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Democratic attorneys general in 20 states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts arguing that the Trump administration's order to lay off more than 1,300 Department of Education employees, nearly half of the department's workforce, is an illegal bid to incapacitate the agency. “This massive (reduction in workforce) is not supported by any actual reasoning or specific determinations about how to eliminate purported waste in the department...rather, (it) is part and parcel of President Donald Trump’s and [Education] Secretary Linda McMahon’s opposition to the Department of Education’s entire existence,” the complaint, filed on Thursday, states. It also notes that "where Congress has created the Department of Education, the Executive and his agencies cannot incapacitate it, absent Congressional action that directs them to do so." The attorneys general suing represent Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

 

CNN

The Hill

Education Week News

Portland Press Herald

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Proposed changes to the community eligibility provision could jeopardize free school meals for over 12m children, according to a new analysis by the Food Research & Action Center and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Shannon Gleave, nutrition director at Glendale, Ariz., elementary school district, expressed concern, stating, “I just don't want children to have to go without food. That's my No. 1 concern.” The Biden administration had previously lowered the eligibility threshold to 25%, but congressional Republicans are now pushing to raise it to 60%, which would exclude many schools from the program. This proposal is part of broader budget cuts that could save $3 billion over ten years. Experts warn that these changes would not only affect school nutrition but also burden families already struggling with rising food prices. Erin Hysom, senior child nutrition policy analyst, emphasized, “This is not just a school nutrition issue; this is about entire communities that would be affected by these cuts.”

 

Education Week News

California is facing a significant structural deficit, where its revenues are insufficient to meet mandated spending. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have attempted to bridge this gap through various methods, including borrowing and creative accounting. As noted, they have relied on "rainy day" funds to manage the ongoing financial challenges. The situation highlights the need for a more sustainable fiscal strategy to address the chronic imbalance between income and expenditures. The Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement is among schemes which have seen cuts. Fresno USD spokesperson A.J. Kato said the school district received $492,746 during the 2022-2023 school year from the program, which it used to buy local agricultural products.

 

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

San Luis Obispo Tribune

California school districts are facing significant layoffs due to budget constraints caused by declining enrollment and the end of federal COVID relief funds. Over 2,300 school employees have received preliminary layoff notices, with more than 2,000 affecting credentialed staff, including teachers and school nurses. David Goldberg, President of the California Teachers Association, stated, “Layoffs are devastating and chaotic to our school communities and harm student learning conditions.” Districts like San Francisco and Santa Ana have issued the highest number of pink slips, with the former struggling to close a $113m deficit. Meanwhile, Santa Ana is addressing a $180m structural deficit, emphasizing that “80% of our budget is salary and benefits,” making staff reductions necessary.

 

EdSource

Sulphur Springs USD's governing board has unanimously approved a positive certification for its second interim financial report. The report indicates that the district expects to maintain sufficient reserves to meet the state's requirement of 3% of projected expenditures. The district anticipates reserves of approximately $9m this year, $9.1m next year, and $6.8m the following year. However, it is projected to experience deficit spending, with expenditures of about $95.7m this year against revenues of $88.5m, resulting in a $7.1m shortfall.

 

Signalscv.com

Napa Valley USD is set to vote on cutting 34 staff positions, including 10 certificated roles and 24 classified positions, at its upcoming meeting. Despite managing to balance its 2024-25 budget without layoffs, the district faces a projected $3.7m deficit in 2025-26 and an $11.5m shortfall in 2026-27. The district is also grappling with the expiration of pandemic relief funds, which currently support about 26 full-time positions. A hiring freeze may be considered as part of future financial planning.

 

Press Democrat

Kenneth Turnage II, former maintenance operations and facilities director for Antioch USD, has filed a lawsuit against the district, claiming wrongful suspension and dismissal. The lawsuit, filed in February, also names human resources director Robert Martinez and board president Antonio Hernandez, among others, for various allegations including defamation and emotional distress.

 

East Bay

Mercury News

Schools are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance technology to monitor students on school-issued devices, aiming to enhance safety amid rising mental health crises and threats of violence. Vancouver Public Schools in Washington state has implemented such technology, which alerts staff to concerning online behavior. However, this has raised significant privacy concerns, especially after sensitive student documents were inadvertently released. As Andy Meyer, principal of Skyview High School, stated, “I don't think we could ever put a price on protecting students.” While the technology can help identify at-risk students, experts warn it may also breach trust and privacy, particularly for vulnerable groups like LGBTQ+ youth. The long-term effects of such surveillance on student safety remain unclear, with no conclusive evidence showing it effectively reduces suicide rates or violence.

 

U.S. News

Trustee Celeste Winders has resigned from the Sonoma Valley School District Board of Trustees, creating a vacancy that could lead to tie votes on critical issues. The board is currently grappling with significant challenges, including budget deficits, school closures, and negotiations with the teacher’s union. As the situation develops, the board's ability to address these pressing matters may be further complicated. "This is a developing story," officials stated, promising more information as it becomes available.

 

Sonoma Valley Sun

Research indicates that increasing police presence in schools does not enhance safety. Instead, effective strategies include mental health services and restorative justice initiatives. San Mateo County has adopted proactive measures like The Big Five emergency response system and the Student Threat Assessment Protocol, focusing on prevention rather than reactive policing. Councilmember Danielle Cwirko-Godycki's proposal for funding school resource officers (SROs) is challenged by studies showing that SROs do not prevent school shootings and may increase student arrest rates for minor infractions. In California, marginalized students face disproportionate arrest rates, highlighting the negative impact of school policing. Dr. Charles Hansen emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to school safety, advocating for evidence-based interventions that foster supportive learning environments.

 

San Mateo Daily Journal

Vanden High School is presenting "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" for one weekend, showcasing the hard work of its students. Theater Director Jerald Bolden expressed confidence in his students, stating: "We always have hurdles but the students are so amazing and hardworking." The musical, which won the Tony Award for Best Book in 2005, features six middle school students competing in a spelling bee and conveys themes of acceptance and resilience.

 

The Modesto Bee

On Tuesday, Northmead Elementary students participated in the City of Patterson's inaugural "Green Week" in collaboration with the Patterson Joint USD. The event featured games focused on water conservation, recycling, and stormwater management. Manuel Lopez, Environmental Compliance Specialist, stated: “Arbor Week traditionally in California is celebrated the week of March 7th through March 14th, but this year we want to incorporate all of our programs to consolidate them with our Green Week.”

 

TTown Media

As President Donald Trump's executive orders target campus activism, international students like Madalin from Northwestern University express deep concern over potential deportation. Madalin, who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, stated, “This could actually be a very substantial material problem for me.” The recent arrest of Khalil, a Palestinian activist from Columbia University, marks the first known deportation effort under these orders. Educators and students fear a chilling effect on academic freedom, with Jacqueline Stevens, a political science professor, urging Northwestern to challenge the executive orders in court. Genevieve Lakier, a University of Chicago professor, emphasized that deporting individuals based on their protests constitutes viewpoint discrimination. The administration's actions have sparked anxiety among international students, who feel increasingly vulnerable in their academic pursuits.

 

Chicago Tribune