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
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from requiring U.S. colleges to submit seven years of detailed admissions data, including information on race, gender, test scores, and grade point averages. The order from Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston pauses the policy after 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit arguing the request was rushed, unlawful, and could expose sensitive personal information about individual students. The administration introduced the data demand following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that ended most race-conscious admissions policies, saying the information was needed to ensure universities were complying with the ruling. State officials opposing the policy argue it is part of a broader effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The temporary block relieves colleges from a looming March 18 deadline and will remain in place while the court considers the case.
Full Issue
Education Slice
California
California school districts are grappling with significant budget deficits, leading to thousands of preliminary pink slips issued to employees, primarily targeting classified staff and administrators. Troy Flint, chief information officer for the California School Boards Association, said: "You have some large school districts... that are in complete financial crisis right now." Sacramento City Unified plans to send layoff notices to 800 employees to address a $134m deficit, while Los Angeles Unified aims to cut 3,200 positions to save $250m. Oakland Unified may reduce its central office staff by two-thirds to tackle a $21m deficit. The California School Employees Association reported at least 2,700 pink slips issued by the March 15 deadline, highlighting the impact on student support services.
Full Issue
Education Slice
Texas
The U.S. Department of Education is urging states to seek waivers from major Every Student Succeeds Act provisions, aligning with the Trump administration’s push to return more education authority to states. Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma have advanced plans affecting federal funding, testing, and accountability. Proposed changes include merging funding streams, broadening assessment options, and sending school improvement dollars directly to students. Supporters say the moves could cut bureaucracy and target support more effectively, while critics caution they may weaken oversight, transparency, and protections for disadvantaged student groups.
Full Issue
Education Slice
Florida
The recently passed HB 1279, which includes elements from three other bills, has stirred significant debate among lawmakers. A key provision allows districts to declare an "educational emergency," enabling them to offer "salary incentives" without collective bargaining. This change could affect schools deemed persistently low-performing, as defined by new criteria. Rep. Alex Rizo, a Republican from Hialeah, said: "The rationale is that student performance needs to be enhanced and this may be one of the ways to do it." Critics, including Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat from Jacksonville, argue that the bill undermines public schools and teachers' rights. The bill passed the House with a vote of 81-16 and is now awaiting the governor's approval. Additionally, it includes provisions for dance to satisfy physical education requirements and directs the state Board of Education to create a uniform grading system for honors courses.
Full Issue