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USA
31st March 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Pandemic-era education funding winds down, leaving gains, gaps, and fiscal challenges

With the final Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds now spent, education leaders say the $189.5bn federal investment helped schools stabilize during the pandemic through academic support, technology, mental health services, and facility upgrades, but its overall impact remains difficult to measure. Research suggests targeted gains, including improved math performance, while many districts credit the funding with preventing deeper learning loss and enabling long-term operational changes, though some now face financial strain after using one-time funds for ongoing expenses. Elleka Yost, director of advocacy and research at the Association of School Business Officials International, emphasized that districts that planned ahead have avoided financial disruption, and said school finance leaders were responsible stewards of the funding. She also noted that ESSER’s flexibility “gave a lot of opportunity” for districts to address evolving challenges facing students, families, and communities during the pandemic.

INCREASE ENROLLMENT

Guide on Marketing Your School or District

This guide provides you with actionable strategies to help communicate your school’s or district’s strengths, attract more families, and ensure parents find the best education option for their children.

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LEGAL

DOJ files Title IX lawsuit over Minnesota’s inclusion of trans students in female athletics

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota, alleging that state policies permitting students assigned male at birth to compete in girls’ sports violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. The complaint argues that requiring female students to compete against transgender athletes undermines equal athletic opportunities, creates unfair competition, and exposes girls to privacy concerns in shared spaces such as locker rooms and bathrooms. It contends that separating sports by biological sex is lawful and necessary because males and females are not “similarly situated” in athletics, and therefore such separation does not constitute discrimination under the statute.The DOJ is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Minnesota from allowing transgender athletes assigned male at birth to participate in girls’ sports, as well as damages for alleged violations.

California court rules for qualified teachers

The California First District Court of Appeal has ruled that West Contra Costa USD must hire more qualified teachers, overturning a previous decision that favored the district. The court stated, “The importance of public education is beyond question — or need of justification,” emphasizing the necessity of qualified instructors in classrooms. This case, Cleare v. West Contra Costa Unified School District, marks a significant moment as it is the first instance of a school district being sued under the Williams Settlement Legislation, which mandates access to qualified teachers. Lead plaintiff Sam Cleare, a teacher in the district, expressed that the ruling is a crucial step in holding the district accountable for providing every child with an educator. The court's decision aims to prevent the district from using substitutes beyond their legal authorization and requires the filling of teacher vacancies with certified educators.

FINANCE

Lexington Public Schools faces drastic cuts

The Lexington Public Schools district in Massachusetts is facing significant budget challenges, leading to the elimination of approximately 65 full-time positions and the issuance of non-renewal letters to 160 early-career educators. Superintendent Julie Hackett stated: "Some news is simply hard to deliver," acknowledging the impact of these decisions on individuals. The district's budget gap is attributed to declining student enrollment and rising fixed costs, which have persisted for three consecutive years. Robin Strizhak, president of the Lexington Education Association, noted that these cuts are unprecedented since the early 1990s, affecting various programs, including music and physical education. School committee chair Eileen Jay emphasized the necessity of these reductions to avoid a Proposition 2½ override, which would impose additional tax burdens on residents. A virtual meeting will be held to discuss the budget reductions and gather community input before the Annual Town Meeting.

DISTRICTS

Macquline King confirmed as Chicago Public Schools chief after interim tenure

The Chicago Board of Education has appointed interim chief executive Macquline King as the permanent leader of Chicago Public Schools (CPS), approving a three-year contract in an 18-1 vote on Monday. King, a former teacher and principal with deep ties to the district, has led CPS on an interim basis since mid-2025 and emerged as the preferred candidate following a lengthy and sometimes contentious selection process. Her appointment comes as the district faces significant financial and operational challenges, including a projected budget deficit, declining enrollment, and a transition to a fully elected school board. During her interim tenure, King navigated budget cuts, resisted political pressure on financing decisions, managed school safety initiatives, and addressed disruptions in the charter sector, earning growing support from board members and labor groups. King has pledged to prioritize student outcomes, community engagement, and fiscal stability, while continuing collaboration with educators and stakeholders.

Parents rally for suspended New Jersey superintendent

In Prospect Park, New Jersey, parents have initiated an online petition advocating for the reinstatement of Superintendent Hector Montes, who has been placed on paid leave for three months. The petition, launched by PTO president Krystle Benitez-Belardo, quickly gained over 170 signatures within the first 15 hours. It describes Montes as a “breath of fresh air” and highlights his efforts to implement positive changes in the school district. The petition urges the Board of Education to prioritize the needs of staff and students, emphasizing the importance of setting aside personal differences and politics. Montes was placed on administrative leave on a “non-disciplinary basis” through June 30, with Catherine D'Arrigo appointed as his temporary replacement. Tensions between Montes and the school board have escalated, with accusations of neglecting important business aspects of his role. The district has seen significant turnover in leadership since the retirement of Superintendent Allison Angermeyer in January 2022.

