DA Staff

How a rise in Virginia student absences may impact school ratings

As administrators warn that an increasing number of students are missing many days of class, the state is again using attendance as a factor for its school review process for the first time since the pandemic.

Trans student shower allegation in Wisconsin highlights schools’ challenges in protecting students

A recent incident where girls in the Sun Prairie Area School District reportedly were in the same shower room with a trans student highlights the challenge school districts face providing appropriate services and facilities.

High school sophomore in Washington dies in ‘tragic’ PE class accident

Brayden Bahme fell into a goal post and was impaled through the eye while running during his 4th-period P.E. class, officials said.

DeKalb BOE member accused of violating policy by divulging superintendent search details

At issue is whether board member Dr. Joyce Morley violated policy when she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the search for the district's next superintendent.

Book bans are a local affair in Alabama schools. That could change.

So far, while Alabama has followed other states in trying to limit discussion of critical race theory, LGBTQ issues and other “divisive concepts” in school, the state has not tried to enact explicit book bans.

Many scores on the ‘Nation’s Report Card’ plunged during the pandemic. But these students saw unexpected gains

Local newspapers around the country documented their districts’ declining scores. Editorials warned that US schools had failed students during the pandemic. Officials described the exam as an alarming wake-up call.

Charter schools, still hotly debated, could expand in New York City

Fourteen new charter schools could open in New York City under a plan lawmakers are close to finalizing as part of the state budget. The potential deal would mark the first charter expansion in years.

Ohio school board removes discrimination protections for LGBTQ staff and students

The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek School board vowed to revisit the policy in the future to accommodate stronger anti-bullying measures for those students.

Florida’s largest school district seeks more funding amid sharp rise in immigrant students

Since August, about 19,000 students have enrolled in public schools throughout the county, according to Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Lawsuit claims Pa. education department forcing ‘woke’ guidelines on schools, teachers, students

The lawsuit claims that the Education Department’s Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education Program Framework Guidelines issued in November 2022 violate state regulatory review law, infringe on the filers’ religious and free speech rights, and usurp the school boards’ authority to determine their own curriculum.

COVID relief funds for Colorado schools run out next year. But many pandemic challenges show no signs of waning.

Staff shortages and mental health struggles among students and teachers continue to ripple across Colorado schools three years into the pandemic

School superintendent who criticized DeSantis could lose job

Florida officials are threatening to revoke the teaching license of a school superintendent who criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis, accusing the educator of violating several statutes and DeSantis directives and allowing his “personal political views” to guide his leadership.

Seventh grader brings school bus to a stop after driver loses consciousness

When the bus driver "became lightheaded and lost consciousness" the student "saw the driver in distress, stepped to the front of the bus and helped bring it to a stop without incident," the superintendent said.

5 school staffers charged after boy told to eat own vomit

A teacher charged with neglect told the 7-year-old special education student during lunch that if he vomited, he would need to eat whatever he threw up, police in Indiana said.

As rail profits soar, blocked crossings force kids to crawl under trains to get to school

Lamira Samson and her son, Jeremiah, have to make a choice several times a week: They can walk a mile out of the way around the sprawling train parked in their path to school, stay home or try to climb over the train, risking severe injury or death.