Education

Updated at 1:09 p.m. ET

Debbie Baker thought she qualified for a federal program that helps teachers such as her, as well as nurses, police officers, librarians and others. The Department of Education program forgives their federal student loans if they make their payments for 10 years and work in public service.

For 10 years, Baker, who was a public school teacher in Tulsa, Okla., checked in with loan servicing companies and was told she was on track.

Americans owe about $1.6 trillion in student loan debt. That's about twice the current budget for the Defense Department and around 22 times the budget for the Education Department.

Lots of people have student loans: more than 45 million people. They collectively owe about $1.6 trillion.

That is, of course, a lot of debt — but amid all the national debate right now about what to do about it, it's important to remember that not all debt is created equal, and some borrowers are struggling more than others.

One of the oldest chapters of the National Writing Project turns 40 this year. The Ohio Writing Project housed at Miami University is devoted to improving the teaching of writing and learning.

The University of Alaska System is bracing for a 41% cut in funding it receives from the state, after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a $130 million line item in the state's budget.

The announcement came last Friday, three days before the fiscal year began on July 1. Dunleavy vetoed roughly $400 million in items in the budget, with education receiving the largest cut.

The office of the Ohio Inspector General (OIG) has found evidence of wrongdoing by a non-profit associated with Wright State University. The investigation released Tuesday centers on Double Bowler, the real estate management company established by Wright State in 2014.

School administrators are looking through the latest estimates from a new school funding formula proposal. While many lawmakers and some larger education groups, such as the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, have come out in support of the plan, there are individual school districts that are still not on board. 

People opposed to state takeovers of local school districts are making a last-minute push to get rid of academic distress commissions through the budget bill.

An online university that started offering classes in Ohio a year ago is now a point of difference in the budget process – with the House stripping recognition for Western Governors University and the Senate bringing it back.