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New York is leading a coalition of 20 states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration, filing a lawsuit on Monday against the decision earlier this month to restrict publicly-funded programs, including those related to education initiatives such as Head Start, based on immigration status. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, argues that the policy changes will impact not only undocumented immigrants, but also people holding legal status, such as temporary workers, exchange visitors and those with student visas. “For decades, states like New York have built health, education, and family support systems that serve anyone in need,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a press statement on Monday. “Now, the federal government is pulling that foundation out from under us overnight, jeopardizing cancer screenings, early childhood education, primary care, and so much more.” The Department of Education is yet to specify an implementation date for the new restrictions, but said they won't be "generally" enforced before August 9.

 

K-12 Dive

An Ohio judge has declared the state's EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, prompting an appeal from top Republican leaders, including Attorney General Dave Yost and House Speaker Matt Huffman. The program, which allows taxpayer funding for private school education, was initially designed to assist low-income families but was expanded in 2023 to include all families. This led to a significant increase in voucher usage, from 23,333 students in the 2022-23 school year to nearly 80,000 the following year. Judge Jaiza Page ruled that the program created two separate school systems, violating the Ohio Constitution. She said: "In expanding the EdChoice program... the General Assembly has created a system of uncommon private schools." Despite the ruling, the program remains operational, with Yost affirming: "EdChoice is the law of the land." The appeal will proceed to the 10th District Court of Appeals.

 

Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati.com

A federal court has allowed a Mississippi law mandating age verification for social media users to take effect, overruling a previous block by a federal district judge. The law, supported by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, aims to address concerns over social media's impact on youth, including issues including depression and anxiety. Fitch said that age verification could help mitigate risks associated with “sex trafficking, sexual abuse, child pornography, targeted harassment, sextortion, incitement to suicide and self-harm.” However, the tech industry group NetChoice, which is challenging the law, argues it infringes on privacy rights and free expression. NetChoice co-director Paul Taske expressed disappointment in the ruling, observing: “Parents - not the government - should determine what is right for their families.”

 

U.S. News

In the Milwaukee area, license plate reading cameras are being considered by some school districts to enhance security. The Arrowhead Union High School District is contemplating the installation of these cameras, which would be managed by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department through a contract with Flock Safety. Superintendent Conrad Farner noted that the cameras would help "increase security" by monitoring vehicles entering school property. Meanwhile, the Mequon-Thiensville School District has already implemented the technology, which allows for real-time alerts on vehicles of concern. Kyle Thompson, the district's director of maintenance and operations, emphasized the system's cost-effectiveness and its role in improving safety without disrupting school activities. The cameras retain data for a minimum of 30 days, ensuring that the information is used solely for school safety.

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On July 18, the National Education Association (NEA) rejected a proposed boycott of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), highlighting the challenges teachers face amid rising antisemitism and the ongoing war in Gaza. NEA President Becky Pringle said: “After consideration, it was determined that this proposal would not further NEA's commitment to academic freedom.” The decision followed a debate among NEA delegates, with some advocating for the boycott due to concerns over the ADL's definition of antisemitism. However, others defended the ADL's broader mission against bigotry. The NEA plans to utilize a diverse group of practitioners to review educational materials aimed at combating antisemitism, reaffirming its commitment to creating safe and inclusive environments for all students.

 

Education Week News

As the academic year begins, Indiana schools are implementing significant changes due to new legislation. Notably, the state has enacted SB 289, which eliminates DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives, a move criticized by opponents who argue that DEI principles enhance education. Additionally, sex education classes must now include fetal development information, requiring schools to show a high-definition ultrasound video of early fetal growth. Transfer laws have also been relaxed, allowing students to switch schools more easily, including for athletic reasons. Furthermore, a new law mandates quicker communication with parents regarding bullying incidents, ensuring they are informed within a day. Finally, this is the first year third graders will be held back due to low scores on state testing. Students must pass IREAD-3 to move on to fourth grade — with several exceptions. Students with an IEP and some English learners, as well as kids who pass the math portion of state testing, may be allowed to move on. In the past, most kids who did not pass IREAD were promoted to the next grade in a practice known as social promotion. According to the Department of Education, over 13,000 Indiana students who failed IREAD in 2023 moved on to the next grade.

