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USA
9th June 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Colleges rush to launch AI degrees as student demand surges

U.S. colleges and universities are rapidly introducing artificial intelligence (AI) degree programs as they seek to capitalize on growing student interest and position themselves for an economy increasingly shaped by AI. The number of institutions offering AI majors has grown from just five in 2021 to at least 74 today, with dozens more programs expected to launch this year. The new degrees vary significantly in focus. Some, such as Carnegie Mellon University's pioneering AI program, emphasize the technical foundations of AI, while others concentrate more on practical applications, ethics, data security, and workplace skills. Many programs overlap heavily with traditional computer science curricula, prompting questions about whether some offerings represent meaningful innovation or simply rebranding. Universities view AI degrees as a way to attract students, address changing workforce demands, and demonstrate relevance amid broader challenges facing higher education. Institutions ranging from the University of North Dakota to North Dakota State University are developing new courses and expanding programs, citing strong demand from both traditional students and working professionals seeking AI expertise.

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DISTRICTS

Education Department examines race-based allegations in Colorado school district

The U.S. Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into Colorado’s Cherry Creek Schools, alleging a broad range of racially discriminatory practices, including student clubs that allegedly exclude participants based on race, race-based decisions relating to class assignments and academic support, and a parent advisory group whose membership is reportedly restricted by race. The Office for Civil Rights said the investigation will examine whether the district has violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The agency also cited complaints that district training materials characterize the United States as being founded on “white supremacy” and categorize individuals as “oppressors” or “oppressed” based on race. Cherry Creek Schools said it strongly disagrees with the federal government’s characterization of its programs and noted that it has not yet received a copy of the complaint. The district’s Voices of Color Committee, which the Education Department is reviewing, is described by the district as a group of parents, teachers, and administrators focused on creating an inclusive environment for students of color.

FINANCE

Counselors and social workers lead opposition to Cincinnati school budget cuts

Cincinnati Public Schools is continuing budget negotiations as it works to close a projected $58.6m deficit for the 2026-27 school year, with proposed reductions including 12 social workers, 10 assistant principals, eight counselors, three nurses, and several other staff positions. District leaders say the cuts are necessary due to financial constraints, despite concerns about the impact on student support services, particularly as homelessness and chronic absenteeism have increased across the district. Teachers, counselors, parents, and union representatives criticized the proposed reductions during a school board meeting, arguing that the district is prioritizing spending on educational technology and third-party vendors over retaining frontline staff. The teachers union also opposed proposed teacher furlough days and argued the district should have pursued a tax levy earlier to address funding challenges. Superintendent Shauna Murphy said the recommendations were made reluctantly, stressing that the district lacks sufficient funding to maintain current staffing levels.

Louisiana weighs school budget cuts to prevent teacher pay reductions

Louisiana lawmakers have until June 23 to vote on a proposal that would shift $168m from public school operating funds to preserve teacher and support staff pay stipends for another year, preventing a scheduled $2,000 pay cut for teachers and $1,000 cut for support workers beginning July 1. The plan, backed by Gov. Jeff Landry, would require approval from two-thirds of both legislative chambers. While it would maintain most of the temporary pay supplements introduced in 2023, it would reduce funding available to school districts for expenses such as building maintenance, insurance, administration, equipment upkeep, and grounds operations. School leaders have warned the cuts could directly affect students and school services. The funding dilemma stems from lower-than-expected state revenues following tax cuts enacted in 2025 and the failure of constitutional amendments that were intended to create a long-term funding source for educator pay raises. Lawmakers and the governor have established a task force to identify a permanent solution, but no agreement has yet been reached.

Oklahoma educators say latest pay raise falls short of closing salary gap

Oklahoma teachers will receive a $2,000 salary increase under legislation signed by Governor Kevin Stitt, but many educators say the raise does little to offset years of lagging pay and rising living costs. Veteran kindergarten teacher Nancy Jarvis calculated that the increase amounts to less than $6 per day after taxes, while her take-home pay has risen only about 17% since 2018, roughly half the rate of inflation. Although teacher salaries in Oklahoma have increased 37% since the 2018 statewide teacher walkout, education leaders say the state still trails competitors in attracting and retaining educators, with starting pay remaining among the lowest in the nation. School districts may also face funding pressures, as some will need to find additional resources to extend raises to non-teaching staff. Beyond compensation, educators cite concerns over growing workloads, larger class sizes, increased mandates, teacher shortages, and what some describe as a lack of respect for the profession. State leaders and education advocates continue to debate how to create a sustainable, long-term funding strategy for schools while addressing teacher recruitment and retention challenges.

TECHNOLOGY

Montana school boards weigh flexible AI rules

School boards across Montana are beginning to adopt guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, drawing on model policy language developed by the Montana School Boards Association (MTSBA) in partnership with the Office of Public Instruction and the Montana Digital Academy. Districts including Missoula, Florence-Carlton, and Stevensville are reviewing the recommendations and considering how to tailor them to local needs. The proposed policies focus on the responsible, ethical, and transparent use of AI while emphasizing privacy protections and human oversight. The guidance highlights compliance with federal privacy laws, including FERPA and, where applicable, HIPAA, and discourages educators from entering personally identifiable student information into AI tools. Missoula County Public Schools is also considering policies that allow AI to support lesson planning and productivity, while making clear that it should not replace teachers’ professional judgment.

