Education Slice
Become more informed in minutes....
Education Slice Logo
USA
19th March 2026
Together with

FlexPoint Brand Logo

THE HOT STORY

Los Angeles USD braces for potential walkout by 68,000 teachers and workers

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and Local 99 service workers have announced a potential strike on April 14 if contract negotiations remain unresolved. This action could disrupt operations in Los Angeles USD, affecting nearly 400,000 students and involving over 60,000 essential workers. UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz emphasized the need for public support, commenting: "Stand with educators. Stand with teachers. Stand with support professionals." The unions are advocating for significant salary increases and stable work schedules, with Local 99 seeking a double-digit pay raise over a three-year contract. The district has faced financial challenges, including declining enrollment and budget constraints, leading to anticipated layoffs. The situation is further complicated by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho's paid administrative leave amid an FBI investigation. The unions argue that without adequate compensation and support, the quality of education will suffer.

BLENDED LEARNING

An Administrator's Guide to Blended Learning  

Online learning doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Explore blended learning with this comprehensive guide from FlexPoint®, which includes:    
  • Worksheets to define your school’s needs
  • Outline of blended learning classroom models
  • List of questions to ask curriculum providers
  • Best practices for educator training
  • Instructional strategies and tips
  • Key benefits for you, students, and staff    
Download the FlexPoint guide to find the right mix of face-to-face and online instruction for your school or district.  

Download Free Guide

 

LEGAL

Oconto Falls schools abuse lawsuit expands with new plaintiffs and details

An updated federal civil rights lawsuit against the Oconto Falls School District alleges a longstanding pattern of sexual misconduct spanning over 15 years. Filed by Disparti Law Group, the lawsuit now includes five plaintiffs, with new victims Brianna Kain and Kayla Kasper joining the case. The complaint details allegations against an athletic trainer and a teacher, highlighting failures by the district to investigate claims of abuse. Kain reported inappropriate conduct by the athletic trainer, while Kasper described a teacher's lewd behavior in class. The complaint states: "The board was later informed the trainer had been asked to resign because of sexual conduct with students." Despite these allegations, the district has not taken protective actions, and the School Board has until May 11 to respond to the complaint. No hearings have been scheduled at this time.

DISTRICTS

Columbus City Schools extends superintendent contract to 2029

The Columbus City Schools Board of Education has extended Superintendent Angela Chapman's contract through July 2029, maintaining her annual salary at $265,000. Board President Antoinette Miranda emphasized the importance of strong leadership, stating that the renewal "affirms the confidence" in Chapman's work. Despite budget challenges, including a $50m reduction and salary freezes, Miranda noted Chapman's commitment to the district, saying: "It really speaks to her commitment and her understanding of the pain, the financial pain that we're experiencing." Chapman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue her work, emphasizing her dedication to prioritizing the needs of students, staff, and the community. Board Vice President Sarah Ingles praised Chapman’s performance, highlighting the trust she has built within the community. Miranda expressed confidence in Chapman's ability to improve communication and lead the district effectively.

Memphis board stalls on superintendent contract

The Memphis-Shelby County school board postponed finalizing interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond's permanent contract during an emergency meeting, as they await the results of a forensic audit of the district. The board had previously voted unanimously to appoint Richmond pending contract approval. However, on Wednesday, they voted 7-2 to maintain his interim contract, which runs through July, amid concerns that the audit findings should influence the permanent contract. Board chair Natalie McKinney emphasized: "Our decisions should be about stability, not about what the state may or may not be doing." The audit is expected to inform legislative decisions regarding potential state intervention in district governance, with Republican lawmakers advocating for oversight due to ongoing governance issues and poor academic outcomes.

LEGISLATION

Lawmaker proposes national civics curriculum amid growing political tensions

A new package of federal legislation, introduced by Sen. Andy Kin (D-NJ), aims to expand and reshape civics education in the United States, proposing the creation of a bipartisan commission to develop a national model civics curriculum and identify best practices for schools, alongside measures to fund more hands-on learning opportunities. The effort comes as civics education gains renewed attention ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary, with lawmakers citing low levels of civic knowledge and declining public trust in government as key concerns. The proposals would encourage experiential learning, including student participation in community projects, field trips to government institutions, meetings with elected officials, and activities such as voter registration and student journalism. Supporters argue this “action civics” approach helps students better understand democracy through participation rather than passive learning. However, the legislation enters a politically sensitive debate over how civics should be taught. While there is broad bipartisan agreement on the need to strengthen civic education, divisions persist between those who favor traditional, content-focused instruction and those who support more participatory models. Critics, particularly among Republicans, have raised concerns that action civics can introduce political bias into classrooms, with some states already restricting such practices.

CLASSROOM

Revival of cursive sparks debate over its role in modern education

Cursive writing is making a notable comeback in U.S. classrooms, with more than two dozen states now mandating instruction, fueled by nostalgia, legislative support, and concerns that many students can no longer read or write it. The revival is reflected in grassroots efforts like school clubs, where students are embracing cursive as both a creative skill and a practical tool, particularly for signatures and reading historical texts. However, the resurgence has sparked debate among educators and researchers over whether cursive is worth the classroom time in an increasingly digital world. Some experts argue it offers no meaningful cognitive advantage over print writing, while others suggest it may support spelling, attention to detail, and broader “multimodal” learning alongside typing and other technologies. With limited instructional time and evolving technology, schools are being forced to balance traditional handwriting skills with modern demands, leaving the long-term role of cursive uncertain.

