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Canvas, the online learning platform used by thousands of schools and universities across the U.S., suffered a widespread outage Thursday after hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on parent company Instructure. The disruption affected major institutions including Harvard and the University of Michigan during final exam season, as well as school districts in California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin, though most users regained access later in the day. Instructure said Canvas was operational again for most users, although some testing services remained offline. ShinyHunters claimed it accessed data belonging to more than 275m people across nearly 9,000 schools, threatening to release additional information unless Instructure responds by May 12. The group said the stolen data includes personal information such as names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and Canvas messages. Instructure disclosed a cybersecurity incident on May 1 and said forensic experts were investigating. The company stated there was no evidence that passwords, financial information, government IDs, or birthdates were compromised, and said the breach had been contained by May 2. The hacking group briefly posted ransom messages directly on student Canvas pages before those notices were replaced with maintenance alerts. ShinyHunters has previously targeted major companies including Ticketmaster, Microsoft, and AT&T, and has recently focused on education-related organizations.

 

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As the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches, history teachers across the U.S. are striving to make the nation's founding documents relevant to today's students. Karalee Wong Nakatsuka, a history teacher in California, emphasizes the importance of discussing the Declaration's ideals, stating: “From the beginning, we talk about the Declaration.” However, educators face challenges in a politically divided climate, with many feeling pressure to navigate sensitive topics carefully. A recent survey revealed that over half of teachers find teaching civics difficult, with nearly 20% experiencing backlash for their lessons. Despite these challenges, about 80% of teachers prioritize the Revolutionary period and founding documents in their classrooms, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of history among students.

 

U.S. News

Stanford’s “Getting Down to Facts” project examines California public education from preschool through high school, covering finance, special education, teacher certification, enrollment decline, accountability and school redesign. Project director Susanna Loeb calls this “an inflection point” as new leadership, reduced federal oversight and emerging technologies reshape schools. The findings note record state funding, major investments in transitional kindergarten, after-school programs, community schools and literacy reforms, plus the highest number of newly credentialed teachers in a decade. Still, performance remains uneven. Loeb highlights “a lack of coherence,” including fragmented governance, unclear authority, burdensome accountability plans and dashboards many administrators and parents find difficult to use.

 

EdSource

Several schools in the Alliance College-Ready charter network in Los Angeles have doubled teachers’ planning time during the school day as part of a pilot program designed to reduce burnout and improve retention. The revised schedules give teachers eight to 12 hours of weekly planning time without reducing student instructional hours. Schools achieved the change through revised timetables, co-teaching models, expanded dual-credit programs, and reduced supervision duties. Teachers said the additional time has significantly improved work-life balance, reduced the need to take work home, and allowed for more meaningful lesson planning and collaboration. The changes have also coincided with stronger student outcomes, including lower chronic absenteeism and gains in English and math performance. Teacher retention across Alliance schools improved from 87% in 2022-23 to 91% in 2024-25. The network now plans to expand the pilot program to 11 schools by the 2027-28 school year.

 

Education Week News

More than 100 teachers from Pajaro Valley USD gathered outside the Watsonville Civic Plaza to protest a proposed cap on healthcare coverage, which they argue would effectively reduce their pay. Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, stated: “For a family, it would cost them approximately $11,000 out of pocket to stay in their plan.” The district claims the cap is necessary for financial stability, citing rising healthcare costs. Teachers are also advocating for smaller class sizes and better support for special education. Diniz noted that over 90% of union members are prepared to strike if negotiations do not progress. The district hopes mediation will lead to a resolution that maintains educational continuity while addressing teachers' concerns.

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Palo Alto USD is facing a contentious debate over Measure B, a proposal to renew a parcel tax of $800 per year, which aims to generate $14.6m annually for the district. Supporters, including teachers union president Tom Culbertson, argue that the tax is essential for maintaining high-quality education, stating: “This community has demanded the highest and best-quality education, and there is investment required to make that sustainable.” However, former board members Ken Dauber and Todd Collins oppose the measure, citing a significant increase in district reserves and declining student enrollment. They argue that the district should utilize its existing reserves rather than impose another tax. If Measure B fails, Dauber and Collins suggest a more reasonable proposal may appear on the November ballot. Supporters warn that without the tax, essential programs and teacher positions could be at risk.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

Sacramento City USD is facing a severe financial crisis, described by former chief business officer Janea Marking as an "impending tsunami." The district plans to eliminate 136 full-time equivalent positions, saving $23.7m, but this will not prevent insolvency next school year. The Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) has warned that without state intervention, the district could run out of cash by February. Michael Fine, chief executive of FCMAT, will present options to the board, including borrowing money from the state, which would lead to receivership and loss of local control. Trustee Taylor Kayatta emphasized: “State receivership is not an option,” reflecting the board's concerns about the district's future.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Palo Alto USD is facing a lawsuit from four parents due to unpaid legal fees owed to attorney David Tollner, totaling $38,311. The lawsuit stems from a previous case where the district was accused of violating the state's 2015 Math Placement Act, which mandates a fair and transparent math placement policy for students entering high school. Tollner said: “Our clients and I would much prefer just to get the check,” highlighting the ongoing payment issues. Despite a court ruling in February 2023 that ordered the district to improve its math placement practices, the district has yet to fulfill its financial obligations. Attorney Mark Davis, representing the district, acknowledged the delay and assured that the fees would be paid shortly. The parents involved believe that their legal actions will help many students access more advanced math courses.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

Rocklin USD has approved a $159,000 upgrade for the theater seating at Rocklin High School, set to begin in May and finish by August 10. Sundeep S. Dosanjh, the district's chief of communications, mentioned that the district is also considering a $288m school improvement bond for future modernization. “The goal of a bond would be to secure state matching funds, enabling the school district to modernize and improve learning environments for future generations,” he said. The proposed bond measure, which may appear on the November 2026 ballot, aims to fund essential repairs and upgrades across local schools. Emily Masnica, a theater teacher at Rocklin High, expressed excitement about the new seating, stating: “The new seats will be an incredible upgrade that we are beyond grateful and excited about.”

 

The Sacramento Bee

Magnolia Heights Middle School in San Bernardino has officially replaced its previous name, Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, following serious allegations against the late labor leader. The San Bernardino school board voted unanimously on May 5 to rename the school after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced in a New York Times report.

 

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

A historic preschool in Sacramento, Edward Kelley, will remain open due to a dedicated campaign led by Amanda Chapman, a teacher at the school for ten years. During a Sacramento City USD board meeting, Chapman expressed gratitude, saying: “Thank you Sac City for putting kids and families first.” The preschool was initially slated for closure amid a $170m district deficit. However, after collaboration with the board, a plan was devised to keep the school operational with minimal costs. This includes Chapman reducing her hours and forgoing benefits, alongside raising tuition to cover expenses.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Over 200 students from the Hollister School District participated in the Gifted Games at Gilroy High School, an event designed for students with mild to moderate disabilities. Dr. Gabriel Gutierrez, Director of Special Education, emphasized the importance of social interaction, stating: "Students were excited. Parents were really excited about being there." The activities included Olympic-style events tailored to the students' skill levels, such as javelin and basketball.

 

Hollister Free Lance

School districts across the U.S. are scaling back classroom technology use after spending billions on laptops, tablets, and educational software during the pandemic, amid growing concerns about student attention spans, academic performance, and excessive screen time. Schools spent between $15bn and $35bn in federal pandemic relief funding on education technology between 2020 and 2024 according to the Edunomics Lab, and by last school year, 88% of public schools reported providing every student with a device. However, at least a dozen states have since proposed or adopted policies limiting in-school screen time, including restrictions on virtual instruction and device use for younger students. Districts in Los Angeles, Utah, Iowa, Missouri, and Tennessee are among those introducing new rules or reconsidering classroom technology practices after pressure from parents and educators.

 

The Modesto Bee

Washington Post

Nova Scotia’s regional centers for education will reduce 150 positions as part of a government effort to achieve administrative cost savings, with critics warning the changes could weaken student support services. Education Minister Brendan Maguire said 47 positions will be eliminated through attrition, while other staff, including teachers in specialist and administrative roles, will return to classroom teaching. The province says the changes are intended to strengthen student outcomes and address shortages of math, science, and French teachers. The cuts are tied to a provincial requirement for regional education centers and other public sector bodies to reduce administrative costs by 3% annually over the next three years. Opposition leaders criticized the move as an austerity measure disguised as reform. NDP Leader Claudia Chender said there is no evidence the reductions will improve student outcomes, class sizes, or access to in-school supports, while Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin argued that coaching and specialist positions are essential to improving educational performance.

 

CBC News