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The Supreme Court's conservative majority indicated on Tuesday that it may require schools to provide opt-outs for parents objecting to LGBTQ+ books in elementary education. During oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, Justice Samuel Alito remarked: “The plaintiffs [a group of Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Ethiopian Orthodox parents] here are not asking the school to change its curriculum. They’re just saying, ‘look, we want out.’ What is the big deal about allowing them to opt out of this?” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett also asked questions or made comments that suggested that they leaned toward the parents. The court's liberal justices argued that exposure to diverse ideas does not infringe on religious rights. The case involves the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, which approved books like “Prince & Knight” and “Born Ready,” aimed at promoting inclusivity. Critics of opt-out options warn it could lead to widespread curriculum disruptions. The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals previously sided with the schools, stating that the evidence on how the books were used was insufficient to determine any religious burden. A decision in the case is expected by late June or early July.

 

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Alabama families are on the brink of discovering whether they will receive CHOOSE education savings accounts, with over 200 schools applying to participate. Lawmakers are also considering a $375m initiative under the RAISE Act to reform public school funding, focusing on specific student needs rather than mere headcount. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the state plans to allocate an additional $100m to schools serving large populations of English learners, students with disabilities, and low-income families. “We are committing more than that funding into the public schools,” said Alabama Rep. Danny Garrett, emphasizing the importance of addressing student needs. However, teacher pay raises are unlikely this year, as funds will be directed towards benefits and rising health insurance costs. State Superintendent Eric Mackey expressed optimism about the budget proposal, hoping for a smooth approval process. Garrett noted that future budgets must adapt to the evolving needs of families and schools.

 

Al.com

Phil Chen, a parent in Denver, expressed mixed feelings about his daughter's acceptance into a new school after Palmer Elementary's closure. “Yes, we were successful in getting into our first-choice school. And that's great,” he said, but added, “I'd rather we be at Palmer.” The closure of Palmer is part of a broader trend, with 10 schools closing due to declining enrollment driven by lower birth rates and gentrification. Denver Public Schools (DPS) has implemented a new approach, allowing families multiple options for new schools, resulting in 98% of displaced students securing their first choice. Notably, 50% of these students will attend higher-performing schools next year. School board President Carrie Olson noted that low enrollment often correlates with low academic performance, but the district's strategy has successfully shifted students to better-rated schools without explicitly aiming to do so.

 

Chalkbeat

Tennessee Republican lawmakers have paused a bill that would challenge the constitutional right for children to attend public schools regardless of immigration status. House Majority Leader William Lamberth announced the decision, citing concerns over potential risks to federal education funding, which amounts to approximately $1.1bn annually for the state. The bill, which has faced significant opposition from students and advocates, seeks to undermine protections established by the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe. Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, stated, “What's undeniable is this: lawmakers have been forced to acknowledge the overwhelming, bipartisan opposition from across the state to targeting children and denying them an education.” While the bill remains in a subcommittee, its future is uncertain as lawmakers prepare to adjourn.

 

Education Week News

The Utah Fits All program, which provides education savings accounts for 10,000 K-12 students, has been ruled unconstitutional by Judge Laura Scott of the Third District Court of Utah. This decision echoes a similar ruling by the South Carolina Supreme Court regarding its education savings account program. Chris Lubienski, a professor of education policy at Indiana University, noted that “courts evaluate these programs based on variations in state constitutions.” Despite setbacks, private school choice advocates remain undeterred, with ongoing efforts in states like South Carolina to revive their programs. The Utah ruling has raised questions about the future of the program, which had allocated $100m for the next school year. Utah officials plan to appeal the ruling to the state supreme court.

 

Education Week News

Washington state has seen a dramatic increase in homeless students, with 42,436 reported in 2023, more than double the number from 2010. According to the report from Building Changes, Washington ranks sixth nationally for homeless students and fifth for the percentage of students affected. The report indicates that 3.8% of the student population experienced homelessness during the 2022-23 school year. Tacoma Public Schools has the highest number of McKinney-Vento students, with 2,685 enrolled in the current school year. Kathryn McCarthy, a spokesperson for Tacoma Public Schools, stated: “Our McKinney-Vento team focuses on removing barriers within the K–12 public education system.” The report highlights that homeless students had a 48% attendance rate, significantly lower than their housed peers, and only 63% graduated within four years. Funding efforts, including 46 grants totaling $2.3m, aim to support these students through various programs.

