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USA
8th July 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Federal report shows growth in inclusive classrooms across most states

More students with disabilities are spending substantial portions of their school day in general education classrooms, according to a new U.S. Government Accountability Office report, which found that the number of students spending at least 40% of their day in mainstream classes increased by about 25% between the 2012-13 and 2023-24 school years. The trend reflects progress toward meeting the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's requirement that students be educated in the least restrictive environment possible. The report found that much of the increase was driven by more students spending at least 80% of their school day in general education settings. Forty-two states and the District of Columbia recorded gains, although progress varied widely, with Washington, D.C., posting the largest increase, while North Dakota saw a decline. Students with specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, and other health impairments were the most likely to spend significant time in mainstream classrooms. However, participation declined in most states for students with orthopedic, hearing, and visual disabilities. The report also found increases among English learners with disabilities, Hispanic students, and multiracial students, while girls were consistently more likely than boys to be educated in general education settings.

DISTRICTS

Budget shortfall forces Chicago schools to cut assistant principal funding

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has eliminated district funding for assistant principals at schools with fewer than 250 students as it works to close a $732.5m budget deficit, reversing a 2024 commitment to provide every campus with an assistant principal regardless of size. While more than 130 schools initially faced losing the positions, most preserved them by using discretionary funds or receiving district exceptions, leaving about 40 campuses without assistant principals for the upcoming school year. The decision has drawn criticism from the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association, which argues assistant principals are essential to managing school operations, supporting principals, overseeing instruction, and serving as a pipeline for future school leaders. Union leaders also called the 250-student enrollment threshold arbitrary because it excludes preschool students, whose needs still require administrative oversight. District officials said the cuts reflect severe financial pressures following the loss of 45,000 students since the pandemic, noting that staffing decisions remain preliminary until the school board approves the district's more than $10 billion budget. CPS said most staffing appeals were approved and that it will seek to reassign affected employees where possible.

Montclair ends tuition-free enrollment for employees’ children to cut costs

Montclair Public Schools will end its tuition-free enrollment benefit for the nonresident children of employees beginning with the 2026-27 school year, citing the New Jersey district's ongoing financial challenges. The benefit, introduced in 2022 to help recruit and retain staff, covered 22 students from 18 families this year, but district officials said it was no longer fiscally sustainable as they work to address a nearly $20m budget shortfall. Employees will still be able to enroll their children in the district, but they will now be required to pay tuition under the board's standard fee structure. While education finance experts noted the benefit may have been cost-effective as a recruitment tool, the district said it is reviewing spending and employee benefits as part of broader efforts to restore its financial stability.

LEGAL

Court strikes down Florida's Stop WOKE Act

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court ruled against parts of Florida's Stop WOKE Act, deeming it an unconstitutional infringement on academic freedom. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stated that the law, which restricted discussions on race and bias in higher education, represented a "breathtaking assertion of power." Judge Britt Grant emphasized that "hearing an idea you disagree with is not discrimination; it is an opportunity to come up with a better idea." The law, part of Governor Ron DeSantis' agenda, had forced educators to alter their curricula, with penalties for non-compliance. The American Civil Liberties Union praised the ruling, asserting that it protects the right to free and open discourse in education. LeRoy Pernell, a lead plaintiff in the case, noted that the decision allows students to engage with critical issues without censorship. The ruling marks a significant precedent against academic censorship laws in the U.S.

POLICY

Teacher commission to help shape future of Texas public education

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has launched a teacher-led commission to develop recommendations for improving public education ahead of the 2027 legislative session, with former Dallas and Richardson ISD teacher Courtney Boswell MacDonald appointed to lead the panel. Abbott said the commission will give frontline educators a greater role in shaping policies aimed at strengthening schools and improving student outcomes. The commission follows a busy 2025 legislative session that established the Texas Education Freedom Account program, a voucher-style initiative, and allocated $8.5bn in additional funding for school districts. While the funding helped districts avoid deeper budget cuts, many educators have said it did not fully offset the effects of post-pandemic inflation on school finances. Education advocates said the panel could help address persistent challenges, including low academic achievement.

