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Sixteen states, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Trump administration, to restore access to over $1 billion in federal pandemic relief funding for schools. The lawsuit, which includes the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and the District of Columbia, claims that the Education Department's decision to halt hundreds of millions in promised aid violates federal law, reversing a prior agreement that allowed states to access the funds through March 2026. The shift in instruction has left many state and local education leaders wondering how to proceed, with Elleka Yost, director of advocacy and research at the Association of School Business Officials International, commenting: “Changing the requirements while the money is already committed has put states and districts in a tough spot.” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the move would "take us backwards" and jeopardize plans for math tutors, school health centers, and building upgrades. Elsewhere, the Kansas State Department of Education has directed contracted service providers to pause all tasks dependent on COVID emergency funds. “The Trump administration’s latest attack on our schools will hurt our most vulnerable students and make it harder for them to thrive,” James said. “Cutting school systems’ access to vital resources that our students and teachers rely on is outrageous and illegal.”

 

K-12 Dive

Los Angeles Times

New York Times

US News and World Report

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The Florida Education Association (FEA) is urging lawmakers to fully fund public education, emphasizing that current budget proposals fall short. The FEA said: “Once again, educators are being asked to do more and more with less and less resources.” They called for an increase of $1,000 per student to improve Florida's ranking from 43rd in the nation for per pupil spending. The Senate and House budgets propose increases of only $135 and $62 per pupil, respectively, which the FEA argues do not keep pace with inflation. Additionally, legislative proposals could halve bonuses for schools achieving certain assessment scores, potentially costing districts millions. The FEA highlighted the ongoing teacher shortage and declining student performance, urging lawmakers to prioritize public education funding to meet the needs of all students.

 

Florida Politics

More K–12 early adopters are using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to improve worker productivity and communication and to optimize business operations. They are also using the tools to create or summarize content, or to analyze data to discover insights and produce reports. However, said Tom Ryan, co-founder of the K-12 Strategic Technology Advisory Board and former CoSN board chair, districts will need to provide training and develop policies that include guardrails to protect data privacy and make sure they align AI with district goals. EdTech looks at how districts have integrated the technology into everyday operations, including at Val Verde USD in California, where teachers are using it in the classroom, principals are utilizing it to formulate announcements, and HR staff have deployed it to improve job interview questions. Other staff use it to draft board documents, project plans or to improve their email messages. Advance AI applications can be used to integrate disparate data sources through programming interfaces or move them to a central repository, such as a data lake or warehouse. Ryan said that this should only be attempted under a data governance framework that  includes cleaning data and ensuring good data quality.

 

EdTech

On March 21, Fort Johnson hosted an Education Summit at the Warrior Center, bringing together teachers, students, and personnel from Vernon and Beauregard Parishes. The event celebrated the dedication of educators and the partnership between local school districts and the Joint Readiness Training Center. Vernon Parish School Board Superintendent James Williams remarked: “When you think about achievement on a school level... their hard work pays off.” Beauregard Parish Superintendent Larry Hollie noted that “Ninety-five percent of our teachers are happy with their job,” emphasizing the commitment of educators to their students' growth.

 

DVIDS

Creditors of Byju's, the once-prominent edtech firm, have initiated a lawsuit against co-founders Byju Raveendran, Divya Gokulnath, and strategy chief Anita Kishore, alleging they "masterminded the theft of more than half a billion dollars." The new lawsuit seeks to hold Raveendran, his wife, Divya Gokulnath and another top company official liable for their roles in the long-running dispute. The lenders have been trying for years to collect money on a defaulted $1.2bn loan. Byju’s fraudulently transferred at least part of the money to a small hedge fund based in Miami to keep it out of lenders’ hands, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey ruled in February. Byju’s is navigating bankruptcy proceedings in both the U.S. and India. In the U.S., lenders have been fighting to liquidate domestic education software companies that Byju’s purchased for $820m a few years ago and recoup payments.

 

Bloomberg

Financial Times

Broward County Public Schools is confronting significant budget cuts due to a decline in student enrollment, which has dropped by nearly 38,000 over the past decade. Superintendent Howard Hepburn stated that the district's financial situation is “out of whack,” with an anticipated loss of over $79m in state funding for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The district currently has about 26,900 staff members for approximately 192,000 students, leading to concerns about overstaffing. Hepburn emphasized the need for operational efficiencies and a hiring freeze on central office positions. Board member Allen Zeman remarked, “This is a house on fire kind of moment,” highlighting the urgency of addressing the staffing imbalance. The district is exploring various solutions, including potential staff reductions and changes to staffing allocations, while ensuring that cuts do not adversely affect classroom environments.

