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Initiatives such as the Affordable Connectivity Program that brought internet access to rural students are set to expire this month. However, despite governmental efforts to connect school districts and students during the pandemic, the gains were temporary, leaving many lacking access to high-speed internet. The 74 surveyed students in grades 8-11 from 18 rural Michigan schools before and after the pandemic, tracking changes in their digital access, educational outcomes and well-being, finding that one-third still lack high-speed broadband internet at home. A major challenge in bridging the access divide is pinpointing underserved areas. Accurate maps are crucial to direct billions of dollars in funding from programs such as the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program, also known as BEAD, and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund toward truly underserved communities. As part of the process to receive BEAD funding, each state must identify unserved and underserved homes. Maps must be finalized and grants must be made to states before large-scale infrastructure improvements will commence.  While some programs are now coming online, such as the Michigan MOON-Light project, which increases the bandwidth on Michigan’s education network that is being made available to local service providers, other major improvements will not be realized for several years to come.

 

The 74 (Online)

School Leadership’s Guide to Building an Online Learning Program

No two students learn the same way, and alternative options for education have never been more necessary than they are right now. Online learning has become an option that’s gained traction nationwide. According to a recent study, 81% of parents believe online learning helps their children better prepare for the future and 94% believe it positively impacts their children’s ability to understand courses.*

This guide will help school and district leaders like you learn more about the fundamentals of online learning and its benefits.

Topics include:

• Debunking common myths about online education
• An outline of the first steps to create and implement a new program
• Strategies for creating open communication with parents, students, and staff
• How to select the best industry partner to help develop your new program

*FlexPoint 2021 Parent Survey

Download the Guide

 

A bipartisan effort to give Alabama teachers paid parental leave is moving forward in the state legislature, though with some significant changes. After tense debate, a Senate committee voted 8-7 Wednesday to substitute a bill, SB305, that would give public school educators 12 weeks of parental leave. The new version of the bill will cut leave down to six weeks, and limit eligibility to women who give birth. The substitute also does not cover leave for miscarriages, stillbirths or adoption for both parents. “All of those things carry emotional and physical things with it for the woman especially, but also for that father to be there for that support,” said Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, the bill's sponsor. Currently, Alabama educators and school employees must build up a bank of sick leave days or take unpaid leave to care for a newborn or adopted child. State employees are currently required to use sick leave and personal days for parental leave but are given two weeks of paid leave in the case of adoption. With fewer than five days left in the session, there's not a lot of time to make changes to newer bills like Figures'. SB305 must still pass through both chambers before it can head to the governor's desk.

 

Al.com

The prevalence of active shooter incidents at schools, particularly high schools, has prompted increased discussions about campus safety measures. According to the Security Industry Association, since 1999, nearly 60% of such incidents have occurred in high schools. Although only a small percentage of schools are currently equipped with weapon detection devices, experts like Bobby Kipper of the National Center for Prevention of Community Violence believe that the adoption of these systems will likely grow in response to the rising number of shootings. Kipper advocates for enhanced training for students and faculty to respond to active shooter situations, rather than arming educators. Similarly, Remo Eyal of Decision Tactical underscores the importance of crisis response training for both law enforcement and civilians. In line with these perspectives, Orange County Public Schools has initiated a safety pilot program that includes the installation of weapons detection systems in seven schools, aiming to improve safety and preparedness.

 

News 13

In response to the deadliest school shooting in Texas, lawmakers have passed legislation to enhance school safety measures. House Bill 3 requires an armed security guard on all campuses and increases mental health resources for students. However, experts are concerned that parents and guardians are not fully aware of school safety policies. Brian Clason, program manager of training and education for the Texas State School Safety Center, advises parents to develop relationships with teachers and school faculty to learn more about safety protocols. During an emergency, parents should wait for instructions from the school before acting. School districts are now required to employ armed guards, install panic buttons in classrooms, train employees to recognize potential harm, provide campus maps to authorities, and notify parents during violent incidents. Drills are also mandatory, including lockdown, secure, evacuation, and shelter-in-place drills. Schools must have an armed security officer, and employees can be armed if they complete specific training programs. Every school district must have an emergency operations plan and undergo safety audits. The state has implemented the Safe and Supportive School Program, which requires the formation of a safety and security committee.

 

El Paso Times

As classrooms become increasingly digital, teachers’ unions are actively engaging in the discourse around cellphone use in schools, often advocating for policies to manage or restrict such devices during school hours. This engagement is reflected both at the local and state levels, where unions are not just participants but are driving forces behind policy changes. Local teachers’ unions, in some cases, have brought the issue to the bargaining table, proposing or supporting the implementation of district-wide cellphone bans. These efforts aim to give teachers more control over classroom environments, where distractions from cellphones have become a significant concern. At the state level, teachers’ unions are supporting legislative efforts to curb cellphone use in classrooms. The growing support for these measures is partly in response to a widespread acknowledgment of the distractions cellphones can cause, impacting student engagement and learning. States like Florida and Indiana have enacted or are considering legislation that restricts cellphone use, with unions playing a critical role in shaping these policies to ensure they align with educational goals and teachers' operational needs.

