Eye exams before school are critical, doctors say. Here's why.
Are eye exams for your kids on your back-to-school to-do list? Here's why experts say they should be.
Back To School
Criminals are targeting students with back-to-school scams
Scams preying on young people preparing for the new school year are on the rise, security experts say. Beware these red flags.
When students graduate debt-free
Total student loan debt in the U.S. is now nearly $1.8 trillion, and experts say young people are delaying buying homes and starting families because of it. So, what could the lives of students look like when they graduate debt-free?
Majority-Black school districts have far less money to invest in buildings
A CBS News investigation found stark disparities in funds invested in new buildings or facility improvements between school districts depending on their racial makeup.
3 tips to keep kids healthy this back-to-school season
Back to school can often mean back to germs. But experts say there are ways to keep kids protected — and make vaccinations less scary, too.
Security software helps cut down response times in school emergencies
911Inform is designed to connect on-site staff, dispatchers and first responders simultaneously for anything from a fight, to a health issue, to gun violence.
2 major back-to-school stressors and how parents can help
Back-to-school stressors are normal for the whole family. Here are two common issues mental health experts see popping up and how to deal with them.
Student loan repayments are set to resume. Here's what to know.
After a three-year hiatus, interest on student loans begins piling up again on Friday, with payments due in October.
Georgia school district brings AI into K-12 classrooms
Teachers and students embrace artificial intelligence in nearly every subject taught, from English to art class.
School's starting — but many districts lack enough bus drivers
Public schools are heading into the 2023-24 year in need of hundreds of drivers, causing some to even cancel classes.
Why an eye exam should be on your child's back-to-school checklist
Back-to-school season is a great time for kids to get an eye exam, doctors say, specially since school screenings can miss kids with vision problems.
As U.S. swelters under extreme heat, how will temps affects students?
Some students returning to U.S. schools are struggling to learn in warm classrooms, contending with both hot summer temperatures and broken or nonexistent air conditioning systems.
Back-to-school shopping could cost families more than ever
School supply costs are up this year due to inflation and purchases of big-ticket items like laptops and electronics.
More school districts are shifting to a 4-day week
Facing a national teacher shortage, hundreds of districts across 26 states have switched to a four-day school week to help recruit and retain staff.
Survey spotlights top stressors for students heading back to school
From safety concerns to mental health challenges, a national survey spotlights issues students are facing as the new school year approaches.
War of words: The fight over banning books
Between 2020 and 2022, book titles banned in libraries and schools (including books on race, slavery, sex and gender identity) rose more than 1,100%. "Sunday Morning" talks with advocates for removing books from shelves, and those fighting to preserve access.
Girl power: The rise in girls' wrestling
It's one of the fastest-growing high school sports in the country, with young athletes finding their power and earning respect on the mat.
COVID's education crisis: A lost generation?
Students forced into remote learning because of the pandemic lost valuable time in class; one nationwide study shows reading skills have dropped to their lowest point in 30 years. "Sunday Morning" talks with educators about what can be done.
Reading, math scores fell sharply for 9-year-olds during pandemic, data show
Reading scores saw their largest decrease in 30 years, while math scores had their first decrease in the test's history.
Many Philadelphia schools forced to close early due to lack of air conditioning
More than 100 schools in Philadelphia will dismiss early on Wednesday due to a lack of functioning air conditioning in the heat.
Homeschooling grows in popularity in wake of pandemic
Nearly four million students nationwide are expected to learn at home this upcoming school year.
It could take years for kids to recover from pandemic learning gap, research shows
Students struggled with remote learning, leading to many to fall behind in their education.
School year begins with relaxed COVID measures
"Keeping students in school has really helped with mental health and emotional well-being."
Surging school supply costs affect families
Back-to-school spending in total is expected to match the record high set in 2021: $37 billion.
Thousands of teaching positions remain vacant as the country faces teacher shortage
Nationally, there are more than 280,000 fewer public-school teachers than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S.
Trump turns homelessness response toward forced treatment
The Trump administration is moving to end the "Housing First" approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won't work.
