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A growing crisis of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses in the U.S., putting children's lives at risk, has prompted a nationwide crackdown using surveillance cameras and artificial intelligence (AI). At the first National School Bus Safety Summit on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., officials revealed over 39m annual violations, with enforcement increasingly driven by BusPatrol, a leading provider of AI-powered stop arm cameras now fitted to 40,000 buses. The technology captures violations, which are then reviewed and forwarded to law enforcement. Lawmakers and safety experts are calling for tougher penalties, public education, and federal legislation, including a national safety campaign, to curb this dangerous behavior. Adam Youssi, supervisor of automated enforcement at Maryland’s Howard County Police Department, said many drivers remain unclear about how to behave near stopped school buses. In response, the county launched a public awareness campaign outlining motorists’ responsibilities, sharing safety graphics on social media and including informational inserts with residents’ water bills.

 

USA Today

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The Alabama State Board of Education has unanimously approved a new K–12 digital literacy and computer science curriculum, making completion of a computer science course mandatory for high school graduation starting with the class of 2032. The course, which includes objectives such as computational thinking, data science and cybersecurity, aims to equip students for a tech-driven economy. Alabama becomes the 11th U.S. state to make computer science foundational, with schools given a year to voluntarily adopt the curriculum before it becomes compulsory within 18 months.

 

Al.com

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Ross Local School District's teachers union, and the Ohio-based district's board of education, after 10 months of negotiations. The Ross Education Association (REA), representing nearly 150 teachers and staff, will vote on the agreement, which will be ratified at the board's meeting on December 18. The negotiations focused on the district's salary scale, which, according to union spokesperson Amy Brossart, favored teachers at the beginning and end of their careers but did not adequately support those in the middle. REA president Jennifer Chuhak said: "The bargaining team and REA leadership deeply values the strong support we have received from parents, families, and the members of the REA."

 

Cincinatti Enquirer

The Waukesha School District, the seventh-largest in Wisconsin, is implementing significant changes following the closure of three elementary schools. Superintendent James Sebert announced open house and enrollment dates, emphasizing the importance of these events for families to learn about available programs. Open houses for high schools are scheduled from January 6 to January 8, while middle schools will host theirs on January 12 and 13. The district is also working on new boundary maps and transportation eligibility with First Student. Sebert stated: "We're asking people to reapply because we think it's the cleanest way for us to be able to know who wants to continue in the school they're in." The district aims to save an estimated $3.2m-$3.7m through these changes, addressing a decline in enrollment from over 13,000 students in 2012-13 to 10,396 as of September.

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools, alleging discriminatory practices in layoff and reassignment decisions that favor teachers of color. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, challenges a contract agreement that protects teachers of color from “last-in, first-out” layoff policies and prioritizes hiring black male educators. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “Discrimination is unacceptable in all forms, especially when it comes to hiring decisions.” The DOJ claims these provisions violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and is seeking a permanent injunction against their implementation. The district, which aims to increase the percentage of teachers of color from 38% to 40% by 2026, has faced previous legal challenges regarding this contract, which was established to resolve a teachers' strike three years ago.

 

CBS News

Education Week News

MinnPost

Pearson has partnered with IBM to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-driven learning tools aimed at individuals and organisations globally. The collaboration will utilise IBM's watsonx Orchestrate and watsonx Governance technologies, and support the creation of a bespoke AI learning platform for Pearson. The two firms will also explore tools to verify AI agent capabilities, as part of a broader strategy to embed learning into everyday workflows.

 

EITH

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) has opened a state-of-the-art Real Time Safety Center in a repurposed elementary school, aimed at enhancing student safety across the district. Operating 24/7, the center monitors live feeds from hundreds of cameras on school campuses and vacant properties, and includes a simulation room for active threat training. The initiative, modelled after police real-time crime centers, also supports CPR and medical training. Leaders hope the facility will set a new standard for school security in the wake of past school shootings in Tennessee. In 2023, a gunman opened fire at The Covenant School in Nashville, killing seven including the perpetrator, while earlier this year a student at Antioch High School in Nashville shot one student and then himself.

