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Two U.S. federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to continue SNAP benefits for 42m Americans amid a government shutdown, though the timeline and extent of payments remain unclear. The U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program starting November 1, and said it lacked both the funds and the authority to pay them until Congress passes a spending bill to end the shutdown. However, on Friday, Judge Indira Talwani in Boston gave the administration until Monday to decide on issuing at least partial payments, while Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island mandated immediate disbursement and a compliance plan, citing the potential harm to individuals and local economies. Both judges indicated, however, that the administration had the ability to fund SNAP benefits in full if it used its discretion to tap other funding to cover the shortfall. Despite the rulings, delays in disbursing aid are expected due to logistical processing times.

 

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The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board unanimously approved a $175m pension reimbursement to the city, contingent upon the City Council's approval of Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed $552.4m tax surplus. This decision marks a significant moment following 18 months of controversy and leadership changes within the district. Elected board member Yesenia Lopez emphasized the importance of keeping commitments, stating: "This is something that as a board we voted on, and it's important to keep our word." However, concerns remain regarding the potential impact on classroom funding and the need for a long-term pension strategy. The board's decision reflects a desire to foster collaboration with the city, despite ongoing fiscal uncertainties.

 

Chalkbeat

The Denver school board unanimously approved Superintendent Alex Marrero's performance evaluation, awarding him 73.5 points out of 100. The 22-page evaluation highlighted Marrero's success in increasing the number of students reading at grade level and enrolling in rigorous courses. However, he fell short in improving literacy test scores and the sense of well-being reported by students and staff. The evaluation noted: "The decline was most pronounced among teachers and central office staff, who cited fatigue from reorganization, enrollment decline, and school closures." While Marrero's focus on academic achievement for Black and Latino students was praised, he will not receive a performance bonus this year due to changes in the bonus structure. The evaluation also indicated a significant reduction in performance goals for the upcoming year, from over 230 metrics to just 27. Marrero expressed concerns about the "degree of board influence" in shaping his goals, which he deemed "outside the norms" of the governance structure.

 

Chalkbeat

The Newark Public Schools board has extended Superintendent Roger León's contract through 2030 during a late-night meeting on Thursday, despite the absence of an official motion or prior public notice. Last month, a proposal to extend León's contract, originally set to expire in 2028, failed to pass due to a split vote. However, board member Melissa Reed changed her abstention to a yes vote after requesting that León make a public commitment to address equity issues in the district. Reed emphasized the need for transparency and a report on instances of racism and religious harassment at the Newark School of Global Studies. Board president Hasani Council confirmed that Reed's vote allowed the extension to pass, explaining: "She changed her vote from an abstention to a yes, which now allows the superintendent's two-year extension to pass." The decision has raised concerns among parents and advocates regarding student achievement and support for vulnerable students.

 

NJ.com

Des Moines Public Schools is requesting voter approval for a $265m general obligation bond to support its Reimagining Education plan. This initiative aims to enhance educational facilities, technology, and programs, including the establishment of specialized "signature schools." Principal Eddie McCulley emphasized the need for a new Moulton Elementary, and added: "Are we going to invest in our kids? Are we going to invest in our community?" The bond's approval is seen as crucial, as failure to pass it could lead to significant budget cuts and school closures. With a requirement of at least 60% voter approval, the district faces challenges, particularly following the recent arrest of former Superintendent Ian Roberts, which has shaken public trust. Amanda Grimm, the district's director of food and nutrition services and logistics, noted: "It's about 30,000 kids." The bond vote is scheduled for November 4.

 

Des Moines Register

The Washington Supreme Court has upheld a $185m jury award to three teachers, Michelle Leahy, Kerry Erickson, and Joyce Marquardt, who suffered health issues due to exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at Sky Valley Education Center. This ruling, which reinstates one of the largest product liability verdicts in state history, follows a lawsuit involving over 200 plaintiffs, including students and staff. Leahy said: "People don't realize it's a silent bomb," emphasizing the need for PCB testing in schools. Despite Monsanto's disagreement with the ruling and potential for further legal action, the case highlights the ongoing health risks associated with PCBs, which were banned in 1979 but remain in many school buildings. Washington lawmakers have allocated over $1m for schools to remove PCB-containing fixtures, yet only three districts have utilized this funding.

 

The Columbian

Miliani Rodriguez, a senior at Coachella Valley High School, is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit Miliani R. v. State of California, which challenges the state's school renovation funding practices. Rodriguez highlights the poor conditions of her school, including broken air conditioning and leaking ceilings, which she initially thought were normal. However, after visiting a nearby high school with modern facilities, she recognized the disparities in educational environments. The lawsuit argues that the current funding model favors wealthier districts, perpetuating inequalities and denying poorer districts access to necessary resources.

 

EdSource

The civil trial initiated by Abby Zwerner, a teacher shot by a six-year-old student, against former Assistant Principal Ebony Parker resumes later today. The case, which could establish a precedent for holding school officials criminally accountable, comes ahead of Parker's upcoming criminal trial on eight counts of felony child neglect. Zwerner testified about her traumatic experience, commenting: "I thought I was dying. I thought I had died" in the incident, which took place at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, in January 2023. The defense argues that Parker had no legal duty to intervene and that Zwerner has since moved on with her life. Legal experts suggest that the civil trial may provide insights for Parker's criminal case. With 64 school shootings reported in the U.S. this year, the outcome of this trial could have significant implications for school safety and accountability.

