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The U.S. Department of Education has announced new grant priorities focusing on expanding school choice, state oversight, and literacy improvement. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said on Tuesday that discretionary grants "will now be focused on meaningful learning and expanding choice, not divisive ideologies.” This shift aims to replace the priorities set by the Biden administration, which emphasized diversity, equity, and inclusion. The new priorities will be open for public comment for 30 days before finalization. While competitive grants represent a small portion of the department's budget, the changes signal a significant policy shift, emphasizing charter schools and educational savings accounts. However, they do not affect the largest portions of federal K-12 funding, which go toward grants that the Education Department allocates to states by formula, such as Title I, to support students from low-income communities, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which supports services for students with disabilities.

 

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A Massachusetts college student has agreed to plead guilty to hacking cloud-based education software provider PowerSchool and stealing data related to millions of teachers and students. The information was used by hackers to extort the company, and school districts across North America, into paying ransoms. Matthew Lane, a student at Assumption University in Worcester, entered into the deal on Tuesday to resolve charges of hacking two companies. PowerSchool, whose software is used by more than 18,000 schools to support over 60m students, disclosed the breach in January. It has said it learned of it on December 28, 2024 and decided to pay a ransom to prevent data from being made public. According to prosecutors, Lane used the credentials of a PowerSchool contractor in September to gain access to its network and obtain the data, which he transferred in December to a computer server he leased from a cloud storage provider in Ukraine. He faces at least two years in prison

 

Reuters

Sharp cuts in county, state and federal funding have left Anne Arundel County Public Schools uncertain about whether it can proceed with work to upgrade its campuses. Every 10 years, the district develops the Long Range Facilities Plan, a roadmap that guides decisions about the school system’s physical footprint. It identifies facility needs, establishes priorities and acts as an objective decision-making tool. However, some funding sources are ending this year, including those from federal grants and the Maryland Built to Learn Act. Additionally, in County Executive Stuart Pittman’s six-year capital spending plan, funding for schools has been taken down from roughly $200m to $33m annually. The district hired Perkins Eastman, a Washington, D.C.-based architectural firm, to assess the needs of the district’s 136 buildings based on five criteria: building utilization, sustainability, educational adequacy, facility age and facility condition. Board President Robert Silkworth said he remains optimistic that the board will be able to secure funding for the projects.

 

Capital Gazette

Portland voters appear to have narrowly approved a $1.83bn bond aimed at modernizing three high schools and upgrading aging middle and elementary schools, with the bond passing at 54% to 46%. Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong expressed gratitude, adding: "you've made it clear that our students matter.” The majority of the funds, approximately $1.15bn, will be allocated to modernizing school buildings, particularly Jefferson and Cleveland high schools, which are projected to cost between $430m and $466m each. The bond also includes $190m for maintenance and upgrades at other schools, with a commitment to address seismic deficiencies in the most vulnerable buildings. Property owners will continue to pay $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed value for the next 32 years to fund this initiative.

 

The Oregonian

The House Homeland Security Committee has asked Chinese automaker BYD to hand over documents related to its ownership structure, correspondence with any American or Chinese lobbying firms, cybersecurity audits and assessments, data storage policies and specifics on all electric school buses under contract or in use in the country. BYD has been battling to keep its bus business in the U.S. by selling to cities and school districts, despite attempts in Congress to exclude the Chinese company through legislation. BYD started out making lithium-ion batteries for consumer electronics, then moved into cars and buses while growing its business as a supplier to technology giants including Apple.

 

Bloomberg

Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria's Assembly Bill 1111 has been approved, allowing school districts to apply for waivers regarding California's 2035 zero-emission school bus mandate. The bill provides a five-year waiver for all Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and annual waivers for small LEAs until 2045. Soria emphasized the challenges faced by rural districts, commenting: “These rural districts don't have the resources, capacity or infrastructure to meet these state-mandated requirements.” A survey revealed that only 11% of superintendents felt confident about meeting the 2035 deadline. The bill aims to alleviate the burden on districts struggling with infrastructure and costs associated with transitioning to electric buses. The next step for the bill is a hearing by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

 

Daily Breeze

Merced Sun Star

In response to heightened fears among immigrant students regarding deportations, some New York school districts are implementing virtual learning options. Associate Education Commissioner Elisa Alvarez said: “We do have some districts right now … that are taking advantage and providing virtual instruction to our children who are afraid to go to school.” The state's Education Department has clarified that districts can offer online instruction to students reluctant to attend in person due to safety concerns. While New York City public schools already have virtual options, the state’s move highlights ongoing anxieties among immigrant families. Despite the availability of virtual learning, educators emphasize the importance of in-person attendance, particularly for English language learners, as schools provide essential community services beyond academics.

 

Chalkbeat

In Iowa, families are grappling with a growing youth mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. Nicole Woodley, a mother of two sons receiving care out of state, highlights the struggles parents face in accessing necessary services. “Even though the state was saying there's no place for this child to even live in this state, the school could still say ‘but we could educate him just fine here,’” she stated. With 110 students placed out of state during the 2024-25 school year, many parents are forced to seek court orders to secure educational funding for their children. The recent passage of House File 787 aims to alleviate financial burdens on schools by distributing costs statewide. Despite these challenges, Woodley notes her sons have improved significantly since their placements, emphasizing the need for better advocacy and funding for students with complex care needs.

 

Des Moines Register

Lolly, a Golden Retriever therapy dog at Echols Middle School in Northport, Alabama, plays a vital role in enhancing the emotional well-being of both students and teachers. Donora Pinkleton, the school counselor and Lolly's handler, noted: "Definitely, our morale and student excitement about school has improved since Lolly has been here." Therapy dogs like Lolly help students manage stress and emotions, creating a peaceful learning environment. Lolly interacts with students in various settings, including the library and Pinkleton's office, where children often share stories about their pets. The use of therapy dogs is supported by research, including the Human Animal Bond theory, which highlights the positive impact of human-animal interactions on emotional health. Lolly, trained by Service Dogs of Alabama, will continue to serve the school while plans for her eventual replacement are underway.

 

Tuscaloosa News

California is set to implement a universal screening test for students in kindergarten through second grade, following a decade-long advocacy by reading supporters. Under the 2023 legislation, districts must choose a screening test by June 30, with options including mCLASS DIBELS, which has been favored by many teachers for its quick administration and effectiveness. Megan Potente, co-state director of Decoding Dyslexia CA, emphasized the importance of early detection, stating: “If we had caught his challenges earlier... he would not have needed special education.” The initiative aims to identify reading challenges early, guiding parents and teachers in providing necessary support, ultimately enhancing students' academic success.

 

EdSource

To mark Día del Maestro (Teachers' Day) on Thursday last week, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced a 10% salary raise for the nation's teaching workforce, along with an additional week of vacation. The new benefits are a consequence of negotiations between the government and the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE). “Since we adjusted the school calendar, [teachers] barely get vacation time,” she said, acknowledging that they often work after the school year ends, and return a week or so before the school year starts. Sheinbaum also confirmed she was freezing the legal minimum retirement age for teachers — 56 for women and 58 for men. Earlier this year, Congress was considering a bill introduced by the president that would have gradually raised the legal minimum retirement age.

 

Mexico News Daily

Education International