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In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump devoted limited attention to education, focusing primarily on a nationwide K-12 artificial intelligence (AI) competition spearheaded by First Lady Melania Trump. The initiative encourages students and educators to develop AI-based solutions to real-world problems, with finalists set to showcase their work at the White House later this year. Trump did not address major education policies that have defined his administration, including deep staff cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, the transfer of key federal education programs to the Department of Labor, or expanded support for private school choice. He also avoided discussion of controversial moves such as revoking protections that limited immigration enforcement at schools and scaling back STEM grants and the department’s office of educational technology. While briefly referencing parental notification policies related to student gender identity, the president offered no new education proposals, leaving his longer-term agenda unclear as midterm elections approach.

 

Education Week News

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A Ninth Circuit panel has declined to pause a lower court ruling that blocks the U.S. Department of Education from canceling nearly $1bn in school mental health grants without following required legal procedures. The three-judge panel rejected the department’s emergency request to stay a permanent injunction issued in December by a federal judge in Seattle. The appeals court said the department had not shown it was likely to succeed in arguing that its cancellation of the grants complied with the Administrative Procedure Act. Judges found the department’s termination notices were not sufficiently tailored to individual grants and lacked adequate explanations. Sixteen states, including Washington, sued the Education Department in July after it discontinued funding under two grant programs aimed at expanding school-based mental health services, citing conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities. The states argued the cuts threatened programs designed to address shortages of mental health professionals in low-income and rural schools, initiatives they say have reduced suicide risk, absenteeism, and behavioral issues. The district court previously ruled the department’s actions were unlawful and ordered it to issue legally compliant decisions by March 2. State officials welcomed the appellate decision, saying it protects critical support for students’ mental health.

 

Courthouse News Service

Bloomberg Law

Teachers in northern Sacramento County are poised to strike starting March 5 if a contract is not reached with the Twin Rivers USD, potentially impacting 25,000 students. Brittoni Ward, President of Twin Rivers United Educators, stated, “Right now, over 2,000 Twin Rivers students are sitting in classrooms without a permanent teacher.” The union, which has been negotiating for over a year, seeks competitive wages, fully paid family health benefits, and improved student services. The district is currently in a fact-finding stage, with a neutral party reviewing both sides' data. Meanwhile, Superintendent Steve Martinez emphasized the district's commitment to bargaining in good faith to support teachers and students.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Some 90% of San Diego USD teachers have voted to authorize a strike, highlighting issues beyond pay, particularly concerning special education caseloads. "Those caseloads were unsustainable and causing special education teachers to leave the district or even leave the profession due to being burned out," said Kyle Weinberg, union president. The rising number of students qualifying for special education—15% in 2024-25, up from 13% in 2018-19—has intensified the pressure on teachers. The tentative agreement includes monthly stipends for teachers exceeding contractual limits and additional support for managing caseloads. However, funding remains a critical issue, with Superintendent Fabi Bagula noting that special education costs the district $400m annually, while only receiving $125m from state and federal sources. David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, emphasized that the challenges in special education reflect a broader underfunding crisis in the education system.

 

San Mateo Daily Journal

The Temecula Valley USD board has approved layoff notices for 12 non-teaching employees, citing "lack of work and lack of funds" as reasons for the cuts. Francisco Arce, assistant superintendent for human resources, emphasized the district's commitment to supporting students despite these reductions. He noted that staff cuts may occur when students no longer require certain aides, but reassignment to other roles is common. Edgar Diaz, president of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, expressed strong opposition to the layoffs, stating, "The district must exhaust every option to maintain vital resources for students." The board had previously approved over 20 layoff notices for teaching positions, with significant impacts expected on the Home Instead Innovation Academy.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

Los Angeles USD has reported a significant rise in student participation and performance in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho expressed optimism, stating: “This is the most hopeful sign Los Angeles Unified could, in fact, realize.” Enrollment in AP courses increased by 12% since the 2020-2021 school year, with 29% of high school students participating in the 2024-2025 year. The number of AP exams taken rose by 52%, with a notable 124% increase in exams scoring 3 or higher. College Board chief executive David Coleman praised LA Unified as “a light” during challenging times, highlighting that 70% of AP-ready students enrolled in these courses. Schools like Science Academy STEM Magnet and Marshall High School showcased impressive performance, with Marshall's Principal Juan Puentes emphasizing the importance of access and success for equity. Coleman noted, “Taking even a single AP course can change a student’s trajectory.”

