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The White House has announced that 67 tech companies and associations have signed a pledge supporting the Trump administration's aim of making artificial intelligence (AI) education accessible to all students. The “Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education,” signatories of which include Google, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, NVIDIA, MagicSchool, and Varsity Tutors, supports efforts to “provide resources that foster early interest in AI technology, promote AI literacy, and enable comprehensive AI training for educators.” “It is clear there is a lot of energy about AI and how it can be used responsibly in education,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “The resources and tools that have been pledged through this initiative will help our teachers and learners leverage AI in classrooms and communities across America.” The Software & Information Industry Association said it will create a working group among its corporate members to develop strategies for transparently disclosing how AI tools are used in the classroom. It added: These best practices will help companies communicate to the K-12 community, parents, and students about AI’s use in school environments and equip them to responsibly use it."

 

K-12 Dive

Greg Johnson, known as Biskakone, reflects on the traumatic history of Native American boarding schools, where children were stripped of their identity and culture. His grandmother, Helen Chapman, endured this experience, resulting in a loss of cultural transmission. Today, Biskakone and tribal leaders are advocating for accountability from the Catholic Church and the U.S. government for their roles in these schools. A significant class-action lawsuit has been filed by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and the Washoe Tribe, alleging violations of trust responsibilities. Biskakone emphasizes the need to reclaim lost traditions, stating, “Now, we have to make it right.” Efforts are underway to teach Indigenous languages and practices in tribal schools, aiming to restore cultural heritage.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

Surveillance footage has allegedly shown Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents urinating in the parking lot of Ruben Salazar High School in Pico Rivera, California, on June 17th. El Rancho USD has called for a federal investigation into this "deeply disturbing" behavior, which occurred near a preschool playground and an elementary school where summer classes were ongoing. The district's letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons expressed concerns about the agents' judgment and the rights of the community, stating:“Any reasonable person, of any profession, entering Salazar where the ICE agents were urinating would clearly recognize the surroundings to be those of a school where minors are taught." L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn also demanded an investigation, criticizing the agents for their actions on school grounds. The district is seeking a report on the incident and the identities of those involved.

 

Los Angeles Times

Fresno USD, California's third-largest, is facing a significant setback as over $7.1m in federal funds has been withheld. This decision, attributed to the Trump administration's recent withholding of $811m in grants to California schools, poses a threat to essential educational programs. A district spokesperson expressed the district's outrage, stating: “We are deeply outraged by the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to withhold critical federal funding that Congress has already allocated to support our schools.” The impact of this funding loss is expected to be devastating for the district's operations.

 

EdSource

In a recent discussion at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference, Saicy Lytle, an instructional technologist from the Clyde district in Texas, emphasized the crucial role of principals in technology integration within schools. Lytle said: "If principals have a vision and they plan and talk with the staff about things like digital citizenship, it actually can help with the teachers' technology acceptance." She highlighted the importance of developing a clear tech plan, engaging in professional development, and modeling the use of technology. However, challenges such as gaining teacher buy-in and managing multiple responsibilities can hinder principals. Lytle advocates for collaboration among teachers, principals, and technology coaches to ensure effective tech integration, ultimately aiming for improved student outcomes.

 

Education Week News

Nikki Henry, the chief spokesperson for Fresno USD, has resigned following an investigation into her use of artificial intelligence to create a document containing fabricated information. In her LinkedIn post, she admitted to moving “too fast under pressure” and relying on an AI tool without proper fact-checking. The document, which included unverified claims about union leadership, was deemed “inaccurate and ethically troubling” by Manuel Bonilla, President of the Fresno Teachers Association.

 

EdSource

The Fresno Bee

Tricia Protzman has been officially sworn in as the new Madera County Superintendent of Schools during a ceremony at the Early Education Center Playground. The event was led by retired County Superintendent Dr. Cecilia A. Massetti, who noted: “This is where it all started with Tricia, as a teacher at a school site.”

 

Madera Tribune

The University of California (UC) has announced a ban on student governments and university entities from boycotting any country, including Israel. This decision follows guidance from the Trump administration, which stated that such boycotts could jeopardize federal research grants. UC President Michael Drake emphasized that “boycotts of companies based on their association with a particular country” violate university policy. While the ban does not extend to student clubs, it could impact recognized professional school governments. The move is part of UC's long-standing opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which has faced accusations of antisemitism. Aditi Hariharan, president of the UC Student Association, expressed concern, stating, “Students already have little influence on how the university works.” The ban comes amid ongoing investigations into antisemitism at UC campuses.

 

Los Angeles Times

Developing countries currently face a $420bn annual gap in the funding needed to achieve gender equality, UN Women estimates; a gap that means programmes and services for women and girls are chronically underfunded. The estimate comes in the midst of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development underway in Sevilla, Spain. “We cannot close gender gaps with budgets that are lacking a gender lens … Gender equality must move from the margins of the budget lines to the heart of public policy,” said Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, deputy executive director of UN Women. Recommendations to address this include expanding gender-responsive budgeting which carefully tracks where funding is most needed and supporting programs which target those areas. Currently, three-fourths of countries do not have systems to track the allocation of public funds in relation to gender equality.  Specifically, investment in public care systems, such as child and elder care programmes – is essential to ensuring that women can enter the workforce.

 

UN News

A report written by two French lawmakers and published on Wednesday calls for stricter regulations on the nation's private schools, following allegations of decades-long abuse at the Catholic institution, Notre-Dame de Betharram, now known as Le Beau Rameau. The investigation was prompted by numerous complaints from former pupils, including Didier Vinson, who stated, "Aside from the women serving us food at the canteen, everyone was part of the violence." The report revealed around 250 complaints against 26 alleged perpetrators, with 90 related to sexual abuse. Lawmakers Paul Vannier and Violette Spillebout are advocating for legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for abuse against minors and to establish a compensation fund for victims. They emphasized the need for regular inspections and better training for school staff to prevent future incidents.

 

Reuters

In Bowling Green, Kentucky, a unique solution to the challenges of maintaining a 1-to-1 computing environment has emerged: high school students are being enlisted, and paid, to fix Chromebooks. Megan Marcum, the district's digital learning coach, shared insights at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference, describing the system as “a pretty well-oiled machine.” The student-run repair team has been operational for a decade, allowing IT staff to focus on more significant projects while providing students with real-world experience. The program not only saves costs by avoiding external repair fees but also ensures faster turnaround times. Students receive class credit and can earn $10 an hour, fostering a career-ready learning environment. Marcum emphasizes the benefits, noting that students take pride in their work, which enhances their confidence and ownership of the program.

 

Education Week News

A group of 12 students from Cabrillo and Jordan high schools participated in the Careers Taking Flight program at Long Beach Airport, designed to spark interest in aviation careers. Over 150 students applied for this year's externship, which includes tours, career panels, and interactive sessions with partners like Delta and Southwest Airlines. The program culminates in an exploration flight through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program.

 

Press-Telegram