Become more informed in minutes....

In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump devoted limited attention to education, focusing primarily on a nationwide K-12 artificial intelligence (AI) competition spearheaded by First Lady Melania Trump. The initiative encourages students and educators to develop AI-based solutions to real-world problems, with finalists set to showcase their work at the White House later this year. Trump did not address major education policies that have defined his administration, including deep staff cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, the transfer of key federal education programs to the Department of Labor, or expanded support for private school choice. He also avoided discussion of controversial moves such as revoking protections that limited immigration enforcement at schools and scaling back STEM grants and the department’s office of educational technology. While briefly referencing parental notification policies related to student gender identity, the president offered no new education proposals, leaving his longer-term agenda unclear as midterm elections approach.

 

Education Week News

F.A.S.T. Simulation + Targeted Intervention → Measurable Growth

Many students underperform on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (F.A.S.T.), not due to a lack of knowledge, but unfamiliarity with digital testing tools. This friction leads to avoidable mistakes, lower confidence, and testing fatigue.

Lumos Learning bridges this gap with authentic F.A.S.T. simulations and 100% B.E.S.T. aligned content. We help students build the test familiarity and stamina they need to succeed during the critical PM3 window.

Click Here to see the F.A.S.T. Prep Kit and how schools are preparing for PM3

 

A Ninth Circuit panel has declined to pause a lower court ruling that blocks the U.S. Department of Education from canceling nearly $1bn in school mental health grants without following required legal procedures. The three-judge panel rejected the department’s emergency request to stay a permanent injunction issued in December by a federal judge in Seattle. The appeals court said the department had not shown it was likely to succeed in arguing that its cancellation of the grants complied with the Administrative Procedure Act. Judges found the department’s termination notices were not sufficiently tailored to individual grants and lacked adequate explanations. Sixteen states, including Washington, sued the Education Department in July after it discontinued funding under two grant programs aimed at expanding school-based mental health services, citing conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities. The states argued the cuts threatened programs designed to address shortages of mental health professionals in low-income and rural schools, initiatives they say have reduced suicide risk, absenteeism, and behavioral issues. The district court previously ruled the department’s actions were unlawful and ordered it to issue legally compliant decisions by March 2. State officials welcomed the appellate decision, saying it protects critical support for students’ mental health.

 

Courthouse News Service

Bloomberg Law

Artificial intelligence (AI) is intensifying cyber threats against U.S. schools, enabling hackers to launch more sophisticated attacks at a time when federal cybersecurity support is being scaled back. Experts warn that generative AI tools now allow cyber criminals to craft highly convincing phishing emails, mimic the writing style of school leaders, and even create voice and video deepfakes to trick staff into transferring funds or disclosing sensitive data. AI can also rapidly scan public records, such as school budgets and staff directories,  to identify vulnerabilities. With some AI systems now capable of autonomously executing tasks, even low-skilled attackers can carry out complex ransomware operations. Schools remain prime targets due to limited cybersecurity resources and the high value of student data on the dark web. Meanwhile, federal support has diminished. Funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) was recently cut, requiring schools to pay membership fees. Other federal coordination efforts and the Education Department’s Office of Educational Technology have been shuttered or suspended, leaving districts with fewer shared intelligence resources. Despite the challenges, experts say schools can strengthen defences by focusing on cybersecurity fundamentals, including multi-factor authentication, strong password policies, regular software updates, phishing simulations, staff training, identity-verification protocols, and collaborative information-sharing networks among districts. Tabletop exercises and shared state-level partnerships can also help improve preparedness.

 

Government Technology

The Broward School District is set to eliminate approximately 1,000 jobs as part of its cost-cutting measures. According to an email sent to district employees, the "primary impact" will be on district-level positions rather than teachers and school-based roles. Employees will be informed if their positions are affected during the layoff process. School Board member Lori Alhadeff participated in discussions regarding the budget cuts at a recent workshop.

 

Sun Sentinel

At the Brevard school board meeting on February 24, 2026, heated discussions centered around student enrollment, the ousting of a teacher, and immigration policies. Although these issues were not on the official agenda, they dominated the conversation among speakers. The meeting highlighted ongoing public concern, with participants expressing their views on these pressing matters.

