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The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Tennessee law banning certain gender-transition treatments for minors, which may influence similar state-level restrictions on transgender rights. The 6-3 decision in United States v. Skrmetti, came in response to a challenge brought by the Biden administration, three families and a physician who had argued that Tennessee's law violated the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law. The court concluded that the state's measure, which is known as SB1 and was enacted in 2023, does not run afoul of the 14th Amendment's equal-protection clause, and allows it to regulate sports eligibility and restroom access for transgender students. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. commented: “This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments.” The law, SB1, prohibits puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors transitioning genders, affecting approximately 300,000 transgender youths in the U.S. The ruling may have broader implications for ongoing cases in Arizona, Idaho, and West Virginia regarding transgender participation in sports. trans rights advocates said they’re worried the ruling could push trans youth in other states to more dangerous, unsupervised sources of gender affirming care.

 

CBS News

Chicago Tribune

Education Week News

New York Times

The Green Bay Area Public School District has sold Wequiock Elementary for $500,000, marking a significant step in its consolidation process. The buyer, David Charles, president of Cash Depot Ltd., expressed that he purchased the property due to its favorable location, although he currently has no plans for its use. The district faced annual operating costs of $83,206 for the vacant building, which included utilities and maintenance. Green Bay Superintendent Vicki Bayer stated: "The closure and sale of Wequiock was a difficult decision, which was made necessary due to the continued underfunding of public education by the state legislature." She warned that "more difficult decisions" may follow if the proposed state budget does not improve.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

Jim Cooper, a Washougal school board member, is urging district leaders to evaluate the costs and benefits of operating four elementary schools that are currently underutilized. He said: “anyone who looks at this elementary school data will conclude we are underutilizing that space.” The district's capital facilities plan indicates that none of the elementary schools reached capacity during the 2024-25 school year, with Gause Elementary at just 39% capacity. Cooper emphasized the need for discussions on efficient utilization of school buildings to ensure responsible use of public funds. The district is also facing a projected decline in student enrollment, with a forecasted drop to 2,358 students by 2028-29. The preliminary budget for 2025-26 anticipates expenditures of $51.7m, with significant cuts expected due to declining enrollment. The board will vote on the budget in August.

 

The Columbian

On Wednesday, a panel of regional educators talked about the complexities of cyber charter education in Pennsylvania, along with potential reforms to the system. Greater Johnstown School District Superintendent Amy Arcurio, Windber Area Superintendent Michael Vuckovich and Indiana Area Superintendent Robert Heinrich were joined by Westmont Hilltop Elementary School teacher Jennifer Kresak and by Dylan Wyatt, director of advocacy for the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials. Topics under discussion included whether the state should emulate a cyber charter program from another state, tuition impact on budget, and what changes the panel would make to the existing model if they had the power to do so. Given the option, they said, they would update the existing cyber charter system to increase accountability for residency confirmation; study the cost of educating students in that format and implement a flat rate for all districts; and close the enrollment loophole that allegedly prevents accountability.

 

The Tribune-Democrat

California's college math reforms, particularly the implementation of AB 705, have sparked a debate about their effectiveness. While the law aimed to improve access to transfer-level math courses, leading to a rise in pass rates from 27% to 62% between 2016-2024, many faculty members express concerns about increased failure rates, particularly among students of color. As one instructor noted, “There are a lot more people failing than before.” This paradox highlights the tension between overall success and individual struggles. The reforms have expanded access but also introduced new challenges in the classroom. Moving forward, it is crucial to balance data-driven policies with the lived experiences of students and faculty to ensure equitable outcomes for all.

 

EdSource

The Alternative Student Transportation Association (ASTA) has been established, bringing together six major alternative transportation providers, including 4MATIV and HopSkipDrive. The new association aims to advocate for flexible, student-centered transportation solutions and educate stakeholders about the importance of consistent industry standards. An ASTA spokesperson said: "We came together to create the Alternative Student Transportation Association to advance safe and reliable alternative student transportation across the United States." The association recognizes the challenges faced by the industry, such as budget cuts and bus driver shortages, and is committed to ensuring that every student has access to quality education through innovative transportation solutions.