 

The Columbian

The Health and Human Services Department and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled measures on Tuesday to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, Green 3, and Blue 1 and 2, from U.S. food products by the end of next year. The FDA added that it is authorizing four new natural color additives over the coming weeks, and will accelerate the review and approval of others. “Kids have been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,” commented FDA Commissioner Marty Makary at a press conference, alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “For companies using red dye, try watermelon juice, or beet juice. For companies combining yellow and red dyes together, try carrot juice”. Mr. Kennedy lamented that government agencies recommend “a huge amount of sugar” for children, “and it’s hurting them, and it’s addicting them, and it’s changing their taste buds”.

 

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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) chief executive Pedro Martinez is a step closer to becoming the next commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, following a 9-2 recommendation from the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Board members praised Martinez's leadership experience and his commitment to supporting low-income students and English learners. Vice Chair Matt Hills described him as “someone who has had progressive experience in increasingly larger and more complex organizations.” Although concerns were raised about Martinez's lack of state experience, board members acknowledged his ability to drive change in education. The final decision rests with Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, who supports Martinez. It remains uncertain when the new commissioner will start and whether Martinez will leave CPS before the school year ends.

 

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Students from Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) in Newark recently undertook two significant community projects: a clean-up in Lincoln Park and a tree planting initiative behind Downtown Elementary. Nearly 45 students participated, showcasing their commitment to community service and environmental stewardship. The clean-up was inspired by a civic engagement assignment from Warren Thompson, who praised the students for their critical thinking and actionable plans. “This project gave me a voice,” said Joseph Oyelowo, a GOLCS sophomore, emphasizing the importance of taking action rather than just complaining. The following day, 26 students planted six trees along Chapel Street, collaborating with various local organizations to enhance the area. Executive Director Jared Taillefer stated, “These projects are part of something much larger—a school-wide culture that centers student voice and community impact.”

 

NJ.com

In a recent exploration of graphic novels in education, Larry Ferlazzo highlights their potential to engage students and enhance learning. Tim Smyth, an award-winning educator, emphasizes that comics can inspire students of all ages, stating, "I continue to be amazed at the power of comics and graphic novels to inspire and engage students." The article discusses various strategies for incorporating graphic novels into the classroom, such as having students create their own comics and using them as historical artifacts. Jun Shen shares a project where students crafted allegorical tales reflecting historical events, which were then shared with younger students to foster civic engagement. Kiera Beddes advocates for graphic novels as valuable instructional materials that promote critical thinking and diverse perspectives. Overall, the article underscores the importance of graphic novels in developing literacy and engaging students in meaningful ways.

 

Education Week News

Baltimore City Public Schools has reported a data breach that may have compromised sensitive documents belonging to employees, students, volunteers, and contractors. The district revealed that “certain documents may have been compromised by criminal actors,” affecting less than 1.5% of the student population. In response, the school system has sent notification letters and is offering credit monitoring services to those impacted. The district has also implemented cybersecurity upgrades and is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to prevent future incidents. They expressed regret for any inconvenience caused, emphasizing their commitment to protecting the privacy and security of their community's information.

 

The Baltimore Sun

Canada is closer to implementing a mandate for school buses to be equipped with video cameras and monitors to allow improved detection of students at stops, effective November 2027. Patricia Turner, territory manager for school bus video manufacturer Gatekeeper-Systems, was a member of a 2020 Task Force created by the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety. “We all came together to discuss what could be put on school buses to assist in keeping children safer,” she said, adding that the Task Force began with bi-weekly virtual meetings that turned into monthly discussions on "what technology is out there that can help keep children safe.” It identified four ways to improve school bus safety: Infraction cameras, extended stop signal arms, exterior 360 cameras, and automatic emergency braking. The perimeter visibility cameras  capture and stitch together real-time, panoramic video, giving drivers a comprehensive, live view of the vehicle’s perimeter to eliminate blind spots. While the Transport Canada mandate does not require camera systems to include recording capability, and the cameras would only be viewable for live look-in, Gatekeeper’s system can easily be upgraded to record video footage with Gatekeeper’s Mobile Data Collector (MDC) for easy retrieval and review. “This will be an aid to the drivers to even going around the corner, making sure that they don’t take the corner too sharply,” Turner explained. “And [it’s] one more tool to keep them feeling empowered to keep children safer.”

 

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