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The recent pause on visa interviews for international teachers, particularly those on J-1 cultural exchange visas, has raised concerns among school districts facing educator shortages. Many districts rely on international educators to fill critical gaps in STEM and special education. In 2023, there were nearly 6,800 J-1 teachers nationwide, according to a recent analysis of State Department data by AFL-CIO’s Department for Professional Employees, with the highest concentration being in North Carolina, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Arizona, and California. The School Superintendents Association has expressed hope that the pause will soon be lifted, allowing districts to resume hiring. However, the uncertainty surrounding immigration policies has created anxiety among international teachers, with advocates fearing it may deter potential applicants. 

 

Education Week News

K-12 Dive

Stay Compliant: Your State’s K-12 Training Requirements

State training mandates can change rapidly, making it complicated for K-12 schools and districts to stay current on mandates and state compliance. Download your state's compliance guide for compliance requirements, links to related legislation or policy documentation, details on training requirements for staff and students, and more.

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Denver Public Schools (DPS) is seeking to dismiss lawsuits filed by former East High School deans Eric Sinclair and Wayne Mason, who were injured in a shooting incident in March 2023. The lawsuits detail the events leading to the shooting by a 17-year-old student, Austin Lyle, who later took his own life. The deans argue that DPS's "systemic failures created a dangerous situation" that made the shooting foreseeable. They claim that the district's safety policies were inadequate, particularly regarding Lyle's history with firearms. DPS contends that while some risk was foreseeable, there was no immediate threat, as Lyle had not made specific threats. The lawsuits highlight the need for better training and policies to ensure safety in schools, with Sinclair's lawsuit stating that the district "did not provide faculty and staff with the resources" necessary to maintain safety.

 

Chalkbeat

The lawsuit Latino Action Network v State, filed in 2018, challenges New Jersey's residency statute, which assigns students to schools based on their municipality. The plaintiffs, including families and organizations like the NAACP, argue that this system leads to racial segregation, disproportionately affecting Black and Latino students in low-income areas. Attorney Lawrence Lustberg explained: “Our hope is that once there is a judgment, the Legislature will consider these and perhaps other ideas, in an effort to desegregate our schools.” After failed mediation efforts, the case is set for trial, with a Superior Court ruling acknowledging the segregation but not finding the state liable for constitutional violations. The plaintiffs seek an appellate ruling to address the unofficial segregation and propose reforms to enhance educational options.

 

New Jersey Herald

The Ohio Senate is proposing amendments to the state's religious release bill, aiming to prevent school districts from restricting religious groups like LifeWise from providing materials to students. The amendments would mandate that districts allow students to bring external educational materials and attend religious instruction for at least 33 periods per school year. LifeWise, a prominent Christian organization, has faced criticism for allegedly incentivizing attendance with items like candy. Jeremy Dys, senior legal counsel for the First Liberty Institute, expressed concerns about bureaucratic barriers, commenting: "It almost reads as if [policy group] North East Ohio Learning Associates is trying to work with others that don't want to see release time education occurring." The debate over religious release policies has intensified, with some districts rescinding their policies amid public outcry.

 

The Columbus Dispatch

The Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO) announced on Wednesday that its members have voted to declare an impasse with the school district. TABCO is the only union working with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) without an agreement. Though the unions’ three-year agreements provide wage increases that begin on July 1, the other four unions have agreed to delay their second-year bumps until January 1 2026. They also agreed to delay third-year increases until January 1 2027, from the original start date of July 1 2026. "Currently, BCPS has proposed a 2.7% compensation increase, whereas the existing agreement stipulates a 5% raise,” TABCO said in a statement, adding that it is also concerned about staffing cuts and educator workloads.