 

School Bus Fleet

Betsy Springer, a teacher and instructional coach at Gull Lake Partnership in Richland, Michigan, has developed courses called Adulting 101 and Adulting 102 to address the lack of essential life skills taught in high schools. A recent Gallup survey revealed that many high school students feel unprepared for post-graduation life, with 47% of parents not discussing future plans with their children. Springer’s classes cover topics such as banking, budgeting, job interviews, and home maintenance, aiming to fill the gaps left by traditional education. She emphasizes the importance of community involvement, bringing in local experts to share their knowledge. As she noted, “I think they have all the capabilities. I think what they need most is adults around them who say to them: You can do it, you can figure it out.” The courses have gained popularity, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for practical life skills in education.

 

Education Week News

Thousands of school districts' confidential documents were potentially accessible due to a technical glitch in BoardDocs, a software for managing school board meetings. Nithya Das, general manager of governance at Diligent Corp., explained that the issue stemmed from a “misconfiguration” rather than a malicious attack. Approximately 1% of documents, around 64,000 files, were affected. Doug Levin, a school cybersecurity expert, emphasized the need for vendors to partner with schools on cybersecurity, commenting: “This [BoardDocs incident] is underscoring that we need our vendors and suppliers to be partners with us with respect to cybersecurity.” BoardDocs is currently investigating the issue and has begun notifying affected clients. However, Levin criticized the company for not proactively informing its user base about the problem.

 

Education Week News

On Monday Caiyla Turner, a 17-year-old student at Davis Aerospace Technical High School in Detroit, shared her inspiring journey at a press conference celebrating the school's return to City Airport after 12 years. Caiyla, who struggled academically at her previous school, found renewed motivation and support at Davis Aerospace, explaining: “I always felt like I was so far behind... but it actually does [have power].” The school will reopen in fall 2026, funded by a $7m state appropriation and over $32 million from the district's philanthropic arm. Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti emphasized the program's unique integration of aviation and core subjects, aiming to enroll 200 students. The return to City Airport will enhance hands-on training opportunities, including pilot and drone certifications, fostering future careers in engineering and aviation.

 

Chalkbeat

In the aftermath of pandemic challenges, many pre-K teachers are contemplating leaving their positions due to overwhelming stress and inadequate pay. A recent RAND survey involving 1,427 public school pre-K teachers revealed that these educators experience work-related stress at nearly double the rate of other professions. Elizabeth Steiner, a senior policy researcher at RAND, said: “Teachers of public school-based pre-K were generally more stressed.” Key stressors identified include student behavior, mental health issues, and low compensation, with pre-K teachers earning about $7,000 less than their K-12 counterparts. Additionally, they reported working an average of eight unpaid hours weekly, compounded by excessive administrative tasks.

 

EdSource

The U.S. State Department has issued new guidelines for vetting student visa applicants, emphasizing the need to identify "hostile attitudes" towards American values. This directive, communicated to diplomatic posts globally, mandates a thorough review of applicants' online presence, including social media and other digital footprints. The guidance aims to ensure that individuals seeking entry into the U.S. respect its laws and principles. The new vetting process is to be implemented within five business days, with a focus on expediting appointments for certain categories of applicants, including J-1 physicians and F-1 students at universities with low international student populations.

 

CNN Edition

Politico

U.S. News

In response to a tragic school shooting in Graz, Austria, where a 21-year-old gunman killed 10 people before taking his own life, the government is set to implement stricter gun control measures. Chancellor Christian Stocker stated, "We promised that we would not go back to business as usual," emphasizing the need for responsibility following the incident. The new regulations will raise the minimum age for gun permits from 21 to 25, enhance psychological testing, and extend the cooling-off period for weapon purchases to four weeks. Additionally, the government plans to improve psychological support in schools and increase police presence around educational institutions. These changes aim to prevent future tragedies and ensure public safety.

 

U.S. News