 

Local10

The Miami Herald

Students at Satellite High School protested on Thursday in support of Melissa Calhoun, a teacher whose contract was not renewed after she used a student's chosen name without parental consent. Calhoun, an AP English teacher with over 12 years at Brevard Public Schools, is the first known educator to be fired under Florida's 2023 law requiring parental consent for name changes. Students gathered outside the school, holding signs and chanting Calhoun's name, while the Brevard Federation of Teachers criticized the decision as "heavy-handed." An online petition to reinstate Calhoun has garnered nearly 13,640 signatures. Students argue that the law infringes on their rights and creates a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ youth. Ryan Matrigali, a junior, emphasized the need for students to feel safe in their identities.

 

Florida Today

Click Orlando

Fox 35 Orlando

The School Board of Manatee County is advocating for the reinstatement of a controversial school zone speed camera program, which was recently terminated. In a letter dated March 24, Chairman Chad Choate III emphasized the need for these cameras to operate during school hours, citing their role in enhancing student safety. The previous program, which issued over 55,000 tickets and generated $5.5m in fines, faced backlash from residents who viewed it as a “money grab.” Choate stated, “We believe that these cameras are vital in helping secure the safety and well-being of our students.” School Board Member Heather Felton echoed this sentiment, stressing the board's responsibility to protect children. The county commission is also considering refunding fines collected from the program, with discussions set for an upcoming public meeting.

 

Bradenton.com

Seven candidates have applied for the interim superintendent position in Marion County, with salaries ranging from $125,987 to $169,333. Among the local applicants are Danielle Brewer, Robert Craig Ham, Donna Cress, and Melissa A. Kinard, while the external candidates include Anthony Hamlet, Wayne Rodolfich, and Timothy A. Smith. The school board plans to review the applicants during a work session on April 17 and will vote on a contract for the interim superintendent on April 29, aiming for a start date in May or June.

 

Ocala.com

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has requested that colleges and universities compile detailed lists of faculty research and grants received over the past six years. This initiative is part of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aimed at identifying inefficiencies in the public higher education system. Nathaniel Southerland, vice president of academic affairs at Santa Fe College, expressed confidence that the information provided would show responsible use of taxpayer funds. However, University of South Florida professor David Simmons raised concerns about the costs associated with this request, noting that faculty research is already publicly accessible through platforms like Google Scholar. DeSantis emphasized that the review is intended to ensure compliance with state laws regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

 

Tampa Bay Times

Leaders of private colleges and universities in Florida have expressed concerns regarding potential reductions in the state Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) program. This program currently provides $3,500 annual grants to undergraduates attending private institutions. The uncertainty surrounding funding has prompted these leaders to voice their worries, emphasizing the importance of the EASE program for their students' financial support.

 

Sun Sentinel

The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee confirmed Paul Bailey, Gates Garcia, and Chris Young as appointees to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, despite concerns over their support for former chair Scott Yenor. Yenor resigned after facing significant backlash. Young expressed regret for his vote, commenting: “In hindsight, if I had known about the context of the comments that were made, I would stand before you and tell you that was a bad decision.” Garcia defended his support, claiming he was unaware of Yenor's controversial views. If confirmed by the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, their terms will end in January 2026 and 2028.

 

Pensacola News Journal

A new discussion paper from the Australian Institute reveals that one in three youths in the country aged between 12 and 17 gamble, equating to 600,000 pre-teens and teens collectively losing more than A$18m ($11.1m) annually. Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) chief executive Martin Thomas says the figures reflect deliberate attempts by the nation's gambling industry to groom young children to gamble from a very young age, with them seeing an average of 948 gambling ads on TV every year. AGR chief advocate Tim Costello has called on schools to take action to address the problem, adding: “I’m always loath to download every social problem in society onto teachers, I know they carry too heavy a weight already – but in the face of monumental government failure to regulatory capture the gambling industry, schools need to be doing more."

 

Education HQ

Leon County Schools has introduced Fergi, a vape detection dog, to help combat vaping among students. Fergi will visit schools across the county, from elementary to high school, to sniff out nicotine and THC devices. Chief Jimmy Williams of the Department of Safe Schools and Emergency Management emphasized the importance of educating children about the dangers of vaping, commenting: "The kids have an opportunity to interact with these dogs, so it's very important that there's no fear involved at all with these dogs." The initiative aims to prevent vaping on campuses and promote student health, as teen vape usage has risen nearly 30% from 2019 to 2020.

 

Tallahassee News