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14th May 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Trump administration expands IDEA funding

The U.S. Department of Education will distribute an additional $144m in federal IDEA funding to states and local governments to support special education and early intervention services, marking what the Trump administration described as a significant expansion of resources for students with disabilities and their families. The funding includes approximately $123.6m for IDEA Part B programs, which support children and young adults aged three to 21, alongside $20.5m for IDEA Part C early intervention services for infants and toddlers through age two. The grants will be allocated through formula funding later this year. Federal officials said the money comes from non-expiring funds previously returned to the department in recent years. The announcement comes as educators and advocacy groups continue to warn that IDEA funding has failed to keep pace with rising numbers of eligible students and increasing service costs. The Education Department also introduced new guidance allowing states, for the first time, to use IDEA Part C funding to support expectant parents whose unborn children are likely to qualify for disability services after birth. The Council for Exceptional Children has welcomed the additional investment and called on Congress to provide broader long-term increases in IDEA funding.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Prepare Your Students for Their Future, Today

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LEGAL

New Jersey Supreme Court declines early review of school segregation case

The New Jersey Supreme Court has declined to immediately hear a long-running lawsuit alleging the state’s public schools are unconstitutionally segregated, ruling that the case must first proceed through the appellate court system. The lawsuit, filed in 2018 by Latino Action Network, parents, and advocacy groups, argues that New Jersey’s school system remains deeply segregated along racial and socioeconomic lines because students generally attend schools in their local districts. Plaintiffs say this violates the state constitution’s guarantee of a “thorough and efficient education.” A trial court judge ruled in 2023 that New Jersey schools showed a “marked and persistent racial imbalance,” but found the plaintiffs had not proven the statewide system was unconstitutional. Mediation efforts between the parties failed earlier this year, and the case is now awaiting an appellate hearing. Plaintiffs expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene sooner, arguing that continued delays harm students, while the state has maintained that the plaintiffs have not presented a workable constitutional remedy.

DISTRICTS

Columbus educators approve two-year deal with district

The Columbus Education Association has overwhelmingly ratified a new two-year agreement with Columbus City Schools covering the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years, although union leaders said educators remain deeply concerned about funding cuts and staffing losses across the district. The agreement includes provisions related to compensation, scheduling, planning time, leave policies, and other workplace issues, though full details have not yet been released. The Columbus City Schools Board of Education is expected to formally approve the deal at its May 19 meeting. Union leaders praised both bargaining teams for reaching an agreement, but stressed that teachers are “not celebrating” as the district continues to face a major budget crisis. Columbus City Schools previously approved $50m in cuts, including teaching positions, and officials have warned additional reductions may still be needed.

Green Bay Public Schools eyes new referendum as budget deficits loom

The Green Bay Area Public School District is considering a $35m operational referendum for November as it faces long-term budget deficits driven by inflation, declining enrollment, and rising costs. School Board documents show the district surveyed residents in February about the proposal, with 61% of respondents expressing support for the referendum, which would help fund day-to-day operating expenses. District leaders said another community poll will take place before a final referendum question and funding amount are approved. The district is also contemplating a separate $90m facilities referendum in future years, although officials have not yet detailed what projects the funding would support. The district has already taken cost-cutting measures, including eliminating around 100 positions through attrition, modifying employee health insurance, and closing the Edison Middle School pool. Officials previously projected deficits of up to $32m by the 2027-28 school year.

Houston ISD faces backlash over plan to reassign 5,000 special ed students

Houston ISD (HISD) is facing mounting backlash after announcing plans to reassign up to 5,000 special education students to different campuses next school year as part of a district-wide restructuring effort aimed at centralizing specialized programs. Under the plan, students in self-contained special education classrooms, including those in early childhood special education, behavioral support, and life skills programs, would be moved to one of 150 designated “Special Education Success Programs.” District officials said the changes are intended to improve instruction, reduce class sizes, better align students by age and ability, and provide increased staffing support. The move has prompted an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights following complaints from parents and advocates who argue the policy may violate federal disability laws. Families have also filed multiple complaints with the Texas Education Agency. Despite the growing opposition and federal scrutiny, HISD said it intends to proceed with the changes, arguing the new model will expand access to specialized instruction and improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

