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At least two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed, and 17 others were injured during a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning that occurred while students were attending Mass. The shooter, a male in his 20s, reportedly fired from outside the church using multiple firearms before taking his own life in the parking lot. All the injured victims are expected to survive, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said. FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency is “investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.” Annunciation Catholic School Principal Matt DeBoer said the school’s teachers acted quickly and heroically during the shooting, adding: “It could have been significantly worse without their heroic action. This is a nightmare, but we call our staff the dream team, and we will recover from this.”

 

CNN

The Hill

Education Week News

The Minnesota Star Tribune

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
  
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Download CTE Guide

 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a significant agreement with the Trump administration to release $6.8bn in education funds that had been withheld just before the school year began. This agreement restores funding for six essential programs, including support for migrant children and teacher training, which the administration had previously frozen, claiming misuse. Bonta, alongside 22 other state AGs and two governors, filed a lawsuit against the administration for this illegal withholding, asserting Congress's constitutional right to allocate the budget. “The Trump Administration upended school programs across the country when it recklessly withheld vital education funding,” Bonta stated. The full release of funds is mandated by October 3.

 

EdSource

In the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing parents to withdraw their children from LGBTQ+ materials in schools, conservative leaders in California anticipate a surge in opt-out requests. Troy Flint, spokesperson for the California School Boards Association, expressed concerns about the potential chaos, noting: "There is a lot of trepidation about how to handle this issue." The ruling, stemming from the case Mahmoud v. Taylor, raises questions about the handling of opt-out requests and the verification of religious beliefs. Yale Law School professor Justin Driver warned that the implications extend beyond LGBTQ+ topics, potentially affecting various subjects. As conservative groups mobilize to demand opt-outs, advocates fear that such actions could lead to discrimination and a chilling effect on LGBTQ+ students, thereby threatening the future of inclusive education.

 

Chico Enterprise Record

California boasts some of the best public high schools in the U.S., according to the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The report analyzed over 24,000 public high schools across the country for the 2025-2026 academic year. Notably, three California schools made it to the top 25, with Whitney High School in Cerritos ranking 16th nationally. Other top California schools include Oxford Academy in Cypress and the Science Academy STEM Magnet in North Hollywood, ranked 19th and 20th, respectively. The rankings highlight the schools' strong performance in state tests and graduation rates.

 

Merced Sun Star

The Modesto Bee

Adrian, a fourth grader, faced significant challenges with school attendance, which is linked to future academic and health issues. In response, Loma Vista Elementary and the South Whittier School District implemented proactive measures to support students and families. Chronic absenteeism in California rose dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates reaching 30% in 2021-22. Los Angeles USD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized the importance of attendance, noting: "Every day that a student misses school, they miss out on the opportunity not only to learn, but to connect." The district's attendance team worked closely with Adrian's family to address barriers, demonstrating a shift from punitive measures to supportive strategies. As Debra Duardo, superintendent of the L.A. County Office of Education, said: "Improving attendance is everyone's responsibility." The focus is now on understanding individual circumstances in order to foster a supportive educational environment.

 

Star-Telegram

Nearly one-third of K-12 public schools in the U.S. now mandate mental health screenings for students, according to a recent RAND report. The study, which surveyed 1,019 school principals, revealed that 30.5% of schools require such screenings. While most principals notify parents and offer in-person treatment, less than 20% provide telehealth options. Challenges remain, with 40% of principals finding it difficult to ensure students receive adequate care. John Gies, principal of Shelby High School, noted, “It actually was a little bit better than I anticipated.” Despite progress, barriers persist, particularly in rural areas, and only two states have laws supporting universal mental health screenings. Gies emphasized the need for continued funding to address the mental health crisis in schools.

 

Education Week News

EdSource reports that Transitional kindergarten (TK) is making a significant impact on young learners, as seen in the case of Krystyna Kalishevskyi, who transformed from a shy, non-English speaker to a confident child fluent in English after a year in TK at Hawthorne Elementary School. With a $3bn annual budget, TK aims to provide a blend of play and academic readiness for 4-year-olds, helping to close the achievement gap exacerbated by the pandemic. However, challenges remain, including inconsistencies in program quality and teacher preparedness, as highlighted by Deborah Stipek from Stanford University. The National Institute for Early Education Research scored California’s TK program a mere 3 out of 10, indicating a need for improvement in teacher training and classroom quality.

 

EdSource

Steven Jordan has been appointed as the director of maintenance, operations, and transportation for Sonoma Valley USD. With 23 years of experience in fleet and facility management, he is stepping into a newly created position. Jordan emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating: “If we can work together, we can create a safe and efficient environment for our students and staff.” His previous roles include significant contributions to government support operations, and he aims to enhance the district's operational efficiency. Jordan's leadership is expected to bring innovative solutions and improvements to the district's maintenance and transportation services.

 

Press Democrat

Kevin Jackson, a dedicated social science and government teacher at Petaluma High School, has been selected as one of ten finalists for the Civics Teacher of the Year award from the Bill of Rights Institute. The award includes a $1,000 cash prize for each finalist, with the winner receiving an additional $5,000. Jackson has previously been recognized for his contributions to education, including a nomination for the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2019. 

 

Press Democrat

Mill Valley’s school board is re-evaluating plans to rebuild Mill Valley Middle School after cost projections for the current design rose to $156m—far beyond available bond funds. The board is now weighing renovation or relocating to a site near Edna Maguire Elementary. Earlier proposals, including using Friends Field or rebuilding on landfill, sparked community backlash and raised health and environmental concerns.

 

The Modesto Bee

The Los Angeles STEM Conference, previously known as the Valencia High School STEM Conference, is relocating to Santa Monica for the first time in three years. Abiela Sarrieddine, a sophomore at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the conference's founder, stated: “We're hosting the Los Angeles County STEM Conference... on November 8 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Creator Space LA in Santa Monica.” The event aims to enhance accessibility for students across Los Angeles County and will feature guest speakers from notable companies like NASA and SpaceX. While primarily targeting high school students, attendees of all ages are welcome. Sarrieddine emphasized the importance of diversity and accessibility, noting: “Santa Monica is the middle point... right across the Metro station.”

 

Signalscv.com

Delays in visa processing have resulted in approximately 750 fewer international students arriving at the University at Buffalo for the fall semester. Tomás Aguirre, the dean of students, acknowledged the challenges faced by these students, commenting: "We know you have had to overcome hurdles to be here." The Trump Administration's tightened visa policies have led to significant delays, with many students unable to secure appointments in time. Fanta Aw, from the Association of International Educators, predicts a drop of about 150,000 new international students this fall, which could cost local economies up to $7bn. Despite these challenges, the University at Buffalo maintains that international students do not take spots from qualified American students, emphasizing their cultural and financial contributions to the campus.

 

NPR / National Public Radio

Nearly one in three school students in India now takes private lessons, according to the government's latest Comprehensive Modular Survey, with the practice far more common in urban areas. The survey, which covered over 52,000 households and nearly 58,000 students, found that government schools dominate nationally, accounting for 55.9% of enrollments; however, in cities, that figure shrinks to 30.1%, with parents showing a preference for private unaided institutions. Twenty-seven percent of students took private coaching this year, rising to 30.7% in urban areas. Coaching costs vary from ₹525 ($5.98) at pre-primary level to ₹6,384 ($72.67) at higher secondary.

 

The Times of India