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The recent shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Milwaukee marks the second school shooting in the Madison area within seven months, contributing to the deadliest year for school shootings in Wisconsin since 1970. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database by David Riedman, there have been 48 school shootings in Wisconsin since 1969, with 26 occurring in the last three years alone. Riedman attributes the rise in incidents to easier access to firearms and unsecured guns, which allow teens to obtain weapons more readily. He emphasizes the importance of educating parents and community members about warning signs, such as an obsession with violence. "It's about existing within an identity and within a subculture," Riedman noted, highlighting the concerning trends among perpetrators of pre-planned school shootings. Meanwhile, police have confirmed that the shooter was contacted by a man in California who was plotting an attack on a government building, according to reports. The 20-year-old man who communicated with the teenager was ordered to relinquish his guns and ammunition on Tuesday within 48 hours under the state's red flag law, citing the individual as a danger to himself and others.

 

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The Hill

Boston Globe

NPR / National Public Radio

School shootings in the U.S. have more than doubled since students returned to classrooms after the COVID-19 pandemic, with 144 incidents reported in 2024 as of December 18, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. This continues a troubling trend, as annual shootings have consistently exceeded 100 since 2021, compared to fewer than 50 per year pre-pandemic. Experts attribute the surge to factors including widespread gun accessibility and societal stressors. Behavioral threat assessments and anonymous reporting systems are highlighted as early prevention tools, alongside addressing mental health concerns and fostering a cultural shift away from violence. “There needs to be a focus on detecting early signs and connecting students with mental health resources before a violent act occurs,” said Marc Zimmerman of the University of Michigan. Experts also call for federal policies to curb gun access and promote conflict mediation. With a culture of violence deeply ingrained in the U.S., the path to reducing school shootings is complex and requires systemic change, they warn. 

 

The Fresno Bee

During a public listening session hosted by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, speakers highlighted the severe impact of the special education teacher shortage on students with disabilities and schools. Aaron Parsons of the National Association of Private Special Education Centers described the crisis as nearing a "tipping point," with administrators often stepping in to provide direct services. He urged prioritizing competitive salaries and better training to recruit and retain special educators. Parent Mike Beebe shared his son's struggles with delayed services due to staffing shortages, emphasizing that such waits are a painful and unnecessary norm for the 7.5m children with disabilities in the U.S. The session, part of ongoing efforts to address the issue, followed a November briefing with recommendations, including higher pay, streamlined processes, and enhanced teacher pipelines. A report with further findings and solutions is expected in late 2025. 

 

K-12 Dive

New York City's school board voted Wednesday to approve a $17m, five-year contract with Pearson to digitize the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), which determines admission to elite public high schools like Stuyvesant. The decision ends months of uncertainty over the test's future and ensures compliance with state law mandating the SHSAT for admissions. The Panel for Educational Policy approved the contract with a 14-2 vote, with four abstentions, after extensive public testimony and debate. Critics argued that the shift to a computerized test could exacerbate inequities, particularly for Black, Latino, disabled, and English learner students, and questioned Pearson's track record and the proposal's cost. City officials emphasized that without the contract, the test could not be administered, potentially leaving freshman classes at specialized high schools unfilled. Some panel members had proposed extending the paper-based test contract temporarily, but this was not pursued. The move to computerize the SHSAT reflects broader tensions over diversity and admissions in New York City's segregated school system.

 

Chalkbeat

Florida is investing $15.6m in a contract with Trinity Education Group to create a cloud-based platform for parents and school staff to access K-12 instructional materials and library media resources. The initiative, supported by the Florida Department of Education, aims to enhance transparency and compliance with state laws. However, critics, including Public School Defenders, argue the funds could address more pressing needs, such as classroom resources, teacher pay, and mental health services. Parent Katie Hathaway expressed concerns about potential book bans, stating: “Florida ranks first in book bans and last in teacher pay—lawmakers must prioritize education better.” In response, the Florida DOE emphasized the database's role in promoting parental rights and compliance with state statutes, with plans to launch the platform in early 2025. As of December 9, $3.2m of the contracted funds have been disbursed.

