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USA
6th January 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Florida seeks fix for unused vouchers

Florida's school choice program has revealed significant issues, with over $400m in taxpayer-funded education vouchers remaining unused. Approximately 500,000 students have accepted these vouchers, yet many are not utilizing the funds, leading to concerns about accountability. State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) remarked: "Hundreds of millions of dollars have been sitting unspent in so-called scholarship accounts where they could have been funding our public schools." In response to a recent audit highlighting a lack of oversight, lawmakers are proposing reforms for 2026, including measures to recover unspent funds more efficiently. The proposed legislation, FL SB318 (26R), aims to shorten the time frame for deeming accounts inactive and enhance communication with parents regarding voucher balances.

FINANCE

Tennessee ESA program under scrutiny

The Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) program, designed to provide public school students with vouchers for private education, is facing significant challenges. According to a report from Tennessee Comptroller Jason E. Mumpower, most students using ESA vouchers are not leaving low-performing public schools, and overall, ESA students are underperforming compared to their public school peers. The report highlights that the Tennessee Department of Education has not established criteria for removing consistently low-performing private schools from the program. Mumpower stated: "Most schools that students are leaving to participate in the ESA program are neither reward nor priority schools." Additionally, the program has not been fully utilized, with only 3,693 students enrolled this year, despite a cap of 12,500. Lawmakers are considering changes to eligibility requirements and expanding the program to other districts.

EXAMS

Grade change pressure alarms educators

Grade changes are increasingly common in schools, with 44% of educators reporting they’ve altered a student’s grade—most often upward—according to a December 2024 EdWeek survey. While some changes stem from grading errors or late submissions, many result from pressure by parents or administrators. “The impact of grade grubbing on teachers typically isn't positive,” said Education Week’s Jennifer Vilcarino. The pandemic-era shift toward leniency has influenced grading norms, but discomfort among teachers and concerns about grading integrity continue to grow.

GOVERNANCE

NYC Chancellor prioritizes integration, equity

In a recent letter to Education Department staff, New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels outlined his priorities, emphasizing the need for school integration and a curriculum that reflects the city's diversity. He stated: "I believe that every student—starting in early childhood and continuing through graduation—deserves a school that is academically rigorous, safe, and truly integrated." Samuels aims to enhance community engagement and transparency, noting that "our work will be strongest when educators, families, and students know their voices are heard." His previous experience includes efforts to phase out gifted programs and implement the International Baccalaureate curriculum. As he begins his tenure, Samuels is committed to high expectations and quality learning, while also addressing foundational literacy skills and manageable class sizes.

NJ lawmaker pushes district mergers

Advocates in New Jersey are advocating for the revival of discussions on school district consolidation, aiming to address the state's high number of districts—approximately 600. State Senator Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, sponsors bill S4861, which seeks to reduce the number of districts to “maybe 70 or 80.” The proposed legislation would empower county executive superintendents to develop consolidation plans for districts with fewer than 500 students, removing the need for voter approval. Critics, including Debra Bradley, director of government relations for the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, argue that consolidation may not yield the anticipated cost savings and could complicate the educational landscape. Gopal emphasized the need for a conversation on this issue, stating: “I believe there are redundancies.” The bill has yet to be voted on, and if not addressed by mid-January, it will need to be reintroduced.

WORKFORCE

Hawaii leans on unlicensed teachers

Nearly half (48%) of new Hawaii educators in 2024–25 were unlicensed, up from 27% in 2020–21, per a Department of Education report. Many are emergency hires allowed to teach while earning credentials. The state hired 1,300 teachers, down from 1,600 the year before, though vacancies hit a five-year low due to emergency hires. Assistant Superintendent Sean Bacon noted growing efforts to recruit local talent, including creating pathways for high schoolers to enter education careers. Most teachers who left cited plans to move out of state.

Milwaukee schools face staffing crisis

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is grappling with significant staffing shortages, particularly in areas with high poverty rates. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius has prioritized addressing these vacancies, stating: “I started to question where we were at.” Despite a reported decline in overall vacancies, disparities remain, especially in the central city's 53206 ZIP code, which has the highest vacancy rate. Cassellius is exploring strategies to attract and retain staff, including higher pay for teachers in high-need schools. She aims to ensure every student has a licensed teacher, while also considering targeted investments in under-resourced schools. As MPS faces potential school closures due to declining enrollment, Cassellius emphasizes the need for equitable resources and support for schools serving disadvantaged communities.

CHARTERS

Charter school oversight needs reform

California lawmakers have been urged to enhance oversight of charter schools, as highlighted in a recent 83-page report by California Charter Authorizing Professionals. The report emphasizes long-standing weaknesses in the state's charter oversight, particularly following the A3 charter school fraud scandal, where $400m was misappropriated. Tom Hutton, executive director of California Charter Authorizing Professionals, said: "We have a system that allows for very uneven oversight." The report calls for clearer standards for authorizers and a reevaluation of funding mechanisms to ensure effective oversight. Currently, California's low bar for authorizing and minimal oversight requirements contribute to inconsistent accountability among charter schools. The report suggests adopting performance contracts to better define expectations and improve oversight practices.

POLICY

Teens on phones in school

Recent research published in the journal JAMA reveals that adolescents spend an average of seventy minutes on their phones during school hours, which detracts from their focus on learning. Dr. Jason Nagata, the lead author and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, said: "That time is literally during the school day when children and adolescents should be in classes." The study tracked phone usage among six hundred forty adolescents, highlighting that most of their screen time was spent on social media platforms rather than educational apps. Despite existing school policies against phone use, many students find ways to circumvent these rules. Experts suggest that parents should model responsible phone use and engage in discussions with their children about the benefits of reducing screen time to enhance academic performance and social skills.

ENROLLMENT

Hawaiian immersion schools see enrollment surge

In Hawaii, enrollment in schools teaching primarily in the Hawaiian language has surged by 68% over the past decade, with the number of state-run campuses increasing from 14 to 26. However, challenges remain, particularly in recruiting qualified teachers. Kau‘i Sang, Director of the Office of Hawaiian Education, emphasized the need for a balance between expanding classrooms and hiring sufficient staff: "We cannot open classrooms unless we have qualified staff." The Department of Education (DOE) plans to open two new Kaiapuni programs but currently faces a shortage of teachers, with an estimated need for 165 additional Kaiapuni teachers over the next decade. The Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that the DOE has a constitutional duty to provide access to Hawaiian immersion education, yet families are advocating for more options, particularly in areas lacking middle and high schools for Kaiapuni students.

INTERNATIONAL

Finland teaches kids to spot fakes

Finland embeds media literacy into its national curriculum from preschool, teaching children to identify disinformation and now AI-generated content. As Russia escalates propaganda across Europe, Finnish students learn to question media as a civic skill. “It’s very important to the nation’s safety and to the safety of our democracy,” said Kiia Hakkala, a Helsinki education specialist. With AI literacy now added, students like those at Tapanila Primary School are taught to spot deepfakes. Finland leads Europe in media literacy, supported by efforts like the “ABC Book of Media Literacy” and adult education programs.
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