Personal finance classes surge across U.S. high schools

Personal finance is increasingly replacing economics in U.S. high schools, with 39 states now requiring a standalone course for graduation, up from recent years, while only 22 states mandate economics, according to a forthcoming report from the Council for Economic Education. States including Texas, California, and Indiana have shifted toward practical financial education, reflecting demand for real-world skills such as budgeting, investing, debt management, and navigating rising student debt, which now totals $1.7 trillion. The change is driven by the growing financial complexity facing young people, from student loans to gambling and self-employment, as well as evidence that financial education improves decision-making, including during economic shocks. While advocates argue economics remains valuable for understanding markets and civic engagement, educators and policymakers are prioritizing applied financial literacy, often introducing courses through teacher-led initiatives and expanding them into graduation requirements.

TECHNOLOGY

Offloading tasks to AI could weaken teaching quality and student relationships

Daniel Buck, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former educator, argues against the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching. While some advocate for AI to alleviate nonteaching tasks, Buck contends that these tasks are integral to effective teaching, adding: "Those seemingly inconsequential tasks are many of the most fundamental and important aspects of the teaching profession." By outsourcing responsibilities such as drafting emails or creating exam questions to AI, educators risk losing essential reflective practices that enhance their teaching effectiveness and student relationships. Buck warns that this cognitive offloading could lead to diminished classroom dynamics and student engagement, ultimately harming academic outcomes. He emphasizes that the craft of teaching is honed through thoughtful reflection and planning, much like athletes develop their skills through practice.

Debate grows over student screen time as SC district reviews device use

The Lexington-Richland 5 school board in South Carolina is reconsidering how students use school-issued Chromebooks, following growing parental concerns about excessive screen time at home and doubts about their educational value, particularly for younger children. A board committee has begun reviewing current practices, which date back to the district’s initial adoption of Chromebooks over a decade ago and expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has not yet proposed specific policy changes. While some adjustments have already been made, such as restricting certain artificial intelligence tools and allowing parents to opt out of take-home device use, officials emphasize that existing policies provide flexibility and warn that imposing further limits could disadvantage students compared to peers in other districts. Usage data presented to the committee suggests relatively limited in-school screen time, especially for younger students, and the review is expected to conclude before the next academic year.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Maine eyes turning vacant schools into housing

The town of Brooks, Maine, is considering whether to take ownership of the former Morse Memorial Elementary School, which closed last year due to declining enrollment. Ray Quimby, a member of the town's planning board, said: "It can either be an asset or a detriment, and my preference is to make it an asset." The Maine Legislature is evaluating a $5m fund to assist towns in repurposing vacant school buildings into housing. However, challenges remain, including renovation costs and community preferences, as a recent survey indicated a desire for the building to serve as a community center rather than housing. The bill, L.D. 2164, aims to provide technical and financial support for such conversions, but concerns about funding fairness have been raised. As Brooks navigates its options, other towns like Van Buren are also exploring the future of their closed schools.

SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Rival ballot measures set up clash over Arizona’s $1bn school voucher program

Arizona voters could face competing ballot initiatives in November to reform the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account voucher program, as pro-school choice group Fortify AZ has proposed new spending restrictions and oversight measures while rejecting income caps included in a rival proposal backed by education groups. The competing plans reflect growing political pressure to address the program’s rapid expansion to more than 100,000 students at a cost of $1bn annually, as well as scrutiny over questionable spending, with both sides preparing for a potentially costly campaign to secure enough signatures and win voter approval.

Texas ESA program draws homeschool demand, but funding gap favors private schools

A growing number of homeschool families are seeking access to Texas’ new Education Freedom Accounts, with more than 200,000 students signed up and at least one-fifth planning to use funds for home-based education, while national data shows over 70% of homeschoolers would use public funding if available. However, the program allocates significantly less support to homeschoolers, around $2,000 per student compared with up to $10,474 for private school students, raising concerns that the structure incentivizes families to shift away from homeschooling despite strong demand, as the bill heads toward implementation and potential future revisions.

INTERNATIONAL

Bullying in South Korea's schools hits highest level since 2018

Reported school bullying in South Korea has reached its highest level since surveys began in 2018, with 3% of students overall reporting victimization and rates rising for a second consecutive survey. Elementary school students recorded the highest incidence at 5%, compared with 2.4% in middle schools and 1% in high schools, with officials attributing this partly to greater sensitivity among younger pupils and broader reporting. Verbal abuse accounted for the largest share of cases at 40.3%, followed by group bullying and physical violence, while 1.1% of students admitted to being perpetrators, most of whom said they had apologized. In response, the Education Ministry is expanding preventative measures, including new restorative programmes for younger students, as part of efforts to strengthen support systems and improve handling of school violence cases.
Industry Slice Logo

Education Slice delivers the latest, most relevant and useful intelligence to key educators, administrators, decision makers and teaching influencers, each weekday morning..

Content is selected to an exacting brief from hundreds of influential media sources and summarised by experienced journalists into an easy-to-read digest email. Education Slice enhances the performance and decision-making capabilities of individuals and teams by delivering the relevant news, innovations and knowledge in a cost-effective way.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities within Education Slice, please get in touch via email sales team

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe