National news

Vermont’s new education bill is now law. Here’s what happens next.

Transformation is far from guaranteed. Lawmakers first need to agree on a new school district map before proceeding with other facets of the law.

Democratic AGs sue Trump admin over $1 billion in cuts to school mental health grants

The grants were part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a 2022 gun safety bill passed by Congress and signed by then-President Joe Biden after a teen gunman in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers and injured 17 others.

Tulsa Public Schools introduces new consequences for chronic absenteeism for upcoming school year

Tulsa Public Schools will enforce new consequences for chronic absenteeism—students missing over 16 days may face grade retention, loss of transfers or ineligibility for activities. A new Attendance Review Committee will address excessive absences.

Education Department freezes cash for school districts, teacher training and migrant students

It’s a move with the potential to imperil afterschool programs, teacher training initiatives and education for migrant students. Some education advocacy groups estimate that approximately $5 billion is at stake.

CPS crisis revives sensitive school closure talk

Interim CPS CEO Macqueline King adjusted the district's deficit last week to $734 million, $200 million more than her predecessor Pedro Maritnez estimated. It means deeper cuts or more borrowing for the nation's fourth-largest school system, one already facing financial trouble and staff shortages.

Supreme Court backs parents seeking to opt their kids out of LGBTQ books in elementary schools

In a 6-3 vote, the court backed the parents' claim that the Montgomery County Board of Education's decision not to allow an opt-out option for their children violated their religious rights under the Constitution's First Amendment, which protects religious expression.

West Virginia’s public school enrollment plummets

While public school enrollment remained flat in America from 2012-2024, it plummeted by nearly 13% in West Virginia. More than 36,000 students left the public school system during that time.

Map shows U.S. states with school phone bans

Educators are largely behind restrictions being put in place. According to the Pew Research Center polling data released in June 2024, 72 percent of high school teachers say phone distractions are a major problem.

Majority of U.S. adults support religious chaplains in public schools, a new AP-NORC poll shows

The survey shows the complexity of Americans’ attitudes toward religious expression in schools, which varies depending on the kind of expression and sometimes crosses partisan lines.

Tiny Indiana District With Online School Worth Millions Ordered To Close

State legislators say they have put Union on the chopping block because of poor performance. But district leaders believe the real reason is so the state can reap the benefits of the Indiana Digital Learning School, which has grown to 7,500 students and pays the district an estimated $3 million in annual oversight fees.

The U.S. Department of Education is far behind on producing key statistics

The U.S. Department of Education missed its June 1 deadline to publish the full Condition of Education report, releasing only a partial version amid growing scrutiny. Due to staffing cuts and canceled contracts, the agency has produced far fewer statistics than in previous years—limiting critical data access for policymakers, researchers and the public.

It just got tougher to ban books in Maryland school libraries

Maryland’s school board approved changes in state regulations to align with a law that prevents removing books from school libraries without due process. The change will go into effect after a regulatory review process.

Judge rules Ohio EdChoice program is unconstitutional

A Franklin County judge ruled Tuesday that Ohio’s Education Choice program is unconstitutional. This is the first ruling in the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit, a group of dozens of public schools and the Coalition for Adequacy and Equity of School funding which challenged Ohio’s EdChoice scholarship program as unconstitutional. Judge Jaiza Page recognized the lawsuit will likely progress through appeals court, so she said although it is unconstitutional, the EdChoice program can continue until a final verdict is reached. Judge Jaiza Page determined that the state took money from public schools to fund the voucher program, unfairly creating a second system of “uncommon private schools” directly funded by the state. The state has allocated more than $1 billion to fund the EdChoice program, particularly after the state removed the income requirement for participation.

Support for Christian prayer in U.S. public schools varies widely by state

Debates over the role of Christianity in public schools are intensifying nationwide, with recent legal and legislative battles in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana spotlighting the issue. According to Pew Research, Americans remain sharply divided, with 52% supporting and 46% opposing teacher-led Christian prayers in classrooms.

Diversifying the special education teacher workforce could benefit U.S. schools

While students of color made up 47% of those diagnosed with disabilities in 2012, about 80% of special education teachers were white—highlighting a racial mismatch between educators and the students they serve, new research says.

Cursive writing in schools? Georgia schools are about to loop it back into the classroom

Georgia’s new English language arts standards will include an emphasis on handwriting, and particularly cursive. The standards will address handwriting starting in kindergarten and move to cursive in third through fifth grade.

New KY law limits communication between teachers and students. Here’s what to know

A new law intended to prevent child sexual abuse will go into effect later this month, changing the way Kentucky public school employees and volunteers can communicate with students.

Mississippi students no longer required to pass U.S. history assessment to graduate

Mississippi students must still pass state assessments in algebra, biology and English language arts as prescribed by federal law. The U.S. History course will also remain a graduation requirement.

How Vermont’s big education transformation will work

Vermont’s new education bill shifts school funding control to the state, sets minimum class sizes and aims to consolidate districts while creating a new tax category for second homes. Key changes begin in 2026, but full implementation depends on redistricting approval.

Utah schools say student behavioral problems are taxing staff and resources

“We see a trend of increasing behavioral needs in both quantity of children and severity. This is exhausting our teachers and our resources,” said one anonymously quoted school leader.

Poll: As Americans form views on AI, they’re divided on its role in school and everyday life

Among U.S. adults, 44% said they think AI will make life better, while 42% think AI will make life worse. But most respondents don't hold strong feelings on the issue.

Energy Department seeks to roll back Title IX protections for women’s, education programs

The Trump administration is seeking to rescind key civil rights protections for sex discrimination in sports and education programs through a swift regulatory process at an unlikely agency: the Department of Energy.

Undocumented students rethink their college dreams after Texas cuts their access to cheaper tuition

Thousands of undocumented students who grew up in Texas now face college tuition costs that are more than twice what other state residents pay.

U.S. school year ends under shadow of Trump DEI orders

As the U.S. school year ends, teachers face growing uncertainty over Trump administration orders targeting diversity, race, and gender education. Though courts have blocked some directives, educators say the chilling effect is already reshaping classrooms.

Kids are ditching traditional college for career tech programs. Parents are concerned

New survey data from the nonprofit American Student Assistance shows that teen interest in college is down while interest in nondegree paths is on the rise. Meanwhile, parents are skeptical of options outside of the traditional college pathway to work.

Unanimous Supreme Court decision makes it easier to sue schools in disability cases

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that students with disabilities don’t need a higher burden of proof to sue under federal disability law. The decision makes it easier for families to seek damages when schools fail to provide proper support.

Alabama reading scores are improving while the rest of US struggles, but thousands of students face retention

Alabama’s reading scores continue to improve, with 88% of third graders reading on or above grade level, up from 86% last year. However, over 6,400 students risk being held back after the state raised its reading benchmark, even as overall literacy rates rise.

Arkansas families suing to block Ten Commandments in public classrooms, libraries

Seven Arkansas families are suing to block a law requiring the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, arguing it violates their constitutional rights. The lawsuit claims the law promotes specific Christian beliefs and creates a religiously coercive environment.

How Des Moines wants to change and specialize schools

Des Moines Public Schools is exploring “signature schools” based on student and parent interest. Survey results showed top preferences in STEM, career and technical education, medical/health sciences, arts and Montessori.

A federal law helps homeless students get an education. Trump’s budget could weaken it

Trump’s 2026 budget plan would cut and consolidate the McKinney-Vento program, threatening key services for 1.4 million homeless students and sparking concern among educators.

LAUSD condemns immigration raids as one unfolds next to a school

L.A. Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stressed that the graduation season should remain celebratory and joyous. He said the district has directed its police force to establish “perimeters of safety” around graduation sites to help “intervene and interfere” with federal agents if they arrive.

Education Department pays over $7 million a month to employees forced to sit idle

The department has already paid more than $21 million to idle employees over the last three months, according to the American Federation of Government Employees. They were terminated in March when the agency cut nearly half of its workforce.

Nebraska schools frequently deny kids with disabilities

Nebraska schools are disproportionately denying transfer requests from students with disabilities, despite laws meant to protect them. Districts cite staffing shortages, but critics call it discrimination.

How civil rights investigations against schools have changed under Trump admin

The Trump administration has reopened civil rights investigations in schools, reversing prior policies and challenging issues like transgender athletes and equity programs. Advocates warn the shift may discourage students from filing complaints.

Why Knox County Schools is getting rid of valedictorians, and what will take its place

Knox County Schools will stop selecting valedictorians and salutatorians in 2030, electing instead to use a system that honors a percentage of the highest-performing students. The change aligns with national trends to eliminate what can be a toxic level of competitiveness.