Senate confirms Marty Makary to lead FDA, Jay Bhattacharya to head NIH
Both agencies are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which like much of the federal government, has seen mass layoffs as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to implement budget cuts.
What we know about the death of Miller Gardner, Brett Gardner's son
Miller Gardner, the youngest son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died at the age of 14 while on vacation with his family.
3 Phoenix officers disciplined for violent arrest of deaf Black man
Bodycam video showed Tyron McAlpin, who is deaf and suffers from cerebral palsy, being repeatedly tased and punched by Phoenix police officers.
Dan Goughnour wins election in Pennsylvania, keeping Democrats in control of state House
Democrat Dan Goughnour has won a special election in western Pennsylvania.
What is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and how is Trump using it?
President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members kicked off a legal battle.
Trump aims to overhaul U.S. elections in executive order with new requirements
Trump has signed an executive order requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and mandating that all ballots be received by Election Day.
GOP struggles over measure to allow lawmakers who are new parents to vote remotely
House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes a bill to allow members who are new parents to vote remotely, but he's not willing to keep the measure from receiving a vote.
Federal judge says Iowa cannot continue to enforce part of its book ban law
The judge temporarily blocked the part of the law that prohibits school libraries and classrooms from carrying books that depict sex acts.
U.S.
More U.S.
Trump turns homelessness response toward forced treatment
The Trump administration is moving to end the "Housing First" approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won't work.
Senate confirms Marty Makary to lead FDA, Jay Bhattacharya to head NIH
Both agencies are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which like much of the federal government, has seen mass layoffs as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to implement budget cuts.
What we know about the death of Miller Gardner, Brett Gardner's son
Miller Gardner, the youngest son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died at the age of 14 while on vacation with his family.
3 Phoenix officers disciplined for violent arrest of deaf Black man
Bodycam video showed Tyron McAlpin, who is deaf and suffers from cerebral palsy, being repeatedly tased and punched by Phoenix police officers.
Dan Goughnour wins election in Pennsylvania, keeping Democrats in control of state House
Democrat Dan Goughnour has won a special election in western Pennsylvania.
MoneyWatch
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Consumer confidence falls to 12-year low as Americans fret over economy
Consumer confidence continues to wane as Americans worry about the economy, jobs and their income.
What to know about Signal, app used by Trump officials for war plans
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Trump officials allegedly used Signal for a group chat to discuss a highly sensitive operation.
Many with disabilities risk losing Medicaid if they work too much
Disability rights advocates say income and asset caps for Medicaid buy-in programs are a "poverty trap" for millions of Americans.
Social Security chief nominee vows to run agency "in the right fashion"
President Trump's nominee to oversee the Social Security Administration faced lawmakers' questions about his plans for the retirement program.
U.S. infrastructure's "C" grade from engineers comes with a warning
A once-every-four-year report card on the upkeep of America's infrastructure gave it a "C" grade in 2025, up slightly from previous reports.
Politics
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Trump administration doubles down on stand on deportations to El Salvador
The Trump administration continues to insist it didn't defy a federal judge's order when it failed to turn around planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.
Spy chiefs to testify to House lawmakers amid Signal leak fallout
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe will return to Capitol Hill to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.
Trump turns homelessness response toward forced treatment
The Trump administration is moving to end the "Housing First" approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won't work.
Senate confirms Marty Makary to lead FDA, Jay Bhattacharya to head NIH
Both agencies are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which like much of the federal government, has seen mass layoffs as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to implement budget cuts.
Dan Goughnour wins election in Pennsylvania, keeping Democrats in control of state House
Democrat Dan Goughnour has won a special election in western Pennsylvania.
HealthWatch
More HealthWatch
Trump turns homelessness response toward forced treatment
The Trump administration is moving to end the "Housing First" approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won't work.
Senate confirms Marty Makary to lead FDA, Jay Bhattacharya to head NIH
Both agencies are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which like much of the federal government, has seen mass layoffs as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to implement budget cuts.
