You’re all signed up for the Education Slice
Thank you for your interest in our service.
Watch out for a confirmation email from our subscriptions team. Once you have confirmed you will join the community of over 35,000 subscribers who are receiving daily Education intelligence to lead, innovate and grow.
Note: Due to the nature of this message you may find this in your "promotions" or "spam" folders, please check there. If nothing arrives within a few minutes let us know. If you do not receive this email we will be happy to help get you set up.
Adding the email address news@industryslice..com, will help to ensure all newsletters arrive directly to your inbox.
Recent Editions
Education Slice
National
K–12 schools are increasingly developing digital resilience strategies as growing reliance on cloud-based systems leaves districts vulnerable to ransomware attacks, severe weather, and technology outages that can disrupt learning and school operations. Education and technology experts say districts should focus on continuity planning rather than attempting to fully replicate cloud platforms locally. Recommended measures include building network redundancies, adding backup internet providers, protecting critical infrastructure with backup power systems, and ensuring key applications and devices can function offline when connectivity is lost. Technology providers including Microsoft and Arista Networks said schools should enable offline access for classroom devices, allowing students and teachers to continue working even during internet disruptions. Once connectivity returns, files and applications can automatically sync back to cloud platforms. Experts also emphasized the importance of testing contingency plans regularly and preparing for the “re-entry” phase after outages, ensuring students and educators can quickly resume lessons, communications, and administrative work without losing momentum.
Full Issue
Education Slice
California
California is expanding paid teacher training programs and launching its first registered teacher apprenticeship initiative as the state struggles with persistent shortages of qualified educators. State officials say becoming a teacher in California remains financially difficult, with credentialing programs costing more than $30,000 in addition to a bachelor’s degree, while requiring hundreds of hours of unpaid classroom work. Nearly 16,000 teachers entered California classrooms underprepared last academic year, particularly in rural areas, the Central Valley, and high-need subjects such as math, science, and special education. To address the problem, California has invested roughly $2.1 billion over the past decade in teacher residency programs, grants, and apprenticeships that allow aspiring teachers to earn stipends or wages while completing training. This fall, the state will launch its first registered apprenticeship program for teachers, initially serving a small number of students in Tulare and Santa Clara counties. The programs have faced setbacks after the Trump administration cut an $18 million federal grant awarded to Tulare County’s teacher training initiatives, arguing the funding supported “divisive ideologies.” Local districts, including Hanford Joint Union High School District, were forced to find alternative funding sources to continue supporting residents.
Education Slice
Texas
The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into Houston ISD over concerns that the district’s plan to consolidate some special education services into 150 campuses could discriminate against students with disabilities. The probe follows HISD’s announcement that certain students in specialized programs will be transferred to new schools for the 2026–27 academic year. Federal officials said they will examine whether the changes violate laws requiring students with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment and whether placement decisions are being made individually. HISD said the restructuring is designed to improve access to services and student outcomes, adding that around 5,000 students in self-contained settings could be affected, while more than 15,000 students in inclusive classrooms would see no changes. The district also said transportation and IEP-required services would continue. Parents and advocates have raised concerns about longer commutes, separation from siblings, and reduced access to programs at neighborhood schools. Disability Rights Texas said the investigation will likely focus on whether the burden of transferring students amounts to discrimination.
Full Issue
Education Slice
Florida
Florida is introducing a new college-level U.S. history course for high school students, aiming to cover "the full scope" of America's history. However, experts have raised concerns that the proposed curriculum presents a sanitized view of critical topics like slavery. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said: "The FACT U.S. History framework underscores our commitment to instruction grounded in the full scope of our nation's history." Critics, including historian Adam Rothman from Georgetown University, argue that the course lacks depth and fails to address significant issues such as racism, calling it "shoddy" and "not a college-level U.S. history class." The course, which emphasizes Christian faith and American exceptionalism, will be piloted in select school districts starting next school year. While it may offer college credit at Florida's public institutions, its acceptance at out-of-state colleges remains uncertain.
Full Issue