LEGISLATION

New Utah law requires students to study Bible references in U.S. history classes

Utah has passed a new law requiring public school students, beginning as early as third grade, to analyze selected Bible passages referenced or alluded to in key U.S. historical documents as part of social studies instruction. The measure, signed by Gov. Spencer Cox, directs schools to treat the Bible as a historical and literary text influencing American civic thought, while prohibiting religious instruction or doctrine and requiring lessons to remain within a secular, historical context. The Utah State Board of Education will determine the specific passages by the 2028–29 school year, with the curriculum also incorporating comparisons to other philosophical traditions such as Enlightenment thought, deism, and natural law. Supporters argue the law strengthens civics education and local control over curriculum, while critics warn it could blur the line between church and state, create classroom tensions, and prove difficult to implement, particularly for younger students. The program is expected to cost about $12m to develop and may be among the first state-mandated efforts of its kind in the U.S.

Wisconsin Gov. Evers vetoes school voucher expansion

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed legislation requiring his participation in a federal program that offers tax incentives for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. Evers expressed his opposition to the expansion of private school vouchers, commenting: "The federal government is now going to use public funds that should be used for public schools to essentially reimburse donors for helping fund private schools instead." The program, set to begin in 2027, would provide families earning up to 300% of the area median income with scholarships for educational expenses. Evers, a former educator, emphasized the negative impact of diverting public funds to private institutions, citing his extensive experience in public education. Despite support from Republican lawmakers, Evers remains skeptical about the program's benefits for public school students. He is the first governor to firmly reject the federal initiative, while many other states have opted in.

NUTRITION

Spain serves food for thought

Addey Blakeney, an American teacher in Seville, Spain, has shared her experiences comparing school lunches in Spain to those in Ohio. "I remember in elementary school having spaghetti, pizza, grilled cheeses and occasional salads or vegetables but it was nothing like here," Blakeney said. She highlights the variety of fresh foods available, including cooked vegetables, salads, and local fish, which are not common in U.S. schools. Blakeney's TikTok account showcases meals like Lomo Adobado and Fabada asturiana, emphasizing the healthier options and longer lunch breaks in Spain. She believes that the U.S. could benefit from adopting a similar approach to school lunches, stating: "With a greater variety of fruits and vegetables and less processed foods." A recent study in Health Affairs Scholar found that many parents in California feel their children's school lunches lack quality and healthiness.

TECHNOLOGY

Schools shift focus to AI governance as adoption accelerates

K-12 school districts are moving away from both rapid, uncoordinated artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and cautious inaction, instead prioritizing structured governance models that emphasize oversight, risk management, and long-term adaptability. Education leaders argue that AI differs from previous technologies due to its rapid evolution and its ability to generate work, meaning decisions can no longer be confined to IT departments but must involve senior leadership and cross-functional teams. Districts are increasingly adopting “adaptive governance” frameworks, which focus on building internal capacity to continuously evaluate and manage AI rather than making one-time purchasing decisions. This includes engaging stakeholders early, establishing clear policies and safeguards, and ensuring alignment with broader educational goals. A key shift is also underway in workforce preparation: rather than training educators on specific AI tools, districts like Indianapolis Public Schools are emphasizing transferable skills such as prompt engineering, enabling staff to remain flexible as technologies change. State education systems are also stepping in to provide guardrails, with efforts such as Delaware’s planned “assurance lab” designed to evaluate AI tools, support procurement, and reduce duplication across districts while maintaining data privacy and equity.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Texas high school student shoots teacher before taking own life

In an incident at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, Texas, a fifteen-year-old male student shot a teacher before fatally shooting himself. The Comal County Sheriff's Office reported that the teacher was transported to a hospital in San Antonio, with no updates on her condition available. The student died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Following the shooting, the school was placed on lockdown, and students were relocated to a nearby middle school to reunite with their parents. This incident highlights the ongoing concerns regarding school safety and mental health issues among students.

INTERNATIONAL

National SEL program in Australia improves student wellbeing and test scores

Australia has rolled out a nationwide social-emotional learning (SEL) initiative, Be You, across 24,000 schools and early learning centers, teaching students skills like emotional regulation, empathy, and decision-making as part of the core curriculum. The shift was driven by rising youth mental health concerns, with nearly two in five young people experiencing symptoms of mental disorders, prompting a move to address both academic and emotional development. Evidence shows the approach is working: students in SEL programs improved their social and emotional skills by 7–10 percentile points, while academic performance, including standardized test scores, rose by 8–20 percentile points. Schools are seen as uniquely effective delivery channels due to their daily contact with students, enabling system-wide mental health support rather than limited, clinic-based interventions. The initiative reflects a broader rethink of education, positioning emotional intelligence as equally essential as literacy and numeracy, with other countries now looking to implement similar programs at scale.
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