 

Chalkbeat

Word problems, often referred to as “math stories,” can be daunting for students, particularly for English learners and those with reading difficulties. Kevin Dykema, a middle school math teacher, emphasizes the importance of breaking down these problems into manageable parts. He suggests a three-step process: identifying the main character or event, highlighting key numbers, and understanding the question being asked. David Dai, an 8th and 9th grade math instructor, adds that reading problems aloud and pairing stronger readers with those who struggle can help bridge literacy gaps. Both educators advocate for adapting word problems to fit the cultural context of students and collaborating with peers to enhance teaching strategies. Dykema notes: “We need to explain to [our] administrators why spending time on three word problems, instead of five, is a whole lot better.” By changing their approach, teachers can significantly improve students' understanding of word problems.

 

Education Week News

Local and state leaders are focusing on the Inland Empire, a diverse region of 4.6m people in California, to drive economic growth through education. The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently released a report addressing barriers to college attendance and completion among Inland Empire students. While 64% of California high school graduates attended college in 2021-22, only 54% in Riverside County and 56% in San Bernardino County did. The report highlights the need for better alignment of high school and college requirements and suggests that early conversations about college should start in middle school. Kevin Cook from PPIC noted: “We are not saying each high school graduate must attend college. Our point is simply that each graduate should have the information they need and a full range of options for what they choose to do with their postsecondary life.”

 

EdSource

Ransomware attacks against schools, colleges and universities rose 23% year over year in the first half of 2025, according to cybersecurity and online privacy product review site Comparitech, with 130 incidents and an average ransom demand of $556,000. In one case ,a 19-year-old agreed to plead guilty in May to allegedly hacking and extorting student information system provider PowerSchool for $2.85m. The incident resulted in the leaking of sensitive data of 10m teachers and more than 60m students. Once a breach is discovered, experts recommend determining what external help is needed, whether from cyber incident support teams or private vendors, and alerting law enforcement — including the FBI and entities such as the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team.

 

K-12 Dive

A federal judge in Boston is weighing arguments from both sides in Harvard's lawsuit against the Trump administration. Harvard claims the government's freezing of research funds is illegal. Lawyers sparred in a Boston courtroom yesterday as they fought over President Donald Trump's decision to strip billions of dollars in government funding for Harvard's education programs. Harvard has asked the judge to reach a decision by September 3rd  - the deadline the Trump administration has given the university to wind up its financial obligations with regards to federal grants. Harvard lawyer Steven Lehotsky said that the administration was trying to control the "inner workings" of the institution. "The administration has given no consideration to patients, the public at large and the harm of all this research being cut off," said Lehotsky, who observed that Harvard has a research relationship with the U.S. that stretches back over eight decades. A lawyer for the government, Michael Velchik, said that the university had violated an executive order signed by Trump directed at combating antisemitism.

 

BBC News

NPR

Washington Post

A new global report from UNESCO suggests that children exposed to extreme heatwaves could lose up to 1.5 years of schooling, with climate change now directly impacting education systems and threatening to reverse decades of academic progress. The report, compiled by UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team, the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education (MECCE) project, and the University of Saskatchewan, found that over the past 20 years, schools were closed in at least 75% of extreme weather events affecting five million or more people. The report linked heat exposure to reduced educational outcomes. In 29 countries studied between 1969 and 2012, higher temperatures during the prenatal and early life stages were associated with fewer years of schooling, especially in Southeast Asia. "A child experiencing temperatures that are two standard deviations above average is predicted to attain 1.5 fewer years of schooling than children experiencing average temperatures," it noted. In the United States, those with lower income or without a secondary school certificate are 15% more likely to live in areas projected to see increased childhood asthma from climate-driven air pollution. The report calls for urgent policy interventions, including upgrading school infrastructure, incorporating climate education into curricula, and ensuring that disaster response plans are in place and effective.

 

MSN

On Monday, a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 individuals, including the pilot, and injuring over 100 others. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base A.K. Khandaker but experienced a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff. Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam attempted to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but it tragically crashed into the school building during class hours. The government has declared a national day of mourning, with interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressing sorrow over the “heartbreaking accident.”

 

ABC News

CNN

Los Angeles Times

Two Alabama community colleges have joined the Metallica Scholars Initiative, a program aimed at enhancing workforce development through career and technical education. Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Northwest-Shoals Community College are now part of this initiative, which has provided over $13m in grants since its inception in 2019. Each selected school receives $75,000 to improve student experiences. Metallica's bassist Robert Trujillo expressed pride in the initiative, stating, “It warms my heart to know that our Foundation's efforts are making a positive impact.” The program aims to address the shortage of skilled labor in the U.S. and has shown a return on investment of 8.3 times for graduates in their first year. The initiative continues to grow, with plans to reach 10,000 students across 75 schools nationwide.

 

Al.com