Education Slice

Education intelligence to lead, innovate & grow.

Want to get your daily slice of Education knowledge to your inbox? Sign up now

Education Slice helps you stay ahead of essential education news shaping your profession. With a dedicated daily National Edition and three strategic State Editions in California, Texas and Florida, we bring our unique blend of AI and education expertise to research and monitor 100,000s of articles to share a summary of the most relevant and useful content to help you lead, innovate and grow.

From Kindergarten to K-12, Edtech news, school management and teaching strategies… Education Slice is the only trusted online news source in the US dedicated to covering current headlines, articles, reports and interviews to make sure you’re at the forefront of changes in the education industry.

ES banner
Recent Editions
Education Slice
National
Free school meal program expands to 55,362 schools, but future growth Is at risk

A record 55,362 U.S. schools participated in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) during the 2025-26 school year, allowing 27.6m children to attend schools offering free meals to all students regardless of family income. Participation increased by 1,128 schools and 368,019 students from the previous year, although growth has slowed following a major expansion after the USDA lowered the program’s eligibility threshold in 2023. The Food Research and Action Center warned that cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under H.R. 1 could reverse that growth. Because schools’ CEP eligibility is partly determined by the share of students whose families participate in federal benefit programs such as SNAP, reduced SNAP eligibility could push some schools below the 25% threshold required to participate, potentially leading to nationwide declines in CEP adoption beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Full Issue
es-recent-california
Education Slice
California
Are cellphone bans effective?

Since France implemented the first comprehensive student cellphone ban in 2018, 106 countries and 39 U.S. states have followed suit. However, experts like Sonia Livingstone, a professor at the London School of Economics, argue that "the jury is out" on the effectiveness of these bans. While some studies indicate improved academic performance and reduced bullying among students without phones, others show no significant changes. The push for bans reflects growing concerns about technology's impact on youth, as highlighted by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's call for stricter regulations. Despite the bans, students often find ways to circumvent them, raising questions about their practicality and effectiveness. In Norway, a study found that cellphone restrictions positively impacted grades, particularly for girls, suggesting that while bans may help, their overall effectiveness remains uncertain.

Full Issue
es-recent-texas
Education Slice
Texas
Black families face school trade-offs

The Texas Tribune looks at how Black families in Texas are increasingly choosing between under-resourced neighborhood schools offering cultural familiarity and better-rated campuses with stronger academic programs but less community representation. In 2025, 35% of majority-Black schools received D or F ratings, compared with 8% of majority-white schools. Researchers attribute the disparity to unequal funding, limited advanced courses, staff shortages and insufficient numbers of Black teachers. State officials argue that accountability ratings and intervention encourage faster improvement, citing test-score gains in Houston. Critics warn that ratings can overlook poverty, instability and resource gaps while triggering damaging takeovers or closures. Families transferring children elsewhere may secure better opportunities individually but further reduce attendance-based funding and parental involvement at struggling local schools.

Full Issue
es-recent-florida
Education Slice
Florida
Florida schools embrace new changes

As students in Florida return for the 2026-2027 school year, they encounter several new laws that took effect on July 1. Among these changes, cursive handwriting instruction is now mandatory for grades 3 to 5, and marching band and Special Olympics participation can count towards physical education credits. Additionally, high school students face restrictions on phone usage during instructional time, while college professors are now allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. "Disciplinary records are defined as any verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior patterns," including threat assessments, which must be transferred to colleges within five school days. Other changes include relaxed rules for teachers with expired licenses and new requirements for reporting students promoting organizations deemed terrorist by the state.

Full Issue
top-shadow
Read the latest Education highlights