FINANCE

Education Department grants Arkansas flexibility on federal school funding

The Trump administration has approved Arkansas' "Returning Education to the States" waiver, allowing the state to bypass certain federal education funding and accountability requirements while giving school districts greater flexibility in how federal education dollars are spent. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the decision alongside Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas Education Secretary Jacob Oliva, saying the waiver will consolidate four federal funding streams and provide Arkansas with greater control over more than $8.8 million in federal funding over the next four years. The waiver also expands funding flexibility for additional rural school districts, simplifies accountability rules for advanced students completing high school coursework early, and changes how students in alternative learning environments are counted to better reflect long-term school outcomes. State officials emphasized that federal civil rights protections, requirements for spending on high-need students, and support for struggling schools will remain in place. Arkansas is the fifth state to receive the waiver after Iowa, Louisiana, Indiana, and Vermont, reflecting the Trump administration's broader effort to reduce federal oversight of education and shift more authority to states.

North Carolina enacts budget boosting teacher pay, community colleges, and child care

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed the state's $34.4bn budget into law, highlighting its significant investments in public education, including an average 8% pay raise for teachers, increased funding for literacy and math initiatives, and expanded support for community colleges. Stein called it the largest starting teacher pay increase in nearly 50 years and the largest overall teacher raise in 15 years, while acknowledging the budget does not do enough to retain veteran educators. The budget raises the starting teacher salary to $48,000 and provides one-time bonuses of $500 for teachers with 15 or fewer years of experience and $1,000 for those with 16 or more years. It also funds Propel NC, ApprenticeshipNC, enrollment growth at community colleges, advanced teaching roles, science of reading expansion, school safety grants, and workforce development programs. Stein also signed a companion technical corrections bill that delays implementation of a new principal pay schedule until January 2027 after concerns it would reduce monthly pay for some principals by between $700 and $1,700.

Scotland fans donate school bus savings to support Massachusetts children

Hundreds of Scotland supporters who traveled to Massachusetts for the FIFA World Cup have donated $15,000 to Massachusetts Child, a charity run by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, after saving thousands of dollars by traveling to Gillette Stadium on yellow school buses instead of more expensive transportation. When the Tartan Army's original transportation plans fell through before Scotland's first World Cup appearance in nearly 30 years, organizer Mike Teevan arranged for 12 school buses to carry 560 fans from Boston to Foxborough. After returning home, supporters overwhelmingly voted to donate the money they saved rather than divide it among themselves, despite many having spent about $4,000 per week to attend the tournament. The donation will help educators across Massachusetts provide students in need with essentials such as backpacks, winter clothing, books, sports equipment, and art supplies. Massachusetts Child awarded $61,000 to schools last academic year, and the additional funding is expected to benefit hundreds more children.

TECHNOLOGY

AI chatbots: A teen's new best friend

In a world where many teens feel isolated, a significant number are turning to AI chatbots for emotional support. A 2025 Pew survey revealed that 64% of U.S. teens use these tools, with 30% using them daily. Psychologists Marc Brackett and Robin Stern argue that this trend highlights a deeper cultural issue: many young people lack trusted human connections. "If a chatbot feels safer than a parent, teacher, coach, counselor or friend, it's not a technology story; it's a culture story," they said. While AI can help young people articulate their feelings and practice coping strategies, it cannot replace the essential human relationships necessary for emotional well-being. The authors emphasize the need for stronger human connections and emotional support systems, urging parents and educators to foster environments where children feel safe to express their emotions.

