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California
8th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

California students see academic and mental health gains from later school starts

California’s later school start-time mandate has increased sleep among middle and high school students while contributing to improvements in mental health and academic performance, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper examining the effects of a 2022 state law. The study found that the share of students getting at least eight hours of sleep per night increased by 13%, with boys reporting particularly strong improvements in sleep and reductions in sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. Eighth-grade students also recorded measurable gains in math and English, particularly among Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students, while Latino students reported the largest improvement in concentration difficulties. Although parents have raised concerns about work schedules, sports, and extracurricular activities, researchers found that shifts in activity times were marginal and not statistically significant.

SPECIAL EDUCATION AS AN INTERVENTION

A Powerful Lens for Supporting Students with Learning Differences

Every school year, meetings take place across the state as California educators collaborate to support student learning through multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). These meetings represent a significant investment of time and effort aimed at improving outcomes for all learners, especially those with learning differences who face the greatest challenges in progress and achievement. To make the most of this time, school teams must focus on identifying effective interventions. But what exactly is intervention in the context of special education? How does it differ from specially designed instruction (SDI)? And how can tools like MTSS and response to intervention (RTI) guide our decisions?

Read this article to explore special education as an intervention

 

STATE NEWS

California's TK program disrupts preschools

California's transitional kindergarten (TK) program, which offers free pre-kindergarten education, is creating significant challenges for private preschool providers. As TK expands, many preschools are losing enrollment, leading to closures and a potential reduction in options for younger children. Anna Powell, associate director at the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, said: “Parents will likely have fewer choices for pre-K in the long run.” The report highlights that while TK benefits families, it poses an existential threat to private providers who rely on older children to subsidize care for infants and toddlers. With many preschools struggling to adapt, the state could intervene by providing support and resources to help these providers transition.

NATIONAL NEWS

American students lose ground in reading and math

U.S. students have recorded a sharp decline in reading performance since 2022, with scores for 15-year-olds approaching their lowest level in 25 years, while math results remain among the weakest since Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing began in 2000. Although the U.S. continues to perform above the OECD average in reading and science, and around the middle of the pack in math, it remains well behind leading education systems, including Singapore, Japan, Korea, and the Chinese regions included in the assessment. Only 8% of American teenagers reached the highest proficiency levels in math, compared with 37% in Singapore, 23% in Korea, and 22% in Japan, while the share of U.S. students failing to reach basic proficiency in reading and math has risen over the past decade. The deterioration forms part of a broader global decline, with reading scores falling across many industrialized countries and math performance weakening internationally, as experts point to growing technology use, reduced recreational reading, and lingering pandemic disruption as contributing factors. Researchers cautioned that U.S. participation rates fell below PISA targets, but said the overall results still provide strong evidence that American students have lost academic ground.

Public confidence in U.S. schools hits 27-year low

Americans’ satisfaction with K-12 education has fallen to its lowest level since Gallup began tracking the issue 27 years ago, with just 32% of adults saying they are completely or somewhat satisfied, down 11 percentage points in two years, while 67% are dissatisfied. The decline has been particularly pronounced among Democrats, whose satisfaction has fallen about 19 points since President Donald Trump began his second term in 2025, although Independents and Republicans have also become less satisfied. Concerns extend beyond politics, with falling national test scores, pandemic-related learning disruption, technology use, and questions about schools’ ability to prepare students for college and employment contributing to declining confidence. Parents remain considerably more positive about their own children’s education, with roughly two-thirds satisfied, while a separate survey found only about 20% of Americans believe schools are doing a good or excellent job teaching critical thinking or preparing students for today’s workforce.

Fifth graders help kindergartners thrive

As the new school year begins, about 54m students across the U.S. are returning to classrooms, some in familiar settings and others in new ones. At Micheltorena Street Elementary in Los Angeles, Principal Nichole Sakellarion has established a tradition of welcoming kindergarteners a day early to ease their transition. "It's really to make them feel a little more connected," Sakellarion said. Fifth graders, known as "toolbox coaches," mentor the new students, helping them navigate their emotions. Meanwhile, in Edmond, Oklahoma, families are opting for a "bike bus" to get to Will Rogers Elementary, promoting a fun and active way to start the school year. In Beaverton, Oregon, students are adjusting to a brand new high school building, complete with modern facilities and a familiar bell that rang out on the first day.

TEACHING

Schools fail to teach resilience

Fox News examines the alarming trend in American education where schools have neglected to teach essential life skills such as perseverance and personal responsibility. With nearly 7m unfilled jobs, employers are struggling to find candidates who can demonstrate initiative and handle criticism. The author, a former teacher and school administrator, argues that the shift towards a "child-centered" approach has led to inflated grades and a lack of accountability. "Education should prepare students for reality, not shelter them from it," the author states. The piece emphasizes that without teaching character, students enter adulthood with unrealistic expectations, ultimately impacting their performance in the workforce. The author concludes that the solution to this crisis lies within the education system itself.

