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I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT. TODAY WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES, THE ISSUES IMPACTING TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND STUDENTS FIRST. IT’S SOMETHING MILLIONS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES COULD ONLY DREAM OF. YOU’RE ABOUT TO FINISH YOUR FIRST YEAR. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU OWE? NONE. HOW MUCH MONEY WILL YOU OWE AT THE END OF FOUR YEARS? ZERO. I VISITED MARSHALL UNIVERSITY IN WEST VIRGINIA TO LEARN ABOUT A PROGRAM HELPING STUDENTS GRADUATE DEBT FREE. PLUS, IN RECENT YEARS, SCHOOLS HAVE STRUGGLED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE. IF WE DON’T TEACH THEM, WHO WILL? WHERE’S THE TEACHERS? WHY IS EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, THERE’S A NEW PERSON? COULD A PROGRAM IN INDIANA BE A BLUEPRINT FOR TRAINING MORE OF THOSE IN-DEMAND EDUCATORS? AND WE GET A LOOK AT AN EFFORT TO DIVERSIFY TEACHING STAFF. THIS IS LIKE THE BIG BROTHER IN THE CLASSROOM TO KIND OF HELP BRING THAT. THE COOLNESS AROUND READING THE PROGRAM, HELPING MORE YOUNG MEN OF COLOR DISCOVER A PASSION FOR EDUCATING AND GUIDING YOUNG MINDS. THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. WHEN IT COMES TO PAYING FOR COLLEGE, MORE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN A BIND. THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TO QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY DON’T MAKE ENOUGH TO AFFORD TUITION. FOR THEM, THE COST OF A DEGREE HAS INCREASED ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 22% SINCE 2009. THAT’S COMPARED TO ABOUT 1% INCREASE FOR LOWER INCOME FAMILIES. WELL, NOW SOME SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO HELP STUDENTS PAY FOR COLLEGE WITHOUT TAKING ON CRIPPLING DEBT. I TRAVELED TO MARSHALL UNIVERSITY IN WEST VIRGINIA FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT A PROGRAM THAT’S HELPING STUDENTS GRADUATE DEBT FREE. MIKE ALI SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN HIS CAR. HE’S A COLLEGE FRESHMAN AND COMMUTES FIVE DAYS A WEEK, 40 MINUTES EACH WAY FROM HIS CHILDHOOD HOME IN WINFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA, TO MARSHALL UNIVERSITY. I’VE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH THE PROFESSORS AND JUST LIKE BEING IN A IT’S A VERY THE CLASSROOM SETTING IS MUCH MORE RELAXED. HE’S STUDYING PSYCHOLOGY AND HAS PLANS TO GO TO MED SCHOOL, HOPEFULLY TO WORK IN CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY IN A HOSPITAL, OR MAYBE EVEN OPEN UP, YOU KNOW, A PRIVATE PRACTICE. THAT’S MY DREAM. BUT IT’S A DREAM. MIKE WASN’T ALWAYS SURE WOULD BECOME A REALITY BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TAG. MARSHALL UNIVERSITY ESTIMATES THAT AN IN-STATE STUDENT LIVING ON CAMPUS WILL SPEND ABOUT $28,000 THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR. THAT INCLUDES BOOKS, MEALS, HOUSING, AND TUITION. AND MARSHALL IS ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY. TO SAVE MONEY. MIKE LIVES AT HOME WITH HIS PARENTS AND TWO SIBLINGS. I’M THE OLDEST. I’VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE I’VE HAD TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE EVERYTHING LOCKED IN. I FIGURED OUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO, AND THEN I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW I WAS GOING TO GET THERE. AND I REMEMBER EVEN TAKING A PERSONAL FINANCE CLASS, AND THERE WAS AN ASSIGNMENT REGARDING, LIKE, LOOKING UP YOUR COLLEGE, YOUR DREAM COLLEGES, AND THEN LIKE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO GO THERE. AND JUST SEEING THOSE NUMBERS OF EVEN A PLACE LIKE THIS, I, I WAS LIKE, OH, I, I HONESTLY DIDN’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF. ARE YOUR PARENTS MIDDLE CLASS? IS THAT HOW YOU DESCRIBE THEM? WE ARE MIDDLE CLASS. ABOUT AS MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS YOU GET. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ROUGHLY 45 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT. AND ON AVERAGE, MIDDLE CLASS BORROWERS. OH, $45,000 A PIECE. WHEN YOU INTERVIEW THE FAMILIES AND THE STUDENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERING COLLEGE, THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN THEY HAVE IS AFFORDABILITY. BRAD SMITH IS THE PRESIDENT OF MARSHALL UNIVERSITY. HIS GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERY STUDENT AT MARSHALL GRADUATE WITH ZERO DEBT IN TEN YEARS. IT’S THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY SOMEONE CHOOSES TO GO TO COLLEGE OR NOT. AND WE KNOW THE COLLEGE GOING RATE IS DECLINING AT 12% A YEAR ACROSS THE NATION. SO A PROBLEM IF YOU’RE A COLLEGE PRESIDENT, HUGE PROBLEM. AND IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THE NATION. BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMY TODAY, IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES AND THE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO NAVIGATE THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND US. THE MARSHALL FOR ALL PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN THE FALL OF 2023 BASED ON THEIR FINANCIAL NEED. 100 STUDENTS WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED AND GIVEN THE CHANCE TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE. IN EXCHANGE, THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP, ATTEND WORK, STUDY, OR HAVE A JOB AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMPLETE A FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE. COLLEGE DEBT, WHICH IS CAUSING MANY YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUT OFF BUYING A HOME AND HAVING CHILDREN, IS A FOCUS OF SEVERAL COLLEGE PRESIDENTS. I SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY UNDER THE FORMER PRESIDENT, CHRISTINA JOHNSON, AND SHE WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING WHICH WOULD FIND A WAY TO HAVE STUDENTS COME IN, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE SYSTEM, AND ULTIMATELY GRADUATE WITH NO DEBT. CHRISTINA JOHNSON WAS PRESIDENT OF OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FROM 2020 TO 2023. SHE SAYS THAT COLLABORATION FROM ALL PARTIES IS REQUIRED FOR A DEBT AVOIDANCE PROGRAM TO WORK. IT’S A COALITION OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY, BUT IT’S ALSO A COALITION INSIDE THE UNIVERSITY. SO YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE FINANCIAL AID WORKING WITH ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND ALSO WORKING WITH ADMISSIONS. THEY ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE. AND THEN ALSO WITH THE PHILANTHROPY PIECE, IF THEY’RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM, YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN AT MARSHALL. THE PILOT PROGRAM IS FUNDED IN PART BY A PRIVATE $2 MILLION DONATION. ACCEPTED STUDENTS MUST FIRST APPLY FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID. FROM THERE, THEY WORK WITH ADVISORS LIKE JENNIFER JIMISON TO FIGURE OUT THE REST. HEY, MIKE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? JENNIFER. FACTORS IN SCHOLARSHIPS, WORK STUDY GRANTS, AND FINANCIAL AID. IF THERE’S A BALANCE, THAT’S IF THERE’S A BALANCE DUE. THAT’S WHEN THE GIFTED FUNDS KICK IN. BEING ABLE TO JUST STUDY AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ROOM, THEIR BOARD, THEIR BOOKS, THEIR TUITION. YOU KNOW, IT’S IT’S VERY HELPFUL. FOR MIKE, GETTING INTO MARSHALL FOR ALL HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING. IT GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO DO THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. HOW BIG OF A RELIEF IS IT TO KNOW THAT YOU’RE GOING TO COME OUT OF COLLEGE OWING ZERO? LIKE THE HEAVIEST WEIGHT LIFTED OFF OF MY SHOULDERS, IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNREAL. IT IS THE BIGGEST RELIEF. MARSHALL HAS EXPANDED ITS INITIATIVE. IT’S NOW ALLOWING FIRST TIME FRESHMEN FROM WEST VIRGINIA WITH A FAMILY INCOME OF LESS THAN $65,000 TO ATTEND SCHOOL, TUITION FREE. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING TO THE UNIVERSITY LATER THIS SPRING TO SPEAK AT THEIR COMMENCEMENT HONORING THE CLASS OF 2025. NEXT, ON MATTER OF FACT, OUR KIDS NEED MORE. NOWADAYS, WE HEAD TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, WHERE ADMINISTRATORS ARE WORKING TO MEET STUDENTS NEEDS. WE JUST DON’T ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THAT. WHAT DO THEY NEED TO CLOSE THE TEACHER TO? STUDENT GAP? PLUS, HOW AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM IS HELPING TEACHERS GET MORE SUPPORT IN THE CLASSROOM WHILE EXPOSING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO CAREERS IN TEACHING AND A HISTORY LESSON ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AT THE HEART OF AN UPCOMING SUPREME COURT CASE. YOU’RE WATCHING. