DA Staff

Do American students need more time in school?

Schools may need more time. But, in many places, an enormous amount of school time—potentially something approaching half the academic year—is not being used effectively.

After Bible pulled from some schools, lawmaker wants to rework his ‘sensitive materials’ law

Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, spoke to supporters of faith and conservative groups during a protest at the Capitol on Wednesday, disputing the claim that as a whole the Bible lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value, as defined in Utah state code addressing “harmful materials.”

‘Surprise of my life’: Graduating seniors reunite with kindergarten teacher at Portland school

On Wednesday, 20 of those familiar faces walked through her door at Sabin Elementary School in Northeast Portland. Clad in caps and gowns, her 2010-11 kindergarteners are now graduating from high school. And before they go off into their post-graduate world, the students wanted to thank one of their first and most formative teachers.

Off-duty officer testifies he didn’t know just where shots fired from during Parkland massacre

An off-duty police officer who was on the baseball field at Florida’s Parkland high school during the 2018 massacre testified Thursday that he mistook gunshots for fireworks before he realized what was happening and approached the school unarmed.

Missouri schools must now observe Holocaust Week, teach about the genocide annually

In the next three years, all Missouri school districts must have a plan in place to annually instruct students about the Holocaust. They must also designate the second week in April as "Holocaust Education Week" for grades 6-12.

A religious charter school faces pushback from the charter school movement itself

A Catholic school, newly approved in Oklahoma, is testing the bounds of what it means to be a charter — uncomfortably so for some leaders.

Wisconsin school board proposal would ban “safe space” signs in high school

"Specifying certain areas as safe zones for some, as well as signage that promotes one group over others, can create a feeling of isolation, division, and estrangement," says the board agenda at the Arrowhead Union High School District.

Southern California school board faces state scrutiny for blocking gay rights figure from curriculum

A Southern California school board’s decision to reject a social studies curriculum over its mention of gay rights hero Harvey Milk is under review by the state's attorney general.

Can DeSantis take credit for Florida’s No. 1 education ranking? Here’s a closer look.

A closer look Florida’s No. 1 ranking in education by U.S. News & World Report shows the state’s relatively high marks stem partly from actions that predate the pandemic—or even DeSantis as governor.

29 Houston schools will look different next school year—cameras in classrooms, no librarians, higher pay for teachers

Many reform-minded community members believe the New Education System is a step towards better student outcomes. Critics argue the changes will impose a uniform education model on low-income communities across Houston who had no say in its formation, while leaving affluent communities untouched.

On last day of school, Miami-Dade superintendent discusses impact of new laws on education

While Superinendent Jose Dotres was attending graduation ceremonies, the teacher’s union held a protest against the education laws recently signed by the governor.

Utah district’s Bible ban spurs protest by parents, Republicans

Republican lawmakers rallied with more than one hundred Bible-toting parents and children at Utah’s Capitol on Wednesday to protest a school district’s decision to remove the Bible from middle and elementary school libraries in the wake of a GOP-backed “sensitive materials” law passed two years ago.

Rural Texas high school will now hold graduation after majority of senior class meets requirements

Rural Marlin High School, which had postponed graduation after only five of 33 seniors initially met requirements, now says a majority of seniors are now on track to graduate on June 22.

Fights break out outside school district meeting as protesters battle over gender studies

Several brawls began as administrators discussed recognizing Pride Month and members of the public debated gender and sexual identity studies.

Kids can’t all be star athletes. Here’s how schools can welcome more students to play

"Fun" is sometimes hard to find in high school sports. Gunning for college athletic scholarships, many students and families go all in – focusing on one sport and even one position from elementary school.