A Subprime Education/The Education of Omarina

Gr 8 Up—This two-part 2016 episode examines two aspects of education: the for-profit college industry and the progression of a middle school girl through high school until she begins college. In "A Subprime Education," several people targeted by for-profit institutions are interviewed: a homeless couple who were given the hard sell into applying for federal loans to attend college and a group of young women who were guaranteed nursing careers after graduation yet never spent time in a hospital during their training. Senator Dick Durbin states that organizations are duping the federal government into subsidizing loans for programs that are worthless. The collapse of the for-profit Corinthian Colleges chain and ITT Technical Institute should raise red flags for more than 1.8 million students currently enrolled in these schools. "The Education of Omarina" updates the progress that a middle school girl from the Bronx has made since Frontline first reported on her in 2012. The intervention and support given to her by a teacher motivated her to have near-perfect attendance and keep her grades up. Omarina was accepted to and attended an elite boarding school, where she kept in contact with her mentor. Meanwhile, her twin brother hit the streets and found himself in and out of jail. Both segments do an admirable job of presenting their perspectives on education.