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Three finalists for the 2026–27 National Middle School Principal of the Year award say fostering a strong sense of belonging is key to improving attendance, behavior, and academic success. Deborah Dennie, principal of Leonardtown Middle School in Maryland, uses creative incentives and community connections to motivate students to attend school. One initiative included inviting Miss Maryland, Maria Derisavi, to encourage students to show up every day. Dennie built excitement with trivia, videos, and prizes ahead of the visit, part of a broader effort to keep students engaged throughout the school year. Her school’s attendance rate has risen to 94.5%, up from 93% the previous year. Sonia Ruiz, principal of Jane Addams Middle School in Illinois, gathers regular feedback from students through surveys to understand what makes them feel connected to school. Using the responses, she implemented a “2x10” strategy in which teachers spend two minutes a day for ten days building relationships with students who feel disconnected. Ruiz has also adjusted advisory periods to address both academic gaps and social-emotional development. David Wiedlich, principal of Radnor Middle School in Pennsylvania, focuses on ensuring every student is known personally by at least one adult. Twice a year, staff review student photos to identify those who may not yet have strong connections with teachers, and then intentionally work to build relationships with them. All three leaders emphasize that when students feel seen, supported, and connected to their school community, they are more likely to attend regularly, stay engaged, and succeed academically.

 

Education Week News

Why Great Teachers Don’t Guess When It Comes to Support

Ever feel like you’re part detective, part reading coach, and part superhero? You’re not alone. Teachers everywhere are asking, “Where exactly does this student need support?” and “How do I find it fast?” — because those answers unlock real progress.

Whether it’s helping a kindergartner decode their first sight words or guiding a 10th grader through complex text, pinpointing what a student really needs makes all the difference.  

Great instruction shouldn’t feel like a puzzle with missing pieces. High-quality instructional resources grounded in the Science of Reading make supporting students your superpower.   

Hear from Leading Experts on the Evidence-Based Practices That Support Your Instruction and Advance Student Achievement.

 

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles USD school board convened its first public meeting since an FBI raid involving Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who remains on paid leave. There was no public discussion related to the suspended leader who, in a separate statement, reiterated his innocence, and a desire to return to work as soon as possible. The board voted 4-3 against renewing the charter for Green Dot Locke High, citing its lower performance compared to traditional schools. This decision could lead to the school's closure at the end of the academic year. The board also approved four labor contracts with smaller unions and passed a resolution to avoid contracts with vendors linked to immigration enforcement.

 

Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Times

The Waukee Community School District in Iowa has appointed Andy Crozier as its new superintendent, effective July 1, pending school board approval. Crozier, currently the superintendent of the Central Lee Community School District, has a notable history of fostering positive school culture and academic success. He said: "My focus will remain squarely on inspiring every learner to feel valued and prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow." Waukee has recently become the third-largest school district in Iowa, surpassing Iowa City and Sioux City. Waukee School Board President Armel Traore Dit Nignan emphasized the importance of selecting a leader who brings "curiosity and humility" to the role, highlighting the district's complexity and appeal to families. Crozier's extensive experience includes a successful bond referendum and the establishment of a universal preschool program at Central Lee.

 

Des Moines Register

The Michigan State Board of Education has extended the contract of state superintendent Glenn Maleyko by one year, less than four months after he began the role, taking his term through 7 December 2029. The extension followed a legally required evaluation that board members acknowledged was conducted early in his tenure, with many noting they lacked sufficient time to fully assess his performance. Despite this, board members broadly praised Maleyko’s early leadership, citing his collaborative approach, focus on literacy, and engagement with schools, while noting rising graduation and Advanced Placement participation rates. Maleyko, who began the job in December on a three-year contract and earns $272,000 a year, said he would continue building on the department’s momentum while addressing areas for improvement.

 

The Detroit News

The Springfield District 186 board of education has decided to commence the 2026-27 school year on August 24, following the conclusion of the Illinois State Fair. The decision, made unanimously at the March 9 board meeting, was influenced by safety concerns and the potential loss of income for students who rely on fair-related earnings for school supplies. Board member Sarah Blissett emphasized the importance of student safety, commenting: "I just want to make sure all of our students are having a safe experience at school." Despite two staff votes favoring an earlier start date of August 19, the board opted to maintain tradition. Springfield Education Association President Aaron Graves remarked that the decision represents "a historical movement away from what we've done in the past." The board plans to explore multi-year calendar options for better planning in the future.