 

CNN Edition

School leaders and police in Wayland, Massachusetts, are investigating a racist incident that occurred in the Wayland High School boys locker room. A student discovered a plastic street safety figure wearing a Black student's jersey, which had been hung from a ceiling pipe. Principal Allyson Mizoguchi said: "This centuries-old symbol of hate and racial violence evokes deep emotion and has no place in our community." The administration has identified the students responsible, acknowledging the incident's "ripple effects of pain" on the community. Superintendent David Fleishman emphasized the need for continued education on racism, asserting that "such deplorable acts will not be tolerated." The Wayland Police Department is collaborating with the Middlesex District Attorney's Office to investigate the incident and ensure community safety.

 

Boston Globe

New York City is piloting an emergency alert system in 51 schools that directly notifies police during emergencies, such as shootings, without needing to call 911. Mayor Eric Adams said: "We cannot stop some of this senseless violence. We're going to try like hell to do so, but we're not always successful." The system, developed with SOS Technologies, includes buttons for staff to activate alerts, which will also trigger a building-wide alarm. While emergency alert systems are not new, their adoption has increased due to the rise in school shootings, with 13 incidents resulting in injuries or deaths occuring this year alone. The technology aims to save crucial time during emergencies, as emphasized by Matt Fraser, chief technology officer for the city: "Minutes matter, seconds matter." Some states have mandated panic alarm systems, reflecting a growing trend in school safety measures.

 

Education Week News

On Friday, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bipartisan bill that bans public school students from using cell phones during the school day. The law mandates that school boards develop policies by July to enforce this ban, with allowances for emergencies and health-related needs. Evers emphasized the importance of local control, adding: "My promise to the people of Wisconsin is to always do what's best for our kids." The legislation aims to address concerns about the negative impacts of cell phone use on students' mental health and learning outcomes. While 90% of public school districts already have similar policies, some administrators argue that the bill is too broad and may hinder effective local governance. The Wisconsin Policy Forum reports that such policies are generally well-received by voters across the political spectrum.

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

U.S. News

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner in New York City’s mayoral race, has proposed dismantling two decades of centralized mayoral control over public schools, advocating instead for a “co-governance” model that shares authority with parents, teachers, and local councils. While supporters say this would improve transparency and equity, critics warn it could lead to confusion and inefficiency. Mamdani’s plan, which retains key mayoral powers but expands participatory governance, faces significant political hurdles, including the need for state approval and resistance from figures like former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The debate over control of the city’s school system, long marked by issues like segregation, absenteeism, and corruption, is expected to be a major issue in the upcoming legislative session.

 

Politico

The education sector has suffered 180 ransomware attacks globally in the first three quarters of 2025, up 6% year-on-year, with 95 of those in the U.S., according to Comparitech. The average ransom demand was $444,400, and attacks typically led to network outages and data theft, averaging 2.6 terabytes stolen per incident. “This definitely isn’t the time to get complacent,” warned Rebecca Moody, head of data research at Comparitech. “These attacks, and their subsequent breaches, remain a dominant threat. That’s why it’s imperative schools and colleges of all sizes take key steps to try and mitigate their risks.” She said that, to prevent ransomware attacks, schools should keep systems up to date, patch vulnerabilities as soon as they’re flagged, and conduct regular cybersecurity training for employees. 

 

K-12 Dive

A recent study by researchers from UCLA, UC Davis, and UC Berkeley revealed that California's public schoolyards are increasingly becoming "nature deserts," with 85% of schools losing an average of 1.8% of tree cover from 2018 to 2022. The research, published in Urban Forestry and Urban Planning, highlights the urgent need for campus greening initiatives as extreme heat poses a significant public health risk. "Extreme heat is becoming a major public health concern in California," said Kirsten Schwarz, the research lead at UCLA. The study also noted that while some schools have made improvements, many still face challenges due to regulations and funding issues. The researchers aim to help schools utilize $150m in Cal Fire grants to enhance their environments and mitigate heat exposure for students.

 

Los Angeles Times

As New York City's yellow school buses face contract disputes, over half of the bus companies have agreed to a temporary extension, leaving approximately 50,000 to 60,000 students potentially without service next week. Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos announced that twenty-seven out of fifty-two companies extended their contracts for November and December. However, four major companies—Logan, Consolidated Transit, Pioneer, and First—have not signed the emergency contracts. Richard Bamberger, a spokesperson for the bus companies, stated: "Roughly 43% of students who ride buses have disabilities," highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. The Panel for Education Policy unanimously opposed a proposed five-year contract, citing a lack of accountability and service improvements. The resolution calls for the city to explore new contracts while ensuring protections for laid-off workers. The Education Department will provide alternative transportation options for affected students.

 

Chalkbeat

The recent Youth in Education Summit at Temple University aimed to address Philadelphia's teacher shortage by inspiring local high school students to consider careers in education. Monika Shealey, dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University, challenged the prevailing narrative that young Philadelphians, particularly Black and brown individuals, are uninterested in teaching. She stated: "You are throwing that narrative out the window." The event, attended by over 200 students, featured workshops on college applications and the experiences of Black and brown educators. Scott Gaiber, deputy chief of talent initiatives at Elevate 215, emphasized the need to create a supportive ecosystem to lower barriers for aspiring teachers. Despite some skepticism among students, many reported increased interest in teaching after the event.

 

Chalkbeat

Alberta's Education Ministry has canceled all January Grade 12 diploma and Grade 9 achievement exams across the province due to a teachers' strike that began October 6 and ran until last Wednesday, when educators were ordered back to work. Students can choose to write the exams voluntarily in April or June 2026, while marks for students who choose not to take the tests will come entirely from school work. This exemption will be noted on transcripts and will not impact graduation or post-secondary applications. Normally, diploma exams are worth 30% of a Grade 12 student’s overall grade, with 70% of their mark coming from coursework and other tests.

 

Edmonton Journal

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