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California
3rd September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

California schools face funding crisis

California educators and advocates are urging state legislators to reinstate funding for the California Online Media Program for Access and Student Success (COMPASS), which offers K-12 students and teachers free access to essential online research resources. The recent fiscal year 2026-27 budget eliminates COMPASS funding after July 1 2027, cutting the state's $5.5m investment. With 94% of California's K-12 students accessing COMPASS, the program provides vital databases like Encyclopedia Britannica and National Geographic for Kids, tailored to various learning needs. Amy Linden, a teacher-librarian, emphasized the importance of COMPASS, stating, "It was so hard for students to find recent, timely, reliable, credible, accurate information." Advocates are calling on the state Senate to restore ongoing funding to ensure equitable access to educational resources.

DIGITAL CURRICULUM

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TECHNOLOGY

Los Angeles USD imposes AI moratorium for students

Los Angeles USD has implemented a districtwide moratorium on student use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on school devices for the current academic year. This decision, revealed during a school board committee meeting, surprised board members who were unaware of the change. Board member Kelly Gonez expressed her surprise, stating: “The fact that it's different today, this school year, is important.” The moratorium aligns with the district's ongoing efforts to limit screen time, which restricts access to screens until the second grade. Activist parents, including Bridie Lee from Schools Beyond Screens L.A., praised the policy as a historic achievement, saying, “LAUSD has made history again.” Meanwhile, New York City has also announced plans to limit student access to generative AI tools in its schools. The moratorium applies only to district-owned devices, with no current policy on non-district devices.

AI's impact on federal revenue revealed

AI is significantly altering the labor market, raising concerns about its impact on federal revenue, which largely relies on taxes from wages and payroll. In an interview, Carter Price from RAND discussed a report he co-authored with Akshaya Suresh, highlighting that approximately two-thirds of federal revenue comes from these taxes. Price stated: "Any disruptions to the labor market caused by AI or anything else would have an outsized effect on the federal budget." The report explores various scenarios regarding job displacement and its potential effects on federal revenue, emphasizing the need for policymakers to prepare for these changes. As AI technology evolves, the implications for federal revenue could become increasingly critical, especially given the current $40tn national debt.

STATE NEWS

California schools see sleep success

California's mandate for later school start times is showing positive outcomes, as highlighted in a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The law, effective since 2022, mandates that middle schools start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The study reveals that students are sleeping more, reporting improved mental health, and achieving higher scores in math and English. "Students are experiencing better mental health and academic performance," the report noted. However, some parents have expressed concerns about the impact on work commutes and extracurricular activities.

NATIONAL NEWS

Education research agency races to spend $180m before federal funds expire

The Institute of Education Sciences has roughly $180m in unspent fiscal 2025 funding that must be obligated by September 30 or returned to the U.S. Treasury, after spending slowed sharply following staffing cuts that reduced the agency from about 190 employees to fewer than 30. IES had spent $587m of its $768m fiscal 2025 appropriation as of August 26, while researchers say operational disruption and uncertainty over federal grants have discouraged applications and stalled projects. The agency says it plans to use the remaining funds for existing research grants, statistical work, and evaluations, but it is also redirecting more than $68m from areas including data collection and regional education laboratories toward other research grants and statewide data systems.

DOJ guidance raises transition concerns

New U.S. Department of Justice guidance has raised concerns among disability advocates and researchers that schools could scale back transition planning designed to prepare students with disabilities for college, employment, and independent living. The DOJ has said it will no longer rely on Olmstead guidance when enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, although the 1999 Supreme Court ruling itself has not been overturned. Experts warn that the change could confuse educators about their obligations and weaken expectations for community-based, independent living, while transition plans required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act must still address postsecondary education or training, employment, and, when appropriate, independent living. Three Democratic lawmakers have called on the DOJ to rescind the guidance, arguing that it risks reversing decades of progress toward greater integration for people with disabilities.

FINANCE

Support grows for special education tax

Sacramento City USD officials and labor leaders are advocating for a parcel tax to raise an estimated $10m annually for special education and early-intervention programs. The measure, known as Measure M, will be on the November ballot and requires a two-thirds voter approval. If passed, it will add $95 per parcel to property owners' annual tax bills starting July 1 2027. National Education Association President Princess Moss emphasized the funding gap, stating: “That gap doesn't disappear... It lands on Sacramento and in classrooms across the country.” The district has seen a rise in students needing intensive special education services, which trustee April Ybarra attributed to insufficient early intervention. The proposed tax aims to address these needs before they escalate.

