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USA
6th March 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Schools regain limited federal support, but uncertainty persists for community school grants

The U.S. Department of Education has agreed to restore $6m in federal funding for community school programs in Illinois through June 30, partially reversing earlier cuts that halted Full-Service Community Schools grants. The funding, distributed through the nonprofit ACT Now Illinois, supports services such as after-school programs, family assistance, and attendance initiatives across 32 schools in 16 districts. However, most of the previously approved funding remains frozen after the Trump administration canceled 19 grants worth at least $168m nationwide in December, citing concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion language in grant proposals. The Illinois programs had expected $73m total, including unused funds and future payments, much of which is still uncertain. The funding cuts have already forced schools to cancel hundreds of programs, shut down after-school activities, and lay off staff, with similar disruptions reported in other states. While some lawsuits are challenging the cancellations, 16 grants worth at least $84m remain terminated, leaving many community school initiatives in limbo as the legal battle continues.

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SAFETY AND SECURITY

Hawaiʻi's panic button program falters

Two years after the launch of a $7m technology initiative aimed at enhancing safety in Hawaiʻi schools, only one school has installed panic buttons, which remain unused. The program, intended to equip educators with tools to alert law enforcement during emergencies, has faced significant delays. Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert said that the state followed proper procurement processes, despite federal scrutiny of SaferWatch, the contracted company. The education department is now piloting the program at a single school, with full implementation expected to take several years. “This should be a priority,” said Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, emphasizing the need for effective safety measures. The total costs for the program remain undetermined, as further purchases and installations are necessary.

LEGISLATION

Alabama House committee backs bill mandating Ten Commandments posters in schools

An Alabama House committee has advanced a bill that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in certain classrooms and common areas. The proposal mandates that posters be placed in U.S. history classrooms for grades 5 through 12, as well as in shared spaces such as libraries or cafeterias, and that the displays include references to historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. Sponsored by Rep. Mark Gidley, the measure would be funded through private donations rather than public funds. The bill now heads to the full Alabama House, while a similar version is awaiting action in the state Senate.

NJ lawmakers move to strengthen financial literacy requirements

A New Jersey Senate committee has unanimously approved legislation that would require high school students to receive instruction on personal finance, including budgeting, managing money, and building credit. The bill would expand existing financial literacy education beyond middle school and tighten current rules that allow broader courses, such as business or economics, to satisfy the requirement without teaching practical money-management skills. Supporters say many students graduate without basic financial knowledge, while some educators warn the change could limit flexibility and reduce access to courses aligned with students’ career interests. The measure must still pass the full legislature and receive the governor’s signature, and a companion bill has yet to be considered in the Assembly.

FINANCE

Colorado bill would let voters decide on raising school funding beyond TABOR cap

Colorado's education system faces significant challenges due to inadequate funding, as highlighted by teacher Wendy Bergman from Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins. Bergman said: "We are constantly stretching supplies, time, and energy." Recent studies indicate that Colorado ranks low in education funding relative to personal income, necessitating an additional $3.5bn-$4.1bn annually to adequately support schools. In response, Democratic lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 135, which proposes a ballot measure to increase K-12 education funding by 2% annually for the next decade. This measure aims to adjust the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) cap, allowing the state to retain approximately $200m more each year for education. However, historical resistance to TABOR changes raises concerns about voter approval. Colorado Education Association President Kevin Vick emphasized that voters are frustrated with the lack of resources affecting teachers and students.

Pennsylvania district cuts after-school tutoring to address $9.6m budget deficit

The School District of Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, has temporarily ended its free after-school tutoring program, affecting about 700 students, as it works to address a $9.6m budget deficit discovered during the 2024–25 school year. The suspension, expected to save roughly $700,000 in staffing and transportation costs, follows an accounting error and overspending on items such as transportation, cyber charter tuition and building maintenance. District leaders, who have hired a consulting service affiliated with Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials to conduct an audit, said ending the program was difficult but necessary to stabilize finances. Some parents and board members criticized the decision, arguing it removes vital academic support for students, though volunteer teachers will continue tutoring for around 80 high school students at McCaskey High School.

NUTRITION

Study links ultra-processed foods to behavioral issues in preschoolers

A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that preschool children who consume more ultra-processed foods may be more likely to experience emotional and behavioral problems, including anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity. Researchers analyzing data from nearly 2,100 children in Canada found that every 10% increase in calories from ultra-processed foods was associated with higher problem scores by age five. The findings indicate that replacing even small portions of ultra-processed foods with whole foods such as fruits and vegetables could support healthier emotional and behavioral development in early childhood.

