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California is suing the U.S. Department of Justice ”in anticipation of imminent legal retaliation" over guidance to school districts to allow transgender students to play on sports teams aligning with their gender identities, against the federal government’s warnings. The lawsuit says that the Trump administration not only asked districts to violate existing state law but also the U.S. Constitution. The legal challenge hopes to prevent the administration from cutting schools off from federal funding or making funding conditional on complying with the Justice Department’s requirements to exclude transgender students. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon confirmed on Tuesday that the state is at risk of losing funding, but did not elaborate on when a decision would be made or what the cuts could be. “That is one of the tools and the opportunities that we have with California. And I think it’s right that we make them aware that that is a risk that they run,” she said, adding: “When we are seeing violations, we want to make sure that we are addressing them. Because if we don’t address them as they occur, then it’s sort of by acquiescence that it’s okay to continue when it’s not.”

 

The Hill

K-12 Dive

Los Angeles Times

Politico

School Leadership’s Guide to Career and Technical Education

Economic impacts are changing the employment landscape. Now more than ever it's critical to prepare students for careers in current and emerging professions through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Having developed 200+ award-winning digital courses, FlexPoint knows that CTE offerings look different for every school, based on location and student population.
School and district leaders can learn how to enhance their CTE programs through the free FlexPoint guide.

In the guide, you’ll have access to:

• An overview of nationally recognized Career Clusters and Programs of Study
• Tips for selecting the best career pathways that evolve with the employment landscape
• Sample survey questions to gauge students’ interests in future career opportunities
• And more!

Download CTE Guide

 

The Trump administration's proposed budget for fiscal 2026 aims to eliminate approximately $7bn in funding for K-12 schools, significantly impacting programs that support special student populations, including English learners and students experiencing homelessness. Jess Gartner, a school finance expert, emphasized the importance of consistent educational opportunities, and asked: “Do we want foster students to have a dramatically different experience in school depending on what state they live in?” The budget also proposes a new K-12 grant program, which would provide states with limited funds to allocate as they see fit. While some programs, like charter school grants, would see increases, overall funding levels remain flat, failing to keep pace with inflation. The proposed changes would require Congress to reauthorize federal special education law, a process that may take considerable time.

 

Education Week News

On Monday, rumors of a potential immigration raid at Huntington Park High School in Los Angeles caused significant anxiety among students and families. Rocio Rivas, vice president of L.A. Unified’s school board, expressed concern, stating: “These are communities of resilience and hope... our families are now forced to live in fear.” Los Angeles USD implemented protocols to ensure student safety during graduation ceremonies, which were ongoing at the time. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized the importance of maintaining a celebratory atmosphere, asserting: “Every child has a constitutional right to a public education.” With an estimated 1m children in California having at least one undocumented parent, the district is committed to protecting its students and families from immigration enforcement activities.

 

EdSource

The Second District Court of Appeal reversed a jury's $30m emotional distress verdict against Los Angeles USD (LAUSD) in a case involving the death of six-year-old Dayvon Taylor. His mother, Kenya Taylor, claimed the district was negligent in hiring Tyler D'Shaun Martin Brand, who was also Dayvon's godfather and accused of his murder. The court ruled that LAUSD was immune from liability since the incident occurred off-campus and during a school holiday. The case has been sent back to the lower court for judgment in favor of LAUSD.

 

LA Daily News

Monday night's Modesto City Schools board meeting was packed with community members expressing strong opinions about the proposed fifth-grade sex education curriculum. Board President Abel Maestas noted a significant influx of feedback, with 28 speakers voicing concerns that the curriculum was too sexualized for young children. While many opposed the curriculum, some argued for its necessity, emphasizing that children need structured education on these topics. The board is considering two options: “Puberty Talk for Grades 5 & 6” and “Puberty: The Wonder Years, Grade 5,” with a recommendation for the former. The board will vote on the curriculum on June 23, amidst ongoing debates about the appropriateness of the content and the district's spending of $33,000 on the program.

 

The Modesto Bee

The Pajaro Valley USD Board of Trustees will this morning review the tentative agreement on total compensation reached with the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers on May 6, just before the board's last regular meeting. Additionally, the board will address allegations of violations related to the Brown Act.

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Berkeley USD has initiated construction on a 110-unit apartment complex aimed at providing affordable housing for its teachers. Located at 1701 San Pablo Ave., the development will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, along with amenities such as a fitness center and community garden. Monthly rents will start at $899 for a one-bedroom, with three-bedroom units capped at $3,324. According to the 2025 Housing Needs Report from the California Housing Partnership, renters in Alameda County need to earn $50.73 per hour to afford the average rent of $2,638. John Calise, assistant superintendent of facilities at Berkeley Unified, stated, “Affordable housing is a mainstay for thriving communities,” emphasizing the project's importance for educators and their families. The city of Berkeley has allocated $26.5m to support this initiative.

 

EdSource

Compton High School is set to open this fall with a groundbreaking approach to education, where teachers will not have dedicated classrooms. Instead, they will utilize flexible "learning studios" designed to adapt to various teaching needs. Alenoush Aghajanians, the design leader from DLR Group, emphasized the importance of flexibility, commenting: “The big focus here was to create a space that's very flexible and adaptable.” Principal Larry Natividad noted that this setup mimics a college environment, preparing students for future academic success. However, some educators, like Nicolle Fefferman, have expressed skepticism about the lack of personal space, arguing that physical classrooms are essential for building relationships. Kristen Luevanos, the teachers' union president, acknowledged the innovation but calls for more teacher involvement in the planning process.

 

Los Angeles Times

At the 2025 California Association of School Transportation Officials' annual conference, Patrick Mulick, a board-certified behavior analyst, coach, consultant, and director of student engagement at Auburn School District in Washington, presented a session on student behavior on school transportation. He urged drivers never to forget that students should not be held to the same standard as adults, and to remember that a backpack is not the only baggage that some students carry every day. “How are we creating that welcoming environment and giving kids opportunities to be successful, treating them like number one when they come in every single day?” he asked. “Getting this work right, it starts as a foundational piece.” He went on to offer tips on managing behavior, including building a rapport with students, learning deescalation techniques, and working with schools to provide assistive technologies where appropriate.

 

School Bus Fleet

The newly released Disaster Preparation & Response Guide is crucial for transportation directors and school bus fleet managers, emphasizing the need for effective emergency planning. Lauren Fletcher, VP of content at Bobit Business Media, said: “Our children’s safety depends on how prepared we are before a crisis hits. This guide empowers school fleets with the knowledge and structure they need to stay ready, and that starts with planning, not panic.” The guide covers essential topics such as disaster checklists for both EV and diesel bus fleets, role-based action plans for various staff, and communication strategies for reunification during emergencies. It aims to equip school fleets with the necessary knowledge and structure to ensure safety during unforeseen events.

 

School Bus Fleet

Austrian authorities have confirmed that 10 people have died after a 21-year-old former pupil at BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in the city of Graz opened fire at the school on Tuesday, with a number of other victims still being treated in hospital. The incident occurred at around 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET). Thousands of people joined a candlelight vigil for the victims in Graz last night, while officials have said the motivations for the attack are still being investigated. The suspect, who is believed to have attended the school but not graduated, is understood to have taken his own life in a school bathroom following the attack. Three days of mourning have been declared. Chancellor Christian Stocker said Tuesday had been a "dark day in [the] history of our country," adding: “There are no words to express the pain, disbelief and grief felt by the whole of Austria. Our country stands still in this moment of horror.”

 

CNN

Euronews

New York Times

Washington Post