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Defending Education, alongside over twenty parental rights organizations, has urged all fifty states and Washington, D.C., to conduct comprehensive audits of K-12 education laws and policies. The letter highlights concerns regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, poor hiring protocols, and discrimination based on sex and gender. Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications at Defending Education, stated: "It has become common practice for states to violate federal law in the name of diversity." The letter emphasizes the need to eliminate race and sex-based preferences in hiring and programming, which violate the Civil Rights Act. Additionally, the letter addresses the alarming trend of teachers accused of sexual abuse being transferred between districts without accountability. Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president and legal fellow at Defending Education, noted that many state laws conflict with federal anti-discrimination provisions, inviting federal scrutiny. The organization calls for "legal housekeeping" to ensure compliance with federal civil rights law and to protect students and families.

 

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Recent surveys indicate that classroom behavior is deteriorating, with 72% of educators reporting increased misbehavior since the pandemic. The EdWeek Research Center's survey of 990 district and school leaders, as well as teachers, shows a consistent rise in reported issues, from 66% in 2021 to 72% in 2024. While some schools have implemented cellphone bans to mitigate disruptions, these measures alone may not address all classroom management challenges. A recent Education Week poll revealed that 59% of educators believe building strong relationships with students is the most effective strategy for managing behavior. Educators recognize the need for a balance between rules, routines, and relationship-building to foster a positive learning environment.

 

According to the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2024, young teachers in the United States are among the most likely to leave the profession, with nearly 30% of educators under thirty planning to exit within five years. This figure is significantly higher than the 20% average in other countries, placing the U.S. in the top five for teacher attrition risk. Jackie Kreamer, director of policy analysis and development for the National Center on Education and the Economy, noted: “In a lot of the really top-performing countries, you see a much more cohesive approach to supporting new teachers.” The survey also revealed that U.S. teachers work longer hours than their OECD peers, with an average of over 45 hours per week, which may limit collaboration opportunities. Additionally, only 25% of U.S. teachers feel valued by society, a decline from previous years.

 

Education Week News

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board will convene a special meeting tomorrow to consider a $175m pension reimbursement to the city. This decision follows Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposal for a $552.4m funding increase for the district. The intergovernmental agreement stipulates that the pension payment will only occur if CPS receives the proposed funds, pending City Council approval. Interim district CEO Macquline King has included $379m from the city's surplus in her $10.2bn budget, contingent on unexpected revenue. The board will also discuss a $1.4m allocation to stabilize the financially troubled EPIC Academy charter school. The pension payment has been contentious, with former CEO Pedro Martinez opposing it due to budget deficits, while current board members advocate for it as a means to strengthen CPS's partnership with the city.

 

Chalkbeat

Katy ISD is facing a shortage of certified bilingual teachers in languages like Arabic, Mandarin, Urdu, and Yoruba. To address this, officials plan to request a bilingual certification exception for the 2025-26 school year. "These students are being supported through targeted instructional services designed to ensure English language proficiency and academic success," said Rosie Pratt, director of English as a second language and bilingual programs. Katy ISD currently supports over 22,000 emergent bilingual students and has applied for exemptions in various languages over the years. The district is also submitting ESL waivers for 109 teachers without ESL certification, providing them a year to meet the requirements. Pending board approval, Superintendent Ken Gregorski will submit the requests to the Texas Education Agency by the November 1 deadline.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence is initiating a pilot program aimed at redesigning high school and middle school education. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, emphasized the need for change, stating: "We need to overhaul the whole idea of what high school can be." The program, funded by $10m from the state budget, will support districts in developing innovative educational models that prioritize work experience, personalized learning, and multidisciplinary courses. The initiative seeks to address the shortcomings of the traditional factory model of education, which has shown to be ineffective, as evidenced by a recent survey indicating that nearly half of 11th graders find school "really boring."

 

U.S. News

A recent attack ad in the Denver school board election alleges that candidate Amy Klein Molk replaced teachers at her educational technology company, Beanstalk, with artificial intelligence (AI). Klein Molk refutes this claim, stating that the ad misrepresents her past statements. She is running for an at-large seat on the board, which could alter the political majority. Klein Molk, endorsed by the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, previously worked as a special education paraprofessional and founded Beanstalk, which offered virtual lessons for young children. The ad, funded by the independent expenditure committee Better Leaders, Stronger Schools, uses clips from a podcast where Klein Molk discussed a potential pivot to AI, which she later clarified never materialized. Dan Aschkinasi, representing the committee, emphasized the importance of informing voters about candidates' past decisions. Klein Molk criticized the ad as “dark money lies” backed by out-of-state billionaires.

 

Chalkbeat

Online education company Chegg is laying off 45% of its workforce, or 388 employees, as it blamed the “new realities” of artificial intelligence and diminished traffic from search engines. Chegg also said it is ending its strategic review process and bringing back Dan Rosensweig as CEO. Rosensweig joined the company as CEO in 2010, before stepping down from the post in April 2024.

 

CNBC

A new Afterschool Alliance report highlights growing disparities in access to after school and summer programs, especially for low-income and minority families. About 77% of parents wanting after school care can’t secure it, mainly due to cost, availability, and transport. Federal funding cuts threaten to worsen the situation. “When families can’t access afterschool programs, we all pay a price,” wrote Executive Director Jodi Grant. The report noted that high-income families outspend low-income ones 9-to-1. States like D.C., Hawaii, and California lead in access, but 27 states still lack dedicated funding streams.

 

The 74 (Online)

Research from the University of California, Davis, published in the Urban Forestry & Urban Greening journal, reveals that California school campuses are experiencing significant tree canopy loss. Between 2018 and 2022, the average tree loss was 2%, with some Central Valley campuses losing up to 25% of their tree cover. Tulare County reported the largest losses, while Imperial County saw the most gains. This decline affects approximately 5.8m K-12 public school students, who are now exposed to increased sun exposure during outdoor activities. Alessandro Ossola, an associate professor of plant sciences at UC Davis, stated: "We are trying to measure to what extent we are exposing kids to temperatures that might be stressing their body to a level that becomes uncomfortable or dangerous." The findings highlight the urgent need for tree planting and protection on campuses with limited shade.

 

EdSource

Teachers at nine high schools in Queensland, Australia, mistakenly taught students about Augustus Caesar instead of Julius Caesar just days before an ancient history exam. As a result, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek announced that the 140 affected seniors would be exempt from the exam, calling the situation “extremely traumatic.” The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority had informed schools two years prior that the exam topic would change to Julius Caesar in 2025, after four years of focusing on Augustus Caesar. Parents expressed concerns that the confusion distracted students from preparing for other exams, as the ancient history exam accounts for 25% of their yearly marks. Langbroek assured that the students would not be disadvantaged and would receive credit based on their remaining assessments.

 

U.S. News