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Recent Editions
Education Slice
National
U.S. school districts are cutting transportation costs, consolidating bus routes, and tapping reserves as diesel prices climb to $5.62 per gallon, nearly $2 higher than a year ago. With roughly 90% of the country’s 480,000 school buses running on diesel, more than half of districts surveyed in May said fuel costs were already pushing them over budget. Districts are responding by reducing trips, putting more students on each bus, and, in some cases, exploring electric alternatives, but those measures can mean longer routes and added pressure on drivers and students. Elleka Yost, director of advocacy and research at the Association of School Business Officials International, said, “Many districts are tapping reserves or rainy-day funds as a temporary solution,” warning that doing so could weaken their ability to respond to future financial challenges. Washington state's Yakima School District expects diesel costs to rise 38%, or $130,000, this school year, while Boise, Idaho faces an approximately $600,000 increase in transportation costs despite efforts to streamline routes and the addition of eight federally funded electric buses.
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Education Slice
California
California's Legislature has approved Senate Bill 1067, mandating annual math assessments for kindergarten through second-grade students starting in the 2028-29 school year. The bill aims to provide necessary support to prevent achievement gaps, particularly for low-income and Black students, who have shown lower proficiency rates. Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, the bill's author, emphasized the urgency of addressing the "real and urgent math achievement crisis," noting that "students who miss foundational math skills in grades K through 2 rarely catch up." Despite opposition from various educational groups, the bill seeks to establish guidelines for assessments and ensure they are not used for teacher evaluations or student labeling. The State Board of Education will set criteria by July 2027, with approved assessments available by January 2028. Advocates argue that early intervention is crucial, citing Alabama's successful early math screening program as a model.
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Education Slice
Texas
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has come under fire after a state audit revealed a 64% increase in management salaries, totaling $44.7m. The audit, conducted by the Texas State Auditor's Office, highlighted a concerning ratio of one manager for every 3.5 staff members, exceeding legal limits. State Rep. Ana-Maria Rodriguez, who initiated the audit, remarked: “It turns out, it was much worse than we imagined.” The report also pointed out that while management positions grew by 38%, non-management roles only increased by 12%. The TEA's media office defended the agency, stating that it sends out $40bn to support public education and that no unallowable expenses were found. However, the audit called for improvements in contract management and oversight of state-funded grants.
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Education Slice
Florida
Teacher-education programs are being urged to move beyond tool-specific AI training and develop a broader approach covering ethics, pedagogy, professional judgment and classroom practice. A new AACTE framework calls for explicit preparation on AI literacy, equitable access, evaluating AI-generated student work, bias, hallucinations, critical thinking and teacher-student relationships. Anne Tapp Jaksa said: “AI forces us to reconsider what counts as evidence of learning,” particularly when candidates can use AI to produce polished academic work. The framework also argues that aspiring teachers with legitimate ethical, privacy, accessibility, cultural or pedagogical objections should be able to decline AI use without losing access to licensure. However, that principle could become difficult to implement as federal teacher-training funding increasingly prioritizes AI preparation.
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