Episodes

  • The hidden cost of separating 'emotionally disturbed' students

    The hidden cost of separating 'emotionally disturbed' students
    Apr 26 2026
    There’s a category of special education that stands out from the rest. It’s designed for kids who struggle with their emotions and behaviors, known at the federal level as “emotional disturbance.” More than 300,000 students in the U.S. currently have this label. Often, these students are taught in separate classrooms or even separate schools.

    Today on The Sunday Story, reporter Laurie Stern shares how this disability label shaped the life of one student who she followed for nearly two years — and what his experience reveals about how the label can simultaneously support and limit students.

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    38 mins
  • In one Iowa city, public schools compete in the free market. Are students better off?

    In one Iowa city, public schools compete in the free market. Are students better off?
    Apr 19 2026
    Public education used to enjoy strong bipartisan support, but across the country, there’s a growing push to offer students alternatives to traditional public schools. The idea behind “school choice” is that competition improves education. President Trump and Republicans have attacked public education for failing students and for being too “woke,” while Democrats who strongly oppose school choice often dismiss valid criticism of public schools.

    Today on The Sunday Story, NPR education correspondent Cory Turner travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to understand how school choice can change a city's education landscape. Are students better served when schools compete in a free market?

    You can find more of Cory's reporting from Cedar Rapids here.

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    32 mins
  • Dozens of Black pilots disappeared during WWII. Who are the men still lost?

    Dozens of Black pilots disappeared during WWII. Who are the men still lost?
    Apr 12 2026
    Dozens of Tuskegee Airmen went missing in action during World War II. Most of them have not been found. Who were these men and what happened to them? In her book, "Forgotten Souls," NPR investigative correspondent Cheryl W. Thompson tells their stories.

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    17 mins
  • The Americans caught in ICE’s web of surveillance

    The Americans caught in ICE’s web of surveillance
    Apr 5 2026
    Since taking office last year, the Trump administration has pushed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up deportations. This increase in enforcement operations has meant that American citizens and lawful residents have increasingly been entangled in ICE’s activities. Today on The Sunday Story, we talk to NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf and Meg Anderson about the growing trend of Americans getting caught up in ICE’s growing web of tracking and surveillance.

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    24 mins
  • Trailer: The Sunday Story

    Trailer: The Sunday Story
    Mar 23 2026
    Every news the week just keeps on coming; it's hard to make sense of it all. The Sunday Story from NPR is for people who want to go deeper. Every week, we dive into the political forces reshaping our country. Hosted by Ayesha Rascoe.

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    2 mins