There’s so much going on in the world of education in Oregon and across the nation. Here are a few recent stories that we’ve been talking about:

As school populations skyrocket in other parts of the nation, Oregon’s school enrollment is on the decline.

Oregon is one of 21 states that require students to stay enrolled in school until 18-years-old. President Obama would like to see that across all states. But some experts question whether that kind of policy will really affect dropout rates.

Some states - including California, Massachusettes and Oklahoma -- are developing new ways to measure whether or not schools are fostering creativity and innovation in schools. Is that the right way to go?

The first step towards getting the education they need is for students to be in the classroom. And for the one-quarter of Oregon students who are chronically absent, that first step isn’t happening consistently. Check out this new analysis on student absenteeism.

The Oregonian’s Betsy Hammond unpacks Gov. John Kitzhaber’s early childhood education legislation.