 

Florida Today

In Pinellas County, parents and students await a crucial decision from the school board regarding the potential closure or consolidation of several campuses. Superintendent Kevin Hendrick highlighted that while the county is growing, "the amount of children that were born 20 years ago, it's just not the same," leading to underutilized schools. The board is set to vote on five recommendations, including closing Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy, which could save nearly $15m in operating and maintenance costs. Parents express concern over losing neighborhood schools and the impact on their children's social connections.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

Volusia County Schools announced a significant increase in the College and Career Acceleration (CCA) rate for the Class of 2025, reaching 73.8%, which is a 7.1 percentage point rise from the previous year. This rate measures graduates who earned college credit through various programs, including AP and dual enrollment. Notably, every traditional high school in the district surpassed a 75% CCA rate. Mainland High School achieved the largest gain, increasing by 22.4 percentage points to 85.9%. Deltona High School continues to lead with the highest CCA rate at 91.2%.

 

Ormond Beach Observer

The School Board of Indian River County has unanimously approved new arrival and departure times for the 2026-27 school year. High school schedules will shift by 15 minutes, while middle, K-8, and elementary schools will adjust by 10 minutes. The proposed high school start time will be 7:20 a.m., with dismissal at 2:07 p.m. Assistant Superintendent Beth Crisafulli said: "The proposed schedule adjustments were really designed to enhance student learning and to keep in mind operational efficiency." The changes were based on feedback from a two-phase stakeholder engagement process, which showed strong support from families and staff. School Board Chair Teri Barenborg emphasized the importance of community input in the decision-making process. The new times will take effect in August, while Wabasso School and IR Prep will maintain independent schedules.

 

WPTV

A recent culinary competition in Florida showcased the talents of over 330 students from about 40 high schools, resulting in more than $2.1m in scholarships awarded. Laura Rumer, Director of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Educational Foundation, emphasized the competition's role in preparing students for real-world challenges, stating, “For more than 25 years, this competition has taken students beyond the classroom.” The event not only highlights student creativity and professionalism but also connects them with industry mentors, fostering the next generation of culinary leaders. Notable winners included Strawberry Crest High School, which excelled in multiple categories, and individual awards were given to students from various schools, including Denisse Sarria Tuero from St. Lucie West Centennial High School.

 

Florida Politics

Heather Bailie Schock, an assistant professor of education at the University of Tampa, emphasizes the importance of making teaching strategies visible to preservice teachers. Despite her efforts to model effective teaching techniques, students often failed to recognize them. To address this, she implemented medical-style huddles, which promote shared understanding among team members. These huddles, lasting no more than 15 minutes, begin with the question: “What did you see me do or model in class today?” This structure has led to sharper observations from students and has surfaced important concerns, such as confusion regarding state teacher-certification examinations. Schock noted: “Huddles help move pedagogy from theory to action.” By fostering a culture of celebration and reflection, these huddles have transformed the learning experience for preservice teachers, building community and reducing stress.

 

Education Week News

Mary Anna Mancuso notes in the Miami Herald that: "Many students are no longer learning cursive writing in school." Cursive was removed from Florida's curriculum in 2010, but a new bill, HB127, aims to reinstate it for grades two to five. Proponents argue that cursive is essential for understanding historical documents and developing cognitive skills. Mancuso emphasized that teaching cursive can help students become informed citizens, stating, "Florida classrooms don't have to choose between technology and handwriting — they can and should do both." The revival of cursive could enhance students' learning experiences and connection to history.

 

The Miami Herald

The Florida House of Representatives has passed a bill to transfer the University of Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus (USFSM) to New College of Florida. This transfer includes USFSM's 11 campus buildings, notably the new Atala Hall dormitory, but also the debt associated with a $44m residence hall and student center. The bill allows current USFSM students to complete their degrees at the Sarasota-Manatee campus. However, it faces criticism, particularly from State Rep. Anna Eskamani, who expressed concerns about New College's academic direction. The bill now awaits final approval in the Senate and is part of a broader budget proposal that reallocates $23m in funding from USF to New College.

 

Bradenton.com

New math, English and science resources are being introduced in New Zealand's schools after earlier delays drew criticism from teachers, with Education Minister Erica Stanford announcing the rollout alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland. The package includes a 12-week teacher-led writing programme called Scribo for Year 6 to 10 students who are a year or more behind in literacy, along with new digital math textbooks and workbooks for Years 9 and 10. The resources are curriculum-aligned and expected to support around 140,000 students and 6,000 teachers annually over the next three years. Professional development will also be provided. The announcement follows complaints from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association that the delayed materials caused frustration at the start of the school year. In addition, NZ$40m ($23.8m) from Budget 2025 has been allocated to supply hands-on science kits to primary and intermediate schools nationwide by early 2027. The kits, which will operate under a rotational “library” model managed by House of Science, will allow teachers to book experiment sets delivered directly to classrooms. The initiative will expand access from about 10% of students currently reached to nationwide coverage and includes new kits for Māori medium education. Officials said potential conflicts of interest in the contract process were appropriately managed.

 

Inside Government NZ

RNZ