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School districts across the country will soon be able to order free rapid COVID-19 tests from the federal government. The initiative aims to provide millions of tests to schools as COVID cases are expected to peak in the winter months. This is the first time that 19,000 school districts will have direct access to tests from a federal stockpile. Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response within the Department of Health and Human Services, states that the tests can be used by schools as they see fit, including sharing them with students, staff, and family members. The federal government's effort to expand testing in community settings comes as some polling suggests that the public is becoming less likely to test and take precautions against COVID. The school testing initiative is expected to last through the winter months, and schools can request as many tests as they need each week. Rapid antigen tests are still effective in detecting key variants, including the omicron variant. Nate Hafer, a professor of molecular medicine, advises testing multiple times to ensure accurate results.

 

Ed.gov

NPR / National Public Radio

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Federal appellate judges have questioned a new Texas law that requires book sellers to rate the explicitness and relevance of sexual references in materials sold to schools. The law seeks to keep sexually explicit books off library shelves in the state's school systems by creating new library standards. The judges' inquiries focused on the definitions of sexual content and community standards in House Bill 900. Book vendors argue that the law is unconstitutionally broad and vague. The law is being challenged by bookshops, the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, and the Authors Guild. Critics say the law violates constitutional rights and is logistically impossible to comply with. The judges raised concerns about the definitions of sexual conduct and community standards. The case is still pending, and it is unclear when a ruling will be issued.

 

Denton Record-Chronicle

During a Lewisville Independent School District board meeting, an update was provided on the targeted improvement plans for Mill Street Elementary School, Huffines Middle School, and Durham Middle School. The board had approved these plans last December and the campuses have been working with Education Service Center personnel to implement them. Administration provided notes to the board as meetings were held to implement the plans.

 

Allen American

The Eanes ISD board of trustees has approved four purchases for campus projects funded by Proposition A of the 2023 bond. This decision comes after voters approved the bond in May. The purchases will contribute to the development and improvement of the campuses.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

As the debate over education savings accounts continues, local superintendents are concerned about the funding implications. Gov. Greg Abbott's proposal for education savings accounts, which would provide state money for families to attend private schools, has failed to pass during the fourth special legislative session. Some school boards are already running deficit budgets to keep up with costs. Superintendents like Ginger Carrabine of Bryan ISD worry that a voucher-like program could be detrimental to public schools and that increased school funding should not be tied to the governor's agenda. Mandy Drogin, the Public Policy Foundation Campaign Director for Next Generation Texas, supports education savings accounts as a way to provide parents with a choice in their children's education. However, Tim Harkrider, the College Station Superintendent, believes that the funding mechanisms for public schools can be misleading. Regardless, the debate over education savings accounts continues to raise concerns about funding for public schools and the impact on teachers and students.

 

Bryan-College Station Eagle

Marshall ISD trustees have unanimously agreed to oppose the proposed Texas House Bill 1, which aims to create a school voucher system. The bill would offer around $10,500 for private schools and $1,000 annually for public schools through an education savings account program. Marshall ISD joined other school districts in signing a letter opposing the bill, citing concerns about funding being taken away from Texas public schools and students in rural areas. The district has long been against the creation of a voucher system and is disheartened by recent legislation. The letter, signed by all trustees and the superintendent, will be sent to Austin.

 

Marshall News Messenger

The San Antonio Independent School District's Board of Trustees voted to close 15 schools and merge others, despite an independent audit that warned of worse grades, poor attendance, and lower test scores. Concerns were raised by parents, who felt that the process was rushed and a "done deal." The district's superintendent argued that the closures were necessary to create a more equitable district. However, the audit report, authored by a team of academics, stated that previous school closures did not improve educational equity. The report was completed in just three weeks, despite typically taking 6-9 months. Parents and board members criticized the rushed process and lack of time to review the audit.

 

San Antonio Current

Common issues like burnout and demoralization need to be addressed to repair the teacher pipeline, according to a new report by the Center on Reinventing Public Education. While common and wide-scale solutions to staffing challenges like recruitment strategies, better compensation, professional development, and more accessible pathways may help, they are not enough, the report argues. Unconventional educator roles like mentoring are appealing to teachers because they can have increased autonomy and personal connections. Most of the 32 teachers across nine school systems that CRPE researchers interviewed liked working in unconventional roles but didn’t see themselves in the positions long term. To recruit and maintain more innovative educators, the report recommends that district leaders increase teacher autonomy, customize the support provided, and determine whether reimagined teaching roles can improve student learning.

 

K12 Dive

Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District trustees have unanimously voted to appoint Ashley Chohlis as the district's next superintendent on a salary of $198,000.

 

Uvalde Leader-News

Despite some momentum around the country to increase pay for local school board members, at least 13 states explicitly ban the practice, according to an EdWeek analysis of state laws. The debate about whether school board members should receive compensation for their time and expertise has gained traction in recent years as districts contemplate how to develop more diverse slates of candidates for these influential seats. In 2023 alone, two states, Kansas and Mississippi, codified school board compensation into law, allowing members of local boards to receive pay for their work. The Denver school board earlier this month voted 6-1 to approve a salary increase for future board members, from $8,250 to $33,000 per year, the maximum allowed under Colorado law. In doing so, a board member cited a need to “remove barriers that prevent a school board that looks like and reflects” the student body. While the drive to pay school board members has happened in hopes of attracting members who are more representative of the communities they represent, no research has been conducted to test whether compensation is effective in attracting more diverse candidates or in improving board members' ability to manage districts. Still, advocates argue that the amount of time members spend working on board duties is evidence enough that they should be compensated. Many board members even say their duties are equivalent to a full-time job.

 

Education Week News

Deputy Superintendent Tim Rocka discussed Carthage ISD's career and technical education programs, highlighting the expansion of popular programs like mechanics and engineering. The district is also considering expanding into areas like transportation and law enforcement. Rocka emphasized the importance of preparing students for future careers that may not even exist yet, focusing on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The district evaluates its CTE programs based on market labor data and workforce trends, with a 10-year projection showing health science careers as the highest-paying. Other high-growth areas include hospitality, tourism, and audiovisual technology. The goal is to equip students with the skills needed for the industries of the future, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, virtual reality, and internet-related occupations.

 

Panola Watchman

More international students are choosing the U.S. for higher education, with a record growth in enrollment. The U.S. hosted over a million international college students in the 2022-2023 academic year, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. New international student enrollment surged by 14% in 2022-2023, reaching 298,523. The U.S. government and American colleges and universities are eager to welcome international students, recognizing the country's global leadership in higher education. Indian students make up a significant portion of international students, with a 35% increase in enrollment from India. The U.S. is also attracting more students from sub-Saharan Africa, with Ghana joining the list of top 25 countries sending students. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, international education in the U.S. is rebounding, with 95% of international students physically studying on U.S. campuses. The most popular fields of study for international students in the U.S. are math and computer science, engineering, business and management, social sciences, and physical and life sciences. Experts expect the interest in pursuing higher education in the U.S. to continue.

 

U.S. News