5 high-level CDC officials leaving in latest turmoil for public health agency
The latest departures from the CDC mean close to a third of the agency's top management is leaving or left recently.
Health officials confirm measles case in person who rode Amtrak to D.C.
Health officials in Washington, D.C., are investigating after an Amtrak passenger who rode the train into Union Station was confirmed to have measles.
Many with disabilities risk losing Medicaid if they work too much
Disability rights advocates say income and asset caps for Medicaid buy-in programs are a "poverty trap" for millions of Americans.
World
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Spy chiefs to testify to House lawmakers amid Signal leak fallout
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe will return to Capitol Hill to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.
Vance joining wife Usha on upcoming trip to Greenland
Vice President JD Vance said he "didn't want her to have all that fun by herself."
Oscar-winning Palestinian director released by Israeli army after being attacked
Hamdan Ballal said Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank beat him in front of his home while filming the assault.
Russia, Ukraine agree to stop fighting in Black Sea to enable shipping
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to "ensure safe navigation" and "eliminate the use of force" in the Black Sea, in a deal announced by the Trump administration.
Flight data show Steve Witkoff was in Russia during group chat on Signal
As top Trump Cabinet members sent texts in a Signal group chat, CBS News analysis shows one of them, Steve Witkoff, was in Russia.
Entertainment
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Oscar-winning Palestinian director released by Israeli army after being attacked
Hamdan Ballal said Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank beat him in front of his home while filming the assault.
Oscar-winning Palestinian director detained by Israeli army
Israeli settlers have beaten up one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary film "No Other Land."
"American Idol" contestant's song for late dad brings judges to tears
"American Idol" contestant Freddie McClendon shared the devastating story of his late father Davis McClendon through a powerful original song, leaving all three judges in awe.
Conan O'Brien honored at Kennedy Center
Comedian Conan O'Brien accepted this year's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday at the Kennedy Center. Some comics took jabs at the night's honoree and President Trump, who took over as chair of the Kennedy Center in January.
Krysten Ritter on new thriller, "Retreat"
Known for her role as Marvel's "Jessica Jones" and her appearances in "Breaking Bad," Krysten Ritter is also making her mark as an author. Her second novel, "Retreat," follows a con artist navigating high society and hidden danger in an exclusive Mexican beach town. She joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss the twist-filled story.
Technology
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Technology
What is Signal, the app used by Trump's team
The Senate Intelligence Committee heard testimony on Tuesday from key players involved in a group chat on the messaging app Signal, in which the U.S.'s highly sensitive plans to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen were discussed inadvertently with a journalist. President Trump said that his administration would investigate the government's use of Signal. CBS News contributor and former CIA official Andrew Boyd has more on what it is and how it's used.
NSA warned of vulnerabilities in Signal app a month before Houthi strike chat
The National Security Agency sent a bulletin in February warning of Russian hackers trying to access encrypted conversations on Signal.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
What to know about Signal, app used by Trump officials for war plans
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Trump officials allegedly used Signal for a group chat to discuss a highly sensitive operation.
Inside the AI gold rush
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Rivlin dives into the fierce competition between tech giants in his new book "AI Valley," exploring how companies like Microsoft and Google are battling for control over the future of artificial intelligence. He joins "CBS Mornings Plus" to talk about how AI is already reshaping everyday life—and where it's headed next.
Science
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Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis?
Carbon capture chemically removes CO2 from the air, to store or recycle into products. But is this technology – underwritten by the fossil fuel industry – an effective means to address climate change?
Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis?
As a tool to address rising greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture chemically removes carbon dioxide from the air, to store or recycle into products. The company behind a new plant to be opened this summer claims the facility will remove 500,000 tons of CO2 a year. But is this form of carbon capture – underwritten by the fossil fuel industry – an effective means to address climate change? Correspondent David Pogue looks at the technology behind this initiative, and the controversy it has raised.
Bones of mammoths butchered for their tusks unearthed by archaeologists
Remains of five mammoths were found archaeologists from the Austrian Academy of Sciences said Thursday in a news statement.
