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USA
4th March 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Governors add school nutrition to key education priorities for 2026

School nutrition and student health have emerged as a new focus in governors’ 2026 State of the State addresses, joining longstanding education priorities such as school choice, higher education affordability, workforce development, and early childhood education. An analysis of speeches from 39 governors found that leaders from both parties proposed initiatives to expand access to school meals and improve the nutritional quality of food served in schools. Proposals included expanding free meal eligibility, removing artificial dyes and highly processed foods from school lunches, and limiting unhealthy items such as soda and candy in federal nutrition assistance programmes used by students outside school hours. Alongside these initiatives, governors also highlighted efforts to raise teacher pay, improve literacy, and expand childcare and pre-K access. The speeches also revealed partisan divisions in other areas, particularly around school choice programmes that allow public funds to support private education, which Republican governors largely supported and some Democratic governors criticized. Meanwhile, many governors from both parties emphasized improving college affordability and strengthening career and technical education pathways to better align with workforce needs.

BOOST ENROLLMENT

How to Attract Families to Your School & Increase Enrollment

Schools and districts must adapt to be a top-of-mind choice in an era where parents wield greater influence over their children’s academic journeys. As you seek to attract and retain students, this guide will support you.

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LEGAL

Georgia jury finds father guilty in case tied to son’s school shooting

Colin Gray was on Tuesday convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, where his son, Colt Gray, is accused of killing two students and two teachers. Prosecutors argued that Colin Gray provided his son with access to a firearm despite being aware of his deteriorating mental health." Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time, faces multiple charges, including murder, and has pleaded not guilty. The case highlights the growing trend of parents being held accountable for their children's violent actions. Sentencing for Colin Gray will occur at a later date.

Texas ESA faces religious lawsuit

A new lawsuit is challenging Texas’s Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, which is expected to become the nation’s largest private school choice effort when it begins next school year. Mehdi Cherkaoui, a parent and attorney, alleges religious discrimination, arguing that “not a single accredited Islamic private school has been approved” while hundreds of other private schools have. State officials, including Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, cite an Attorney General Ken Paxton opinion allowing schools to be barred over ties to terrorist organizations or foreign adversaries. Critics also note limited nondiscrimination protections for participating schools.

LEGISLATION

Alabama referendum could mandate weekly national anthem in schools

The Alabama Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that would require public schools to sing the national anthem weekly. Sponsored by Senator Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, the bill mandates the first stanza of the anthem and proposes a constitutional amendment for Alabama citizens to vote on. Allen said that the measure is a “good way to teach our young people” about America and its freedoms. Currently, Alabama law requires the pledge of allegiance at the start of each school day, but student participation is optional. Senator Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, suggested an amendment requiring Allen to sing the anthem daily while in the Senate, which did not pass. The bill will now proceed to the House for further consideration.

Iowa House passes education bills on student speech and history curriculum

The Iowa House has passed two education bills addressing student free speech and social studies curriculum requirements, sending both measures to the state Senate for consideration. One bill would prohibit schools from penalizing students for expressing religious, political, or ideological views and require districts to implement training and policies on constitutionally protected speech. A second bill would revise social studies standards to emphasize instruction on government, civic principles, western civilisation, and U.S. history, including lessons on the Holocaust and crimes under communist regimes, though critics argue the proposals add administrative burdens and could promote a politically biased curriculum.

FINANCE

Detroit schools face tax revenue battle

The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is facing a significant challenge after a state judge ruled against its ability to collect operating tax revenue. Judge Christopher P. Yates stated that state law prohibits DPSCD from using operating revenue to pay off capital debt ahead of schedule. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating: "If we don't, then by that summer, as we roll into the next school year, we would have a $120m deficit." As a result, DPSCD must seek voter approval to collect the operating millage by July 1 2027. The district plans to place the measure on the ballot for the May election, with a backup option for November if necessary. Vitti remains optimistic about voter support, stressing that the change will not increase taxes but simply transfer collection responsibilities from the Detroit Public Schools to DPSCD.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Safety probe finds Waymo robotaxis illegally passed school buses

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating incidents involving Waymo self-driving vehicles that violated Texas state law by passing stopped school buses. In December, Waymo recalled its vehicles after reports of at least 19 illegal passes since the school year began. A recent incident on January 12 in Austin, Texas, involved a Waymo vehicle that initially stopped for a school bus but proceeded after a remote operator incorrectly confirmed the bus was not active. The NTSB plans to issue safety recommendations to prevent future violations. Waymo acknowledged a software issue that contributed to these incidents and has faced scrutiny from both the NTSB and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding a collision involving a nine-year-old girl in a school zone. The Austin Independent School District previously requested that Waymo halt operations during school pick-up and drop-off times, but the company declined.

