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
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched its Harvest to Hallways initiative to increase the use of scratch cooking and locally sourced ingredients in school meals. The program includes an education and outreach campaign to encourage local food procurement, up to $25m in new Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants for fiscal 2026, and $50m for cafeteria infrastructure, including cold storage, stoves, food safety improvements, and support for School Breakfast Programs. The initiative also promotes the voluntary Pledge for Healthier School Meals, while the Department of Health and Human Services will invest $30m in research into practical, cost-effective ways to improve school meal nutrition. Separately, the USDA has announced additional National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants, allowing states to award funding to school districts for equipment costing more than $1,000. The measures come as the federal government pushes schools to increase access to whole foods and reduce reliance on ultra-processed products, while school nutrition operators continue to report widespread concerns about food, labor, and equipment costs.
Education Slice
California
California schools are grappling with urgent HVAC issues, as many systems require repairs or replacements to avoid increased energy costs and unhealthy classroom conditions. The CalSHAPE program, which has allocated half of its HVAC grant funds to underserved communities, saw its applications frozen on July 1, 2024, despite $194m in available funds. JuNelle Harris, a parent and co-founder of Clean Air Allies, emphasized the importance of these upgrades, stating: "Not fixing school HVAC with available CalSHAPE funds is costly." Without legislative action, existing funds may revert to utilities by December 1, jeopardizing the program's future and leaving schools without necessary support.
Full Issue
Education Slice
Texas
Texas public schools are increasingly at risk of intervention by Education Commissioner Mike Morath due to chronic academic underperformance. Morath must decide whether to close struggling schools or replace local trustees and superintendents with appointed leaders. This intervention, seen as a last resort, has been used more frequently in recent years, with seven districts, including Fort Worth and Houston, experiencing leadership changes since 2023. "Five consecutive Fs at a single campus triggers state action," highlighting the severity of the situation. The Texas Education Agency can intervene for various reasons, including academic struggles and financial mismanagement. While some districts have successfully avoided takeovers by adopting state-produced materials or partnering with charter schools, the effectiveness of such interventions remains debated, with mixed results reported in various studies.
Full Issue
Education Slice
Florida
The Florida Department of Health is proposing to eliminate four immunizations—Hepatitis B, varicella, Hib, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines—from the entry requirements for PreK-12 public and private schools. The initiative follows Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo's announcement to abolish all vaccine mandates in the state. The proposed rule, approved on August 20, allows for public input before final approval and expands religious exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs. Ladapo stated, “Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I don't have that right.” However, Dr. Susan Kressly, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned that this move could jeopardize children's health, emphasizing that “every family should have access to immunizations to keep their community healthy.”
Full Issue