FINANCE

Chicago school leaders criticize budget cuts, demand more state support

Union leaders and several Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board members sharply criticized proposed staffing cuts as the district attempts to close a $732.5m budget deficit, warning the reductions could increase class sizes, destabilize schools, and disproportionately harm Black and Latino students. Under preliminary school-level budgets released to principals, CPS plans to increase the student-to-teacher ratio used for funding allocations and remove assistant principal funding from most schools with fewer than 250 students. The district said teacher cuts would be capped at six per high school and four per elementary school, although officials have not disclosed the total number of eliminated positions or expected savings. The Chicago Teachers Union condemned the proposal, arguing the district should pressure Illinois lawmakers for additional education funding instead of reducing school staff. The Chicago Principals & Administrators Association also objected to the cuts, particularly the planned elimination of around 120 assistant principal positions. CPS officials defended the measures as part of an effort to address a looming fiscal cliff after years of staffing growth fueled by temporary federal pandemic relief funding.

MPS staff warn budget plan could impair teacher retention and student support efforts

Milwaukee Public Schools staff, union members, and community advocates warned that the district’s proposed $1.6bn budget could undermine equity initiatives, student support programs, and educator retention as officials attempt to close a structural deficit. The budget would reduce district spending by $26.2m and eliminate around 260 non-classroom positions while adding roughly 150 teaching jobs and 140 paraprofessional roles. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said the cuts are necessary to address long-term financial pressures and fund additional classroom staffing. Much of the criticism focused on reductions to equity and inclusion teams, including Black and Latino Male Achievement, Gender and Identity Inclusion, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and Restorative Practices. While some staff praised parts of the proposal, including extending school counselors’ contracts from 191 to 200 days, many urged district leaders to reconsider the cuts before the school board votes on the budget later this month.

TECHNOLOGY

School districts resist parent efforts to opt children out of classroom devices

Parents nationwide are expressing concerns about excessive screen time in schools, advocating for a return to traditional learning methods using pencils and paper. In Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, over 600 parents signed a petition to allow students to opt out of using digital devices during the school day. However, the Lower Merion School District maintains that technology is essential to the curriculum, with board member Anna Shurak stating: "There is not an option for us to not have technology in schools." The debate reflects a broader national trend, with at least fourteen states proposing laws to limit screen time in educational settings. While parents acknowledge the importance of teaching responsible technology use, they are increasingly questioning the dominance of digital tools in the classroom. Superintendent Frank Ranelli emphasized the district's commitment to listening to community concerns, noting that they have already made changes, such as blocking certain websites flagged by parents.

NUTRITION

Schools brace for higher costs as MAHA nutrition standards reach cafeterias

School districts across the U.S. are preparing for potential changes to cafeteria menus after the Trump administration introduced new dietary guidelines tied to the Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, initiative. The updated standards, championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., encourage Americans to avoid highly processed foods and prioritize nutrient-dense proteins, changes that are expected to eventually influence federal school meal requirements. Nutrition directors and education advocates said the shift could significantly increase costs for schools that already operate on tight budgets. Many cafeterias currently rely on processed, premade foods because they are cheaper, easier to prepare, and require less labor. Transitioning toward more fresh, scratch-cooked meals would require additional funding, kitchen upgrades, and more skilled staff. School nutrition experts said protein is already the most expensive part of a school meal, while federal reimbursement rates remain insufficient to cover rising labor, utility, and food costs. Many districts are also facing the loss of federal programs that helped schools purchase food from local farmers, including the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program.

 
NPR

CHARTERS

Iowa expands charter school funding

On May 12, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 2754 into law, enhancing funding for Iowa charter schools by allowing them to access state Teacher Salary Supplement funding. This legislation aims to expand school choice for families, with Reynolds commenting: "This legislation allows more of students' per pupil funding streams to follow them to public charter schools." The bill is projected to provide approximately $1.3m in additional funding, benefiting the 1,172 students currently enrolled in the state's ten charter schools, with eight more set to open in the next 15 months. HF 2754 also introduces a second enrollment window for private school education savings accounts and allows community groups to participate in Iowa's voluntary preschool program. Furthermore, it enables homeschool families to charge tuition and removes restrictions on the number of unrelated children they can teach.

