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Chronic absenteeism has surged in U.S. schools, with nearly 23% of students missing 10% or more of the academic year. This issue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has roots in poverty, unreliable transportation, and housing instability. However, research by Jerome A. Graham, Su Yon Choi, and Yi-Chih Chiang highlights the importance of positive school climates in combating absenteeism. They found that when students feel safe, connected, and supported, their attendance improves significantly. "You are seen here, you are safe here, and this place was built with you in mind," the authors noted, emphasizing the need for schools to foster an inviting environment. While addressing external barriers is crucial, enhancing the school experience is equally vital for improving attendance.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

An Administrator's Guide to Blended Learning

Online learning doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Explore blended learning with this comprehensive guide from FlexPoint^®, which includes:

• Worksheets to define your school’s needs
• Outline of blended learning classroom models
• List of questions to ask curriculum providers
• Best practices for educator training
• Instructional strategies and tips
• Key benefits for you, students, and staff

Download the FlexPoint^® guide to find the right mix of face-to-face and online instruction for your school or district.

Download Free Guide

 

In a Time op-ed, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Jonathan Klein, chief executive and co-founder of UndauntedK12, discuss how extreme heat is increasingly disrupting U.S. schools, with aging buildings and air-conditioning systems struggling with higher temperatures. During the 2024-25 school year, more than 9m students across 10,000 schools experienced closures or disruptions linked to extreme heat and other severe weather. Research cited in the article suggests that excessive classroom heat can reduce concentration and learning, increase absenteeism, and worsen health problems. Schools are responding by modernizing HVAC systems, installing geothermal or ground-source heat pumps, and combining these upgrades with solar power and energy storage. These investments can provide more reliable heating and cooling, improve indoor air quality, and reduce schools’ exposure to rising and volatile energy costs. Federal energy tax credits and Elective Pay are also helping districts reduce upfront costs and make projects more financially viable. Several districts are already implementing these solutions. Center Grove Community Schools in Indiana is replacing aging boilers, chillers, and fan coils with a geothermal heat pump system, while a school in Menasha, Wisconsin, has combined ground-source heat pumps with solar panels and energy storage. Prince William County schools in Virginia are taking steps to protect their budgets from projected utility cost increases.

 

Time Magazine

Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom celebrated the full implementation of universal transitional kindergarten (TK) and free school meals at Schafer Park Elementary School in Hayward. This year marks the first time TK is available to every child in the state, with public schools providing two free meals daily. “With these permanent funding supports, we're building a California where every child has the opportunity to fulfill their human potential,” Siebel Newsom said. The California Community Schools Partnership Program, launched in 2022, aims to improve student outcomes by aligning community resources. Newsom has invested $4.1bn in this initiative, which includes mental health support and free meals. The recent expansion of community schools is expected to increase their prevalence from 20% to 60% in the coming years, according to Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

Mike Fine, chief executive of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, expressed concerns over Sacramento City USD's financial strategies. He stated that the district's plan to use $68m from a trust fund for retired teacher health benefits is "a terrible idea." Despite county education officials urging the district to free up $150m in cash by June 2027, the board is pursuing a labor agreement that improves teacher compensation. Nikki Milevsky, president of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, insisted: "We expect the district to honor the agreement," despite the absence of a formal contract. Fine warned that if the district proceeds with its current plan, CalPERS would likely demand the funds be returned. The situation highlights the district's struggle with fiscal responsibility and oversight from county officials.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Santa Barbara High School has experienced a significant enrollment decline of 21% over the past 11 years, contributing to a district-wide drop of 16%. Ed Zuchelli, the district spokesperson, attributed this trend to factors such as lower birth rates and rising living costs, stating: “Our exit data for students who actually attend our District shows families are moving to new attendance boundaries.” Other schools, like Santa Barbara Community Academy, have seen even steeper declines, with a 31% drop, raising concerns about potential closure. Despite these challenges, school leaders are focusing on community building and academic support to retain students. Principal Ed Gomez emphasized the importance of offering diverse courses and support systems to keep students engaged. The district anticipates releasing preliminary enrollment data for the 2026-2027 school year soon.

 

Santa Barbara News-Press

Several Sacramento-area campuses excelled in the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings for 2026-2027, with seven public high schools making the top 1,000 nationwide. The rankings assess schools based on state assessments, graduation rates, and college readiness. West Campus High School led the local schools, ranking No. 117 nationally and No. 15 in California. Other notable schools include Umoja International Academy at No. 196, Western Sierra Collegiate Academy at No. 304, and Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts at No. 700.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Fresno USD, under Superintendent Misty Her, is making strides in enhancing early literacy as part of its five-year plan. Her, who began her role in April 2025, aims to improve student performance and increase the number of college- and career-ready graduates by June 2030. Last year, she engaged directly with students, noting: “One of the students that I was working with was a second-language learner.” By implementing a structured approach of diagnosing, prescribing, and assessing, the district has seen significant progress, with 70% of kindergarteners achieving foundational literacy mastery, surpassing the target of 62.5%. The district plans to expand successful models across all schools and will introduce a dashboard for tracking student progress, ensuring accountability among educators. Her encourages parents to engage with teachers by asking about their child's reading skills and readiness for future challenges.

