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USA
19th January 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Funding cuts disrupt education landscape

The Trump administration's funding cuts have significantly impacted K-12 education, disrupting over $12bn in federal allocations. Education Week reports that the U.S. Department of Education canceled more than 730 grants worth at least $2.2bn across various programs. Lindsey Burke, deputy chief of staff for policy and programs at the Education Department, said: "We are using those dollars to reinvest in better projects that are really serving students better." The cuts have affected numerous initiatives, including special education and mental health services, leading to job losses for educators and halted projects. Despite pushback from lawmakers and ongoing legal challenges, the administration has shown little inclination to reverse its funding disruptions, raising concerns about the long-term effects on educational institutions.

INCREASE ENROLLMENT

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WORKFORCE

Anchorage School District and teachers union strike tentative three-year deal

The Anchorage School District and the Anchorage Education Association have reached a tentative three-year contract agreement covering around 2,800 educators, ending months of stalled negotiations. The deal includes salary rises of 5% in Year 1, 5% in Year 2 and 4% in Year 3, alongside a retroactive 3% increase for the remainder of the current school year. The district will also increase its health care contribution by $100 per year over the life of the contract, addressing a major sticking point as insurance costs rise. The agreement will be put to a union ratification vote in late January and, if approved, will then go to the Anchorage School Board for sign-off in early February. The tentative settlement comes as the district grapples with an $83m budget deficit, has implemented a hiring freeze, and faced the prospect of arbitration and a potential strike vote if negotiations failed. If ratified and approved, the contract would take effect for a full three-year term starting 1 July 2026, with the current contract extended through the remainder of this school year.

Teacher supply lags demand in Michigan

Despite record numbers of new teachers entering the profession, Michigan continues to face a growing teacher shortage, driven by rising demand and persistent attrition. A report from Michigan State University’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative found the number of teaching positions has grown by over 10,000 in the past decade, while the teacher workforce has remained flat at 83,000. Urban, high-poverty, and minority-serving schools face the highest vacancy rates, with nearly 6% of positions unfilled. The state has also seen a surge in underqualified hires, with over 5,000 teachers now working on substitute or temporary credentials, up from fewer than 500 a decade ago. The shortage is contributing to instructional instability and has been linked to declining student outcomes, as Michigan ranks 44th nationally in education.

FINANCE

Niles Township District 219 Wins National Award For Budget Transparency

The Niles Township High School District 219 in Illinois has received the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International for its 2025–2026 fiscal year budget, recognising the district's commitment to clear, accessible, and responsible financial planning. The $176m budget serves over 4,500 students across Niles North and Niles West high schools. “An effective school budget is more than just numbers – it’s a vital tool for building trust and engaging the community,” Jim Rowan, executive director of ASBO International, stated in the release. “The Meritorious Budget Award recognizes districts like Niles Township High School District 219 that prioritize financial clarity and accountability. We commend their dedication to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”

DISTRICTS

Three new Utah County school districts receive official names ahead of 2027 launch

School boards in Utah have approved permanent names for three new school districts that will replace the Alpine School District in 2027. The newly named Timpanogos School District will serve Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove, and Vineyard, reflecting the region’s iconic mountain. Aspen Peaks School District, covering Alpine, American Fork, and Lehi, and Lake Mountain School District, serving Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs, also finalised names following community input. All three districts are now in the process of appointing superintendents, with final selections expected in February.

 
KSL

LEGISLATION

Montana asks judge to throw out lawsuit challenging school parental-notification rules

Montana has urged a state judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the ACLU challenging two laws governing parental notification around classroom discussion and counselling on gender identity and sexual orientation, arguing the rules are constitutional and within the state’s authority. The case centres on SB 99 (2021) and HB 471 (2025), which critics say are overly broad, create confusion for teachers and counsellors, and risk forcing schools to disclose sensitive student information to parents, potentially undermining student privacy and wellbeing. State attorneys countered that school staff provide “government speech” under their contracts and said counsellors can comply by seeking parental permission without disclosing specific details, while the judge heard arguments on how the laws should be interpreted in practice.

GOVERNANCE

Denver school board reconsiders public comment limits

The Denver Public Schools (DPS) board is reevaluating its public comment policy, which has faced criticism for limiting community engagement. Teacher Dez Baldonado expressed concern during a recent meeting, commenting that the policy “erodes whatever trust the community has that DPS wants to listen to its diverse community.” Since the implementation of time limits, the number of speakers has significantly decreased, from 653 in 2022 to just 145 in 2025, marking a 77% drop. Board Vice President Monica Hunter and other members are considering revising these limits, as many community members feel discouraged from participating. The board's current rules restrict comments based on topics and limit speaking time to two minutes. President Xóchitl Gaytán, who initially enacted the limits, has indicated openness to discussions about potential changes.

