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The largest study on school cell phone bans, conducted by scholars from Stanford University, Duke University, The University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania, reveals mixed outcomes. While teachers reported fewer distractions when students locked their phones away, the study found little evidence of improved academic performance or behavior. Thomas Dee, a Stanford economist and co-leader of the study, said: “We wanted to leverage the data from Yondr because it gives us much more confidence that in-school use of phones is actually being restricted.” The study analyzed data from about 4,600 schools and highlighted that while phone bans reduced usage significantly, they initially led to increased suspension rates and a dip in student well-being. However, by the third year, students' well-being improved, suggesting that the long-term effects of these bans may be more positive than initially observed. Dee emphasized the importance of maintaining these bans to help students realize their academic potential.

 

Temple Daily Telegram

Washington Post

What Educators Need to Know About Engagement in 2026

Student engagement and instructional rigor don’t have to be at odds. Engagement shapes how much students read, whether they complete texts, and how effectively they build knowledge and comprehension over time. Scholastic’s new white paper, Engagement Through Reading, draws on the latest research to make the case for engagement as a core instructional condition that drives academic outcomes. Learn how to apply the latest student engagement research in your school or district.

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The Trump administration is withholding more than $2bn in congressionally approved education funding through the federal budget apportionment process, raising concerns about delays, disrupted grant competitions, and potential cuts to dozens of K-12 and higher education programs. According to publicly available budget documents reviewed by Education Week, the Office of Management and Budget has yet to release most or all fiscal 2026 funding for 35 Education Department grant programs, including support for teacher training, education research, community schools, magnet schools, arts education, and Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native education initiatives. Many of the affected programs are ones the Trump administration has repeatedly proposed eliminating or consolidating into broader state block grants. In some cases, only small portions of funding have been released for administrative expenses, while other programs still show zero allocated funding despite Congress approving the money in February. Advocates and grant recipients warned that prolonged delays could force organizations to pause programs, reduce services, or lay off staff if competitions for new grants are not launched soon. Some programs have begun accepting applications, offering limited reassurance, though uncertainty remains over whether funds will ultimately be distributed. The administration has argued that apportionment is necessary to ensure spending aligns with presidential priorities and federal law, while critics say the process is being used to sidestep Congress and effectively freeze legally approved spending. Legal experts noted that previous administrations routinely released education funding shortly after budgets were passed, making the current delays highly unusual.

 

Education Week News

In April, a 13-year-old boy was arrested by North East ISD police for making threats related to school shootings at Nimitz Middle School. Kathy Martinez-Prather, director of Texas State University's Texas School Safety Center, noted that swatting calls have surged across Texas schools, particularly following the Uvalde tragedy. These threats, which can cause significant emotional distress and strain on emergency services, require careful evaluation by law enforcement to determine their seriousness. Martinez-Prather emphasized that even non-violent threats can have severe consequences, stating: "We've seen a lot of cases across the country where students thought it was funny to do this, and they didn't realize they were actually committing a crime." To combat this issue, Texas has implemented measures such as behavioral threat assessment teams and a campaign titled "Threats Are No Joke!" aimed at educating students and parents about the repercussions of making false threats.

 

Star-Telegram

Texas school districts are grappling with the financial implications of a new mandate requiring three-point seat belts on all school buses by the 2029-30 school year. John Craft, superintendent of Northside ISD, described the situation as “a classic, classic unfunded mandate.” Senate Bill 546, passed last year, lacks state funding, leaving districts to assess compliance costs and report their findings to the Texas Education Agency by the end of May. Many districts, including Northside ISD, face hefty retrofitting costs, with estimates ranging from $30,000 to over $70,000 per bus. Larger districts like Northside ISD may need to spend up to $43.7m to replace non-compliant buses.