 

The Baltimore Sun

In the Green Bay School District, teacher resignations have decreased compared to the state average, with only 150 employees resigning this year, including 143 certified staff members. This translates to a retention rate of 91.8%, higher than the state average of 86.3%. However, some schools faced significant turnover, with Washington Middle School experiencing the highest resignations at 14.1%. Special education teachers were the most affected, with 24 resigning, reflecting a statewide trend of lower retention in this area. The number of resignations has been declining over the past few years, with 69 certified staff members resigning in 2024-25, down from 82 the previous year. Despite a report raising concerns about school culture, the district has not publicly discussed any changes to address these issues.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

The Los Angeles USD board has unanimously approved the allocation of $600m from the Measure US facilities bond to rebuild schools affected by the Palisades fire. Both Marquez Charter Elementary and Palisades Charter Elementary will be completely rebuilt, while Palisades Charter High School will undergo repairs. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho commented: "In the wake of the Palisades Fire, our commitment to students, families, and educators is unwavering." The district aims to have students return to their original school sites by fall, with Carvalho noting: "This is not just about restoring buildings - it’s about restoring hope, opportunity, community, and a sense of normalcy."

 

EdSource

Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Dallas, recently triumphed at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee, spelling “eclaircissement” and celebrating with confetti. The event featured 243 spellers from all 50 states, highlighting the importance of spelling in enhancing reading and writing skills. Despite many schools reducing spelling instruction, experts like Nikki Montana, the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee Educator of the Year, emphasize that spelling bees are educational and enjoyable. “Some people think of it as memorization, but the national spelling bee is not memorization at all,” she stated. Julie Masterson, an expert in linguistics, noted that spelling competitions help students develop critical skills, including sound-letter associations and word meanings. The camaraderie built through these competitions is beneficial, especially for English learners, as they foster academic growth and community engagement.

 

Education Week News

The Elgin Area School District U46 in Illinois is set to cover the costs of the ACT test for high school juniors this fall, amounting to $121,862. This initiative aims to help students familiarize themselves with the exam and meet dual-credit application requirements. U-46 Assessment Director Matthew Raimondi said: “This is a new initiative to stay in alignment with the Illinois State Assessment for 11th-graders.” The ACT is mandatory for graduation, and by offering it in the fall, students can prepare for the spring assessment. The district previously considered the PreACT but chose the ACT due to its acceptance by community colleges and scholarship opportunities. After the fall test, students will receive targeted support based on their performance to enhance their skills for the spring exam. Raimondi expressed excitement about this opportunity, emphasizing the importance of preparation for students.

 

Chicago Tribune

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Montana's education system, particularly in science proficiency. According to Dan Lee from the University of Montana's College of Education, chronic absenteeism and the shift to four-day school weeks are significant factors contributing to this decline. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) assessments reveal that 30% of students tested as novices in reading and 24% in math during the 2023-24 school year. Lee stated, “With nearly half of our school districts operating under a four-day model, it is unsurprising to observe declining academic performance across the board.” Additionally, recruiting qualified science teachers remains a challenge, as many opt for higher-paying jobs in the private sector. Efforts to improve teacher pay and engage students in science are essential for reversing these trends.

 

Billings Gazette

The California Department of Education (CDE) has responded to the escalating controversy surrounding transgender athletes in school sports, advising schools to maintain their stance despite threats from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ warned that California school districts could face legal repercussions if they do not bar transgender athletes from competition by June 9. However, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond emphasized “Let’s be clear: sending a letter does not change the law,” reaffirming that California law protects students' rights to participate in athletics consistent with their gender identity. The issue gained attention after transgender athlete AB Hernandez won multiple medals at the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships, prompting President Donald Trump to threaten financial penalties against California schools. Amidst this heated debate, Hernandez has been praised for her composure, with Tony Hoang of Equality California commenting: “We could not be prouder of the way this brave student-athlete conducted herself on and off the track.”

 

EdSource

China has launched a campaign to clean up harmful and illegal online content related to gaokao, the national college entrance examination, for which more than 13m students are registered this year. The Ministry of Education, along with the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Public Security, announced a joint effort to investigate and punish people who participate in online activities that threaten the fairness and integrity of the exam, which begins on Saturday. Online platforms have been told to intensify monitoring, promptly remove posts that spread misinformation or promote illegal activities, and suspend or shut down relevant accounts. Promotional tactics by some training agencies and media accounts, including claims of access to "confidential materials" or predictions made by "exam insiders" or AI models, were also condemned as misleading.

 

China Daily