Venus will pass between the Earth and sun on Saturday
Our planet's closest and brightest neighbor will pass approximately between the Earth and sun this week, in what's called an inferior conjunction.
New evidence about dark energy may be "cusp of a major discovery"
The new findings come from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which sits on a telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
Crime
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Gunman who killed 23 at El Paso Walmart offered plea deal to avoid death penalty
The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 in one of the the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history has been offered a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
Ex-UPMC doctor allegedly tried to push wife off Hawaii hiking trail
A former UPMC doctor was arrested after police in Hawaii say he tried to push his wife off a hiking trail and hit her in the head with a rock.
Forensic genetic genealogy helps identify "John Doe" killed in 1986
An investigation into the death of David Clary, who was killed in 1986, remains ongoing, police said.
Luigi Mangione wants laptop in jail in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case
Luigi Mangione is asking for a laptop in jail to view material as he awaits trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
FBI creates task force to probe Tesla threats
The FBI says it has created a task force to investigate threats and attacks against Tesla locations and vehicles. It comes after police said incendiary devices were found at a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas, on Monday. CBS News national reporter Karen Hua has more from the Lone Star State.
Space
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Space
Data on dark energy, universe collapse
Data on dark energy weakening over time may signal that if the trend continues it could eventually cause the universe to collapse, according to a new study. Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, a physics professor and Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) researcher, joins CBS News with more.
Venus will pass between the Earth and sun on Saturday
Our planet's closest and brightest neighbor will pass approximately between the Earth and sun this week, in what's called an inferior conjunction.
Tom Hanks takes viewers through immersive experience to the moon
"The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks" tells the story of the Apollo missions.
New evidence about dark energy may be "cusp of a major discovery"
The new findings come from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which sits on a telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
Sunset on the moon seen in stunning images taken by lunar lander
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1 lander marked the first successful commercial moon landing.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2025
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
The Scott Peterson case: New evidence?
Peterson's death sentence for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci has been overturned. Now his supporters are pushing for a complete retrial.
The troubled marriage of Ashley and Doug Benefield
The seesaw marriage between the former ballerina and her much older husband only lasted four years, until she shot him on Sept. 27, 2020.
Texas couple investigates teen daughter's unusual death
Cayley Mandadi's mother and stepfather go to extreme lengths to prove her death was no accident.
Serial killer Rodney Alcala's secret photos
See some of convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala's photographs that were discovered by detectives in a Seattle storage locker.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Reporter's Notebook: Cost of skipping safeguards
Two-factor authentication can be annoying but is also important -- whether it's protecting email or the principles of democracy. "CBS Evening News" co-anchor John Dickerson contemplates the consequences of forgoing safeguards.
What is Signal, the app used by Trump's team
The Senate Intelligence Committee heard testimony on Tuesday from key players involved in a group chat on the messaging app Signal, in which the U.S.'s highly sensitive plans to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen were discussed inadvertently with a journalist. President Trump said that his administration would investigate the government's use of Signal. CBS News contributor and former CIA official Andrew Boyd has more on what it is and how it's used.
Future of U.S. funding to fight AIDS uncertain
The authorization for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- known as PEPFAR -- expired Tuesday. Launched under President George W. Bush, the program has played a critical role in addressing the AIDS crisis, especially in Africa. Hannah Johnson, senior program manager for global policy at the George W. Bush Institute, joins to discuss.
Scientists explore Antarctic seabed for first time
Over the past two decades, Antarctica has lost 150 billion tons of ice mass on average every year. The thinning ice glaciers have raised alarms about the urgency of climate change, while offering researchers new depths of exploration. Dave Malkoff has more.
Ex-Social Security head on impact of staff cuts
Senators asked President Trump's nominee to head the Social Security Administration -- financial technology executive Frank Bisignano -- about customer service wait times, the system's financial condition and the cuts by Elon Musk's team. "CBS Evening News" co-anchor John Dickerson spoke to the former commissioner, Martin O'Malley, about his concerns about what the agency is facing.