DA Staff

Wake schools ready to put new equity policy into practice. Critics say it’s ‘toxic.’

The policy calls for “applying an equity lens,” which means asking teachers and other school employees to reflect on whether any of their practices and biases negatively impact students.

Texas lawmakers could make it easier to kick students out of class

Civil rights advocates argue that his bill represents a return to the kind of zero-tolerance discipline that disproportionately impacts children of color. They worry the standard for removing a student from class under the bill is too low and would be based on subjective reasons.

Jefferson County schools still offline after ransomware attack

“It’s not like turning on, flipping a light switch when the lights go on or off and this problem goes away in a day, a week, or even a month,” Jefferson County Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin told employees recently.

Oklahoma set to consider nation’s first religious charter school

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa are seeking approval for an online program intended to serve students in mainly rural areas who otherwise have little choice beyond their local public schools.

Graphic novel based on Anne Frank’s diary removed from Florida high school

“Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation” was removed from a library at Vero Beach High School after a leader of Moms for Liberty in Indian River County raised an objection. The school’s principal agreed with the objection, and the book was removed last month.

Fresh off Brandon Johnson’s election, how will the Chicago Teachers Union move from outside agitators to insiders?

Johnson’s win was a vindication. The union has spent more than a decade fighting the political establishment. Now, the union faces the challenge of going from outside agitators, the people used to assigning blame, to insiders, the potential targets of that fire.

Bill approved that would make school safety plans mandatory in Tennessee

An amendment added to the bill would make that same rule for private and church schools, like The Covenant School. Students and staff lived through a mass shooting 11 days ago, when six people died — including three 9-year-olds.

How ‘Abbott Elementary’ helps teachers process the absurd realities of their job

In the pilot episode of the award-winning sitcom Abbott Elementary, a student pees on a classroom rug. Nicole Wyglendowski has been hooked on the show ever since.

Cybersecurity challenges in education and how to start solving them

School districts and universities remain one of the best targets for cyberattacks. Although they've always been vulnerable, educational institutions became even more so during 2020, when most of them moved to remote learning, and most university infrastructures weren't ready to do so.

Mass. schools expand access to classes that provide college credit

Massachusetts students again lead the nation based on their performance on Advanced Placement tests. Nearly 31% took one of those rigorous exams and earned a passing score of three or higher.

Record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year focus on education and health care access

At least 417 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States since the start of the year — a new record, according to American Civil Liberties Union data as of April 3. That's already more than twice the number of such bills introduced all of last year.

Ahead of Jefferson Parish School Board vote, parents question closures, relocations

Parents, students, teachers and residents have expressed a range of concerns over the plan, which would bring monumental changes to Louisiana’s largest school district.

Alabama bill seeks 1st grade ‘readiness’ for all kids

Rep. Pebblin Warren said the goal of her bill is to erase the academic disadvantage of students who enter first grade without either attending kindergarten or being worked with at home. She said many people are surprised to learn that kindergarten isn’t mandatory in the state.

“The tipping point” in education- the future of learning and teaching tools

The use of AI learning assistants has been spreading globally and is seen as a more efficient way of instructing students. The role of these tools is to learn from teachers and help them teach students by providing feedback, ideas, and suggestions on how to improve their lessons.

Plagiarism finder Turnitin adds AI detection amid popularity of ChatGPT

Turnitin says the technology to detect GPT3, which is used in AI technologies including ChatGPT, has been in the works at the company for more than two years.