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The U.S. Department of Education has unexpectedly halted funding for over a dozen community school projects just two weeks before the next funding cycle. The Full-Service Community Schools Program, which supports districts and nonprofits in providing essential services like food and medical care, is affected. Murray Bessette, acting head of the Education Department’s office of planning, evaluation and policy development, stated that the grants are "inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, the best interest of the Federal Government." Although the specific programs impacted have not been publicly disclosed, advocates estimate that between 12 and 20 programs received termination letters. The 70 programs that were awarded five-year grants are set to receive $380m by 2028, with most in their second or third year of funding. Grantees have less than a week to appeal the decision.

 

EdSource

Melanie Orozco, Lilian Barrientos Aceituno, Aliehsa Chua, and Zitlali Naranjo have come together to create SHINEcast, a youth-led mental health podcast produced by the Napa Valley Education Foundation. The girls, aged 16 and 17, aim to address important topics such as emotional expression, breakups, and the stigma surrounding mental health discussions in their homes. "Schools talk about mental health, but it's really surface-level," Chua said. This season marks the first time all hosts are female, and they plan to cover various subjects, including seasonal depression and communication boundaries. Program Manager Daisy Zamora oversees the initiative, emphasizing the importance of youth voices in mental health advocacy. "I'm always impressed by students. They're the experts in themselves," she said.

 

Press Democrat

School districts across the U.S. are investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) detection tools, despite evidence indicating their unreliability. Ailsa Ostovitz, a junior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland, recently faced accusations of using AI for her assignments, which she vehemently denied. "It's mentally exhausting because it's like I know this is my work," Ostovitz said. The Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) clarified that the district does not fund the AI detection software, advising educators against reliance on such tools due to documented inaccuracies. Mike Perkins, a researcher on academic integrity at British University Vietnam, emphasized: "It's now fairly well established in the academic integrity field that these tools are not fit for purpose." Despite these concerns, districts continue to allocate significant funds for these technologies, raising questions about their effectiveness and the potential for misidentifying student work.

 

NPR / National Public Radio

George Mavrikis, instructor for Clovis USD’s firefighter training program, emphasizes the importance of overcoming fears, stating, “If you are scared of heights – you don’t think you can do it – you may want to reevaluate your choices of being a firefighter.” The program, part of the district's Career Technical Education (CTE), introduces students to firefighting and other emergency response careers. With over 4,000 students enrolled in CTE courses, the program has seen a significant increase in participation. Margaret Files, CTE director, noted that these pathways help students “find their passion and the pathway to pursue it.” The initiative aims to raise career awareness early, with some districts even introducing CTE programs at the elementary level.

 

EdSource

School districts are gearing up for organizational meetings to elect new governing board officers for 2026. Saugus USD will hold a meeting recognizing current President Patti Garibay and board clerk Anna Griese. Presentations on the 2024-25 annual audit reports and the 2025-26 first interim financial report will also be made. Meanwhile, the Newhall School District will select a new president, clerk, and clerk pro tem, while the Castaic Union School District will nominate its new officers and discuss student programming. The Santa Clarita Community College District will finalize its leadership and budget parameters for 2026-27 during its meeting on Wednesday. Jasmine Ruys, appointed as the interim superintendent/president, is expected to lead the college while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted. The Sulphur Springs Union School District will also select new officers and review a consultant agreement for a Black History Tribute assembly.

 

Signalscv.com

Superintendent Amy Peterman is dedicated to fostering a love of reading among students in Ceres USD. Through the CUSD Reads Superintendent's Book Club, students have read and reviewed 6,562 books this school year alone. "I've been an avid reader my whole life. I knew that I wanted to convey to our students and help them value reading," Peterman said. The program, which runs from October to March, encourages students to read without the pressure of tests, rewarding them with prizes for their reviews. Last year's winner, Gibran Rodriguez Roman, expressed his surprise at winning, noting: "I was surprised. I mean, I didn't know I could do it." The initiative aims to engage students of all ages, including high schoolers, and allows reading in both English and Spanish.

