A year ago today, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, devastating the island and its schools. The rebuilding process had been slow. And the school system, which until recently was the third-largest in the U.S., has closed more than 260 schools.
But that’s only part of the story. To understand the current context, it’s important to understand Puerto Rico’s history and its relationship with the mainland.
Correspondent Kavitha Cardoza visited some of the island’s hardest-hit schools. She spoke to students, educators, Puerto Rico’s education secretary, and a former U.S. secretary of education with a personal tie to the island.
In this six-minute video, she provides an overview of Puerto Rico’s troubled education system, including its deep-rooted challenges, its current recovery efforts, and its uncertain future.
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.