Become more informed in minutes....

Schools are increasingly concerned about potential funding disruptions despite Congress's recent approval of a federal budget without major education cuts. The Trump administration is revising grant rules to limit prioritization of racial equity and support for undocumented immigrants, which may complicate access to federal funds. Catherine Pozniak, a school finance consultant, remarked: "The theme here for me is: [The Trump administration] got stopped in one way, and this is another way they're trying to do it." The administration's past actions have already disrupted over $12bn in federal education funds, leading to delays and cancellations of grants. As the administration continues to implement its political priorities through grantmaking, many school districts are left uncertain about their funding future and are preparing for potential financial shortfalls.

 

Education Week News

Why Great Teachers Don’t Guess When It Comes to Support

With California’s English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework guiding instruction from preschool to high school, we’re all tuning into literacy in a whole new way. The framework’s five big ideas — Foundational Skills, Meaning Making, Language Development, Effective Expression, and Content Knowledge — aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the compass for knowing when and what kind of support students truly need to be successful readers and writers.

Teachers deserve high-quality instructional resources that enable them to pinpoint exactly when and where a student needs support — whether that’s decoding in kindergarten, vocabulary in middle school, or strategic comprehension in high school. A literacy approach rooted in evidence-based instruction and intentional monitoring ensures all students succeed.  

Dive into evidence-based practices that advance teaching and learning.

 

Attorneys general from 17 Democratic-leaning states have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy requiring colleges and universities to submit detailed admissions data, including applicants’ race, gender, test scores, and grade point averages. The administration says the requirement is intended to ensure institutions comply with the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling restricting race-conscious admissions. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has argued the data collection will increase transparency and help determine whether universities are still using racial preferences in admissions decisions. However, the states claim the mandate was implemented too quickly and imposes a significant administrative burden on colleges, requiring them to compile seven years of admissions data, much of which institutions may not have readily available. The lawsuit also argues the policy could politicize the National Center for Education Statistics, a traditionally nonpartisan agency, by turning it into a tool for enforcing political objectives. Critics say schools are being forced to spend significant time and resources gathering data that may ultimately have limited practical value, while the administration maintains that taxpayers deserve greater transparency about how universities handle admissions following the Supreme Court decision.

 

ABC News

New York Times

Around 2,000 teachers in Northern Sacramento have taken to the picket lines, continuing strikes in Twin Rivers and Natomas USDs. Public leaders, parents, and students are urging the districts to meet union demands for better pay, improved health care, and smaller class sizes. Assemblymember Maggy Krell attended negotiations but no agreement was reached after four-hour sessions. Krell emphasized the need for “fair and reasonable requests” from the teachers' union. Many parents and students are concerned about the impact of the strikes on education, with some students experiencing overcrowded conditions. Trustee Basim Elkarra raised moral questions about funding priorities, stating: “If we can spend billions on destroying things overseas, surely we can find resources to build minds here at home.”

 

The Sacramento Bee

California is taking significant steps to enhance civics education in K-12 schools, with the State Board of Education planning to add civics to the California School Dashboard on March 11. This initiative aims to encourage students to excel in government classes and engage in community activities. Michael Matsuda, former superintendent of Anaheim UHSD, emphasized the urgency of teaching democracy, stating: “Who’s responsible for making sure the next generation upholds democracy? It’s not in the air — it’s something that has to be taught.” Despite past sidelining of civics education, recent efforts, including the Seal of Civic Engagement, have seen a rise in student participation, with over 23,000 students earning the seal last year. However, challenges remain, particularly in politically mixed communities where teachers hesitate to address controversial topics.

 

The Sacramento Observer

The Bakersfield

A new analysis by edtech company Instructure and nonprofit InnovateEDU found that most digital tools used in K–12 classrooms lack strong evidence demonstrating their impact on student learning. The study examined 150 commonly-used classroom technologies, using anonymized usage data from LearnPlatform between August and December 2025. Researchers evaluated the tools against evidence standards outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which requires federally funded educational interventions to be supported by research. The study found that 60% of purpose-built education technology tools and 98% of general consumer technologies used in classrooms do not meet ESSA evidence standards. Among the tools analyzed, only 2% met the highest Tier I evidence level, which requires strong, well-designed studies showing positive results. Another 5% met Tier II, 14% met Tier III, and 19% met Tier IV, the lowest tier that only requires a research plan rather than proven outcomes. Overall, just 21% of the tools demonstrated clear positive results beyond the lowest evidence tier. The report also found differences in compliance with technology standards. About 33% of ed-tech tools met at least one data privacy certification, and 30% met interoperability standards, compared with fewer than 6% of consumer tools. Accessibility standards were more widely met, with 70% of classroom tools aligned with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, compared with 50% of consumer technologies. Researchers say the findings highlight the need for schools to more carefully evaluate digital tools as technology—including AI—becomes more integrated into classrooms. The report encourages districts to prioritize evidence of learning impact, student privacy protections, accessibility, and interoperability when selecting educational technology.

 

Government Technology

San Jose USD's board of education is set to vote on a recommendation to close five elementary schools by March 26. This decision follows a 20% decline in enrollment since 2017, with the district emphasizing that the closures aim to enhance students' academic experiences rather than address financial issues. The Schools of Tomorrow Implementation Committee proposed closing Canoas, Empire Gardens, Gardner, Lowell, and Terrell elementary schools, previously considering up to nine closures.

 

Mercury News

Fifteen schools in Riverside County have been honored as 2026 California Distinguished Schools for their outstanding student achievement. The awards, announced by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, recognize schools that excel in student outcomes. The award categories include Exemplary High Achievers, Achievement Gap Closers, and Beacons of Opportunity, highlighting schools that support historically underserved students. The winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on April 24 at the Disneyland Hotel.

 

Merced Sun Star

South Pasadena USD has recognized Jennifer Simon, a fourth-grade teacher at Arroyo Vista Elementary, as the 2026 SPUSD Teacher of the Year. This honor allows Simon to represent the district in the Los Angeles County Office of Education Teacher of the Year program, which acknowledges educators for their “exemplary dedication, compelling classroom practices, positive accomplishments, and professional commitment to their students,” said district officials.

 

SGV Tribune

In response to a viral incident involving Redwood High students spelling out a homophobic slur, community members and LGBTQ+ advocates are urging Visalia USD to conduct an audit of its LGBTQ+ training and support systems. Superintendent Kirk Shrum acknowledged the issue, affirming the district's commitment to creating a safe environment for all students. The district has faced scrutiny before for similar incidents, highlighting the ongoing need for effective measures to support LGBTQ+ students.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

The family of 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa has filed a wrongful death claim against Los Angeles USD following her tragic death after being struck by a metal water bottle during a bullying incident at Reseda Charter High School. The incident occurred on February 17, when Khimberly intervened to protect her sister, Sharon, from bullying. Despite undergoing emergency brain surgery, Khimberly succumbed to her injuries on February 25. The family's claim alleges that the school failed to address multiple reports of bullying and did not take necessary actions to protect the girls. The LAUSD has not commented on the ongoing litigation, while the Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the attack.

 

The Orange Country Register

The California School for the Deaf-Riverside is facing a lawsuit after five boys allegedly sexually exploited a developmentally disabled girl over two years. Attorney Deborah Chang stated that the girl was "passed around" for sex, leading to severe bullying and trauma. The lawsuit claims negligence on the part of the school and the California Department of Education, which failed to protect the girl despite her vulnerabilities. The alleged assaults occurred in school facilities, and the girl was subjected to physical and verbal abuse. Chang emphasized that the school was aware of the girl's situation but did not take appropriate action, including failing to initiate a Title IX investigation.

 

LA Daily News

The Orange Country Register

Press Enterprise

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara) has apologized after a technical glitch disrupted the first day of the 2026 Naplan tests for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, preventing a “significant number” of students from logging into the online writing assessment platform. The outage lasted around two hours, according to technology provider Education Services Australia. While some schools resumed testing, others postponed assessments to the following day, raising concerns about fairness. Experts warned the situation could be perceived as inequitable if some students completed the test while others were delayed, with critics also questioning whether the disruption could affect the reliability of this year’s Naplan dataset. About 1.4m students are expected to complete this year’s Naplan tests, which transitioned to fully online in 2022 after trials away from paper began in 2016.

 

ABC News (Australia)

The Canberra Times

The Guardian