POLICY

Santa Monica-Malibu Schools update policies

The Santa Monica-Malibu USD Board of Education reviewed numerous policy updates during its August 27 meeting, aligning local regulations with new state laws regarding school meals, construction, and nondiscrimination. Richard Marchini, director of food and nutrition services, highlighted the update to the meal program policy, which now mandates that districts provide one "nutritionally adequate" breakfast and lunch free of charge to any requesting student. He emphasized the importance of surplus food management, stating: "We want to take care of our kids first." Additionally, the board discussed revisions to construction bidding rules and a new Facilities Master Plan policy in compliance with SB 848. Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton also reviewed updates to nondiscrimination policies under AB 3074, which prohibits derogatory terms for school mascots. The board plans to revisit these policies for action at the next meeting, taking place today.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

New safety measures for schools approved

The Sacramento City Council has approved a $2.25m project aimed at enhancing road safety near seven schools, including the site where 16-year-old Michelle Murigi was tragically killed in 2012. Under the Vision Zero School Safety Project, improvements will include new crosswalks, traffic signs, and bicycle-lane treatments. City Councilmember Eric Guerra emphasized the ongoing safety concerns, stating: “Even today, thinking about the loss of that student's life, we have people who are not yielding at the intersections.” The project is funded by $1.7m in federal Community Project Funding and $550,000 from the city's Major Street Construction Fund, as part of the city's commitment to eliminate traffic deaths by 2027.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

New multipurpose room opens at Sierra Vista

The Sierra Vista Junior High School community recently celebrated the grand opening of a newly renovated multipurpose room and kitchen, a project that took two years and cost approximately $13m. The upgrades include an expanded kitchen, a student store with an ice cream shop, and improved outdoor spaces for socializing.

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY

New park opens in Boyle Heights

A new community park opened on Monday in Boyle Heights, providing essential recreational space for families affected by the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire. Mayor Karen Bass, along with Los Angeles USD Superintendent Andrés E. Chait and other leaders, celebrated the park's opening at Malabar Street Elementary School. “Every child deserves a safe place to learn and play,” Bass said, emphasizing the park's importance for the community. This park is the first Community School Park in East Los Angeles, part of a program that allows school grounds to be used for recreation outside school hours. The park aims to enhance access to green spaces and promote healthier neighborhoods, as noted by LAUSD Board Vice President Dr. Rocío Rivas.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Democratic senators seek details on $1bn in student loan administration funding

Four Democratic senators have asked Education Secretary Linda McMahon to explain how the Department of Education has used $1bn allocated for student aid administration, after department documents showed only about $215.5m had been spent as of the start of fiscal 2026 and more than $452.4m is expected to remain unspent by September 30. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are seeking details on whether the funding supported loan servicers, a Treasury Department agreement, or outreach to borrowers in or at risk of default, and have requested a response by September 16. Their concerns come as 10.6% of student loan balances were at least 90 days delinquent in the second quarter of 2026, while more than 7.5m SAVE Plan borrowers must move to another repayment option by September 30.

UC Santa Barbara dethroned as top party school

UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) has fallen from its previous title as the top party school in America, dropping from 1st to 26th place in the 2027 Niche ranking. Florida State University (FSU) has taken the lead this year. Niche, which ranks schools based on student surveys and census data, noted that UCSB's decline is attributed to changes in local regulations, including a noise ordinance that impacted the Deltopia event and increased police presence on weekends.

INTERNATIONAL

Cuba's schools face dire challenges

As Cuba begins a new school year, families face significant challenges due to ongoing crises. The Barroso family, for instance, relies on a borrowed horse for transportation after thieves stole their own. Education Minister Naima Trujillo Barreto described the reopening of schools as a “heroic act,” highlighting the scarcity of teachers, with coverage dropping to 73% due to low salaries and emigration. Parents are now expected to provide school meals, as many schools report only a 15-day food supply.

Achievement gaps widen for disadvantaged and remote Australian students

Australia’s 2026 NAPLAN results have shown a widening achievement gap between the most and least advantaged students, particularly in secondary school reading and numeracy. The Year 9 reading gap between students whose parents did not complete school and those whose parents held a bachelor’s degree increased from six years in 2023 to six years and eight months in 2026, while the numeracy gap widened from six years and eight months to seven years and nine months. Geographic disparities also remain significant, with about 70% of major-city students rated as exceeding or strong in reading and numeracy, compared with 23% in very remote schools.
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