 

The Fresno Bee

Temecula Valley USD has officially adopted a policy requiring the U.S. national anthem to be played before all home junior varsity and varsity athletic contests. The school board voted 5-0 to affirm its "commitment to patriotism, respect for our nation's traditions, sportsmanship and school pride." The policy allows for either a live performance or a "respectful and appropriate" recorded version of the anthem, with participation being voluntary. 

 

Press Enterprise

Joanie Garratt, a substitute teacher at Beverly Hills High School, has filed a lawsuit against Beverly Hills USD after being terminated for her Facebook posts criticizing President Trump. Garratt claims her First Amendment rights were violated, as her posts were made on her personal page outside school hours. “I loved my 30 years with the district,” Garratt said, expressing her emotional trauma from the firing. The lawsuit alleges that her posts did not disrupt school activities, contrasting her situation with a pro-Trump rally held on school grounds. Garratt is seeking unspecified damages, emphasizing that her personal beliefs should not lead to disciplinary action. Her attorney, V. James DeSimone, stated: “They not only hurt a wonderful teacher who deserved better but they hurt the students.”

 

Los Angeles Times

San Luis Obispo County is gearing up for the upcoming school board elections on November 3, with numerous candidates vying for open trustee positions across various districts. Lucia Mar USD, the largest in the county, has contested races in Areas 3, 5, 6, and 7. Notably, the board has faced controversy over book bans, with trustees like Andrea Naemi-Vergne and Eilene T. Pham voting for the removal of titles such as "Gender Queer" and "The Bluest Eye." Meanwhile, San Luis Coastal USD has contested races in Areas 1 and 2, while other districts like Atascadero and San Miguel Joint Union have unopposed incumbents. "All seats are crucial for shaping educational policies," said Claire Cleary, a reporting intern for The San Luis Obispo Tribune.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

A new academic year at Sage Hill School kicked off with a celebration marking the completion of a 38,658-sq-ft expansion, which includes eight instructional rooms, a cafe, and the Bolen Family Gymnasium. This facility, capable of seating over 1,000 spectators, enhances training and competition opportunities for young athletes. 

 

Los Angeles Times

Brain-computer interface technology could eventually help students with severe physical disabilities communicate, complete schoolwork, and participate more independently in class. The systems interpret electrical brain activity through headsets or implanted devices and could supplement assistive tools such as eye-tracking software and switch controls. Researchers say widespread classroom use may still be at least a decade away, with pediatric systems requiring personalized designs, teacher training, and collaboration with caregivers. Data privacy is also a significant concern, prompting researchers to explore processing brain data directly on headsets rather than transferring sensitive information to external computers. While the technology remains at an early stage, researchers believe it could provide greater independence for students whose disabilities limit their ability to use existing assistive technologies.

 

EdTech Magazine

As the new school year begins, school districts across the U.S. are faced with the challenge of selecting appropriate artificial intelligence tools to enhance student learning. Mark Schneider, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, emphasized the disparity in knowledge between AI providers and districts, stating, "There's always an asymmetry between what the providers know and what the districts know." With the U.S. education technology market projected to exceed $90bn by 2030, districts are under pressure to make informed decisions. Superintendent Scott Langford of Sumner County Schools noted the overwhelming nature of the AI market, saying, "Most of them don't really do much that drives any kind of change for students." As districts navigate this complex landscape, guidance from state and federal levels remains crucial for effective AI tool vetting and implementation.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

On This Week with EdSurge, guests Michael Hernandez and Mi Aniefuna explore the hidden costs of AI in education. Hernandez, who has dedicated years to helping educators redesign assignments, utilized a method called vibe coding to create tools that enhance learning without needing coding skills. He emphasized the importance of understanding the traits every assignment requires. Meanwhile, Aniefuna shifted the focus to the financial implications of AI, investigating the expenses associated with data centers that support AI technology. He raised critical questions about whether schools are considering the growing costs of AI when planning their budgets, stating: "What happens to a budget once the bill starts to grow with every use?" This discussion highlights the need for schools to evaluate both the educational and financial impacts of adopting AI.

 

EdSurge

A study of 168 fourth-grade students at a Cape Town school found that teaching science in both isiXhosa and English improved academic performance and classroom engagement. Students taking a bilingual test achieved an 86% pass rate, compared with 51% among those taking an English-only test, while students also participated more actively in discussions and written work. Parents strongly supported the approach, saying bilingual materials helped them become more involved in their children’s education and connect classroom learning with everyday life. None expressed concern that using isiXhosa alongside English would disadvantage their children’s English development. The findings come as South Africa expands bilingual education into upper primary grades, with about 80% of its 12.7m public-school students learning in a language other than their home language. 

 

The Conversation

A female python named Nanner is at the center of a fire incident at Forest Middle School in Virginia, where officials claim she accidentally started the blaze by knocking over a heat fixture. The fire, which occurred on August 13, resulted in significant water damage to eight classrooms and the death of a tortoise. Brittany Jacobs, Nanner's owner and a life science teacher, disputes the fire marshal's findings, stating that the snake was trying to escape the fire. "I am devastated for many reasons right now," Jacobs said, reflecting on the loss of her teaching materials and the tortoise. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, with most classrooms expected to reopen soon, while the affected classroom may take up to a month to restore. The investigation into the fire's cause is still underway.

 

Merced Sun Star