CURRICULUM

House committee to question school leaders on curriculum and parent access

San Francisco USD Superintendent Maria Su is set to appear before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Wednesday as part of a hearing examining parental rights, classroom content, and school policies. Su was summoned alongside school leaders from Chicago and Virginia’s Loudoun County to testify before the Republican-led committee. The hearing, titled “Breaking Trust: Attacks on Parental Rights, Inappropriate Content, and Legal Abuses in America’s Schools,” is expected to focus on issues including transgender-related policies, ethnic studies curricula, parental involvement, and allegations of inappropriate educational content. Committee members are likely to question district leaders about how these topics are taught and communicated to families. The hearing will be streamed live, with Su appearing alongside Chicago Public Schools chief executive Macquline King and Loudoun County Superintendent Aaron Spence.

CHARTERS

Rhode Island House Panel votes in favor of charter school moratorium

A Rhode Island House education committee has voted 8-3 to advance legislation imposing a three-year moratorium on new charter schools, sending the measure to the full House for consideration. The bill would halt new charter school approvals during the pause and reduce the statewide cap on charter schools from 35 to 28, as lawmakers debate broader reforms to the state’s school funding formula. Supporters argue the moratorium is needed to prevent further strain on public school finances while Rhode Island evaluates changes to its funding system. They contend that charter school growth diverts resources from traditional public schools and that a pause would provide stability as policymakers assess recommendations from a Blue Ribbon Commission examining education funding. Union groups and some lawmakers say the measure offers a temporary safeguard while long-term funding reforms are developed. Opponents, including charter school advocates and several legislators, argue the proposal limits educational choice and could prevent approved schools from opening, including the planned De La Comunidad Bilingual Charter School.

TEACHER TRAINING

More than half of teacher-training programs now earn top reading instruction grade

A growing number of U.S. teacher-preparation programs are aligning with science-of-reading principles, according to a new National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) review. The share of programs earning an A grade more than doubled to 53% from 26% in 2023, while the proportion receiving an F fell to less than a quarter. The report found that most programs now provide instruction and practice in the five core components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Despite the progress, around one in five programs still teach outdated methods such as “three-cueing,” which encourages students to rely on pictures and context rather than phonics to decode words. The review also found significant gaps in preparing teachers to support English language learners and struggling readers, with only 16% of programs providing practical training for teaching English learners to read. State-led science-of-reading reforms appear to be driving improvements, particularly in states such as Ohio and Indiana, where stricter accountability measures have prompted universities to update curricula and remove legacy teaching practices.

CYBERSECURITY

FTC mandates cybersecurity overhaul for school software provider Illuminate

The Federal Trade Commission has finalized an order requiring K-12 software provider Illuminate Education to strengthen its cybersecurity practices following a 2021 data breach that exposed the personal information of approximately 10.1m current and former students across multiple school districts, including New York City’s public school system. The FTC alleged that Illuminate failed to implement reasonable security measures, ignored warnings about vulnerabilities dating back to 2020, and allowed a hacker to access student data using credentials belonging to a former employee. Exposed information included email and mailing addresses, dates of birth, student records, and health-related data. The agency also claimed some school districts were not informed of the breach until nearly two years later. Under the order, Illuminate must establish a comprehensive data security program, limit the collection and retention of personal information, delete unnecessary data, publish a data retention schedule, and adopt data minimization practices.

HIGHER EDUCATION

More U.S. medical schools add nutrition training requirements

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said 19 additional medical schools have pledged to require at least 40 hours of nutrition education, or an equivalent competency requirement, for students starting in fall 2026. The new commitments bring the total number of participating medical schools to 73, following 54 earlier pledges under the Trump administration’s nutrition education initiative. Schools joining the effort include Florida Atlantic University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Massachusetts. HHS and the Department of Education also said eight medical accrediting, testing, and board organizations have committed to strengthening nutrition training across medical education, exams, and residency programs.

INTERNATIONAL

Winnipeg school defends educational use of AI amid proposed restrictions

Students and educators at Winnipeg’s General Wolfe School have raised concerns about Manitoba’s proposed ban on social media and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for children under 16, arguing that educational AI tools can play a valuable role in learning when used responsibly. The province is considering the restrictions due to concerns that social media and AI chatbots are addictive and may contribute to mental health harms among young people. However, students interviewed by CBC said chatbots help with schoolwork, idea generation, and language learning, particularly for those from immigrant families whose parents may be less able to assist with assignments. Grade 7 STEM teacher Donovan Ponce said AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a substitute for human interaction or critical thinking. He supports teaching students how to use AI responsibly and believes educational applications should be distinguished from chatbot platforms designed to simulate relationships or social connections. Premier Wab Kinew said the province remains open to educational AI systems if they can operate in a secure environment controlled by schools or government institutions, with data remaining within Manitoba.

Teachers strike ahead of World Cup

Thousands of teachers in Mexico City are continuing their protests, blocking streets and maintaining an encampment just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) is demanding higher wages and pension reforms, stating they will continue their strike indefinitely. President Claudia Sheinbaum remarked, "There are groups that want to provoke the Mexican government and are not necessarily teachers," emphasizing the need for patience as negotiations are ongoing. The protests are affecting tourism and local businesses, with the World Cup expected to generate $3bn in economic activity. Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez urged teachers to end the protests, which are impacting students and the city's economy.
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