 

The Modesto Bee

A Bloomberg Law investigation has identified at least 40 federal civil rights lawsuits since 2017 alleging that children were strip searched in U.S. schools, often over minor issues such as vaping, missing money, or suspected drug possession. The cases describe searches conducted by school staff and, in some instances, police officers, frequently without parental consent and sometimes involving students with disabilities or searches by staff of a different gender. Courts have repeatedly found such searches to be highly intrusive, with studies linking them to long-term psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, and reduced academic engagement. While Supreme Court precedent limits excessively intrusive searches, legal grey areas and qualified immunity have allowed the practice to persist. Several states, including Hawaii, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, have moved to ban or restrict strip searches in schools, and lawmakers in others are considering reforms, as advocates argue that student safety can be maintained without practices that traumatize children.

 

Bloomberg Law

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing whole milk to return to the National School Lunch Program for the first time in over a decade. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, sponsored by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), aims to enhance nutritional options for students by permitting flavored and unflavored whole and 2% milk in K-12 schools. Marshall said: "This is a win for kids, parents, Kansas dairy farmers, and common sense," adding that it "ensures our children have access to the nutrients they need to grow strong and health." The bill also addresses the need for nondairy alternatives that meet nutritional standards. However, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns about the potential increase in saturated fat consumption among children. The legislation has garnered support from various stakeholders, including House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA), who has long advocated for the return of whole milk to schools.

 

The Columbian

A growing consensus among education experts suggests that effective professional development (PD) for teachers isn’t about how many hours are spent in training, but how well those sessions are designed, supported, and integrated into daily practice. While some reports suggest 20–50 hours of PD per year, practitioners argue that ongoing support, relevance to classroom realities, and space to apply and reflect on new skills matter far more. Educators and experts highlighted key challenges, including limited time, mandated one-off trainings with little follow-up, and PD that lacks continuity or relevance. Instead, they advocate for sustained, job-embedded learning with coaching, peer collaboration, and a clear connection to student and teacher outcomes. To better measure impact, experts urge schools to move beyond attendance numbers and instead assess instructional changes and student progress. 

 

Government Technology

California's community colleges are experiencing a significant increase in enrollment, with some institutions reporting over 10% more students compared to last fall. Chris Ferguson, an executive vice chancellor with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, noted, "When the economy is doing well, our enrollments are down, and when the economy is in a tough stretch or in a recession, we see our enrollments go up." Despite this surge, colleges are struggling with funding, as the state's financial support is based on past enrollment figures. With an expected $18bn budget deficit looming, many colleges are unable to accommodate the influx of new students, leading to calls for policy changes to secure additional funding.

 

San Mateo Daily Journal

HCA Healthcare is investing $4.8m to address the nursing shortage by partnering with Pepperdine University to establish a nursing school at its Calabasas campus. The initiative aims to create a pipeline of new nurses for Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks. Dana Arnaout, the hospital’s chief nursing officer, emphasized the importance of retaining new graduates, remarking: "This is a place we want them to stay and grow in their careers." The new nursing school, equipped with advanced training facilities, is expected to produce up to 112 graduates annually. While the partnership is a step forward, union officials made a point for hospitals to also focus on retaining new nurses. Mary Hodgkins, a longtime nurse at Los Robles, praised the initiative, saying: "I think it’s a great idea. They need to bring new grads in."

 

Ventura County Star

A new Eurostat report shows that Ireland had one of the lowest education dropout rates in the European Union (E.U.) in 2024, with just 9% of people aged 15 to 34 leaving a course or training programme without completing it, well below the E.U. average of 14.2%. This positions Ireland as one of the stronger performers in Europe for education retention. By contrast, dropout rates were significantly higher in countries like the Netherlands (32.2%), Denmark, and Luxembourg (both over 24%,) while Romania, Greece, and Bulgaria reported rates below 4%. The most common reason for dropping out across the E.U. was course difficulty or mismatch, particularly in higher education. Personal or family issues, such as health problems or caring responsibilities, were the second most cited reason, followed by a preference to enter the workforce. Financial pressures played a smaller role, cited by just 5% of respondents.

 

Irish Independent