DA Staff

Body cam footage released after high school band director shocked with stun gun, arrested

Police have released body camera footage involving the arrest of an Alabama high school band director who was shocked with a stun gun after officers say he refused to comply with orders to stop playing and resisted arrest.

Keeping Perspective: Focusing on HI (Human Intelligence) When AI is Everywhere

Date & Time: Thursday, October 26 at 2 pm ET

Attend this 20-minute DA Ed Talk for a thought-provoking session outlining some practical strategies for district leaders to navigate the AI-driven future of edtech while prioritizing Human Intelligence (HI).

Building a Sustainable and Scalable Family Engagement Strategy

Date & Time: Tuesday, October 24 at 2 pm ET

 In this web seminar, the Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services for Harnett County Schools in North Carolina, will outline some of the key components of the district’s successful approach to family engagement, and how to build a sustainable and scalable strategy in any school or district community.

East Texas principal arrested after paddling a student, renewing corporal punishment debate

Texas is one of 17 states that allow corporal punishment—which includes hitting, spanking, paddling or deliberately inflicting pain to discipline students in public schools.

Student’s LGBTQ mural must be removed from Michigan school, board says

The high schooler, who painted the mural after winning a student art contest, said she hoped the mural would “make people feel welcome.”

How a rural Alabama school system outdid the country with gains in math

Piedmont City schools notched significant improvement in math, landing in the top spot among school districts across the country in a comparison of scores from before and during the pandemic. Nationwide, students on average fell half a year behind in math, researchers say.

As more schools switch to 4-day weeks, will teachers stay?

For most of her teaching career, Jean Schneider, a high school business teacher in Colorado, said she often had to choose between her school...

San Antonio ISD releases preliminary school consolidation plan impacting half of the district’s schools

All told, the preliminary school consolidation plan presented to the board Monday night would impact half of the district’s 98 campuses and cut the number of buildings SAISD operates by 20%. In addition to the 19 schools recommended for closure, 30 would receive more students, relocate, or change their grade configuration.

After bullet company sponsors high school sports, an Oregon district will reconsider its policy

Nosler Inc., a bullet maker, arranged to pay $4,000 for a large banner under the scoreboard at one the Bend La-Pine School District's football fields. The company also sponsored team shirts for a girls’ soccer team.

Louisiana district’s emergency declaration allows repairs to air conditioning systems

A public emergency declared by the Iberville Parish School Board will pave the way for the purchase of a new chiller system for schools throughout the parish.

2 Arkansas school districts deny state claims that they broke a law on teaching race and sexuality

The Pulaski County and Lakeside school districts say that some of the incidents listed on a document circulated to reporters by the state Department of Education either never happened, or do not violate state law.

New book ban czar to monitor escalating content challenges for Dept. of Education

Matt Nosanchuk, a former Obama administration official and nonprofit leader, will oversee the agency's response to content challenges and take action if it finds that removing materials violated students’ civil rights.

More than 500 teachers recruited with Oklahoma’s new sign-on bonus program

Oklahoma’s new teacher sign-on bonus program championed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters is poised to award 533 teachers with bonuses ranging from $15,000 to $50,000—despite initial concerns about its legality.

Deteriorating Colorado public schools need $17 billion in repairs, state treasurer calls lack of funding a “crisis”

It's called the Building Excellent Schools Today—or BEST—grant program, and it has awarded $3.5 billion over the last 15 years to school districts needing to update their buildings, according to the state department of education. 

Columbia-area district could have teachers instruct over SC limit amid staffing issues

Lexington-Richland School District Five is asking the S.C. Department of Education to waive a state regulation limiting how long its teachers are allowed to instruct each week.