Most Americans are feeling a major pinch in their wallets—from the price of eggs to high home prices—and the bottom line comes into sharper view for families with children who want to go to college.

I taught high schoolers for 10 years and often overheard their complaints about college admissions. Most students want their parents to know that they are stressed about paying for college, too. They ...

Ms. Weingarten is the president of the American Federation of Teachers. For years, America’s approach to education has been guided by an overly simplistic formula: 4+4 — the idea that students need ...