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In a new poll, many parents said they're worried that schools aren't adequately preparing students for a changing workforce. And too much emphasis on memorizing facts in the classroom, both parents and kids say, is keeping young people from getting excited about science and technology careers.

As 2013 wraps up, NPR is looking at the numbers that tell this year's story. When it comes to the economy, $85 billion is a good candidate. That's the amount the Federal Reserve has been pumping into the financial system each month trying to stimulate growth and bring down unemployment. On Tuesday, Fed policymakers begin a two-day meeting at which they'll decide whether to dial back that stimulus.

Four alleged mafia gangsters have been arrested for forcing shop owners to buy poinsettias for as much as $140 each. Owners who refused to partake in the "Christmas special" would have their shops vandalized.

For the 29th straight year, Michael Gray, 34, and his younger brother Martin, 29, posed together with Santa. They say it makes their mom happy. She keeps a book of the photos at home.

Also in the 2014 class of inductees: Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel and Hall and Oates, Nominees who didn't make the cut included YES, Deep Purple and The Zombies.

The former NSA contractor lives in Russia where he has temporary asylum until mid-2014. In an open letter to the people of Brazil, he says permanent political asylum would give him the ability to talk more freely. The Brazilian newspaper that published the letter says Snowden wants asylum in Brazil.

Among the thousands of hospitals in the U.S., Medicare has identified 95 where elderly patients were most likely to suffer significant setbacks and another 97 hospitals where patients tended to have the smoothest recoveries.

The death of world leaders and celebrities dominated both world and U.S. searches. Oh, and lots of people also searched for the Harlem shake.

Formerly, Kurt DelBene oversaw Microsoft's Office division. He will take over for Jeff Zients, who was appointed after the website launched with crippling issues.

President Obama frustrated and angered many of his supporters this year, from his policies on drones and spying to his muddled message on whether to authorize airstrikes in war-torn Syria. He will end the year with sagging approval ratings.