Nearly a year has passed since Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, and the implications for what been the nation’s third largest school system are profound. Thousands of children moved to the U.S. mainland, almost 300 schools were permanently closed, and countless computers and textbooks were destroyed--exacerbating deep academic and fiscal problems in what was already a struggling school system.
Now, Puerto Rico schools are at a crossroads. The island’s schools’ chief says reallocating resources and opening charter schools will help bring about much needed reform, while teachers’ unions say transferring teachers and closing schools is further traumatizing residents of the island.
In this video, which aired originally on PBS NewsHour, Education Week Correspondent Kavitha Cardoza visited some of the island’s hardest hit areas to talk to those affected.
For more stories from Puerto Rico, browse this video gallery:
Related:
- Complete Coverage: Putting Puerto Rico’s Schools Back on Track
- How Puerto Rico’s Educators See Their Schools a Year After Hurricane Maria
- Declining Enrollment, Shuttered Schools: Puerto Rico’s Education System in Numbers
For more videos, check out the EdWeek Video Gallery.