TEACHER TRAINING

Paid apprenticeships turn Michigan paraprofessionals into educators

Michigan’s state-funded Talent Together initiative is helping classroom paraprofessionals become certified teachers through tuition assistance, paid apprenticeships, and local district partnerships designed to address educator shortages. The program allows school aides and other aspiring educators to earn teaching degrees while continuing to work in their communities. Participants receive tuition coverage for online college courses and are paid 80% of a starting teacher’s salary during a year-long classroom apprenticeship alongside an experienced mentor teacher. The initiative was created in 2023 with roughly $79m in state funding and has already helped around 300 participants pursue teaching certifications through partnerships with 18 colleges and universities. Many participants say the program removes major barriers that previously prevented them from entering the profession, particularly the financial burden of student teaching and tuition costs. Leaders say the model benefits districts because participants already understand their local schools, students, and curriculum before becoming full-time teachers.

LITERACY

New study shows U.S. students still struggling with reading recovery

A new national study has found that U.S. students remain in a deep reading recession, with most states showing little improvement in reading achievement since the pandemic, although some California school districts, including Los Angeles Unified, Compton, and Modesto, have emerged as notable bright spots. Researchers from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth analyzed test scores across more than 5,000 school districts and found that reading performance has continued a long-term decline that began years before COVID-19. Nationally, students remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic reading levels, while math recovery has been stronger in most states. Researchers said states that embraced phonics-focused instruction, including Louisiana, Tennessee, and Maryland, generally saw the strongest reading improvements, though results varied. Experts also pointed to factors such as reduced recreational reading, increased smartphone and social media use, and weaker accountability systems as contributors to the ongoing decline in literacy skills.

INTERNATIONAL

Economic inequality continues to shape children’s futures, UN agencies warn

New reports from UNICEF and UNESCO warn that economic inequality is increasingly shaping children’s health, education, and future opportunities, with disadvantages beginning in childhood and extending into adulthood. A UNICEF study covering 44 OECD and high-income countries found that children in more unequal societies experience poorer health and weaker educational outcomes. Children in the most unequal countries are 1.7 times more likely to be overweight, while students from low-income households are far less likely to achieve basic reading and math proficiency than wealthier peers. UNICEF said widening income gaps are contributing to entrenched child poverty and unequal access to nutrition, education, and wellbeing. UNESCO’s separate report on higher education found that global university enrollment has more than doubled since 2000, reaching 269m students in 2024, but access remains highly uneven. Around 80% of young people attend higher education in Western Europe and North America, compared with just 9% in sub-Saharan Africa. Graduation rates have also lagged behind enrollment growth, while rising costs and limited public funding continue to restrict access for disadvantaged groups. Both agencies called for stronger investment in education, social protection, and inclusive policies to prevent inequality from becoming more deeply entrenched across generations.

Africa’s education gains stall as out-of-school numbers climb again

More than 100m children and adolescents across Africa are currently out of school, according to new research analyzing 25 years of education trends, with experts warning that progress in school participation is now reversing. The study found that the number of out-of-school children fell from more than 100m in 2000 to around 90m in 2014, before climbing back to 100m by 2025, largely because rapid population growth has outpaced education access. Although the percentage of children out of school has declined over time, participation rates remain particularly weak at secondary-school level. Researchers identified several drivers behind the recent deterioration, including reduced government funding for free education programs, declining international aid, and the long-term effects of COVID-19, which pushed an estimated 10m children permanently out of school. Political instability, conflict, climate pressures, poverty, and child labor were also cited as major barriers, especially in the Sahel region, South Sudan, Chad, northern Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. The report highlighted successful progress in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Rwanda, where policies including free education, school feeding programs, cash transfers, and expanded school infrastructure helped improve attendance.
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