Become more informed in minutes....

Democrat efforts to challenge President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education mounted Thursday, as 11 senators asked the agency’s acting inspector general, René Rocque, to investigate the push. The group, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), wrote: “Decimating the Department of Education’s abilities to administer financial aid, investigate civil rights violations, conduct research on educational outcomes, and oversee the use of federal education grants threatens to have disastrous consequences for American students, teachers and families.” Rocque, who joined the Education Department’s Office of Inspector General as deputy inspector general in December 2023, became acting director in January. Meanwhile, Republicans in some states have taken the opportunity to ask the administration for more leeway in their education spending.  On March 25, for example, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters sent a letter to the Education Department requesting a waiver to receive a block grant for all funds allocated to his state under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Such a consolidated block grant would “significantly enhance local flexibility” so “schools will be able to address their unique needs and priorities,” Walters wrote.

 

K-12 Dive

School Leadership’s Guide to Career and Technical Education

Economic impacts are changing the employment landscape. Now more than ever it's critical to prepare students for careers in current and emerging professions through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Having developed 200+ award-winning digital courses, FlexPoint knows that CTE offerings look different for every school, based on location and student population. School and district leaders can learn how to enhance their CTE programs through the free FlexPoint guide.

In the guide, you’ll have access to:

• An overview of nationally recognized Career Clusters and Programs of Study
  
• Tips for selecting the best career pathways that evolve with the employment landscape
  
• Sample survey questions to gauge students’ interests in future career opportunities
  
• And more!

Download CTE Guide

 

UC Santa Barbara clinical psychology professor Erika Felix argues that trauma-informed practices (TIPS) must become a core component of educator training. With over 80% of children experiencing adverse childhood events by adolescence, schools play a critical role in fostering resilience and supporting healing. TIPS training teaches educators how to respond to student trauma and regulate stressed students, especially during crises such as school shootings or natural disasters. While California offers resources like the “Safe Spaces” online program, Felix notes uptake is unclear, and teachers often face barriers such as lack of time, energy, and administrative support. Only 16 states require trauma-informed training, and California doesn’t mandate it for future teachers. Felix recommends requiring TIPS in teacher credentialing programs and professional development for current educators and administrators. “We need to scale up these programs,” she writes, warning that unless action is taken before the next tragedy, trauma training will continue to be a low priority.

 

Ed Source

Five years after COVID upended education, California teachers are adapting and rebuilding. Educators faced steep challenges—tech learning curves, behavioral issues, and mass teacher attrition—but many persevered. Drama teacher Keith Carames used video, original plays, and opera collaborations to keep theatre alive at James Lick Middle School. In Tulare County, teacher Sesar Carreño embraced classroom tech, despite the distraction risks. Carly Bresee, a special education teacher in San Diego, delivered home instruction during closures and now sees improvement. Elk Grove’s Todd Shadbourne, once a “pencil-paper guy,” became a confident tech adopter, enhancing parent engagement. At Golden Valley High School, Spanish teacher Erika Cedeno builds trust and social-emotional support through student-centered connections and collaborative learning. Despite past burnout and learning loss, these educators report growing optimism as classrooms stabilize.

 

EdSource

Since January, the United Teachers of Pasadena have been striving to maintain a supportive learning environment following devastating wildfires. Despite state support for rebuilding, PUSD has underspent on classroom instruction, with budgets dropping to 54% and 52% over the past two years. Currently, 120 teachers face uncertainty regarding their positions, contributing to low morale. Pasadena USD accounts for 5% of statewide layoffs despite serving only 2% of students. The community is advocating for Measure EE, a parcel tax aimed at supporting classrooms and preventing layoffs.

 

SGV Tribune

U.S. Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, and Sacramento County Office of Education Superintendent David Gordon addressed the potential impact of proposed education cuts by the Trump administration during a press conference at Leo A. Palmiter Junior/Senior High School. Bera highlighted the uncertainty these cuts create, saying: "We don't think the president can take those funds, but in the interim, it's causing a lot of uncertainty." Sacramento County schools rely on an estimated $266m in federal funding, which supports various educational initiatives, including programs for homeless and disabled students. Gordon highlighted that cuts would not only affect education but also vital services like mental health support and nutrition programs. Both leaders are committed to fighting these cuts through legal avenues and community collaboration, with Bera asserting: "We're going to win this battle because we have to win this battle."

 

The Sacramento Bee

Sulphur Springs USD has reviewed a proposed boundary for a new elementary school in the Skyline Ranch community during a recent board meeting. Josh Randall, deputy superintendent of business services, explained that the new boundary aims to enhance the efficient use of district facilities. The boundary will not affect Mint Canyon students, as no residents currently live in the designated area. The district anticipates sufficient enrollment based on community demographics and will provide transportation for special education students.

 

Signalscv.com

The Pajaro Valley USD Board of Trustees has unanimously decided to keep Ceiba College Preparatory Academy at its current Locust Street campus until at least 2044. This decision was made during a meeting where the board approved a tri-party agreement involving the district, Ceiba, and the city of Watsonville. Additionally, a resolution was passed to exempt Ceiba from local zoning ordinances, ensuring stability for the academy's location. 

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Coachella Valley USD has issued an apology to the U.S. Border Patrol after a recruiter was prevented from attending a high school career fair. The incident sparked controversy, with the district acknowledging that the officer's exclusion was inappropriate.

 

Press Democrat

Bolinas-Stinson USD is moving to eliminate its free public preschool program for three-year-olds due to budget constraints. Layoff notices have been issued for two preschool instructors and a bus driver, with final decisions expected by May 15. Superintendent Leo Kostelnik said "There is downward pressure on our budget," highlighting the need to save approximately $220,000. The district will maintain its transitional kindergarten program for four-year-olds, which is mandated by the state. To address the situation, the district is seeking proposals from outside vendors to run a new preschool program, with a focus on accommodating up to 20 children aged two and three. 

 

The Fresno Bee

The Supreme Court is set to hear three significant religion cases this spring, marking the end of a nearly three-year hiatus on such matters. The cases include a Catholic charity in Wisconsin seeking a tax exemption, the constitutionality of a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma, and whether parents can withdraw their children from LGBTQ+ themed discussions in Maryland public schools.

 

Bradenton.com

In San Luis Obispo County, local schools are transforming their lunch programs by offering fresh, from-scratch meals made with local ingredients. The initiative aligns with a broader state and national effort to improve school nutrition, especially as many students consume a significant portion of their meals at school. However, recent cuts of over $660m in federal funding for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program threaten these advancements. Despite challenges, school leaders remain committed to sourcing local produce, with over 60% of the district's food coming from nearby farms. The push for healthier meals is crucial, especially as food insecurity among youth has risen from 10.7% in 2019 to 13.8% in 2022.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

Teacher burnout is reaching crisis levels, yet misconceptions persist about its root causes. While some blame personality traits, educators and advocates argue that burnout stems from systemic issues like chronic staffing shortages. An EdWeek survey confirms that better support staff would significantly improve teacher satisfaction. Education author Alexandra Robbins urges society to stop pathologizing teachers and start fixing broken school systems. While some teachers quit after reaching emotional breaking points, others attempt to cope by drawing strict boundaries between work and personal time. A recent poll found that many teachers manage burnout by controlling what they can—like limiting after-hours work. Though schools still face staffing gaps, especially in special education, teachers are seeking survival strategies. Without broader structural reform, however, burnout will continue to erode the profession.

 

Education Week News

A study published in the British Medical Journal warns that bans on children having smartphones, or accessing social media, represent "stop-gap solutions" that "do little to support children's longer-term healthy engagement with digital spaces across school, home, and other contexts, and their successful transition into adolescence and adulthood in a technology-filled world." The study calls for more work to be done on age-appropriate design for devices and on education around the use of technology to ensure children are ready to participate in a digital world.

 

BBC News

Daily Mirror

London Evening Standard

The Independent UK

First Student has partnered with Ampcontrol to enhance its electric school bus operations through advanced EV charging technology. With plans to deploy 30,000 electric buses by 2035, this collaboration aims to provide sustainable transportation for 2.7m students. The partnership will utilize Ampcontrol’s cloud software, AmpEdge, to optimize energy management and fleet operations, ultimately reducing costs and improving reliability. 

 

School Bus Fleet

Over 17,400 high school seniors in California have received automatic admission to 10 California State University campuses based on their GPA. This pilot program, particularly focused on Riverside County, has already seen an increase in admissions, with about 10,600 students admitted this year compared to 9,800 last year. The program allows students to secure their spot as long as they maintain their grades and complete necessary courses. “It was big, it was really cool, their eyes, they were so excited,” said Melina Gonzalez, a counselor at Heritage High School, highlighting the enthusiasm among students. The initiative aims to encourage more students to consider four-year universities, with plans to expand the program statewide.

 

US News and World Report

UCLA has indefinitely banned the organization Students for Justice in Palestine and suspended its graduate counterpart for four years following a protest that resulted in vandalism at the home of UC Regent Jay Sures. The university stated: “UCLA is committed to fostering an environment where all students can live and learn freely and peacefully.” While the groups can still protest on campus, they are prohibited from registering for events or receiving student activity funds. This decision aligns with actions taken by other UC campuses against similar organizations amid rising tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian activism, particularly after the recent conflict in Gaza. The university is also under investigation by the Trump administration for its handling of these protests.

 

Los Angeles Times

France's Department of Education has launched a national campaign to increase awareness among students about the dangers of cybercrime, by sending them a fake phishing email. According to the government, young people aged 11-18 are particularly susceptible to exposure to digital risks, and often show "an excess of confidence in their digital uses." Operation Cactus saw more than 2.5m students in more than 4,700 middle and high schools receive an email on their digital workspaces, encouraging them to click on a link that would lead them to a website where they could download pirated video games and cheats for free. More than 210,000 students clicked on the malicious link. Instead of pirated software, they got to see a video educating them on the risks of illegal actions on the internet. 

 

Cybernews

After 44 years of parent-teacher conferences for her three children, author Alina Adams shares why they still matter. Her key advice: listen first, ask for data, and know when to trust—or challenge—teachers and your child. She recalls times when teachers saw issues she missed, and others when she had to push back on misjudgments. Despite a sharp drop in attendance since the pandemic, Adams says conferences remain vital—not just for tracking academic progress, but for holding schools accountable and showing kids someone’s paying attention. Her final conference wasn’t about grades—it was to thank the teachers who made a difference. Conferences, she writes, offer “a chance to see your child through fresh eyes... and thank the people who helped them grow.”

 

The 74 (Online)