TECHNOLOGY

California fines school ticketing platform over student data collection

California regulators have fined PlayOn $1.1m after finding that its GoFan ticketing platform required students and parents to agree to personal data collection, and potential sale to advertisers, before they could access tickets for high school events such as football games and prom. The California Privacy Protection Agency said the company violated state privacy laws in 2023 and 2024 by failing to offer users a way to opt out of data collection. PlayOn, which works with around 1,400 schools across California, later updated its privacy policy in December 2024 to allow opt-outs and said the issue has since been resolved.

SCHOOL CHOICE

ESAs in Iowa now subsidize 99% of private school enrollment

Iowa's Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), introduced in 2023, have expanded access to private education for all families, regardless of income. Currently, 99% of private school students in Iowa utilize ESAs, which provide $7,998 in state funding for tuition and related expenses. Megan Rassel, a parent benefiting from the program, said: "It comes down to it's not about school choice in the sense of private vs. public, but what is the best environment for each kid." The program has led to a 46% increase in ESA usage in Carroll and a significant rise in nonpublic school enrollment statewide. However, critics argue that this shift undermines public education funding, with Josh Brown, Iowa State Education Association president, asserting: "This erosion of financial support for Iowa's public schools is unsustainable and unfair." As the ESA program continues to evolve, its impact on both private and public education remains a topic of debate.

TEACHER TRAINING

Proposed bill would require Tennessee teachers to pass new licensing test

Tennessee lawmakers are considering the Tennessee Civics Education Act, which would require aspiring teachers to pass a 100-question U.S. civics test with a score of 70% or higher to obtain their practitioner teaching license. The new requirement would be in addition to existing licensure prerequisites, such as the PRAXIS exam. The Tennessee Department of Education would develop the test using questions from the standard U.S. citizenship test. While the Senate version of the bill applies to all aspiring teachers, an amendment in the House limits it to those seeking licensure in grades six to twelve in social studies, history, government, or civics subjects. If passed, the law could take effect as early as January 2027. Senator Brent Taylor said: "I don't think it's too much to ask somebody who's going to spend eight hours a day with our students, teaching them, that they understand American civics." However, concerns have been raised by Democrats regarding the additional licensing burdens on teachers.

LEADERSHIP

New book calls on school leaders to move beyond crisis mode

Kim Wallace’s new book, Game-Changing Leadership in Action: An Educator’s Companion, offers practical strategies to help school and system leaders navigate mounting pressures and lead sustainable change in today’s complex education landscape. Wallace highlights key pain points facing leaders, including decision fatigue, isolation, staffing shortages, declining morale, and misaligned initiatives that erode trust and effectiveness. She argues that traditional, one-size-fits-all leadership development no longer works and instead advocates for personalized, job-embedded professional learning tailored to each leader’s context, strengths, and real-time challenges. Her framework centers on aligning three domains of leadership: personal (self-awareness and well-being), environmental (culture and relationships), and institutional (policies and systems). Sustainable transformation, she says, occurs when all three are intentionally integrated. Wallace emphasizes long-term sustainability over short-term wins, urging leaders to distribute responsibility, invest in trust, align initiatives with purpose, and use data as a tool for learning rather than compliance.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Denver schools turn closures into opportunities

Denver Public Schools (DPS) is seeking proposals to repurpose two closed elementary schools. Columbian Elementary will potentially become a child care center, while the International Academy of Denver at Harrington is envisioned as a community center. Andrew Huber, the district's executive director of enrollment and campus planning, stated that the district is also exploring teacher housing solutions. The recent requests for proposals follow earlier inquiries that gathered community input on innovative uses for vacant school buildings. Huber noted: "The District is only open to lease(s) or partnerships." DPS aims to address community needs while navigating the contentious issue of school closures, which have left many families uncertain about the future of their local schools.

INTERNATIONAL

Rural communities push back as New Brunswick considers shutting small schools

The New Brunswick government is considering closing schools with fewer than 100 students as part of upcoming budget cost-cutting measures, a move that could affect 33 schools across the province, 23 anglophone and 10 francophone. The proposal surfaced during pre-budget consultations under a document titled “Difficult Decisions.” Schools in several districts, particularly rural areas, fall below the 100-student threshold, raising concerns among educators, parents and local officials. Anglophone East Superintendent Randy MacLean warned that closing small schools could have long-term social and economic consequences, arguing education is foundational to community well-being. Parents, including Holly Sleeper from Havelock, where the local K-5 school has about 60 students, say small schools are central to rural communities and worry that consolidation would mean longer bus rides, overcrowded classrooms, and added infrastructure costs elsewhere. The Department of Education says no final decisions have been made, and the government has pledged to follow existing policy once the 2026–27 budget is tabled on March 17.
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