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USA
9th January 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

New vaccine rules create confusion

The recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has removed several vaccines from the recommended list for children, potentially leading to confusion among families and schools. Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and whooping cough remain mandatory, while others, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, are now recommended only after consultation with a healthcare provider—a process termed “shared clinical decision-making.” Richard Hughes, a vaccine-law expert, emphasized the importance of school vaccination requirements, commenting: “Because we compel people to go to school, it's a mechanism that we have to protect the entire population from all of these diseases.” The changes have prompted some states to reject the new guidelines, maintaining alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations. This conflicting messaging may lead to increased mistrust in vaccines, as noted by Lynn Nelson, president of the National Association of School Nurses: “It's just going to sow more mistrust and the idea that vaccines are optional.” Schools are encouraged to prepare fact sheets to clarify vaccination requirements for parents.

DISTRICTS

Milwaukee schools scrutinize new hire

Milwaukee Public Schools is currently evaluating the appointment of Ibrahima Diop as the new deputy superintendent of operations following reports of his administrative leave from Minneapolis Public Schools. According to the Minnesota Reformer, Diop, along with two other finance leaders, was placed on leave after failing to meet a state financial audit deadline. Milwaukee Public Schools officials stated: "We are reviewing it with the city attorney's office and will make a determination based on the facts involved." Diop's previous role in Minneapolis was posted for hiring on December 19, and he was expected to leave by the end of January. The situation echoes Milwaukee's own challenges with financial audits, which previously led to the resignation of former Superintendent Keith Posley. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius aims to address the district's financial reporting issues promptly.

FINANCE

Battle Ground Public Schools renews calls for levy support

Battle Ground Public Schools in Clark County, Washington, is urging voters to approve a replacement educational programs and operations levy on the February 10 ballot. The proposed levy aims to raise approximately $189.51m over four years to support essential services, including student safety, smaller class sizes, special education, and mental health support. Superintendent Shelly Whitten emphasized the importance of maintaining quality programming, explaining: "Our students are the ones who deserve to have the kind of programming that we've had up until this year." Previous attempts to pass the levy failed, resulting in significant budget cuts, including the elimination of 116 staff positions. If the levy does not pass, the district anticipates needing to cut an additional $20m from the budget next school year. The district is actively engaging the community to explain the necessity of the levy, as 97% of Washington school districts rely on similar funding.

LEGISLATION

Tennessee lawmaker introduces bill to bar ICE from schools

Tennessee State Representative Gabby Salinas has introduced legislation that would prohibit civil immigration enforcement, including ICE and Tennessee’s Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division, from operating on school or religious property. The bill also aims to educate school staff and students about their rights during such encounters. “No child or person should fear being abducted or risk having their family ripped apart when they leave their home,” Salinas said in a statement. “We are losing friends, neighbors, caretakers, and community members daily.” Despite growing concern over immigration enforcement’s impact on students, especially in Memphis, the bill faces slim odds in the Republican-controlled legislature. House Republican leaders are considering whether to bring back a bill that would allow public schools to check the citizenship status of all students and either block enrollment or charge tuition.

New Jersey's cell phone ban signed into law

On January 8, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law New Jersey's "bell-to-bell" ban on cell phones in public schools, charter schools, and renaissance schools, which will take effect in the 2026-27 school year. The law mandates that education boards create policies prohibiting cell phone use during school hours, including events and on buses. Murphy spoke of his wish that "this legislation had been in place earlier," while emphasizing the collaborative effort required to pass the bill. The law also requires the Commissioner for the Department of Education, Kevin Dehmer, to issue guidelines for cell phone use by age and grade level within 90 days. These guidelines will include accommodations for special education students and exceptions for emergencies. The legislation aims to address the growing youth mental health crisis linked to cell phone use and cyberbullying, as highlighted in the report "Growing up Online," which underscores the risks associated with social media.

LEGAL

Teacher's testimony dismissed in Uvalde case

In the ongoing trial concerning the Uvalde school shooting, emotional testimony from Robb Elementary teacher Stephanie Hale regarding the gunman’s presence on campus has been disregarded by the jury. Defense attorney Jason Goss highlighted that Hale did not mention seeing the shooter during her initial interview with investigators four days post-tragedy. Hale testified that she believed her information was not significant at the time. The defense argued that the omission of this testimony disadvantaged their case, with Goss commenting: "The failure to turn over that specific piece of critical evidence has put us to a disadvantage." Judge Sid Harle ultimately instructed the jury to disregard Hale's testimony, a decision met with prosecution objections. Former Uvalde Consolidated ISD officer Adrian Gonzales faces trial for 29 counts of endangering or abandoning a child, marking a significant moment in the legal proceedings following the tragic event that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers.