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. ABOUT 15% OF STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION OR RELATED SERVICES. THAT’S AROUND 7.5 MILLION STUDENTS NATIONALLY, THOUGH THERE AREN’T ENOUGH TEACHERS TRAINED IN THIS AREA. THREE QUARTERS OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS REPORTED HAVING DIFFICULTY FILLING SPECIAL EDUCATION VACANCIES FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR. A FEW YEARS AGO, THE STATE OF INDIANA DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. THE STATE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM AIMED AT MAKING IT EASIER FOR TEACHERS TO BECOME LICENSED IN SPECIAL ED. OUR CORRESPONDENT DAN LIEBERMAN WENT THERE TO SEE HOW THE PROGRAM IS HELPING FILL THE GAP. WE’VE HAD GREAT EDUCATORS, BUT THE CONSISTENCY GONE ONE YEAR, HALF THE YEAR THEY’RE THERE AND THEN THEY’RE NOT THERE ANYMORE. SHAWANDA TYSON SAYS THAT FINDING CONSISTENT AND GOOD TEACHERS FOR HER 16 YEAR OLD SON WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE. THE TEACHER, THAT’S THEIR BEST FRIEND AND THEY CLING ON TO THEM AND THEY LOOK FOR THEM. THEY LIVE FOR THEM TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE DAY. AND THEN THEY SHOW UP ONE DAY. AND THIS PERSON DOES NOT RETURN. THE PROBLEM HIGH TURNOVER AND DIFFICULTY RECRUITING IS NATIONWIDE, AND IT’S GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE PANDEMIC. ACCORDING TO RECENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DATA, NEARLY HALF OF SPECIAL ED JOBS ARE CURRENTLY VACANT, AND 78% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE REPORTING DIFFICULTY IN HIRING SPECIAL ED STAFF. BUT SOME STATES, LIKE INDIANA, ARE SUCCESSFULLY CHIPPING AWAY AT THE SHORTAGE. THEY NEEDED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, AND I’M THINKING TO MYSELF, OH, YOU KNOW, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT BECAUSE I’M NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. AND THEY WERE LIKE, NO, THEY’RE THE STATE OF INDIANA IS TRYING TO FIX THE TEACHER SHORTAGE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. SO THEY’LL PAY FOR IT. YOUR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ARE WORTH 20 POINTS. INDIANA RESIDENT KALANI TOOKS TRIED OUT DIFFERENT CAREERS, BUT DECIDED TO GO INTO SPECIAL ED AFTER SEEING HER DAUGHTER, WHO HAS ADHD, STRUGGLED TO GET THE HELP SHE NEEDED IN SCHOOL. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE. IF WE DON’T TEACH THEM, WHO WILL. TOOKS FOUND A WAY IN WITH I SEAL A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM WHERE BOTH TEACHERS AND NON TEACHERS CAN RECEIVE FREE FAST TRACK TRAINING AND LICENSURE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. THE SHORTAGE IS REAL. WE’RE STILL HAVING TROUBLE. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE. OUR KIDS NEED MORE NOWADAYS AND WE JUST DON’T ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THAT. ISO PROVIDES ONLINE COURSES AND HANDS ON TRAINING IN THE CLASSROOM. MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE ENROLLED AND HUNDREDS ARE NOW TEACHING IN CLASSROOMS AROUND THE STATE. TOOKS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AT THE END OF 2024 AND IS NOW FULLY CERTIFIED, BUT SAYS SHE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY OTHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION. MOST SPECIAL ED TEACHERS ARE DOING. UNFORTUNATELY, DOUBLE WHAT GEN ED TEACHERS ARE DOING. YOU GET BURNED OUT SO FAST. THE BURNOUT STEMS IN PART FROM LACK OF FUNDING. IN 1975, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO COVERING 40% OF THE COST OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. BUT IN THE 50 YEARS SINCE, IT HAS TYPICALLY ONLY COVERED ABOUT 15%. THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS TO BE EFFECTIVE, THEY CAN’T JUST BE BRINGING PEOPLE IN, THEY NEED TO BE SUPPORTING THEM. ONCE THEY’RE THERE. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ELIZABETH BETTINI STUDIES WORKFORCE ISSUES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. SHE SAYS THAT WHILE PROGRAMS LIKE ICL ARE GREAT FOR GETTING NEW PEOPLE IN THE DOOR, THEY DON’T ADDRESS THE BIGGER ISSUE, WHICH IS RETENTION. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL VICE PRINCIPALS. THEY’RE TYPICALLY REQUIRED TO TAKE ONE COURSE THAT ADDRESSES SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND THAT BASICALLY IS A COURSE ABOUT HOW NOT TO GET SUED. IT’S NOT A COURSE ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. WELL, HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR SCHOOL WELL. AND THAT, I THINK IS A REAL FLAW IN OUR PREPARATION PROGRAMS FOR LEADERS THAT COULD BE FIXED AT A POLICY LEVEL THAT MISS SMITH’S AGAIN, NO, MISS WEST. SEEING MARELL GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, HOW DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE? WHAT I REALLY WANT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS TO SIT DOWN, WORK ON KEEPING AND RETAINING TEACHERS THAT REALLY CARE, THAT REALLY PUT THEIR ALL INTO IT. WE JUST REALLY WANT OUR KIDS TO HAVE THE BEST. FOR A MATTER OF FACT, I’M DAN LIEBERMAN IN INDIANA. COMING UP, HE CREDITS HIS FOOTBALL COACHES WITH HELPING SHAPE WHO HE IS TODAY. CANCER. FINGERS. THE PROGRAM NOW LETTING HIM TAKE THOSE LESSONS OF MENTORSHIP INTO THE CLASSROOM, AND HOW THE DRED SCOTT DECISION OF 1857 PLAYS A ROLE IN A SUPREME COURT CASE OVER CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS FOR THE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS. THE MAJORITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ARE WOMEN, AND MOST OF THEM ARE WHITE. IN FACT, MEN OF COLOR ONLY MAKE UP ABOUT 7% OF PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE. TEACHERS. ONE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO CHANGE THAT. THEY’RE RECRUITING AND TRAINING MEN OF COLOR TO BE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS FOCUSED ON READING AND WRITING. OUR CORRESPONDENT LAURA CHAVEZ RECENTLY TRAVELED TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND SHADOWED ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM. 23 YEAR OLD JAMARI SCOTT IS A GEORGIA NATIVE. CENTRAL TO HIS LIFE, HIS FAITH, HIS FAMILY AND FOOTBALL. FOOTBALL REIGNED OVER EVERYTHING. THAT IS, UNTIL A CAREER ENDING INJURY TOOK HIM OFF THE FIELD. I WAS IN LIKE A CALL OF DEAD SPACE FOR A MINUTE, GOING THROUGH DEPRESSION. I WAS STUCK IN A PERIOD WHERE I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO OR WHAT MY PURPOSE, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IT WAS LIKE FOOTBALL OR NOTHING. THAT’S WHEN JAMARI WALKED INTO A JOB FAIR THAT WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. I SEEN LEADING MAN FELLOWSHIP AND I WAS LIKE, FELLOWSHIP, OKAY? YOU KNOW, JUST GROWING UP IN THE CHURCH, I HEAR FELLOWSHIP ALL THE TIME. SO I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? LIEDERMAN FELLOWSHIP IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LITERACY PROGRAM. KENNETH HOBSON JR IS A COACH WITH LEADING MEN, FELLOWSHIP’S ATLANTA BRANCH. I CAN REMEMBER I DIDN’T HAVE MY FIRST MAN OF COLOR TEACHER UNTIL I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. NATIONALLY, BLACK MEN MAKE UP LESS THAN 1% OF ELEMENTARY AND EARLY EDUCATION. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TRAIN, MENTOR AND RECRUIT MEN OF COLOR BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 24 TO BE LITERACY TUTORS INSIDE OF PRE-K CLASSROOMS. KENNETH NOW MENTORS JAMARI, WHO’S GETTING EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH KIDS AT BENTEEN ELEMENTARY. COUNSELOR FINGER. SYLLABUS. WE REALLY ARE LIKE A MELTING POT OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT MAKE US A GREAT COMMUNITY. ANDREW LOVETT IS PRINCIPAL AT BENTEEN ELEMENTARY, WHERE 45% BLACK, 29% HISPANIC, 17% WHITE, 9% TWO OR MORE RACES. