toolbelt generation.” Celebrities visit high profile (and high impact!) college alternatives. But what often gets lost in the mix is the fact that today’s students aren’t just re-evaluating whether to go to college, they’re re-evaluating how. And when it comes to how, students are faced with a growing array of alternatives.

More options mean that college counselors are getting more questions than ever about gap years, apprenticeships, and "startup" colleges like the University of Austin.

They’re getting asked about new pathways, like the two-year, debt-free degree created by college dropout Tade Oyerinde. It's taught by professors from top-ranked colleges and backed by Shaquille O’Neal, Mike Bloomberg, and a “who’s who” of higher ed leaders and investors.

So, how are counselors and parents, let alone students, supposed to make sense of it all?

On September 16, we’ll host ASCA Executive Director Jill Cook, New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, and others for an interactive discussion about a new “college guide” that takes a look at what’s motivating today’s high schoolers who think differently, and some of the options that many are now considering. 

A disclaimer: The guide was written by W/A colleague and former U.S. News & World Report reporter Lauren Camera—not as a definitive source, but a “curtain raiser” of sorts. The goal is to pique interest and encourage inquiry by providing families and counselors with a look at some of the most innovative new approaches to higher education as they help today’s high school students chart their path.

On Labor Day, House Republicans unveiled their FY26 appropriations bill, which aims to advance several of President Trump’s key budget priorities for education. 

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act proposes a total discretionary allocation of $184.5 billion for FY26—a $13.7 billion (7%) reduction from FY25. The bill includes a 15% cut to the U.S. Department of Education’s budget to $67 billion, in line with the Trump administration’s “skinny budget.”

What’s next: The House and Senate must come to agreement on a final version of an appropriations bill before it can be sent to the president for his signature. Unlike budget reconciliation, there is no negotiating—bipartisan consensus must be reached.

If the House and Senate can’t finalize appropriations (they often don’t), they will likely pass a Continuing Resolution to delay a government shutdown from October 1 until November 1. This would keep funding at the same level as FY25 until the appropriations bill passes both chambers.

Join Birmingham Promise on September 23 for an evening with the award-winning filmmakers behind the PBS docuseries “The Class”—which explores the challenges students encounter on their path to college and the extraordinary impact of caring adults who step in to guide them.

Ruth Severn Smith, education editor at AL.com, will moderate a conversation with film director Jaye Fenderson and recent college graduates, who will share their own journeys to and through college.

📍 Burr & Forman, 420 North 20th Street, Suite 3400, Birmingham, AL

🗓️ Tuesday, September 23, from 5–6:30 p.m. CT

The United Nations says countries will need to recruit more than 44 million teachers by 2030 to meet student demand and replace those leaving the profession. A report released at the World Summit on Teachers in Chile found that attrition rates have nearly doubled in the past decade, with low pay, heavy workloads, and limited training cited as major factors. The U.S. faces particular challenges, including a wider pay gap compared to other professions and longer working hours than teachers in many countries. UNESCO estimates the effort to hire and retain teachers will cost about $120 billion a year, even as global education budgets are projected to decline. Some countries, including Australia and China, are offering debt relief and higher salaries to attract educators. [Education Week]

This week, NASBE released a new edition of its State Education Standard, which focuses on high-quality civics education as central not just to academic growth, but to sustaining a healthy democracy. The issue highlights practical examples of how states are strengthening civics learning, elevating student voice, and connecting classroom experience to civic engagement.

The Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI) and Digital Promise have launched a new national school systems advisory committee to shape an education research and development (R&D) agenda that is rooted in the real needs of classrooms and communities. The 13-member group includes leaders from urban, suburban, and rural districts and charter networks, representing over 100,000 students nationwide. The committee will identify national R&D priorities, spotlight where evidence-based practices are driving better outcomes, and advocate for greater federal, state and local investment in education innovation. [THE Journal]

Multilingual learners (MLLs) represent one of the fastest-growing student populations in American schools, yet many teachers feel unprepared to support their mathematical learning and language development simultaneously. Join us for a critical conversation with district leaders and researchers who are addressing the urgent need to better prepare educators for teaching mathematics to multilingual learners.

Drawing from RAND Corporation's groundbreaking "Lost in Translation" research and practical insights from two of the nation's largest school districts, this webinar brings together academic leaders from Los Angeles Unified School District and Houston Independent School District alongside leading researchers. We'll explore how districts can transform teacher preparation and support systems to ensure multilingual learners thrive in mathematics classrooms.

🗓️ September 11, 2025 from Noon-1 p.m. ET

Check out W/A Jobs, which features 3,453 career opportunities from 309 organizations across the education industry. A few roles that caught our eye over the past week: