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The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Tennessee law banning certain gender-transition treatments for minors, which may influence similar state-level restrictions on transgender rights. The 6-3 decision in United States v. Skrmetti, came in response to a challenge brought by the Biden administration, three families and a physician who had argued that Tennessee's law violated the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law. The court concluded that the state's measure, which is known as SB1 and was enacted in 2023, does not run afoul of the 14th Amendment's equal-protection clause, and allows it to regulate sports eligibility and restroom access for transgender students. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. commented: “This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments.” The SB1 law prohibits puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors transitioning genders, affecting approximately 300,000 transgender youths in the U.S. The ruling may have broader implications for ongoing cases in Arizona, Idaho, and West Virginia regarding transgender participation in sports. Trans rights advocates said they’re worried the ruling could push trans youth in other states to more dangerous, unsupervised sources of gender affirming care.

 

CBS News

Chicago Tribune

Education Week News

New York Times

Immigration raids in California's Central Valley earlier this year led to a significant increase in student absences, with a 22% rise reported in five school districts, according to a Stanford University study. Thomas Dee, a Stanford professor and author of the report, said: “The first and most obvious interpretation of the results is that students are missing school, and that means lost learning opportunities.” The raids, part of “Operation Return to Sender,” targeted immigrants in agricultural areas, causing fear among families and impacting attendance. The study highlighted that younger students were particularly affected, as they are more likely to have undocumented parents. The California Legislature is considering Assembly Bill 1348, which would allow districts to receive funding for attendance losses attributed to immigration fears. “When attendance drops, funding disappears, and when funding disappears, all students suffer,” said Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains.

 

EdSource

In the aftermath of pandemic challenges, many pre-K teachers are contemplating leaving their positions due to overwhelming stress and inadequate pay. A recent RAND survey involving 1,427 public school pre-K teachers revealed that these educators experience work-related stress at nearly double the rate of other professions. Elizabeth Steiner, a senior policy researcher at RAND, said: “Teachers of public school-based pre-K were generally more stressed.” Key stressors identified include student behavior, mental health issues, and low compensation, with pre-K teachers earning about $7,000 less than their K-12 counterparts. Additionally, they reported working an average of eight unpaid hours weekly, compounded by excessive administrative tasks.

 

EdSource

Kevin Brown, a retired superintendent at Rocklin USD, emphasizes the urgent need to refocus public education on its core mission: teaching. He argues that teachers are overwhelmed by non-instructional responsibilities, noting: "We've made it almost impossible for them to focus on what they do best: inspiring young minds." Brown highlights the detrimental impact of political distractions on education, urging policymakers to prioritize student learning over ideological battles. He calls for a return to the original purpose of schools, advocating for reduced burdens on teachers and increased trust in their expertise. "Our teachers are not the problem. They are the key to the solution," he asserts.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Betsy Springer, a teacher and instructional coach at Gull Lake Partnership in Richland, Michigan, has developed courses called Adulting 101 and Adulting 102 to address the lack of essential life skills taught in high schools. A recent Gallup survey revealed that many high school students feel unprepared for post-graduation life, with 47% of parents not discussing future plans with their children. Springer’s classes cover topics such as banking, budgeting, job interviews, and home maintenance, aiming to fill the gaps left by traditional education. She emphasizes the importance of community involvement, bringing in local experts to share their knowledge. As she noted, “I think they have all the capabilities. I think what they need most is adults around them who say to them: You can do it, you can figure it out.” The courses have gained popularity, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for practical life skills in education.

 

Education Week News

In an article for Education Week, Dennis Magliozzi and Kristina Peterson, high school English teachers from New Hampshire, discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT in writing education. They emphasize the importance of using AI responsibly, explaining: "We don't seek to pit human authorship against AI; rather we aim to show how the two can work together." The authors outline four key rules for students: write without AI first; struggle independently; prompt the AI; and question its suggestions. They highlight varied student responses to AI, with some embracing it for inspiration while others prefer to maintain their unique voice. The article advocates for viewing AI as a scaffold for learning rather than a shortcut, encouraging critical thinking and creativity in writing.

 

Education Week News

During the final meeting of the 2024-25 academic year on June 10, the Atascadero USD Board of Trustees approved the budget for the upcoming year and scheduled a staff workshop. This meeting marked the retirement of Superintendent Tom Butler and Executive Assistant Stacey Phillips, who both expressed gratitude for their time in the district. The board also discussed hiring updates, revealing that 21 teachers and 35 employees have been hired for the 2025-26 school year, with plans for a job fair to fill remaining positions. The next board meeting will be held on August 5, featuring new Superintendent Dr. Tom Bennett.

 

Atascadero News

Five women have filed a lawsuit against Clovis USD, alleging that officials ignored claims of sexual abuse by a former second-grade teacher, Neng Yang, who was convicted of similar crimes. The lawsuit, led by Samantha Muñoz, claims that Yang began molesting her in 2004, despite prior complaints from other students. “Clovis Unified was protecting this predator,” Muñoz stated, highlighting the district's failure to act on multiple allegations. The case is part of a broader wave of sexual abuse litigation affecting California schools, with significant financial implications. Michael Fine, head of California's Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, noted that “there's tremendous cost pressures on school districts,” as they face liabilities potentially reaching $3bn due to past misconduct.

 

Los Angeles Times

Diana Fox, a teacher’s aide at Gunn High School, has filed a lawsuit against Palo Alto USD, claiming she was fired in retaliation for reporting racist text messages from a coworker. "The timing of her termination - immediately after raising concerns about the racist texts and shunning - proves clear retaliation," stated the lawsuit filed on June 2. After reporting the harassment to Assistant Principal Kat Catalano, Fox was reassigned to a different classroom without explanation. The day after she reported the messages to her staffing agency, she was terminated. The California Department of Fair Employment Housing granted her the right to sue on March 16, and her case is now in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

Eleri Irons, a former middle school student, has won a $1m jury award against El Segundo USD for failing to protect her from severe bullying. The California appeals court upheld the 2022 verdict, which found the district negligent in supervising and training its staff. Irons, who was bullied from 2017 to 2018, faced harassment from peers, including social media attacks and physical aggression. Despite her attempts to seek help from school officials, the bullying continued, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD.

 

Los Angeles Times

Madera USD is now accepting applications for its California State Preschool Program (CSPP) for the 2025-2026 school year, providing families in Madera with a chance to enhance their children's education. The program, available at 12 elementary schools, aims to prepare children for future academic success within the district.

 

Los Angeles Times

Madera Tribune

The Alternative Student Transportation Association (ASTA) has been established, bringing together six major alternative transportation providers, including 4MATIV and HopSkipDrive. The new association aims to advocate for flexible, student-centered transportation solutions and educate stakeholders about the importance of consistent industry standards. An ASTA spokesperson said: "We came together to create the Alternative Student Transportation Association to advance safe and reliable alternative student transportation across the United States." The association recognizes the challenges faced by the industry, such as budget cuts and bus driver shortages, and is committed to ensuring that every student has access to quality education through innovative transportation solutions.

 

School Bus Fleet

Thousands of school districts' confidential documents were potentially accessible due to a technical glitch in BoardDocs, a software for managing school board meetings. Nithya Das, general manager of governance at Diligent Corp., explained that the issue stemmed from a “misconfiguration” rather than a malicious attack. Approximately 1% of documents, around 64,000 files, were affected. Doug Levin, a school cybersecurity expert, emphasized the need for vendors to partner with schools on cybersecurity, commenting: “This [BoardDocs incident] is underscoring that we need our vendors and suppliers to be partners with us with respect to cybersecurity.” BoardDocs is currently investigating the issue and has begun notifying affected clients. However, Levin criticized the company for not proactively informing its user base about the problem.

 

Education Week News

The U.S. State Department has issued new guidelines for vetting student visa applicants, emphasizing the need to identify "hostile attitudes" towards American values. This directive, communicated to diplomatic posts globally, mandates a thorough review of applicants' online presence, including social media and other digital footprints. The guidance aims to ensure that individuals seeking entry into the U.S. respect its laws and principles. The new vetting process is to be implemented within five business days, with a focus on expediting appointments for certain categories of applicants, including J-1 physicians and F-1 students at universities with low international student populations.

 

CNN Edition

Politico

U.S. News

In response to a tragic school shooting in Graz, Austria, where a 21-year-old gunman killed 10 people before taking his own life, the government is set to implement stricter gun control measures. Chancellor Christian Stocker stated, "We promised that we would not go back to business as usual," emphasizing the need for responsibility following the incident. The new regulations will raise the minimum age for gun permits from 21 to 25, enhance psychological testing, and extend the cooling-off period for weapon purchases to four weeks. Additionally, the government plans to improve psychological support in schools and increase police presence around educational institutions. These changes aim to prevent future tragedies and ensure public safety.

 

U.S. News