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The Texas House has taken a significant step towards implementing a $1bn private school voucher program, with an initial approval of Senate Bill 2 by an 85-63 vote. The bill, which could expand to reach $4.5bn annually by 2030, allows families to use taxpayer money for private school tuition, and for costs associated with home-schooling, with a focus on prioritizing low-income students and those with disabilities. Gov. Greg Abbott hailed the decision as an "extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents" advocating for educational choices. “It’s time to provide a full array of options to parents,” Rep. Brad Buckley, a sponsor of the bill, said from the House floor before the vote. However, Democrats criticized the bill, arguing it favors wealthy interests over everyday Texans. The legislation also includes a $7.7bn school funding package aimed at increasing per-student funding and improving special education services. The Texas Senate had already passed a similar school choice plan. Now members of the two chambers must align their proposals, after a final procedural vote in the House. 

 

Education Week News

New York Times

The Texas Tribune

U.S. News

School Leadership’s Guide to Building an Online Learning Program

No two students learn the same way, and alternative options for education have never been more necessary than they are right now. According to a recent study, 81% of parents believe online learning helps their children better prepare for the future and 94% believe it positively impacts their children’s ability to understand courses.*

This guide will help school and district leaders like you learn more about the fundamentals of online learning and its benefits.

Topics include:

• Debunking common myths about online education
  
• An outline of the first steps to create and implement a new program
  
• Strategies for creating open communication with parents, students, and staff
  
• How to select the best industry partner to help develop your new program

*FlexPoint 2021 Parent Survey

Download the Guide

 

Green Bay homeowners will see a change in their property tax bills next year, as the Green Bay School District successfully added a line detailing private school voucher funds. Mayor Eric Genrich broke a tie among council members to approve this addition, which aims to enhance transparency amid budget shortfalls. Denise Gaumer Hutchinson, a regional organizer for the Wisconsin Public Education Network, emphasized the need for clarity, stating, “People want to understand their tax bill, and they want to understand where the money is going.” The new line will indicate the district's $12.5m expenditure on private school vouchers for the 2024-25 school year. While supporters argue this promotes transparency, opponents express concerns about singling out voucher families and question the accuracy of the district's financial figures.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently conducted wellness checks at two Los Angeles USD elementary schools, claiming to ensure the safety of unaccompanied minors. However, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho refuted these claims, asserting: "We have no evidence... of a wellness check conducted by the Department of Homeland Security having taken place in Los Angeles." The district has strict protocols for such visits, which include verifying identification and requiring a judicial warrant for access. Carvalho emphasized the importance of protecting students' rights and privacy, recalling his own experience as an immigrant. He expressed concern over potential repercussions for the district, adding, "I cannot renounce my own history... Am I willing to incur and sustain personal consequence in my efforts to advocate and support hundreds of thousands of kids? Absolutely." The DHS maintains that their actions were not related to immigration enforcement but aimed at protecting vulnerable children.

 

NPR / National Public Radio

Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman recently criticized the district's letter to families about transgender students' name and pronoun changes, calling it "cold" and lacking acknowledgment of the emotional impact on students and families. Internal records reveal that the decision to revert names and genders to match biological sex followed legal advice amid concerns over compliance with state law. Chapman has expressed regret for the decision, stating: "I want to apologize to all of our students, our family, our community, our staff, for the harm that was done." The district's actions have raised alarms about the well-being of affected students, with Chief of Staff Mike De Fabbo expressing concern that the changes may have jeopardized their health.

 

The Columbus Dispatch

The Trump administration has mandated that states must commit to ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in K-12 schools by April 24 to avoid losing federal funding. David Law, president of The School Superintendents Association, expressed confusion, stating, "The confusion is this has never happened before. We already don't allow discrimination." The Education Department's directive requires states to reaffirm compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race-based discrimination. However, the lack of clarity around what constitutes a violation has led to varied responses from states. Some, like New York, have pushed back against the federal demands, while others, such as Arizona, support the administration's stance. The situation has created anxiety among educators, with Law noting that "monthly changing guidance... can be a distraction and can be detrimental on school systems."

 

NPR / National Public Radio

Mike Rubin, principal of Uxbridge High School in Massachusetts, reflects on a past U.S. Department of Education civil rights investigation, commenting: “They allowed us to really look at our practices and procedures through a neutral lens of the law.” However, under President Donald Trump's renewed administration, the Education Department has launched over 80 investigations into schools and universities, focusing on compliance with his policies regarding transgender athletes and diversity initiatives. Maine is currently a focal point, facing potential funding cuts due to its policies on transgender athletes. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the administration's commitment to enforcing these policies, asserting: “We want to make sure that if you open women's sports or intimate facilities to males, you expose yourself to federal civil rights investigations.” This approach marks a significant shift from previous practices, with experts noting the rapid pace of enforcement actions.