 

The State Journal Register

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has proposed a historic budget for fiscal year 2027, allocating over $13.8bn for education, which includes $12.4bn for K-12 aid and $1.4bn for preschool. Sherrill emphasized the budget's focus on consolidating services and curricula, commenting: "This budget invests in and lays the groundwork for consolidating services and curricula." The plan also includes $33m for youth mental health services and $15m to expand high-impact tutoring to additional districts. However, it lacks new funding for the Schools Development Authority, which is responsible for school construction. The budget proposal is now with state lawmakers for negotiation, with a deadline for finalization by July 1. Education leaders are closely monitoring these investments, particularly in light of Sherrill's commitment to improving student performance and equity in schools.

 

Chalkbeat

Rochester Community Schools has refinanced its 2016 school building and site bonds by issuing $48.8m of 2026 refunding bonds at a fixed tax-exempt interest rate of 2.57%, a move expected to save about $8.6m in interest over the next 10 years. The Michigan district attracted 18 bids for the bonds and credited strong financial management and its AA credit rating from S&P Global for the competitive pricing. The district also notied it has received recognitions from the Association of School Business Officials International, with both an eighth consecutive Meritorious Budget Award for budget transparency, and a sixth Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting.

 

Rochester Post

A federal directive preventing many immigrants with temporary residency from obtaining or renewing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) is expected to worsen an existing school bus driver shortage on Long Island, industry officials warn. The change has prompted New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles to pause its CDL program for temporary residents, potentially putting hundreds of drivers out of work as their licenses expire. Bus companies estimate that around 5% of school bus drivers statewide could lose their licenses, with about 1,000 drivers on Long Island alone affected. Operators say the rule could force school districts to adjust routes, stagger school start times, or raise wages to recruit drivers if shortages intensify. Federal officials argue the crackdown is needed to address safety concerns and compliance issues with licensing rules, while unions and bus companies say the policy unfairly targets legal residents and removes experienced drivers from the workforce. School officials warn the measure could make it harder for districts already struggling with staffing shortages to ensure students can travel safely to and from school.

 

Newsday

West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt has told a U.S. congressional subcommittee that states need flexibility rather than strict federal mandates when managing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. Last month, she warned that rapid changes in AI technology mean rigid regulations could quickly become outdated, noting that West Virginia has already updated its AI guidance twice since January 2024. Instead of formal rules, the state uses checklist-style guidance for school districts, covering areas such as data privacy and responsible use, while allowing educators to experiment with new tools. Teachers are already using AI to develop lesson plans, tailor phonics exercises, and support classroom activities, while students are learning AI concepts through programs like Minecraft Education and app development projects. Blatt emphasized that AI is intended to support teachers rather than replace them and said oversight can currently be handled at the state level. However, she suggested the federal government could help by supporting research and collaboration between states as schools adapt to emerging technologies.

 

Government Technology

Young students continue to face academic challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from the education assessment and research group NWEA. First and second graders are performing worse in math and reading compared to their pre-pandemic peers, with reading scores remaining stagnant since 2021. Megan Kuhfeld, a researcher at NWEA, said: "There's something kind of systemic here happening ... within schools and outside of schools." While some districts, like Minnetonka Public Schools, have implemented effective interventions, broader societal factors, such as reduced parental engagement in reading, are contributing to the ongoing struggles. To address these issues, states like California and New York City are investing in pre-kindergarten programs to enhance early literacy development.

 

U.S. News

The family of Maya Gebala, a 12-year-old critically injured in the February 10 shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company failed to alert authorities despite internal warnings about the suspect’s activity on ChatGPT. According to the claim, the 18-year-old suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, used two ChatGPT accounts to discuss violent scenarios in the days leading up to the attack, with OpenAI’s monitoring system reportedly flagging the messages and about 12 employees identifying them as posing an “imminent risk of serious harm.” The lawsuit alleges leadership declined staff recommendations to notify law enforcement and instead only banned the first account, after which the suspect created another account and continued discussing plans for mass violence. The shooting left eight people dead, including a teacher and five students, and more than two dozen injured; Gebala was shot three times and suffered a traumatic brain injury and permanent disabilities. Her family is seeking damages, accusing OpenAI of negligence and inadequate safeguards.

 

The Hill

Wall Street Journal

Alberta school boards have removed at least 166 titles, mostly graphic novels, from school libraries after a provincial order required schools to take any material depicting explicit sexual acts out of student access. Books pulled from shelves include illustrated versions of literary classics such as The Handmaid’s Tale and 1984, as well as titles covering topics including mythology, philosophy, art, gender identity, and coming-of-age memoirs. The policy, introduced by the province’s education minister, is intended to protect students from graphic imagery, but critics, including free expression advocates, authors, and students, say it represents a broad form of censorship that ignores the educational value of the works and restricts reading choices for older students. Supporters, including some parent groups, argue the measure is a reasonable safeguard for minors and ensures schools provide age-appropriate materials, while the rule has also prompted calls for expanded oversight of libraries beyond schools.

 

CBC News