 

Odessa American

Texas faces a severe food insecurity crisis, with 5.3m residents affected, including 22.2% of children, according to Feeding Texas. Trey Williams, inspired by a Thanksgiving event, founded Ancora Ministries to address this issue. The nonprofit launched the HaysHope2Go program to provide weekend food for students, ensuring they receive nutritious meals beyond school hours. Williams emphasized: “The idea is that our kids eat free breakfast and lunch at school Monday through Friday... but about 20% of the kids... are not getting enough to eat.” Ancora Ministries has served approximately 700,000 meals since the program's inception, with 130,000 meals provided this year alone. Feedback from educators indicates that 60-70% have observed improvements in students' concentration and behavior due to the program.

 

Hays Free Press

Bryan ISD trustees convened to discuss the district's financial outlook and the implications of the 2025 bond program. Amanda Brownson from the Texas Association of School Business Officials revealed that approximately 70% of Texas school districts anticipate budget cuts in the coming years, as they move away from relying on fund balances. "Districts are increasingly moving away from using reserve funds as those balances shrink," Brownson said, highlighting declining enrollment as a significant factor in these challenges. Bryan ISD Chief Financial Officer Norma Friddle emphasized the importance of monitoring expenses, particularly payroll, which constitutes the largest portion of the budget.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Magnolia ISD board has discussed the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget, focusing on a new 401(a) retirement plan and a significant pay raise for teachers. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Erich Morris described the pay raise as “aggressive,” aimed at enhancing teacher retention. The 401(a) plan, which targets teachers with over 10 years of service, is designed to reward loyalty and encourage long-term employment. The district anticipates a balanced budget and a one-time payment of approximately $3.4m from a property value audit. Additionally, a minimum 3% salary raise for all employees is proposed, along with a one-time $500 retention payment for staff.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Clear Creek ISD is anticipating a $19.7m shortfall for the fiscal year 2026-27, as revealed in a preliminary budget review presented to the board of trustees. The district is exploring various strategies to address this financial gap, including a potential voter-approval tax rate election (VATRE) and staffing efficiency reviews. The district expects revenues of $404.4m against expenses of $424.2m, marking a decrease in both revenue and expenditures compared to the previous year. Additionally, the district is facing challenges such as rising costs and a decline in enrollment, which has dropped over 6% since 2019-20. To mitigate the shortfall, Clear Creek ISD has implemented revenue strategies and reduced staffing by 70 positions.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Fort Worth ISD is undergoing significant changes as almost two-thirds of schools in the new Elevate Network will have new principals for the 2026-27 school year. Out of 19 schools, only seven will retain their current leaders. The Elevate Network, initiated by state-appointed Superintendent Peter Licata, aims to enhance teaching quality and address academic shortcomings. “We have to start from square one,” Licata said, emphasizing the need for a fresh approach. The selection process for new principals was rigorous, involving data evaluation and classroom walkthroughs. Licata hopes to attract talented teachers with competitive salaries, potentially reaching $100,000 annually. The restructuring has faced community pushback, but Licata remains committed to rebuilding support systems for students.

 

Star-Telegram

More than 500 students in Austin have been awarded scholarships through Texas' new private school voucher program, as reported by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. This second round of the Texas Education Freedom Account lottery granted vouchers to approximately 550 students, primarily benefiting low-income families earning $66,000 or less annually for a family of four. The vouchers can cover up to $10,500 for private school tuition, with special education students eligible for up to $30,000.

 

Austin American-Statesman

Slaton ISD in Texas is set to implement significant changes following the approval of a $51m bond under Proposition A. The bond will fund the demolition of Stephen F. Austin Elementary to make way for a new campus on 63 acres near Slaton High School, enhancing educational opportunities for students. Additionally, the bond will facilitate safety upgrades and refurbishments of existing buildings, including the alternative education program. Conkin emphasized the importance of being frugal with taxpayer money while ensuring quality education.

 

Kcbd Tv

Houston ISD is implementing new Special Education Success Programs that will require some special education students to transfer to one of 150 designated campuses next year. Deputy Superintendent Kristen Hole stated: "We will still have over half of our campuses that offer self-contained classrooms for students, but some families will be required to move schools to be able to access the services." The changes aim to centralize resources and improve support for students with similar needs. However, concerns have been raised by parents and advocates about potential segregation and the impact of these transitions on vulnerable students. HISD plans to offer transition meetings and campus tours for affected families, ensuring that students entering 12th grade will not be required to move.