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THE CHILDREN REPRESENTING AND TEACHING THEM A LOT OF. A LOT OF TIMES WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE THE ONLY ROLE MODELS OUR KIDS HAVE. LEADING MEN FELLOWSHIP OPERATES IN FIVE CITIES. PARTICIPANTS ARE PAID $17 AN HOUR, AND AT THE END OF A COMPLETED SERVICE YEAR, THEY QUALIFY FOR A $2,500 SCHOLARSHIP. BUT LOW PAY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, PRESCHOOL TEACHERS MAKE AN AVERAGE OF $37,000 A YEAR. ABOUT $26,000 LESS THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WHY ARE YOU STARTING ALL YOUR FELLOWS IN PRE-K, WHERE YOU’RE SETTING THEM UP TO MAKE 30 TO 40,000 A YEAR? SO A LOT OF OUR FELLOWS ARE FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND AND EVEN IN COLLEGE. SO GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY’RE GETTING INTO IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO TO BUILD TOWARDS A VIABLE, SUSTAINABLE CAREER IN EDUCATION. NOW, WAS THIS OKAY? DID YOU EVER WANT TO BE A TEACHER AS A KID? NEVER. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT TEACHING. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING INTO EDUCATION. BUT IT’S OPENED UP DIFFERENT DOORS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN MY EYES TO DIFFERENT THINGS OF LIKE, OH, YOU ACTUALLY CAN DO THIS EVEN IF IT’S NOT AT THIS GRADE LEVEL OR PRE-K. IT’S ON THE TABLE FOR SURE. IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, I’M LAURA CHAVEZ. FOR MATTER OF FACT, MY FAVORITE AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, WHY THE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP. PLUS, AN UPDATE ON A CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT’S THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH. MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTEROFFACTTV. IN JUST A FEW DAYS, THE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR ORAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP. BASICALLY, WHO IS AND WHO IS NOT A US CITIZEN. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE GOT HERE. CITIZENSHIP RULES IN THE EARLY UNITED STATES WERE PRETTY MUCH A PATCHWORK WITH THE 1787 CONSTITUTION NOT OFFERING AN EXPLICIT DEFINITION. THEN IN 1846, AN ENSLAVED BLACK MAN, DRED SCOTT, AND HIS WIFE SUED FOR THEIR FREEDOM SINCE THEY’D LIVED IN A FREE TERRITORY. THAT LED TO THE NOTORIOUS DRED SCOTT DECISION, WHERE THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE NOT CITIZENS AND COULDN’T EXPECT PROTECTIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT BROUGHT THE COUNTRY A STEP CLOSER TO THE CIVIL WAR. IN 1868, AFTER THE WAR, CONGRESS RATIFIED THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. IT READS, QUOTE, ALL PERSONS BORN OR NATURALIZED IN THE UNITED STATES AND SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF, ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE WHEREIN THEY RESIDE. THAT MEANS ANYONE BORN ON U.S. SOIL IS A CITIZEN. IN 1898, A SUPREME COURT RULING AFFIRMED THAT IT APPLIES TO BABIES BORN IN THE U.S. REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARENTS NATIONALITY. SO WHY IS THIS HEADED BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT? WELL, ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST DAY BACK IN OFFICE, HIS ADMINISTRATION ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP DOES NOT APPLY IF THE PARENTS AREN’T IN THE U.S. LEGALLY. IT QUICKLY FACED SEVERAL LEGAL CHALLENGES AS BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE SUPREME COURT WILL LIKELY ANNOUNCE ITS DECISION IN LATE JUNE OR JULY. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, WHY CALIFORNIA IS BUILDING A MASSIVE BRIDGE THAT ISN’T FOR PEOPLE. AND FINALLY, CALIFORNIA IS ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST WILDLIFE CROSSINGS IN THE WORLD. WORKERS RECENTLY LAID THE FIRST LAYER OF SOIL ON THE WALLACE ANNENBERG WILDLIFE CROSSING, THE MASSIVE BRIDGE IN PROGRESS STRETCHES ACROSS TEN LANES OF U.S. HIGHWAY 101. IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. RIGHT NOW, THE FREEWAY SPLITS NATURAL HABITATS OF ANIMALS LIKE MOUNTAIN LIONS AND BOBCATS, DEER, LIZARDS, COYOTES, AND SNAKES. AND WHEN THEY TRY TO CROSS THE ROAD, THEY’RE RUN OVER. EACH YEAR, THERE ARE MORE THAN 1 MILLION ANIMAL VEHICLE RELATED CRASHES, KILLING ABOUT 200 PEOPLE. WELL, THIS MONTH, WORKERS WILL BEGIN TO PLANT AN ESTIMATED 5000 NATIVE PLANTS TO COVER THE 210 FOOT CROSSING. THE PROJECT’S EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED SOMETIME NEXT YEAR, BUT YOU CAN KEEP AN EYE ON ALL OF THE PROGRESS BY WATCHING THE LIVE WEBCAMS. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN, AND I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANYTIME, HEAD TO MATTER OF FACT.