California law sparks religious rights debate

A Catholic legal group is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to block a California law that protects transgender students from being disclosed to their parents regarding their gender identity. The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024, prohibits public school teachers from informing parents if a child requests to use different pronouns or adopt a different gender identity. The Thomas More Law Center argues that “parents only relinquish authority needed for the school to carry out its ‘educational mission'... they do not delegate the authority to make decisions regarding whether their child is a boy or a girl.” A previous ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, which allowed parents to opt out of the law's provisions, was paused by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The case raises significant questions about parental rights and religious freedoms in the context of education.

Memphis school board wins early election battle

In a significant development for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board, the Shelby County Election Commission has halted the issuance of candidate petitions for five contested district seats due to a temporary restraining order from Chancery Court Judge Melanie Taylor Jefferson. This order, issued on January 7, follows a lawsuit filed by the board in December, which argues that the reset election unconstitutionally shortens the terms of five incumbents. Linda Phillips, the elections administrator, stated that the commission would cease petition issuance for Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. The board's lawsuit aims to address concerns over electoral fairness, with a hearing scheduled for January 26. As of now, twenty-two challengers have expressed their intent to run, while incumbents have not yet picked up their 2026 petitions.

GOVERNANCE

Revolutionizing California's education governance

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a significant restructuring of California's education governance, aiming to centralize oversight of the Department of Education. The initiative seeks to unify the policymaking State Board of Education with the department responsible for implementing educational policies, thereby enhancing alignment from early childhood through college. Newsom said: "California can no longer postpone reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century. These critical reforms will bring greater accountability, clarity, and coherence to how we serve our students and schools." The proposal, which has the backing of such organizations as the California Association of School Business Officials, is based on recommendations from a 2002 report titled “California's Master Plan for Education,” which criticized the state's fragmented governance. The current budget allocates $137.6bn for education, the highest per-pupil funding in state history, and aims to ensure these investments lead to improved educational outcomes statewide.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Huntsville breaks ground on new middle school

Huntsville City Schools in Alabama has commenced construction on the new Chapman Middle School and reimagined STEM Magnet Middle School, with an estimated cost of $70n. The project, located on Reuben Drive, is expected to be completed by January 2028. The new campus will span 29 acres and feature nearly 162,000 sq ft of specialized classrooms, a full-size gymnasium, athletic spaces, interactive teaching walls, and an e-gaming lab. The Chapman Middle School will continue to serve grades six through eight, while the STEM Magnet Middle School will cater to students from across the city. Artemis Virtual Academy will also serve students in grades K through 12. This initiative is part of the district's 10-year, $600m capital plan, aimed at creating an innovative educational environment. Superintendent Clarence Sutton emphasized the importance of honoring Chapman's legacy while fostering future-focused learning.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Drake and DMACC settle trademark tussle

Drake University and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) have settled a trademark lawsuit concerning DMACC's new logo, which Drake claimed was too similar to its branding. The settlement, announced on January 8, resolves a dispute that began when Drake filed a lawsuit in July 2024. A federal judge had previously granted Drake an injunction in November 2024, prohibiting DMACC from using the logos in question. The joint statement from both institutions indicates they "have reached a mutual agreement that will end litigation regarding disputed logo use." While the specific terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, DMACC has introduced a new logo that does not feature the contested block D typography. Both schools emphasized their commitment to ongoing collaboration, stating: "Both parties look forward to continuing their long-standing partnership and shared programs in service to current and future generations of students."

INTERNATIONAL

Japan's public schools warn of student exodus as private tuition subsidies rise

Japan’s plan to effectively eliminate high school tuition from fiscal 2026 is raising concerns among public schools, which fear a shift in student preference toward private institutions. Under the new system, private school subsidies will reach ¥457,200 ($2,916) per student annually, narrowing the cost gap and potentially reducing public school enrolment. Educators warn this could accelerate public school consolidations amid declining student numbers. The education ministry plans to counterbalance the shift with new subsidies and reforms aimed at enhancing the appeal of public schools. 
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