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The share of America's school-age children attending public schools has slightly declined from 2014 to 2022, while private schools have seen some growth, according to an analysis by Education Week. In 2022, 84% of children ages five to 17 attended public schools, while 11.8% attended private schools. The remaining percentage represents children who are not attending school or are homeschooled. The total number of school-age children has increased slightly, but experts predict a sharp decline in the coming years due to lower birth rates. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the decline in public school enrollment and the growth of private schools. The reasons for the decline in enrollment include homeschooling, skipping kindergarten, and missing data. The analysis highlights the ongoing competition between public and private schools in the U.S. education system.

 

Education Week News

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech at the American Federation of Teachers convention on Thursday, criticizing former President Donald Trump's agenda as one of "chaos, fear, and hate." She contrasted her own agenda, which includes abortion and LGBTQ rights, gun control, support for organized labor, and student loan debt relief, with Trump's policies. Harris also highlighted the importance of education and thanked her first-grade teacher, Frances Wilson, for inspiring her. She urged the audience to fight for a future focused on freedom, compassion, and the rule of law. Shortly after her speech, Trump's campaign released an education plan that opposes many of the AFT's priorities. The plan calls for cutting federal funding for programs promoting Critical Race Theory and gender ideology, removing radicals from the Department of Education, and giving parents more control over schools.

 

EdSource

CNBC

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has ruled 9-7 that the statutory framework governing the Universal Service Fund (USF) unconstitutionally delegates legislative or taxing authority to the FCC. The fund is collected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. Advocacy group Consumer Research challenged the practice. In addition to high-cost areas and low-income households, the USF also subsidizes voice and broadband service to schools, libraries, and rural healthcare providers. The USF fund is administered by USAC, a non-profit entity, on behalf of the FCC. Writing for the majority, Judge Andrew Oldham stated that while the USF's program "has a laudable objective," it unconstitutionally delegates the power to determine how much to charge telecommunications companies. Dissenting, Judge Carl Stewart said the majority opinion conflicts with three other circuit courts, rejects precedents, “blurs the distinction between taxes and fees,” and creates new doctrine. The case is Consumers’ Research v. Federal Communications Commission, 22-60008, US Court of Appeals (5th Circuit). 

 

RBR

Education Week News

Washington Post

At least seven states have implemented legislation or policies to restrict cellphone use in schools, with some large school districts following suit. However, many districts and schools are left to develop their own strategies for managing cellphones in classrooms. Concerns over mental health challenges and disciplinary issues related to cellphone use have prompted increased action to restrict or ban devices. The National Education Association (NEA) was expected to address the issue at its representative assembly, but the conference was cut short due to a staff strike. Educators are seeking national guidance on best practices for cellphone use in classrooms. The impact of cellphones on student learning and well-being is a pressing concern, and some believe higher-level decision-making may be necessary. Strict cellphone policies have shown positive effects on school climate, reducing stress and anxiety among students.

 

Education Week News

As schools across Maine approach the two-year mark of dealing with PFAS contamination in their water sources, each school is facing unique challenges in removing these "forever chemicals." Raymond Elementary, for example, is close to securing a new safe drinking water source, while Deer Isle-Stonington High School is facing funding complications and a lengthy planning process for installing PFAS filtration systems. These efforts will become more common in Maine as new federal rules require more water systems to eliminate even smaller concentrations of PFAS. However, there are concerns about the sustainability of operating costs for these filtration systems, as well as the availability of grant money. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services does not expect to have enough funds to help all public water systems meet the new federal standards. Despite the challenges, schools like Windham-Raymond and Maine School Administrative District 6 have found effective filtration solutions that balance cost and maintenance. However, there are concerns about the long-term care of carbon filtration systems and the funding for future PFAS mitigation projects.

 

U.S. News

The state of Ohio has passed a new law requiring automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be available in schools and sports facilities. The law, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine, mandates that every public and chartered nonpublic school in Ohio, as well as municipally owned or operated sports and recreation venues, must have AEDs. The legislation comes after several incidents where AEDs saved lives, including the case of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin and Canen Dickman of Worthington. The Make Them Know Your Name Foundation, started by Nicole Ward, aims to deliver education and resources to ensure that Ohioans are CPR and AED trained. The new legislation is expected to create a safer environment for students, coaches, parents, and fans. The passing of the bill is seen as a potential life-saving measure, as AEDs can provide a second chance when implemented properly. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by state Rep. Richard Brown and Rep. Adam Bird.

 

The Columbus Dispatch

New York City's highest-poverty schools could face a teacher exodus due to a new class size mandate, according to a report from the Urban Institute. The new state law requires all public schools in the city to limit their class sizes to between 20 and 25 students by 2028. However, more affluent schools tend to have more crowded classes, leading to the need for more teacher hiring. This hiring is likely to result in a significant number of new teachers being hired from higher-poverty campuses, exacerbating the existing teacher churn in these schools. The report raises concerns about the potential disruption caused by this turnover and calls for policies to mitigate the expected churn and address recruitment challenges at high-need schools. Supporters of the class size caps argue that smaller classes benefit students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. However, the impact of the caps on teacher quality is not directly assessed in the report.

 

Chalkbeat

The De Pere School District in Wisconsin is preparing to put a $22m capital referendum on the November ballot. The funds from the referendum will be used for critical maintenance of school facilities. The referendum will cover three categories: safety and security; site repair; and building infrastructure. Superintendent Christopher Thompson stated that the referendum is necessary to address deficiencies in the aging facilities. If the referendum passes, the estimated tax rate will increase by 40 cents per $1,000 of property value. If it fails, the district will reassess and likely bring the measure to a ballot in the future. The district is also considering additional referendums to address enrollment growth.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing changes to vehicle seating standards to better protect occupants, including students on school buses. The proposal seeks to create stronger standards for vehicle seat backs to help prevent them from collapsing or experiencing excessive deformation during rear-end collisions. NHTSA is looking into the existing standard as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The proposal includes updating specifications for the materials used in seat construction and specific limits on how much a seat back can recline or rotate backward during a crash. NHTSA is also proposing introducing additional dynamic tests to simulate real-world rear-end crashes. In 1974, NHTSA commissioned a study on the safety of occupants in large school buses and developed the concept of seating compartmentalization. NHTSA is also promoting the development and use of new head restraint designs that offer better protection against whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. Comments on the proposal must be received no later than September 16.

 

School Bus Fleet