CLASSROOM

Demand for Hawaiian immersion education outpaces teaching capacity

Enrollment in Hawaiian-language immersion schools (Kaiapuni) has surged 68% over the past decade, even as the state grapples with a critical shortage of qualified teachers. While the Department of Education plans to open new Kaiapuni programs and expand existing ones, experts warn that staffing shortfalls, with up to 165 more teachers needed in the next decade, threaten the movement’s growth. Upcoming retirements, low graduation rates of licensed Kaiapuni teachers, and high demand for Hawaiian speakers in other fields are compounding the issue. Advocates and parents are urging the state to act, highlighting gaps in access across districts and calling for dedicated immersion campuses and broader community language training to strengthen the teacher pipeline.

MATH

Word up: Why math vocabulary matters

Recent research from Harvard University, the University of Maryland College Park, and Stanford University highlights the importance of mathematical vocabulary in enhancing student performance in math. The study analyzed over 1,600 transcripts from fourth and fifth grade math lessons, revealing that students taught by teachers who utilized more mathematical terminology showed greater progress. Zachary Himmelsbach, the lead author, said: "It is the teachers who are using more mathematical vocabulary that are the more effective teachers, on average." The findings suggest that while vocabulary use is linked to improved student outcomes, it may also reflect broader teaching effectiveness. The study emphasizes the need for teachers to incorporate specific math vocabulary to foster deeper understanding among students, aligning with best practices recommended by the Institute of Education Sciences.

SPORTS

Why junior varsity basketball matters

In high school basketball, the perception of junior varsity (JV) teams has shifted, with many players and parents viewing participation as less desirable. However, JV teams serve a crucial role in player development. Notable players like Drew Anderson of Santa Margarita, Pierce Thompson of Harvard-Westlake, and Isaiah Williamson of Los Alamitos began their journeys on JV, ultimately achieving success at the varsity level. Anderson, now committed to Oregon State, emphasized the importance of patience: "The work you put in will always win." Coaches like David Rebibo of Harvard-Westlake and Matt Dunn of St. John Bosco advocate for the developmental benefits of JV, highlighting that it provides a supportive environment for learning and growth. As players embrace their time on JV, they prepare for future varsity success.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Title IX battle escalates as Trump administration challenges trans athlete policies in California

The Trump administration has launched federal civil rights investigations into five California educational institutions, alleging that their transgender-inclusive athletic policies violate Title IX protections for female athletes. Targets include the California Community College Athletic Association, Jurupa USD, and Santa Monica College, among others. The administration argues these policies undermine safety and equality in women’s sports, while schools maintain they are following California law, which allows sports participation based on gender identity. The move is part of a broader nationwide effort, coinciding with a pending Supreme Court decision on state-level transgender athlete bans.

Student loan garnishments paused as Trump administration reshapes repayment rules

The Department of Education has postponed involuntary collection actions, including wage garnishments and tax refund seizures, for defaulted federal student loan borrowers. The delay, part of the Trump administration's rollout of the Working Families Tax Cut Act, aims to give the department more time to implement new repayment options and pathways out of default. Originally set to resume garnishments in January, the move affects millions of borrowers and follows mounting pressure from advocacy groups over the impact on financially vulnerable individuals.

INTERNATIONAL

Record bullying cases fuel concern in Japan as online clips prompt police action

Concerns have been raised in Japan over escalating school violence following the circulation of viral bullying videos, one of which triggered a mass murder threat targeting a junior high school in Oita. The email threat, sent on January 11, warned of an imminent attack involving multiple accomplices. Although the threat did not materialise, it prompted a significant police response and the cancellation of after-school activities. The incident came just days after a video emerged showing a student violently assaulting a peer, followed by another clip from Tochigi showing a separate case of physical bullying. Both clips rapidly gained traction on social media, highlighting what experts say is a rising trend of bullying cases in schools, worsened by online sharing and under-reporting in official figures. Japan’s Ministry of Education recently revealed a record 769,022 reported bullying cases in fiscal 2024, with over 1,400 serious incidents and 413 student suicides – eight of which were linked to bullying. Experts attribute the surge to social media, economic pressures at home, and a lack of moral guidance among youth. Critics also accuse school boards of reacting only once footage becomes public.

AND FINALLY......

Milwaukee teacher empowers students to find their voices in MLK writing contest

Aruna Halala-Vishudh, a teacher at Samuel Clemens Elementary School in Milwaukee Public Schools, has successfully guided her students in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. writing contest for over a decade. This year, her fifth-grade class achieved remarkable success, securing the top three positions in their grade category. Halala-Vishudh emphasized the importance of writing as a means for students to explore their identities, stating: "Writing is your outlet to really discover who you are, to discover your voice." With nearly all her students being Black or Latino, she aims to provide representation in the curriculum, reflecting her own experiences as a student. The contest not only fosters writing skills but also encourages students to address pressing social issues, as seen in the poignant essays that tackle themes of violence and inequity. Halala-Vishudh believes that students have valuable insights to share, asserting: "It's not just a conversation waiting to be had. It has to happen in the classroom so we can build students who have the capacity to go on and become our future leaders."
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