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
Student behavior is expected to be the biggest challenge facing U.S. schools in the 2026-27 academic year, with 75% of teachers and administrators surveyed by the EdWeek Research Center identifying it as a major concern, followed by student engagement at 70%. Many educators also expect behavior to worsen further, citing the lasting effects of the pandemic, increased screen time, and insufficient support for classroom discipline. Financial pressures remain another major concern, with 42% of respondents highlighting budget uncertainty as a significant issue amid declining enrollment, inflation, and concerns over state and federal funding. School leaders said budget constraints are forcing difficult decisions, including staff reductions, larger class sizes, cuts to intervention programs, and the elimination of student support roles that help address behavior and academic needs. The survey also found 41% of educators expect at least one school in their district to close within the next three years, 54% anticipate teacher layoffs over the next year, and 64% believe their jobs will become more difficult. Despite these challenges, many respondents said they remain committed to supporting students, even as funding pressures and political uncertainty continue to weigh on public education.
Full Issue
Education Slice
California
A new analysis from the American Federation of Children has found that nearly 92% of U.S. K-12 students could qualify for scholarships under the Trump administration's new federal school choice tax credit program, although the number of students who ultimately receive awards will depend on state participation, taxpayer contributions, scholarship availability, and forthcoming federal regulations. The program, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allows taxpayers to claim federal tax credits of up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship-granting organizations that can fund private school tuition, certain homeschooling expenses, and approved educational services for public and charter school students. The analysis highlights that 31 states have already opted in or indicated they will participate, while 19 states have yet to decide. Additional uncertainties include how many taxpayers claim the credit, how scholarship organizations distribute funds, and whether homeschooled students qualify in states that do not legally define homeschooling as a form of private or religious schooling. Congressional projections estimate the program will generate $500m in tax credits during its first year, rising to $4.4bn by 2034.
Full Issue
Education Slice
Texas
On his first day in office, Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced that over 85,000 students have been funded through the state's new $1bn Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program for the 2026-27 school year. Huffines, who was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, emphasized the importance of responsible spending, commenting: "The people of Texas work hard for their money." The comptroller's office received approximately 274,000 applications, with more than 248,000 students deemed eligible, although over 121,000 remain on the waitlist. The initial report revealed that nearly 25% of participating students have a qualifying disability, and 80% come from families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level. Huffines noted: "Parents from every walk of life are demanding the power to direct their children's education," highlighting the program's success.
Full Issue
Education Slice
Florida
Student behavior is expected to be the biggest challenge facing U.S. schools in the 2026-27 academic year, with 75% of teachers and administrators surveyed by the EdWeek Research Center identifying it as a major concern, followed by student engagement at 70%. Many educators also expect behavior to worsen further, citing the lasting effects of the pandemic, increased screen time, and insufficient support for classroom discipline. Financial pressures remain another major concern, with 42% of respondents highlighting budget uncertainty as a significant issue amid declining enrollment, inflation, and concerns over state and federal funding. School leaders said budget constraints are forcing difficult decisions, including staff reductions, larger class sizes, cuts to intervention programs, and the elimination of student support roles that help address behavior and academic needs. The survey also found 41% of educators expect at least one school in their district to close within the next three years, 54% anticipate teacher layoffs over the next year, and 64% believe their jobs will become more difficult.
Full Issue