GOVERNANCE

Strategic planning helps school boards navigate community tensions

U.S. school boards are increasing efforts to strengthen relationships with families and communities as they contend with misinformation, political divisions, financial pressures, academic performance concerns, staffing issues, special education, and school facilities. An EdWeek Research Center survey of 494 school board members found that boards using continuous strategic planning generally reported lower levels of conflict, with more than three-quarters of those routinely engaged in strategic planning saying community conflict had decreased or remained stable over the past year. Boards are also emphasizing empathy, public forums, parent surveys, translation services, and meetings held within local communities to improve communication and ensure residents feel heard. Larger districts face particular challenges, with 39% of respondents from districts serving more than 10,000 students identifying school openings and closures as a major source of conflict, compared with 17% in districts serving fewer than 1,000 students.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

California parents push for cameras in special education classrooms amid student safety concerns

California parents are calling for cameras in special education classrooms following allegations of mistreatment involving students with significant disabilities who could not reliably tell their families what had happened at school. Petitions in Visalia and Bakersfield have attracted more than 2,700 and 12,800 signatures, respectively, but a 1976 California law requiring teacher and principal consent for classroom recording presents a potential legal barrier to widespread adoption. Advocates argue cameras could provide objective evidence when abuse or misconduct is alleged, while school officials cite privacy, labor, and legal concerns that would likely require state legislative action to address. Several states, including Texas and Louisiana, already allow or require cameras in certain special education classrooms, with Texas limiting access to recordings unless allegations of abuse or neglect are reported.

CLASSROOM

Schools take increasingly prominent role in teaching a post-9/11 generation

U.S. schools are increasingly expected to teach students about the September 11 attacks, with at least 40 states now having policies that require, recommend, or otherwise encourage instruction or observances, compared with roughly 60% of states not explicitly mentioning 9/11 in education standards a decade after the attacks. Twenty-five states specifically require or expect instruction on the attacks, while another 13 include optional references, but approaches vary significantly by state, grade level, and political context, covering topics ranging from terrorism and military conflicts to civil liberties, discrimination, Guantanamo Bay, and the Abu Ghraib scandal. The growing emphasis comes as about one-third of Americans were born after 9/11, making schools increasingly important in preserving knowledge of the attacks and explaining their continuing impact on U.S. society and foreign policy. Museums and memorial organizations are also expanding teacher training and educational programs, including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which has raised more than $25 million this year to enhance student field trips, teacher training, and other initiatives.

SPORTS

Quarterback prospects face transfer dilemma

Ryan Hopkins, a quarterback prospect from California, felt at home during his visit to Wisconsin, statingl “I felt the energy from the city.” However, he faces challenges due to the increasing reliance on transfers in college football, with about 65% of FBS starting quarterbacks having transferred. Trent Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback, noted that the landscape has changed significantly since the NCAA lifted the one-year sit-out rule, saying, “Because instead of recruiting the child, now you're recruiting a man.” This shift has made it harder for high school quarterbacks to secure spots, as many programs prefer experienced players. Coaches like Luke Fickell emphasize the need for immediate impact players, leading to fewer opportunities for high school recruits. Despite these challenges, some quarterbacks are finding success by starting at lower-level schools before moving up, as seen with players like Diego Pavia and Trinidad Chambliss. Hopkins advises recruits to “trust your development” and be self-aware of their talents.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Clarence Thomas calls out Stanford Law

At a recent Hoover Institution event, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed that Stanford Law School (SLS) remains “off limits” to him. During a discussion with Peter M. Robinson, Thomas criticized SLS for its perceived absence of conservative ideas, highlighting a broader concern regarding the ideological landscape of academic institutions. He stated, “I think that’s a problem.” This commentary reflects Thomas's ongoing critique of educational environments that he believes do not foster diverse political perspectives.

INTERNATIONAL

Austria's headscarf ban faces backlash

Austrian schools are set to implement a controversial ban on headscarves for children under 14, which has drawn criticism from various groups, including the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO). The ruling coalition, which includes the far-right Freedom Party, argues the ban protects girls' freedom. However, IGGO has labeled the legislation as discriminatory and plans to challenge it in the Constitutional Court. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr acknowledged uncertainty about the court's response, stating, "You can never be completely certain." The new school year begins in three Austrian states, with protests anticipated from left-wing student organizations against the ban. Schools are required to discuss the ban with students who defy it, with fines ranging from €150-€800 ($174-$929) for non-compliance.

South Korea shifts international student strategy from recruitment growth to quality

South Korea is shifting its international education strategy from increasing student numbers to improving educational quality, student protections, employment outcomes, and long-term settlement after the number of international students reached 307,464 in 2026, nearly 70% above 2023 levels and exceeding the government’s 300,000 target a year early. The Education Ministry plans tighter oversight of universities and recruitment agencies, including standardized recruitment agreements, clearer tuition refund requirements, stronger monitoring of advertising practices, and potential amendments to the Higher Education Act. From 2029, its university certification system will place greater emphasis on education and student-support quality, while the required share of international students meeting recognized Korean- or English-language standards will rise from 40% in 2026 to 60% by 2030. The government will also expand employment and settlement support after only 33.4% of eligible international graduates found jobs in Korea in 2024.
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