About 40 percent of high schools start before 8 a.m., which contributes to chronic sleep deprivation among teens, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Chris Waits/Flickr hide caption

Inmates from several Alabama state prisons take a math class at J.F. Ingram State Technical College. The campus becomes a medium-security facility when the students arrive. Dan Carsen/WBHM hide caption

Teachers with the Jennings School District pick up trash Tuesday on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo., the scene of nightly police clashes. Jennings and the neighboring Ferguson school district have canceled class due to ongoing unrest. Elise Hu/NPR hide caption

Proposed changes in medical training would shift money away from big teaching hospitals to clinics. Erikona/iStockphoto hide caption

Researchers are just starting to look at how school choice affects health. romester/iStockphoto hide caption

A study of twins shows why being a good reader and a good math student may go hand in hand. iStockphoto hide caption

"Who does Washington work for?" asked Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., after her bill that would let people refinance student debt was shot down Wednesday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

Several high-profile commencement speakers have resigned in the wake of student protests this graduation season. iStockphoto hide caption

Student-teacher ratio is one component of high-quality preschool. Barnaby Wasson/Flickr hide caption

Two of the students who participated in the Multnomah Education Service District's Special Needs Prom this past weekend. Lucy Ohlsen/OPB hide caption

Proust and algebra may not sound like brain protection, but higher levels of education correlate with cognitive reserve. iStockphoto hide caption

In a British study of nearly 6,000 students, obesity — or perhaps dealing with the stigma associated with obesity — seemed to reduce academic performance. iStockphoto hide caption

They'll need new prep books. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption