Become more informed in minutes....

The White House has announced that 67 tech companies and associations have signed a pledge supporting the Trump administration's aim of making artificial intelligence (AI) education accessible to all students. The “Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education,” signatories of which include Google, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, NVIDIA, MagicSchool, and Varsity Tutors, supports efforts to “provide resources that foster early interest in AI technology, promote AI literacy, and enable comprehensive AI training for educators.” “It is clear there is a lot of energy about AI and how it can be used responsibly in education,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “The resources and tools that have been pledged through this initiative will help our teachers and learners leverage AI in classrooms and communities across America.” The Software & Information Industry Association said it will create a working group among its corporate members to develop strategies for transparently disclosing how AI tools are used in the classroom. It added: These best practices will help companies communicate to the K-12 community, parents, and students about AI’s use in school environments and equip them to responsibly use it."

 

K-12 Dive

Florida's recently approved budget of approximately $115bn allocates significant funding for higher education, including $3.9bn for the State University System and $675m in performance funding for state colleges. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed nearly $6m in initiatives for Florida State University (FSU), including funds for an Arts District building and Tully Gym remodeling. Marva Johnson, interim president of Florida A&M University, praised the budget, stating it provides a "historic level of funding for FAMU," with the university receiving $65.5m in legislative budget requests. FSU's budget also includes $128m in new funds, but key projects like the modernization of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory were not funded.

 

Tallahassee.com

Greg Johnson, known as Biskakone, reflects on the traumatic history of Native American boarding schools, where children were stripped of their identity and culture. His grandmother, Helen Chapman, endured this experience, resulting in a loss of cultural transmission. Today, Biskakone and tribal leaders are advocating for accountability from the Catholic Church and the U.S. government for their roles in these schools. A significant class-action lawsuit has been filed by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and the Washoe Tribe, alleging violations of trust responsibilities. Biskakone emphasizes the need to reclaim lost traditions, stating, “Now, we have to make it right.” Efforts are underway to teach Indigenous languages and practices in tribal schools, aiming to restore cultural heritage.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

A divided federal appeals court has upheld a Florida law mandating that teachers use pronouns corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, rejecting claims of First Amendment violations by Hillsborough County teacher Katie Wood. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1, stating that Wood was acting as a government employee when addressing students, thus limiting her speech rights. Judge Kevin Newsom noted: “When a public-school teacher addresses her students... she is unquestionably acting ‘pursuant to (her) official duties.'” Dissenting Judge Adalberto Jordan warned of the law's implications, arguing it could lead to broader restrictions on teachers' speech. The law, part of a series of measures targeting transgender individuals, could result in penalties for non-compliance, including loss of teaching certifications.

 

Florida Phoenix

The Bradenton Times

Orlando Sentinel

Sun Sentinel

Tampa Bay Times

Broward County Public Schools is facing a significant challenge due to the Trump administration's decision to withhold over $6bn from six federal grant programs. The Education Department announced that these grants, which support essential programs like teacher development and adult literacy, will not be disbursed as they are under review. Steve Gallon, a Miami-Dade County School Board member, expressed concern, stating: “We could not have anticipated a $45m haircut in July.” Antonio White, president of United Teachers of Dade, warned that working-class Americans will suffer “devastating” consequences as successful programs are canceled. John J. Sullivan, chief of staff at Broward County Public Schools, noted that the freeze “will have significant implications,” and the full extent of job risks remains unclear.

 

Local10

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently vetoed millions in state funding for essential programs, impacting health, homelessness, and infrastructure in Central Florida. During a press conference, DeSantis claimed that his budget decisions reflect “fiscal responsibility,” but many lawmakers disagree. Sen. Carlos Guillermo-Smith criticized the vetoes, stating, “The Governor’s heavy-handed vetoes of community projects... will hurt both Republican and Democratic constituencies alike.” The approved budget totals $117.4bn, with $567m in vetoed items, including funding for homelessness resources and youth mentorship programs.

 

Orlando Weekly

The U.S. Department of Education has suspended funding for several grant programs that support low-income students, potentially costing Miami-Dade County Public Schools over $45m in the upcoming school year. The funding, which was set to begin on July 1, would have aided migrant education, teacher development, and English-language instruction. Steve Gallon, vice chair of the Miami-Dade school board, expressed concern, commenting: “we pray that they do not become permanent—which could result in catastrophic learning and life consequences for children and families across Miami-Dade.” Nationwide, the cuts affect 18 grant programs totaling over $8bn. Florida alone could lose about $396m. The cancellation of a $9.26m grant for the Teacher Quality Partnership program further exacerbates the situation, alarming local education leaders.

 

The Miami Herald

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has enacted Senate Bill 248, enhancing opportunities for students to engage in public school sports. The new law allows students enrolled in virtual programs, such as Florida Virtual, and those attending private schools to participate in local public school athletic teams. The bill also permits home-educated students to join public school teams within their district, reflecting a growing demand for flexible educational and extracurricular options. Montel Stewart, Athletic Director at Florida Prep, noted the importance of this opportunity for students to showcase their talents.

 

News 13

In a distressing incident at Sandhill Elementary School, a fifth-grader, referred to as B, suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a metal drink container thrown by another student. The impact resulted in a skull fracture and a brain shift of 5 centimeters due to intracranial pressure. Stephanie Yocum, president of the Polk Education Association, highlighted the increasing violence in Polk County schools, stating, “No parent or no child should have to worry about being potentially fatally harmed at school by another student.” B's mother described the event as a “senseless act” and has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover his medical expenses, which have reached $9,369 of a $15,000 goal. The incident reflects a troubling trend, with Polk County Public Schools reporting over 5,000 disruptive incidents in the past school year.

 

Lakeland Ledger

Developing countries currently face a $420bn annual gap in the funding needed to achieve gender equality, UN Women estimates; a gap that means programmes and services for women and girls are chronically underfunded. The estimate comes in the midst of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development underway in Sevilla, Spain. “We cannot close gender gaps with budgets that are lacking a gender lens … Gender equality must move from the margins of the budget lines to the heart of public policy,” said Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, deputy executive director of UN Women. Recommendations to address this include expanding gender-responsive budgeting which carefully tracks where funding is most needed and supporting programs which target those areas. Currently, three-fourths of countries do not have systems to track the allocation of public funds in relation to gender equality.  Specifically, investment in public care systems, such as child and elder care programmes – is essential to ensuring that women can enter the workforce.

 

UN News

A report written by two French lawmakers and published on Wednesday calls for stricter regulations on the nation's private schools, following allegations of decades-long abuse at the Catholic institution, Notre-Dame de Betharram, now known as Le Beau Rameau. The investigation was prompted by numerous complaints from former pupils, including Didier Vinson, who stated, "Aside from the women serving us food at the canteen, everyone was part of the violence." The report revealed around 250 complaints against 26 alleged perpetrators, with 90 related to sexual abuse. Lawmakers Paul Vannier and Violette Spillebout are advocating for legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for abuse against minors and to establish a compensation fund for victims. They emphasized the need for regular inspections and better training for school staff to prevent future incidents.

 

Reuters

In Bowling Green, Kentucky, a unique solution to the challenges of maintaining a 1-to-1 computing environment has emerged: high school students are being enlisted, and paid, to fix Chromebooks. Megan Marcum, the district's digital learning coach, shared insights at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference, describing the system as “a pretty well-oiled machine.” The student-run repair team has been operational for a decade, allowing IT staff to focus on more significant projects while providing students with real-world experience. The program not only saves costs by avoiding external repair fees but also ensures faster turnaround times. Students receive class credit and can earn $10 an hour, fostering a career-ready learning environment. Marcum emphasizes the benefits, noting that students take pride in their work, which enhances their confidence and ownership of the program.

 

Education Week News