 

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Recent reports indicate a significant decline in the enrollment of new immigrant students in Oakland and across California, raising concerns about the future of newcomer programs. Nicole Knight, executive director of English Language Learner and Multilingual Achievement for Oakland USD, said: "It’s almost come to a screeching halt. In all of my time, I have not seen anything like this.” The drop has been attributed to changes in federal immigration policies that have reduced border crossings since early 2025, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Sam Finn, director of the California Newcomer Network, expressed worries that declining enrollment could jeopardize the progress made in developing curriculum and services for immigrant students. Knight noted that the district may need to consolidate programs, potentially reducing the number of schools offering newcomer services from 17 to six, which could adversely affect the educational experience of remaining students.

 

EdSource

In a piece for Education Week Thomas R. Guskey, a professor emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky, addresses the challenges school leaders face in securing teacher buy-in for instructional changes. He emphasizes that traditional approaches, such as logical arguments or emotional appeals, often fail because beliefs are deeply rooted in past experiences. To foster meaningful change, he outlines four key strategies: setting realistic expectations for buy-in, providing practical support, creating collaborative opportunities, and facilitating regular feedback on student outcomes. These actions help reshape teachers' experiences, ultimately leading to genuine commitment and lasting reform.

 

Education Week News

The Philadelphia Board of Education has approved a resolution allowing negotiations with the city to transfer vacant school buildings for redevelopment into housing units. Board President Reginald Streater emphasized that this resolution is a preliminary step, stating: "I would be derelict in my duty if I didn't explore this as a mechanism." The district has 20 vacant buildings valued at approximately $80m, which could be considered for transfer. However, board members expressed concerns about granting exclusivity to the city without exploring other development opportunities. The resolution aims to address the district's budget deficit by potentially reducing costs associated with maintaining unused properties, with Board member Wanda Novalés asserting that any proposals should be financially beneficial for the district, as the properties "belong to our students."

 

WHYY

Chalkbeat

In a piece for Education Week, Daniel A. Sabol emphasizes the critical role of school libraries in addressing learning loss. He argues that modern libraries serve as essential recovery spaces for students, fostering confidence and engagement through diverse activities. Despite their importance, school libraries are often overlooked, with a significant decline of nearly 20% in certified librarian positions from 2010 to 2019. Sabol writes: "A well-staffed, modern library directly supports academic recovery," and cites research from the American Association of School Librarians linking certified librarians to higher reading scores, improved graduation rates, and increased student engagement. He advocates for the restoration and reimagining of libraries, highlighting their role in promoting digital equity and supporting various educational priorities, including literacy and social-emotional learning. To ensure equitable learning recovery, schools must invest in certified librarians and inclusive collections, recognizing libraries as vital infrastructure for student success.

 

Education Week News

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has announced a partnership with Elon Musk's artificial intelligence (AI) company xAI to integrate artificial intelligence into over 5,000 public schools. The initiative aims to provide personalized learning experiences for more than 1m students through the Grok chatbot, which adapts tutoring to each student's pace, preferences, and mastery level. It follows a recent collaboration with Google to offer free virtual medical consultations supported by AI.

 

ABC News

Austrian lawmakers have passed a ban on Muslim headscarves for girls under 14, despite concerns regarding its constitutionality. The ruling coalition, supported by the far-right Freedom Party, argues that the ban protects young girls from societal pressures. Yannick Shetty, parliamentary leader of the liberal Neos, said: "This is not about restricting freedom, but about protecting the freedom of girls up to 14." However, rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticized the legislation, claiming it exacerbates discrimination against Muslims. Austria's Constitutional Court previously deemed a similar ban illegal, emphasizing the state's duty to remain religiously neutral. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr highlighted the increasing pressure young girls face regarding their attire, while the Greens proposed creating interdisciplinary teams to address cultural tensions in schools.

 

Reuters

The Local