Become a more informed educator in minutes....

A "deepfake" audio recording of a principal making derogatory comments has sparked serious concerns in Baltimore County, showing the damaging potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. The incident involved Dazhon Darien, the athletic director at Pikesville High School, who created a fake audio of Principal Eric Eiswert uttering racist and antisemitic remarks. This deepfake not only divided the community but also led to Darien’s arrest for multiple charges, including theft and disruption of school operations. The case highlights a growing issue within educational settings, where the misuse of AI technology can lead to significant harm. Principals and school officials, often public figures due to their roles, are particularly vulnerable to such attacks, which can damage reputations and lead to serious professional consequences. The ease of creating deepfakes and the challenge of distinguishing them from real recordings complicate the response even further, raising fears among educators about their potential misuse. School districts are currently ill-equipped to handle the rise of deepfakes, lacking policies to govern the use of AI and protect against its abuse. This incident underscores the urgent need for educational institutions to develop strategies to mitigate these risks, including educating staff about AI, updating policies, and incorporating AI detection tools.

 

Education Week News

As allegations of antisemitism intensify in educational settings, Politico looks at how House Republicans are extending their scrutiny beyond universities to include K-12 public schools. This shift comes in response to what they perceive as a growing trend of antisemitic rhetoric and incidents, particularly in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The focus on K-12 institutions aims to address the broader implications of student protests and allegations of harassment, which have not garnered the same level of media attention as those on college campuses. Rep. Aaron Bean, spearheading the initiative, highlighted the significant uptick in antisemitic activities in schools post the October 7 Hamas attack, labeling the trend as "extremely concerning and utterly unacceptable." The proactive stance by House Republicans reflects a growing desire to tap into public concerns about antisemitism, potentially transforming these hearings into a pivotal political issue. Critics, however, argue that the sessions may be more about capturing political gains rather than fostering meaningful dialogue or solutions. David Banks, Chancellor of the New York City school system, criticized the approach as potentially divisive, suggesting that it could detract from genuine efforts to resolve issues of hate and discrimination in schools.

 

Politico

Seven more Republican-led states have filed lawsuits to challenge a new federal regulation aimed at protecting the rights of transgender students in schools. The lawsuits argue that the regulation, which seeks to clarify Title IX, is unconstitutional and goes beyond the intent of the law. The states joining the lawsuits are Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Many Republicans have been seeking to limit the rights of transgender youth, including restricting bathroom usage and pronoun usage in schools. The new federal regulation applies to all schools that receive federal funding. At least 21 GOP states are now challenging the new rules. The Biden administration's rules broadly protect against discrimination based on sex, but do not offer guidance on transgender athletes. Lawsuits have also been filed in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky. The multiple challenges increase the chances of putting the rule on hold nationally. "The interpretation of the Biden administration is completely inconsistent with the statute and the way it's been interpreted for decades," said Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

 

U.S. News

Some rural school districts, particularly those with greater poverty levels, are set to face steep budget reductions when COVID-19 emergency funding closes this September. The federal government issued historic amounts of pandemic relief aid through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to states and districts across the country. However, by the end of September 2024, the relief aid will end indefinitely, leaving districts to operate with significantly smaller budgets. Rural districts accessed an average of $5.7m dollars in aid in the final wave of ESSER funding, meaning the average rural district may face a budget reduction of roughly $2,000 per student. The cliff gets steeper for rural districts serving high-needs students. How school districts spent ESSER funds determines how easily they will navigate the fiscal cliff.

 

The Miami Herald

With the end of pandemic relief aid in sight, after-school providers are preparing to scale back on their size and services of their programs, according to a recent nationwide survey. Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit that seeks to expand after-school program access, found that some 40% of respondents said they plan to reduce programming, 38% will downsize staff, and 36% will cut back on the number of students they serve. Twenty-seven percent said they are currently unable to operate at pre-pandemic levels, with 61% of those saying staffing played a role in that situation. “Those concerns are sure to worsen as pandemic relief funding winds down in coming months,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “But we are not making nearly the investments we need in afterschool and summer learning programs.” 

 

K-12 Dive

Florida has been named the top state for education by U.S. News & World Report for the second consecutive year, primarily due to its performance in higher education rather than its K-12 schools. This ranking reflects the high graduation rates and low tuition fees at Florida's higher education institutions. Simultaneously, the state faces controversy over legislative changes affecting diversity programs and tenure protections on campuses. In terms of K-12 education, Florida ranks tenth nationally. It scores well in college readiness and preschool enrollment but falls behind in math and reading, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The recent educational reforms under Governor Ron DeSantis have been pivotal, with significant funding increases aimed at bolstering the state's educational standing. Florida's commitment to higher education is evident as it continues to hold the No. 1 spot for the eighth year in higher education rankings, distinguishing its universities as leaders in affordability and graduation outcomes.

 

Tampa Bay Times

A pair of reports have highlighted the vulnerabilities and weaknesses in oversight and auditing of California charter schools. The reports, issued by the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Anti-Fraud Task Force of the California Charter Authorizing Professionals, have called for actions to address and deter future attempts at fraud by charter school operators. The reports emphasize the importance of oversight in protecting public funds and maintaining public confidence in the education system. The scandals involving charter school operators A3 Education and Inspire Charter Schools, which resulted in the theft of millions of dollars, have exposed the lack of effective supervision by small school districts. The reports recommend auditing reforms and improvements in oversight, including stricter scrutiny of third-party contracts and annual financial audits. They also propose controversial measures such as limiting the ability of small school districts to authorize charter schools and establishing a statewide Office of Inspector General to investigate and prosecute financial fraud. The reports aim to bring about reforms and strengthen accountability in the charter school system.

 

EdSource

Hillsborough County educators are seeking more than $80m in pay raises and contract changes for the upcoming school year. In negotiations with school district representatives, the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association put forward a revised salary schedule. They proposed a starting salary of $48,000 for teachers, increasing to $52,500 by the eighth year. Currently capped at $72,490, teachers could earn up to $75,940 after 25 years under the union's proposal, representing an average pay increase of 6%. The requested pay raises and contract adjustments for teachers, along with benefits, total nearly $50m. Additionally, there are requests for support employees covered by the union and social service specialists. Negotiations commenced earlier than usual, aiming to reach an agreement before the next school year starts, although uncertainties remain about the budget. Projected declines in traditional student enrollment and increased state funding for private school tuition and charter schools present financial challenges.

 

Tampa Bay Times

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will be implementing of a hybrid scoring model for the 2024 STAAR tests. The model combines human scorers with an automated scoring engine (ASE) to grade constructed response questions. The use of ASE is expected to save the state $15m-20m that would have been spent on human scorers. The ASE program utilizes natural language processing and features associated with writing quality and response meaning. The scoring process involves a five-step process, including anchor approval, training of scorers, scoring the tests and reporting the scores. Concerns have been raised about the use of AI in grading, particularly for Spanish-speaking students. However, the TEA assures that the ASE is accurate and fair.

 

Hays Free Press

Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) has awarded the "Electrifying School Buses in the Bronx" project with the 2024 Power Player of the Year award in the Transportation category. The project, led by New York City School Bus Umbrella Services (NYCSBUS), aims to put 25 zero-emission buses into service with advanced smart-charging technology and educational benefits for school bus operators and districts. The Mobility House, as the technical lead, accepted the award on behalf of NYCSBUS and project partners. The project showcases an innovative approach to electric school bus charging, optimizing available utility infrastructure and easing installation.

 

School Bus Fleet