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School districts face significant challenges in aligning financial and academic goals due to barriers such as short-term thinking, siloed decision-making, and staff turnover. According to the EdWeek Research Center report, which surveyed 223 educators, 71% identified federal funding uncertainty as a major obstacle. The report outlines six actionable steps for districts, including adopting outcomes-based contracts and promoting internal staff to mitigate turnover. A district leader from Missouri emphasized the impact of federal funding cuts on professional development, explaining: "It's really impacting our ability to provide ongoing professional development." The report highlights the importance of strategic planning and early discussions among stakeholders to ensure alignment with long-term goals.

 

Education Week News

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School transportation teams are under constant pressure to deliver safer, more reliable routes with fewer staff, tighter budgets, and rising parent expectations. This white paper shows how districts are eliminating operational chaos by moving to one integrated platform built specifically for student transportation. Instead of juggling multiple routing tools, telematics vendors, and driver apps, transportation leaders gain a single system that ties together live fleet data, turn-by-turn navigation, ridership verification, on-time performance metrics, and parent communication. The result is fewer late buses, fewer ghost stops, and dramatically less manual work. Real-time dashboards let teams spot problems before they escalate. Drivers get clear, consistent instructions. Parents get accurate ETAs. Leaders get the visibility they need to run a safer, more efficient operation. If your transportation department is ready to replace workarounds with a connected, purpose-built ecosystem, this white paper lays out the roadmap.

Download the white paper

 

During a California gubernatorial candidate forum in Sacramento on Wednesday, all candidates acknowledged the failures of California's public education system, which serves approximately 5.8mn K-12 students. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the only Republican present, advocated for school vouchers, commenting: "If you are deciding where you want to eat dinner, you choose the restaurant with the best food." Candidates discussed various issues, including teacher shortages, public school funding, and the impact of housing on student achievement. Former Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon emphasized the need for parental involvement and secure housing, while California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond called for increased revenue to support schools. The forum highlighted the candidates' differing views on solutions, with many expressing concerns about the state's mandate to phase out gas-powered school buses by 2035. The forum was held at Sacramento's SAFE Credit Union Convention Center near the state Capitol. The school boards conference brings together more than 3,500 school board members, superintendents, and other education leaders from across the state.

 

Los Angeles Times

The West Virginia Board of Education has reinstated the state's school vaccination mandate after the state Supreme Court paused a lower court ruling that allowed parents to claim religious exemptions. The earlier decision had temporarily enabled students to attend school and extracurriculars without vaccinations, citing the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. With the Supreme Court’s stay in place, religious exemptions are again barred pending further legal review. The case involves a class-action lawsuit covering over 570 families and challenges the limits of executive and legislative authority over vaccination policy.

 

ABC News

The Hill

West Virginia News

Austin ISD is under pressure to sell the old Rosedale and Brooke campuses to address a looming $19.7m budget deficit. The district has contracted with OHT Partners to sell the Rosedale campus, but a lawsuit regarding deed restrictions has complicated the process. Kenneth Walker, the district's legal counsel, said: “This is not the way we normally sell property.” Meanwhile, the Brooke campus, which has housed several nonprofits, is also on the chopping block, with officials indicating a sale could happen as early as March. Skye Howell, executive director of the Native American Cultural Center, expressed concern over the uncertainty, stating: “We have a lot of community support, but the future is uncertain.” If the properties do not sell, the district may face difficult decisions to manage its financial crisis.

 

Austin American-Statesman

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) leaders are urgently seeking to fill an expiring custodian contract that could affect approximately 35 schools starting January. The school board recently rejected a proposal to hire ABM Industries due to past complaints regarding the company's performance with MSCS. Board member Amber Huett-Garcia said: "I care about whether kids show up to clean schools, and we have evidence that this is a risk." The current contract, an emergency deal with ServiceMaster Clean and Parcou, is set to expire on December 31. MSCS chief financial officer Tito Langston emphasized the need for a solution before students return from winter break, indicating that the district may utilize existing staff to address the gaps. The board is expected to vote on new four-year custodial contracts in May or June.

 

Daily Memphian

New Jersey faces significant challenges regarding school segregation, largely due to its fragmented district system, which comprises approximately 600 districts. This division exacerbates residential segregation, as students must attend schools in their home neighborhoods. A potential solution under consideration involves the establishment of charter schools that can attract racially diverse students across district lines. Lawrence Lustberg, the lead attorney for plaintiffs in a desegregation lawsuit, said that charters are “very, very powerful engines for diversifying schools.” However, the proposal faces substantial political opposition, particularly from the New Jersey Education Association, which is concerned about the impact of charters on traditional public schools. Julia Sass Rubin, an education policy expert at Rutgers, warned of “huge political pushback” against charter expansion. Despite these hurdles, advocates argue that charters could be a viable strategy for desegregation, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to address the state's complex educational landscape.

 

NJ.com

The first Michigan Special Education Benchmarks Report highlights the significant disparities faced by students with disabilities. While the state celebrates a record-high high school graduation rate of 82.8% in 2024, only 61% of students with disabilities graduated. The report, released by the Autism Alliance of Michigan, reveals that 77% of disabled students experience seclusion or restraint, and 40% miss more than 18 days of school annually. Heather Eckner, director of statewide education with the Autism Alliance of Michigan, emphasized: "Students with disabilities can be educated, can be contributors to society. But if our public school system, where the majority of them are educated, is not fulfilling their obligation to prepare them for future education and prepare them for independent living, then we are not doing our jobs to get them to be ready to be citizens in our state.” The report calls for increased funding and a shift in the funding model, which currently covers only 44% of special education costs. Advocates stress the urgency for reform, as nearly 15% of Michigan's K-12 population has disabilities, a figure expected to rise. State Rep. Regina Weiss noted that funding should be a higher priority, indicating potential legislative support for necessary changes.

 

AP News

The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) has advanced two proposals that would significantly reduce the power of the elected Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) board. In a recent vote, the ILEA moved forward with recommendations that would either create a three-way power-sharing model involving the mayor and charter schools or establish an Indianapolis Education Authority led by a mayor-appointed secretary of education. Superintendent Aleesia Johnson expressed concern, stating: "The elected school board oversees the administration of transportation and facilities for 70% of public school students in our boundary, charter, and district. It would seem to me that the least disruptive way to proceed would be to leverage that publicly elected board to provide service or set policy for 100% of the public schools within our boundary, charter, and district, while still respecting the autonomy and flexibility that many of our charter schools enjoy today." The ILEA will gather public input on these models in upcoming meetings, with final recommendations to be voted on by December 17.

 

Indianapolis Star

Chalkbeat

The Portland Public Schools Board voted 5-2 to award a contract of up to $61m to Procedeo, a Texas-based firm, for the modernization of three high schools and the Center for Black Student Excellence. This decision, made amidst concerns over public scrutiny and potential legal challenges, reflects Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong's commitment to improving the district's aging facilities. Armstrong emphasized the need for accountability, commenting: "When accountability is spread too thin, progress slows too much." Critics, including board members Virginia La Forte and Stephanie Engelsman, argued for more thorough analysis before proceeding. The contract's high cost and Procedeo's limited experience in Oregon raised further questions about its appropriateness. Despite these concerns, the board aims to ensure timely completion of the projects, which are projected to cost over $400 million each.

 

The Oregonian

This year, sixteen teachers from Flagstaff received grants through the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers program, aimed at enhancing classroom supplies and equipment. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the program, initiated by the Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation, marks its largest distribution to date. Janelle Reasor, Principal of Marshall Magnet Elementary School, played a key role in surprising teacher Alianah Ramirez with the grant announcement, facilitated by Kristina Chumpol, Chief Impact Officer and Chief of Staff of the Fiesta Sports Foundation. This initiative underscores the commitment to supporting educators and enriching student learning experiences.

 

Arizona Daily Sun

School attendance in Australia remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with only 62% of students attending at least 90% of school days in 2025 compared to 73% in 2019. Experts cite cultural shifts, more permissive parenting styles, and increased digital distractions at home as contributing factors. The national average attendance rate is 88.8%, with the government targeting a return to 91.4% by 2030. Education leaders warn that sustained low attendance could harm workforce reliability and the broader economy, calling for a national strategy to improve student resilience and daily school engagement.

 

The Australian