 

Education Week News

Alabama lawmakers have passed several bills aimed at expanding the use of Christian texts in public schools while limiting protections for LGBTQ+ students. The legislation includes mandates for displaying the Ten Commandments and banning Pride flags and drag shows, with Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter calling the bills “common sense.” Rep. Mark Gidley, sponsor of one of the bills, said it recognizes the Ten Commandments, which appear in the Old Testament of the Bible, as "one of the principal foundational documents that guided the ideas that created this great country," and is not intended to promote one particular religion over others. Critics, including Rep. Neil Rafferty, Alabama's only openly gay legislator, argue that the measures silence LGBTQ+ identities, arguing that “When we ban their identities from the classroom, we are telling them that the best they can hope for is silence.” The bills reflect a broader conservative agenda seen in at least 20 states, with concerns raised about potential violations of the First Amendment and the impact on religious minorities.

 

Al.com

U.S. News

The Montgomery County school district in Maryland has ended its opt-out policy for LGBTQ+ storybooks in elementary schools, citing an overwhelming number of requests from parents. This decision has led to a legal battle, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, where parents argue that the lack of opt-out options infringes on their First Amendment rights. Justin Driver, a Yale law professor, warned that a ruling favoring the parents could lead to widespread religious exemptions in public schools. The district's associate superintendent, Niki T. Hazel, stated that the inclusion of LGBTQ+ books was necessary to reflect the diversity of the student body. The case highlights the tension between educational inclusivity and parental rights regarding religious beliefs.

 

Education Week News

An attorney for LifeWise has cautioned Ohio school districts about potential lawsuits if they adopt a model policy that restricts religious release groups from providing materials to students. The First Liberty Institute, representing LifeWise, argues that the North East Ohio Learning Associates (NEOLA) policy could lead to legal liability for schools. LifeWise founder Joel Penton emphasized that "religious release time programs such as LifeWise should be accessible to all families on a consistent basis under Ohio law." The policy has faced criticism for being overly bureaucratic and potentially unconstitutional, as noted by Jeremy Dys, senior legal counsel for the First Liberty Institute. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also warned that the policy's broad language could infringe on First Amendment rights. As districts navigate these new requirements, the debate over religious release time continues to intensify.

 

The Columbus Dispatch

The Massachusetts Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has introduced a detailed guide to assist schools in transitioning to electric bus fleets. The guide, known as the Electric School Bus Roadmap, aims to simplify the process by outlining essential steps such as fleet assessment, utility collaboration, and workforce training. Alison Felix, principal planner at MAPC, explained: "After conducting a study on electrifying school bus fleets across 22 Massachusetts school districts two years ago, we saw the need to broaden our outreach. In response, we developed the Electric School Bus Roadmap, which is designed for municipalities and school districts to start planning for an effective and efficient transition to electric school buses. Fleet electrification requires involvement from a variety of stakeholders across organizations, and the guide provides a technical and practical base of knowledge for all parties involved.” The roadmap also includes resources for decision-makers and highlights the benefits of electric buses, including reduced emissions and improved health outcomes.

 

School Bus Fleet

A new legislative proposal that makes mass timber construction a focal point of the federal government’s future building plans is being advanced by a bipartisan coalition. The Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2025, introduced by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and James Risch (R-ID), and co-sponsored by Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), would establish a locally sourced and recycled timber mandate for its preferred use in new federal designs, including schools and colleges. The bill creates a two-tier contracting preference, with the first applying to mass timber coming from state, federal, private, and Tribal forestlands, and the optional second applying to mass timber products sourced from restoration practices, fire mitigation projects, and underserved forest owners. Should it pass, the Act will mandate a preference in federal building contracts for mass timber products.

 

Archinect

Wood Central

The West Contra Costa USD board has approved the renewal of Leadership Public School Richmond's charter for another five years, despite concerns from some of the California district's board members. Trustee Demetrio Gonzalez-Hoy emphasized the need for a memorandum of understanding to ensure the charter school reports on its progress in improving representation, as only 3% of its 500+ students are Black, while 95% are Latino. Board member Jamila Smith-Folds opposed the renewal, citing limited family involvement in decision-making. This renewal marks the first since the school's founding in 2018, with the timeline extended due to the pandemic.

 

EdSource

The legal status of international students in the U.S. is facing unprecedented challenges, with over 1,024 students from 160 institutions reporting terminations since late March. Matthew Maiona, a Boston immigration attorney, noted: “It seems now like it's coming pretty fast and furious.” Many affected students, primarily from India and China, are bewildered by the sudden revocation of their visas, often without clear reasons. Lawsuits have emerged, with students claiming they were denied due process. Recent federal court rulings have temporarily restored the status of some students, highlighting the ongoing legal battles. Fanta Aw, chief executive of NAFSA, an association of international educators, emphasized the fear among student. The situation remains fluid, with many students uncertain about their future in the U.S.

 

CNN Edition

Chicago Tribune

China will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) applications into teaching efforts, textbooks and the school curriculum as it moves to overhaul its education system. The Ministry of Education has published a paper outlining how promoting AI will help "cultivate the basic abilities of teachers and students," and shape the "core competitiveness of innovative talents." It follows China’s efforts to advance AI education in universities, including new AI courses and increased enrollment. The push gained attention after DeepSeek launched a competitive large-language model in January. That month China also unveiled its first national action plan to attain a "strong-education nation" by 2035, aiming to harness innovation efficiencies in reaching the goal.

 

Reuters

Tech in Asia