1. FREE TUITION FOR STUDENTS IN NEED

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) is making college more affordable starting next fall. If a student’s family earns less than $200,000 a year, they won’t have to pay tuition. If the family makes under $100,000, the school will also cover housing, dining, books, and other costs. Right now, M.I.T. charges about $86,000 a year for tuition and living expenses, so this is a big deal. M.I.T.’s president, Sally Kornbluth, said the goal is to make their world-class education available to all talented students, no matter their financial situation. This change raises M.I.T.’s previous free tuition cutoff from $140,000 to $200,000 in family income. The school has also increased its financial aid budget a lot over the years to help more students graduate debt-free. Most students already finish without loans, and those who do borrow have relatively low debt compared to other colleges. Students need to apply for aid and provide tax info to qualify, but M.I.T. offers help with the process. This decision follows a trend of schools like Harvard and the University of Texas making college more affordable for lower-income families. Research colleges that offer free or reduced tuition similar to M.I.T. Write a summary of these recent changes and who will benefit from them, and include context of other colleges that are offering similar programs.

2. CHURCH AND STATE

Texas education officials recently approved a new elementary school curriculum that includes Bible-based lessons. Starting in August 2025, the curriculum, which covers kindergarten through fifth grade, will be optional for schools. It incorporates stories from the Bible into English lessons. The approval has sparked controversy. Supporters, including Governor Greg Abbott, argue that Bible stories are important for understanding American history and improving reading skills. However, many parents, teachers, and some Christians are concerned that the lessons mix education with religious teaching, which could violate the separation of church and state. The Texas State Board of Education approved the curriculum by a narrow vote of 8-7, and while districts can choose whether to use it, they are encouraged by financial incentives to adopt it. Some board members worry that the focus on Christianity could lead to legal issues and undermine the main goal of teaching English language arts. Look up the First Amendment’s language surrounding the separation of church and state. Then, write an opinion article on whether you think the new Texas curriculum option violates this clause or not.

3. PROJECT 2025 PICK

Donald Trump has chosen Russell T. Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in his upcoming presidency. Vought is a key figure in Project 2025, a plan designed to give more power to the president by restructuring parts of the U.S. government. Vought worked with Trump before as budget chief and helped push controversial ideas, like using emergency powers to fund the border wall without Congress’s approval. He also supports reducing the independence of federal agencies like the Federal Reserve and others created to act outside direct White House control. Through his think tank, Vought has promoted ideas like using military powers to handle domestic issues and eliminating rules that keep the Justice Department independent from the president. These ideas align with a more aggressive approach to governing, which Vought and others in Trump’s circle believe is necessary to counter what they see as threats from liberals and government bureaucracy. Vought’s nomination signals Trump’s focus on consolidating presidential authority, but his approach has drawn criticism for being too extreme, even among some conservatives. Read more about Vought’s history and political stances in your newspaper or online. Then, write a summary of what you learned and what changes Vought is expected to suggest or make in the Office of Management and Budget.

4. SCOTUS STEPS IN

The Supreme Court will decide on the legality of an $8 billion program that helps fund phone and internet services for schools, libraries, and rural areas. The program, run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), collects fees from telecom companies, which are passed on to customers. A conservative group argued the funding system is unconstitutional because Congress gave the FCC too much power, and the FCC gave some of that power to a private group. A federal appeals court agreed, ruling the program unconstitutional. The Biden administration appealed, but the case won’t be heard until March, under the Trump administration. This case could be significant because it challenges how much authority federal agencies can have. Read more about the FCC case that’s under consideration in your newspaper or online. Then, write an article that summarizes what the current FCC program does, who it benefits and what it costs, and what would change if the program is removed because it’s deemed unconstitutional.

5. POETRY FROM PALESTINE

Two Palestinian poets, Mosab Abu Toha and Najwan Darwish, use their work to reflect on the harsh realities of war, displacement, and loss. Their recent poetry collections, “Forest of Noise” and “No One Will Know You Tomorrow,” offer raw and emotional insights into life during conflict. Abu Toha, who fled Gaza in 2023 after losing his home and 31 family members in airstrikes, writes poems to process the devastation. His work captures moments of daily life interrupted by war, like a family fleeing during an airstrike, and he shares these experiences in real-time on social media. Darwish, based in Jerusalem, writes about erasure and the lasting effects of war. His poems grapple with questions of identity and loss, asking, “Didn’t I have a history?” Both poets see their work as a form of bearing witness and resistance, preserving stories of normal life overshadowed by destruction. Their poetry connects deeply with readers by blending personal emotion with broader themes of survival and resilience. This has brought attention to the enduring power of poetry to document and confront trauma. If you had the opportunity to interview these two poets, write at least a paragraph that covers what questions you would ask them and how you would approach the interview.