 

Daily Breeze

Three schools in Marin County have been awarded the California Green Ribbon Schools honor for 2026, recognizing their commitment to sustainability and environmental education. The Cove School and Neil Cummins Elementary School from the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, along with Montessori de Terra Linda in San Rafael, were acknowledged for their efforts. "What makes this honor especially meaningful is that it is not simply about what we offer," said Brett Geithman, Larkspur-Corte Madera superintendent. The California Department of Education awarded 26 public schools, 12 school districts, and four private schools this year, with all three Marin schools achieving the gold category. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond praised the honorees for their leadership in creating sustainable learning environments.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

Heather Bailie Schock, an assistant professor of education at the University of Tampa, emphasizes the importance of making teaching strategies visible to preservice teachers. Despite her efforts to model effective teaching techniques, students often failed to recognize them. To address this, she implemented medical-style huddles, which promote shared understanding among team members. These huddles, lasting no more than 15 minutes, begin with the question: “What did you see me do or model in class today?” This structure has led to sharper observations from students and has surfaced important concerns, such as confusion regarding state teacher-certification examinations. Schock noted: “Huddles help move pedagogy from theory to action.” By fostering a culture of celebration and reflection, these huddles have transformed the learning experience for preservice teachers, building community and reducing stress.

 

Education Week News

Matthew Harris, the Superintendent of Petaluma City Schools, has announced his resignation effective June 30, stating, "With mixed emotions, I am sharing my decision to step down." His departure comes amid significant changes within the district, including a projected $6m budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year. Harris, who began his role on July 1, 2021, emphasized the need for a new direction, saying, "This job isn't just a job for the superintendent." His leadership has been marked by challenges, including navigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The district now faces the task of finding a successor to lead through these turbulent times.

 

Press Democrat

Laura Hoban and Richelle Ryan, co-presidents of the Valley of the Moon Teachers Association, have called for the resignation of President David Bell due to "grave governance failures," particularly his decision to remove the pride flag at Sonoma Valley High School. They stated, "This request was driven by significant outreach from members asking us to bring this demand forward." Bell, who has no plans to resign, acknowledged his mistake in handling the flag's removal and stated, "In hindsight, I should have instead directed staff to agendize the discussion for a board meeting." The board plans to discuss the flag issue further in their upcoming meeting on March 12. Hoban has also expressed concerns about Bell's governance training and the impact of his decisions on students and staff. If Bell does not resign, Hoban has requested the board to censure him for his actions.

 

Press Democrat

Lisa Allen, who served as superintendent of Sacramento City USD for nearly three decades, announced her retirement on February 5, surprising many staff members. Her departure comes amid ongoing financial challenges for the district, which is at high risk of insolvency due to unexpected costs. Despite the budget issues, Allen was well-regarded for her empathetic leadership and student-centered approach. “She really has this incredible empathetic quality,” said former community engagement manager Niki Kangas. Allen's tenure saw improvements in state test scores and graduation rates, but her resignation has cast a shadow over the district, which is already facing layoffs and low morale. Board President Tara Jeane emphasized that the decision for Allen to step down was mutual, aimed at creating space for new leadership to tackle the district's challenges.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Artificial intelligence (AI) is intensifying cyber threats against U.S. schools, enabling hackers to launch more sophisticated attacks at a time when federal cybersecurity support is being scaled back. Experts warn that generative AI tools now allow cyber criminals to craft highly convincing phishing emails, mimic the writing style of school leaders, and even create voice and video deepfakes to trick staff into transferring funds or disclosing sensitive data. AI can also rapidly scan public records, such as school budgets and staff directories,  to identify vulnerabilities. With some AI systems now capable of autonomously executing tasks, even low-skilled attackers can carry out complex ransomware operations. Schools remain prime targets due to limited cybersecurity resources and the high value of student data on the dark web. Meanwhile, federal support has diminished. Funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) was recently cut, requiring schools to pay membership fees. Other federal coordination efforts and the Education Department’s Office of Educational Technology have been shuttered or suspended, leaving districts with fewer shared intelligence resources. Despite the challenges, experts say schools can strengthen defences by focusing on cybersecurity fundamentals, including multi-factor authentication, strong password policies, regular software updates, phishing simulations, staff training, identity-verification protocols, and collaborative information-sharing networks among districts. Tabletop exercises and shared state-level partnerships can also help improve preparedness.

 

Government Technology

New math, English and science resources are being introduced in New Zealand's schools after earlier delays drew criticism from teachers, with Education Minister Erica Stanford announcing the rollout alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland. The package includes a 12-week teacher-led writing programme called Scribo for Year 6 to 10 students who are a year or more behind in literacy, along with new digital math textbooks and workbooks for Years 9 and 10. The resources are curriculum-aligned and expected to support around 140,000 students and 6,000 teachers annually over the next three years. Professional development will also be provided. The announcement follows complaints from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association that the delayed materials caused frustration at the start of the school year. In addition, NZ$40m ($23.8m) from Budget 2025 has been allocated to supply hands-on science kits to primary and intermediate schools nationwide by early 2027. The kits, which will operate under a rotational “library” model managed by House of Science, will allow teachers to book experiment sets delivered directly to classrooms. The initiative will expand access from about 10% of students currently reached to nationwide coverage and includes new kits for Māori medium education. Officials said potential conflicts of interest in the contract process were appropriately managed.

 

Inside Government NZ

RNZ