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President Donald Trump has outlined a significant shift in education policy during his second term, emphasizing the expansion of private school choice while reducing the federal government's role in education. The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance to states on utilizing federal funds to promote both public and private school options, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars directed toward charter schools. Christopher Lubienski, a professor of education policy at Indiana University Bloomington, said: "This is a change in approach, using the power of the federal government to basically incentivize states to jump on board with this." The administration's actions represent a notable increase in federal involvement in school choice, a traditionally state-level issue, and have sparked discussions about the future of public education funding and policy.

 

Education Week News

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The Des Moines School Board has appointed Matt Smith as interim superintendent following the arrest of former district chief Ian Roberts. Smith, who has been with Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) since 2010 and served as associate superintendent since 2018, will lead the district under a two-year contract. Board Chair Jackie Norris praised Smith's commitment, adding: "Matt Smith is an experienced leader who has demonstrated time and time again his commitment and dedication to our students and the entire Des Moines community." Smith's leadership will focus on the Reimagining Education initiative, aimed at improving student retention and academic outcomes. A $265m bond for construction projects will be voted on by the community on November 4.

 

Des Moines Register

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officials are recommending the school board absorb ChiArts, a West Side contract school, into the district while allowing EPIC Academy, a South Side charter school, to close at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The decisions follow financial difficulties faced by both schools, prompting their leaders to suggest transitioning to district-run campuses. Andrew Broy, head of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, said: "It's a rich irony that the CTU organized some charters, forced on them structurally unaffordable contracts, and then complains when they are forced to close." The CPS board is set to vote on these recommendations on October 23, with parents and educators advocating for the preservation of their schools. Concerns about the impact of charter school closures on the community have been raised, emphasizing the need for engagement with affected families.

 

Chalkbeat

The Green Bay School District has decided not to alter school start times for the 2026-27 academic year, despite previous discussions. David Johns, associate superintendent of continuous improvement, said: "While we thought there might be a possibility to work to a later start time, just as the science tells us ... we have to do that district-wide." The School Board will review potential schedule changes at its meeting on October 13, which may include a shift to seven 50-minute class periods instead of the current eight. The district has been exploring improvements for over a year, including personalized programming for students behind on credits. Community feedback is being sought as the district prepares for potential changes in the following school year.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

As federal immigration enforcement intensifies in Chicago, advocates and parents are urging Mayor Brandon Johnson to establish a Non-Citizen Advisory Board for the Chicago Board of Education. This board, mandated by Illinois state law, aims to address the needs of noncitizen students and families. Jessica Cañas, chief of community engagement for Kids First Chicago, emphasized the necessity of the board, commenting: "The current situation we're living through with the heightened ICE raids in the city have proven why we need to have this advisory board." Despite the law's requirements, the board has yet to be formed nearly nine months after the new school board's inauguration. Concerns about immigration enforcement have heightened among parents, prompting calls for virtual learning options. Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden assured that updates on the advisory board's application process will be forthcoming, affirming the board's commitment to its establishment.

 

Chalkbeat

Devon Horton, the superintendent of DeKalb County School District in Georgia, has been indicted on federal charges related to a kickback scheme during his tenure at the Evanston-Skokie School District in Illinois. The indictment includes 17 counts, such as wire fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion, alleging Horton issued over $280,000 in contracts to associates while receiving more than $80,000 in kickbacks from 2020 to 2023. Following the indictment, the DeKalb County School Board suspended Horton with pay and appointed Norman Sauce as acting superintendent. Board Chairperson Deirdre Pierce stated that operations would “continue as normal” and emphasized the district's commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience. Horton could face over 10 years in prison if convicted, as prosecutors seek to have all involved parties forfeit the funds in question.

 

The Daily Northwestern

U.S. News

Preliminary data indicates that Philadelphia students' math scores have improved over the past three years, with 25% of students in grades 3-8 achieving proficient or advanced scores on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Superintendent Tony Watlington emphasized the importance of fact-checking claims about the district's progress, commenting: "When you hear people say the district is not getting better, we encourage all of us to fact-check folks on the record, because they are." However, challenges persist, particularly in English language arts, where scores have declined slightly. The district's ambitious goals, originally set for 2026, have been extended to 2030 to accommodate ongoing recovery from pandemic-related learning loss. The district is implementing a $100m curriculum overhaul to support student achievement, with plans to expand tutoring programs to assist more students.

 

Chalkbeat

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has upheld its decision to eliminate a $8 million state grant intended to support special education teachers in Wisconsin, citing conflicts with the priorities of the Trump administration. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) had appealed the decision, arguing that the grant program successfully improved teacher retention and had removed controversial language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from its application materials. Despite these efforts, the ED stated that the grant's objectives still contradicted federal priorities. DPI noted that the termination of the grant would significantly impact various initiatives, including training programs and partnerships aimed at supporting new special education teachers. Sue Doyle, executive director of CESA 1, emphasized the importance of early career support for teachers, commenting: "With the continual turnover of staff, we lose that momentum with supporting our students." The long-term future of the program remains uncertain.

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ohio's health department confirmed four cases of measles on October 9, prompting New Albany-Plain Local Schools to temporarily close its Early Learning Center due to a positive case in the district. Although the confirmed case did not attend the center, exposure occurred during a registration visit. The outbreak is linked to an unvaccinated family who traveled internationally. Measles is highly contagious, with 90% of unvaccinated individuals becoming infected upon exposure. Franklin County Public Health, in collaboration with Columbus Public Health, will hold a free vaccine clinic on October 11 at the New Albany Early Learning Center gymnasium. The health department stated: "Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease." The outbreak follows a previous one declared over in June, while new cases have emerged in Michigan and South Carolina.

 

The Columbus Dispatch

Baltimore high school students are increasingly encouraged to participate in the electoral process through initiatives led by Baltimore Votes and the Baltimore City Board of Elections. The Student Advisory Board, comprising students from various schools, has been instrumental in promoting voter registration and serving as election judges. Nadia Robinson, a senior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, noted: “I remember sharing student election judge information and the most common response I got from peers was, ‘I’m actually old enough to register to vote?’” The program successfully recruited nearly 100 students before the May primary and 150 before the general election. In November 2025, the new Student Service Learning Ambassadors Program will launch, allowing students to fulfill their service-learning requirements while engaging in civic activities. The initiative aims to enhance youth civic awareness and increase student participation in the electoral process.

 

Baltimore Times

California is implementing new literacy screenings for kindergarten through second grade to identify students at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia. These screenings, part of a comprehensive state literacy plan, aim to provide early insights for teachers and parents. Mariah Pospisil, applied research manager at the UC San Francisco Dyslexia Center, emphasized the importance of the tool, adding: "The data came back so quickly. I was shocked." The screenings, available in English and Spanish, are designed to be completed in under 10 minutes and will help educators tailor interventions for students. However, concerns remain regarding the assessment of multilingual students, as the law mandates that those not proficient in English must be assessed in their primary language. The screenings are not diagnostic tools but serve to guide instructional strategies and interventions.

 

EdSource

The Alberta Teachers' Association said Thursday that it will resume negotiations on Tuesday after the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, in what will be the first talks since 51,000 of the province's educators went on strike on Monday. The action stems from a dispute with the province's government regarding concerns over wages, classroom size, and a lack of support for students with complex needs. Finance Minister Nate Horner welcomed the union's willingness to get back to bargaining, adding that the government's latest offer, which included a 12% wage increase over four years and a commitment to hire 3,000 more teachers, "is reasonable, fair, and adequately represents the terms that teachers want to see reflected in their deal." 

 

CBC News