 

Houston Chronicle

School districts across the U.S. are increasingly prioritizing cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI governance as generative artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in education, according to CoSN’s 2026 State of EdTech report. The report, based on responses from 607 K-12 leaders across 44 states, found that school systems are moving beyond early AI experimentation and focusing more heavily on risk management, policy development, and long-term operational oversight. Cybersecurity and privacy concerns have returned as the top priorities for education technology leaders after AI briefly overtook them in last year’s SETDA survey. About 75% of respondents said they were “very concerned” about AI-enabled cyberattacks, while 65% cited insufficient budgets as the biggest barrier to cybersecurity preparedness. Another 52% pointed to staffing and training shortages as major challenges. At the same time, AI adoption continues to expand rapidly. Nearly 88% of districts said they already have AI initiatives underway, and 79% reported having formal AI guidelines in place, up sharply from 57% in 2025. Confidence in AI’s educational value remains strong, with 96% of respondents saying the technology could positively benefit education through areas such as productivity, personalized learning, tutoring, and workforce readiness. The report also found districts are increasingly using procurement policies to manage AI risks, with 56% requiring vendors to provide product safety information before adoption. However, CoSN noted that fewer districts require broader quality measures such as accessibility, interoperability, evidence-based design, or usability standards.

 

Govenrment Technology

A large U.S. school district study found that district-wide renovations, upgraded HVAC systems, improved ventilation, and better cleaning practices were associated with fewer student absences caused by respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. The study tracked 45,428 students across 1,217 school days, covering seven school years and renovations at 45 schools. Researchers found that more than one-third of respiratory illness absences could potentially be reduced by keeping school facilities updated and meeting recommended ventilation standards. The findings also suggest that more frequent cleaning may help reduce gastrointestinal illness absences, while cooler classroom temperatures and higher absolute humidity could provide additional health benefits. Researchers said the results show that maintaining strong indoor environmental quality in schools can reduce infectious disease transmission and improve attendance.

 

Nature

A new study from Delaware offers early evidence that high school career pathways programs may help increase college enrollment and workplace readiness, although many students ultimately pursue careers outside the fields they studied in high school. Career pathways programs, which combine academic coursework with job-focused training and workplace experiences, have become a major part of education reform efforts nationwide. Delaware, considered a national leader in the movement, launched its statewide initiative in 2014, and roughly 70% of the state’s high school students now participate. Researchers at RTI International tracked more than 6,000 graduates who completed at least two courses in a career field. The study found that about three-quarters enrolled in college or another postsecondary training program after graduation, exceeding the national average of 63%. However, fewer than half continued studying or working in the same field they pursued in high school. Students in construction-related pathways, for example, frequently shifted into science, engineering, business, or healthcare majors after graduation.

 

Governing

South Korea is reconsidering the role of Chinese characters, known as Hanja, in education as officials and teachers raise concerns about declining student literacy and growing difficulties understanding vocabulary derived from classical Chinese. The National Education Commission said it may review measures to strengthen Hanja education, including the possible addition of Chinese character annotations in textbooks. The proposal has revived a long-running and politically sensitive debate over how much Hanja should be taught in schools. Education officials said the discussions are part of broader efforts to improve reading, writing, and vocabulary skills, after surveys showed widespread concern among teachers about deteriorating literacy levels. A 2024 survey by the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations found that 92% of teachers believed student literacy had declined, while two in 10 students reportedly struggled to understand textbooks without significant assistance. Supporters of stronger Hanja education argue that it is necessary because more than half of Korean vocabulary is derived from Chinese characters. Teachers and professors cited multiple examples of students misunderstanding common Sino-Korean words because they did not recognize the underlying meanings of the characters.

 

China Daily