Illinois issues new AI guidance as schools tackle deepfake cyber bullying

Illinois school districts are updating their bullying policies after a new state law, effective July 1, expanded the definition of cyber bullying to include AI-generated digital replicas, including deepfakes. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is also developing statewide guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in schools, although local districts will remain responsible for handling specific incidents and implementing policies. The legislation follows growing concerns over students using AI to create sexually explicit images of classmates, including a recent case at Lake Zurich High School that prompted police involvement and expanded digital safety education for students and families. School leaders said the law makes clear that using AI does not absolve students of responsibility for harmful behavior. The new requirements do not alter Illinois' criminal laws, which already allow AI-generated sexual images depicting minors to be prosecuted under child pornography and obscenity statutes, with violations potentially resulting in felony charges. Educators also warned that students who share or forward AI-generated images may face both school discipline and legal consequences.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Former GOP special ed leaders warn HHS shift could undermine student protections

Two former Republican directors of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs have warned that transferring federal oversight of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services would weaken support for students with disabilities rather than improve it. Laurie VanderPloeg and Stephanie Smith Lee argue the move would create a more fragmented system, increasing bureaucracy, confusion, and inconsistent guidance while separating special education from the broader education policies and accountability structures that help protect the rights of more than 8 million students with disabilities. They contend that meaningful reform should strengthen, not dismantle, the federal role established under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

CHARTERS

Oakland charter school seeks state board intervention to avoid closure

Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy, a charter school in Oakland, California, is appealing the nonrenewal of its charter after being closed last fall. The school, which serves 400 students, is seeking a review from the State Board of Education to clarify when closing a charter school is in students' best interest. The appeal comes amid concerns that financial pressures from declining enrollment may influence decisions to close schools. Daniel Soleimani, general counsel for Aspire Public Schools, said: "In a scenario where a district wants to close charter schools because it’s worried about its own finances, the statute gives that district a lot of leeway to do so with impunity." The outcome of this appeal could set a precedent for other charter schools facing similar challenges in the future.

CYBERSECURITY

Iowa senator rejects claim cybersecurity funding favored single vendor

An Iowa Republican lawmaker has challenged Gov. Kim Reynolds' decision to veto a $500,000 appropriation for K-12 school cybersecurity, disputing her claim that the measure was an earmark designed to benefit a single technology company. Reynolds argued the proposal would have effectively locked school districts into long-term contracts with California-based cybersecurity firm Fortinet, creating ongoing costs beyond the one-time state funding. State Senator Jesse Green, who sponsored the provision, said the legislation would have allowed any cybersecurity provider to compete through a request for proposals process, rather than guaranteeing business to Fortinet. He said the funding was intended to help school districts, particularly smaller and rural systems, strengthen defenses against a growing number of cyberattacks. Although Reynolds noted that districts already have access to competitively bid state cybersecurity contracts, Green said he plans to continue pushing for additional state funding to improve school cybersecurity in future legislative sessions.

MATH

Wisconsin officials renew push for statewide math improvement plan

Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and state lawmakers are developing a statewide strategy to improve math achievement after fewer than half of the state's students demonstrated proficiency in the subject. Working with the federally funded Midwest Comprehensive Center and education partners, DPI aims to create a practical roadmap to strengthen math instruction, assessment, and support for schools across the state. The effort follows a Republican proposal introduced last year that would have required consistent math assessments and intervention plans for struggling students, similar to Wisconsin's 2023 reading reform law, Act 20, although the bill failed to advance. Lawmakers say they expect to revisit math legislation, with proposals likely to include individualized support plans for students who fall behind. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 42% of Wisconsin fourth graders and 37% of eighth graders are proficient in math, with many students performing more than a grade level below pre-pandemic benchmarks.

 
WPR

INTERNATIONAL

Vertical campuses gain momentum in Australia as educators rethink school design

As Australia's growing cities make large school campuses increasingly difficult to build, educators are embracing multi-story "vertical schools" that prioritize flexible learning spaces, stronger community connections, and innovative teaching methods. A decade after opening Melbourne's first vertical school, Haileybury City says its design has encouraged greater interaction between students of different ages, while replacing traditional features such as school bells with practices intended to prepare students for university and the workplace. Education leaders argue that the success of vertical schools depends less on architecture than on creating a strong culture of belonging. Purpose-built smaller communities, adaptable learning environments, natural light, and intentional relationship-building are seen as essential to ensuring students feel connected within multi-level campuses. Schools are also making greater use of partnerships with museums, arts organizations, charities, and local businesses to extend learning beyond the classroom.
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