CHARTERS

Crisis looms for Aspira Charter School Network

The Aspira Charter School Network is facing significant financial distress, prompting layoff notices for approximately sixty staff members. Despite this, chief executive Edgar Lopez expressed hope that the closures would be "temporary," as the network attempts to keep its two high schools operational through June. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is navigating a complex situation, as state law complicates the outright closure of Aspira, which is set to run out of funds next month. CPS officials have advised families to seek alternative schools, while the Chicago Teachers Union urges more decisive action to address the crisis affecting students. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools criticized CPS for its inaction, emphasizing the need for stability for Aspira students.

POLICY

Governors’ education agendas diverge

FutureEd reviewed 2026 State-of-the-State speeches from 39 governors and found school choice, higher ed affordability, early learning, and student well-being dominated education proposals. School choice drove partisan splits, with many Republican governors promoting public funding for private options, while Arizona’s Katie Hobbs called for tighter oversight. Across parties, governors emphasized literacy, public-school funding, and teacher pay, with nutrition emerging as a shared theme. GHSA-style rhetoric appeared in school safety debates too: “Illegal and deadly school bus passings are 100% preventable,” Jonathan Adkins said.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

National plan targets bus safety

GHSA and BusPatrol released “A National Action Plan for School Bus Safety,” outlining 69 recommendations for districts, transportation leaders, law enforcement, and state highway safety offices to reduce illegal school bus passings. The report says drivers illegally pass stopped buses about 39m times per year—about once per bus every three days—putting the 20m daily student riders at risk. Developed after a December 2025 summit with nearly 500 experts, the plan stresses enforcement, training, technology, and education. Jonathan Adkins said, “Illegal and deadly school bus passings are 100% preventable.”

Waymo school bus probe expands

Federal investigators are examining whether Waymo’s automated vehicles safely respond to stopped school buses after a January 2026 incident in Austin, Texas, where a driverless Jaguar I-Pace passed a bus with red lights flashing and stop arms extended. Investigators say the vehicle initially stopped, then moved ahead after a remote assistance agent incorrectly answered “No” to a prompt asking whether the bus had active signals. The case is part of a broader probe into repeated stop-arm violations involving Waymo vehicles and school buses in Austin.

SCHOOL CHOICE

Texas voucher lottery may fill before reaching top income tier

Strong demand for Texas’ new Education Freedom Accounts voucher program could mean higher-income families never reach the lottery stage, according to state officials. More than 150,000 students have applied for the 2026–27 school year, while the program’s $1 billion budget can fund only about 80,000–100,000 students. The lottery prioritizes applicants in tiers, starting with students with disabilities and lower-income households, followed by middle-income families, with higher-income families in the final tier, which may not be reached due to overwhelming demand. Officials expect applications to continue rising before the March 17 deadline, and the strong interest could prompt the Texas Legislature to expand funding in future years.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Over 50 medical schools endorse Kennedy’s nutrition curriculum push

More than 50 medical schools in the United States have agreed to adopt a federal framework for nutrition education promoted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as part of the administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative. The voluntary guidelines recommend that medical students receive at least 40 hours of nutrition training and cover 71 competencies related to diet and health. The plan gained support from a mix of universities across the country, though several major institutions declined to participate. Critics have raised concerns about government influence over university curriculums and questioned some proposed topics, while supporters argue that expanding nutrition training could improve doctors’ ability to address diet-related health issues.

Colleges seek balance between advanced campus security and student privacy

Colleges and universities are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI)-powered security technologies, including smart surveillance, facial recognition tools, mobile access credentials and cloud-based monitoring platforms, to improve campus safety and response times. These systems can help security teams quickly analyze footage, manage access to buildings through smartphones and coordinate emergency responses more efficiently. However, institutions must carefully balance these capabilities with student, faculty and staff privacy, ensuring transparency about what data is collected and how it is used. Experts emphasize the importance of privacy-by-design features,such as face-blurring, encryption, role-based access, and strict data governance, alongside clear policies and collaboration among campus departments. Ultimately, successful campus safety strategies combine technology, training and communication to protect communities while maintaining an open and accessible campus environment.

INTERNATIONAL

B.C. teachers back four-year deal with pay raises and added school support staff

Members of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, representing about 52,000 educators, have overwhelmingly approved a four-year collective agreement with the provincial government, with 91% voting in favor. The deal includes annual wage increases of 3% through 2029 and measures aimed at improving classroom support, such as adding counsellors, learning-assistance teachers, and special education staff. It also provides more preparation time for elementary teachers and allowances for psychologists, Indigenous language teachers, and those in rural schools. While union leaders welcomed the improvements, they noted the agreement does not reduce class sizes, a long-standing goal. The contract still requires final approval from school boards and, if confirmed, will run retroactively from July 2025 to June 2029.
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