 

News4Jax

During a recent Chicago Board of Education meeting, members expressed their support for CPS chief executive Pedro Martinez amid discussions of his potential ousting. Newly elected board members urged the current board, appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, to reconsider plans to terminate Martinez, emphasizing that residents entrusted them with this decision during the recent school board elections. Jessica Biggs, an elected member, noted: “The mood in the room shifted. It was deeply disappointing for everybody.” The push to replace Martinez has been fueled by tensions with Johnson and criticism from the Chicago Teachers Union regarding staffing and contract negotiations. As the new board prepares to take office on January 15, discussions about possible legal actions to protect Martinez's position are underway.

 

Chalkbeat

Superintendent Marie Feagins' potential ouster from Memphis-Shelby County Schools has been postponed after a divided school board voted 5-4 to delay the debate until January 2025. The resolution, introduced by board Chair Joyce Dorse-Coleman, alleges "professional misconduct," including misleading the board about overtime payments and accepting a donation without approval. Feagins, who has been in her role for less than nine months, vehemently denied the allegations, calling them "meritless and baseless." She stated, "I’ve said time and time again, if I’m ever the barrier I will leave," emphasizing her commitment to transparency. The board's dissatisfaction with her performance has been evident, but the strong support from some members during the heated meeting indicates a complex relationship between Feagins and the board.

 

Chalkbeat

The Denver school board has unanimously approved new rules for public comment sessions, reducing individual speaking time from three minutes to two and implementing stricter guidelines. Key changes include dividing public comment into two parts: one restricted to upcoming voting agenda items and another unrestricted, with each limited to 30 minutes. Groups of speakers will have four minutes collectively, and virtual public comment will not be available until the 2025-26 school year. Speakers must have an established connection to Denver Public Schools, and exceptions to the rules can be granted by a majority board vote. These changes, effective January 1, aim to streamline meetings but could limit the number of participants per session.

 

Chalkbeat

On Thursday, the Michigan Senate approved several charter school transparency bills, which are now expected to be signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Despite the passage, more significant reform proposals failed in the House, which ended its session abruptly. The approved bills mandate that charter schools publicly disclose the names of their primary educational management organizations and authorizing bodies in promotional materials, enrollment applications, and online. As stated, "Charter school reforms remained the last major education policy priority of Democrats in the lame duck session." The Senate has yet to address another bill requiring charter schools to disclose average teacher salaries.

 

Chalkbeat

In Massachusetts, a group of parents has filed a lawsuit against prominent reading curriculum creators, including Lucy Calkins, Irene Fountas, and Gay Su Pinnell, claiming deceptive marketing of their materials. The lawsuit has sparked varied reactions within the K-12 community, with some educators supporting the move as overdue accountability. One teacher expressed frustration, stating: "40 years—FORTY YEARS—of data show absolutely ZERO improvement in reading comprehension levels." While some educators acknowledge valuable elements in the programs, they criticize the implementation and the abandonment of fundamental language learning principles. The lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of these widely used reading curricula.

 

Education Week News

The Elizabeth School District has permanently removed 19 books, including The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, from its libraries, citing highly sensitive content. In response, two students and organizations, including the NAACP and the Authors Guild, have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, claiming these removals violate free speech protections. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions in the Elbert County community regarding book bans, LGBTQ rights, and critical race theory. The removed titles predominantly feature themes related to LGBTQ individuals and people of color, with discussions on racism and police violence. The district's recent switch to a new book fair vendor, Sky Tree Books, which avoids certain content, has further fueled the controversy. As stated in the lawsuit, the school board members labeled the content as "disgusting."

 

Chalkbeat

The Little Miami School Board in Ohio is considering a new policy that may limit classroom decorations, requiring teachers to remove displays not directly related to their curriculum. David Wallace, a board member, stated: "Materials in the classroom should reinforce the subject being taught." The proposal has sparked significant community backlash, with nearly 600 signatures on an online petition against it. Wayne Lyke, president of the teachers' union, argued that the policy would negatively impact students and teachers, stating, "This policy would take away all of that life and vitality and create a sterile, institutional environment."

 

Cincinnati.com