 

Education Week

Gladewater ISD trustees have unanimously approved a four-day school week for the upcoming academic year in response to teacher shortages. The decision aligns Gladewater ISD with 30 other East Texas school districts that have shortened school weeks to attract and retain educators. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, students will not attend classes on Mondays, but the remaining school days will be extended by 40 minutes to maintain the same instructional time. Some holidays have also been removed from the calendar. The upcoming academic year will serve as a trial period to assess the impact of the changes. The move to a four-day school week is a strategy employed by school administrators across Texas to address the shortage of teachers, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey conducted in 2022 found that 77% of Texas public school teachers had seriously considered leaving the profession due to feeling overworked, undervalued, and underpaid.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

Washington's charter schools are demonstrating notable performance benefits for Black and Hispanic students, English learners, and children from low-income households, as highlighted in a new report by the State Board of Education. Analyzing data from the 2022-2023 school year, the report reveals that students in charter schools are generally scoring similarly to or better than their counterparts in traditional public schools across the state. The report underscores significant improvements in English language arts and math among charter school students compared to those in traditional settings. Despite these positive academic outcomes, charter schools face challenges such as lower attendance rates and reduced participation in dual credit courses compared to traditional public schools. This disparity is partly attributed to funding limitations, as charter schools in Washington do not have access to local levy money following a state Supreme Court decision. The state's charter school law, which closed the window for authorizing new schools and emphasizes racial equity, currently supports 18 charter schools serving about 5,000 students. The State Board of Education is recommending an increase in state funding for charter schools. The recent allocation of $7.8m by the Legislature, providing $1,500 per charter school student, is a step toward addressing funding disparities, although it is currently a one-time provision.

 

The 74

California's public schools, with nearly 6m students, are facing a financial crisis due to multiple factors, writes Dan Walters. He says the exhaustion of federal funds meant to cushion the impacts of COVID-19, school closures during the pandemic leading to declines in enrollment, chronic absenteeism, increasing operating costs, and a huge state budget deficit have all contributed to the financial challenges. Continuing, Walters adds that the state's funding of schools based on attendance has resulted in widening gaps between income and expenses for many local districts, disrupting the previous trend of increasing per pupil spending. Local school trustees have limited options to balance their budgets, including school closures, layoffs, and seeking tax increases from voters. However, these measures often face resistance. He ends by saying that the financial crisis has put California schools in a difficult position, requiring innovative solutions to ensure quality education for students.

 

Pasadena Star-News

SGV Tribune

Ventura County Star

California schools may soon be required to provide halal and kosher meal options for students. A proposed bill in the California Legislature, known as the Halal and Kosher School Meals Act, would mandate schools to offer kosher or halal meals if more than 5% of their students request them. The bill aims to ensure that students of all religions and cultures feel supported and included at school. Both kosher and halal meals follow specific dietary practices, and the bill seeks to create a more equitable system for students who observe these practices. If the bill passes, it would take effect in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill has received support from religious leaders and advocates for equal access to meals for all students. Rabbi Dov Wagner, director of the Chabad Jewish Student Center at USC, said the bill would open up meal options for all students, something that has been tough for children in the past. “Without access to kosher and halal meals, students are often put in a situation where they have to choose between their education and their religious traditions and heritage,” Wagner added.

 

LA Daily News

East Bay

The Orange Country Register

California is considering whether to include anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers in K-12 sex education. Some schools already do so, but there are concerns about the accuracy and bias of the information provided by these centers. A bill has been introduced to implement this policy statewide, with the aim of providing students with information on both Planned Parenthood and licensed pregnancy centers. However, there are concerns that these centers may provide inaccurate information and potentially increase the number of unintended births. The bill faces opposition in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. In other news, Delaine Eastin, the first and only woman to serve as California Superintendent of Public Instruction, has passed away. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is set to keynote the California Republican Party Convention, where she is expected to discuss conservative policies and her state's achievements. President Joe Biden has signed a bill requiring TikTok's Chinese owner to sell the company within nine months or shut down operations, raising concerns about the president's power over speech platforms.

 

The Sacramento Bee

New data released by Texans Care for Children highlights gaps in school readiness for young children in Texas. The data focuses on four categories: early learning experiences, household resources, family-child interactions, and health and development. The report emphasizes the importance of early childhood education programs, such as Early Head Start, Head Start, private child care, and public pre-K, in preparing children for success in kindergarten and beyond. However, the report also reveals limited access and enrollment in these programs, particularly among low-income and emergent bilingual children. The data also highlights the challenges faced by Texas families in finding affordable and high-quality child care. The report calls for policy improvements, including addressing children's health insurance, expanding access to high-quality child care, and increasing enrollment in public pre-K. Experts stress the need for a comprehensive approach to school readiness that considers factors beyond early learning environments, such as nutrition and family health. The report provides specific policy recommendations to improve classroom quality, teacher-child interactions, access to high-quality programs, and the early childhood workforce.

 

Star-Telegram

Napa Valley USD in California is considering placing a $231m bond measure on the November ballot to address the safety and building standards of local schools. Many of the campuses were built 60 or more years ago and face numerous challenges, including leaking roofs, unreliable heating and cooling systems, and safety hazards such as asbestos. The bond revenue would be used to remove hazardous materials, provide modern labs and technical education facilities, repair and improve school roofs and utilities, upgrade older schools to meet health codes, improve school security systems, and enhance access to technology. The district emphasizes the need for local funding, as the state does not provide funding for facilities. The bond measure would be paid through property taxes, averaging around $116 per year for a typical Napa homeowner.

 

Napa Valley Register

The Maryland State Board of Education has appointed Carey Wright as the state superintendent of schools. Wright, who has made significant changes in her interim role, will begin her four-year contract on July 1. She has extensive experience in Maryland and is credited for dramatically boosting Mississippi's math and literacy scores during her tenure as the state superintendent of education. Wright faces challenges in implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, which aims to improve education for all students in the state. She has already applied successful policies from Mississippi, such as emphasizing phonics in literacy instruction. Accountability and transparency are among her priorities, and she has created an accountability task force to examine how schools and districts share assessment data. The Maryland State Board of Education unanimously approved Wright's appointment. 

 

The Baltimore Sun