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26th May 2026
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THE HOT STORY

School districts across America begin rolling back student device use

Schools across the United States are increasingly reassessing the widespread use of laptops, tablets, and digital learning tools in classrooms, as parents, teachers, and policymakers raise concerns about distractions, declining academic performance, and excessive screen time. Major districts have introduced new restrictions on student devices, with Los Angeles USD set to eliminate devices for younger students, limit screen time for older grades, block YouTube on school-issued devices, and ban devices during lunch and recess. The shift follows years of rapid technology adoption accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools distributed devices widely to support remote learning. Parents and educators argue that school-issued devices have contributed to distractions, social isolation, and dependency on screens, while also undermining efforts to limit technology use at home. Some districts are also scaling back device programs due to rising repair and replacement costs. Critics of heavy classroom technology use say digital learning tools have often replaced traditional instruction without clear evidence of improved educational outcomes, prompting growing calls for a return to textbooks, paper assignments, and reduced screen exposure for students.

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FINANCE

California districts struggling to balance budgets amid escalating benefit costs

Soaring healthcare costs are becoming a major source of conflict between California school districts and teachers’ unions, fueling a wave of strikes and difficult contract negotiations as insurance premiums increasingly outpace salary growth. Teachers in several districts, including Twin Rivers, West Contra Costa, and San Francisco, recently staged strikes over healthcare costs, with some educators reporting monthly out-of-pocket premiums of up to $1,600. Unions argue that rising medical expenses are eroding pay increases and forcing some teachers to delay healthcare or live paycheck to paycheck, while districts say they can no longer absorb the full cost of employee benefits amid declining enrollment, expiring federal aid, and rising pension and special education expenses. Research cited in the report showed healthcare premiums for public school employees rose 14% between 2018 and 2022, compared with a 10% increase in teacher salaries, while school districts’ healthcare costs have climbed sharply over the past two decades. Experts said schools are particularly exposed because they typically cover a larger share of employee healthcare costs than many other industries.

Gillett School District may borrow money after referendum defeat

The Gillett School District in Wisconsin is likely to borrow money to continue operating after voters rejected a five-year operational referendum in April, leaving the district facing nearly $1 million in budget reductions for the next school year. Superintendent Nathan Hanson said the district has already approved about $200,000 in cuts, including reductions in custodial staffing, summer help, and college-level coursework support, while also changing employee health insurance plans to reduce costs. However, district leaders said they do not want to cut teaching positions or programs such as band, choir, and technical education classes, despite ongoing staffing shortages and difficulties retaining teachers due to low pay. The district plans to consider another referendum, potentially in November, after the previous proposal seeking phased funding increases through 2031 failed by a wide margin. Hanson warned that without additional funding in the coming years, the long-term future of the school district could be at risk.

POLICY

Hawaii Department of Education prepares statewide school cell phone restrictions

Hawaii’s Department of Education is preparing to implement new statewide cell phone restrictions beginning in the fall semester, standardizing policies across public schools following a decision by the state Board of Education earlier this year. Under the new rules, elementary, middle, and intermediate school students will be prohibited from using cell phones during school hours, while high school students may be allowed to use phones during breaks unless individual schools adopt stricter policies. Most schools already have some form of phone restrictions in place, commonly requiring devices to remain off and stored during class. Students who violate the policy will face escalating disciplinary measures, including confiscation of phones and parent meetings for repeated offenses. Education officials said the policy is intended to reduce classroom distractions and improve learning, although surveys cited by the department found that students generally disagreed that phones interfere with attention, while teachers and parents largely supported tighter restrictions.

Oklahoma education at crossroads after Ryan Walters era

Oklahoma schools are attempting to move past the politically divisive leadership of former superintendent Ryan Walters, with current superintendent Lindel Fields focusing on academics, teacher support, and restoring stability after years of culture-war policies around religion, race, and classroom content. Fields has reversed several controversial measures introduced under Walters, but educators say the upcoming June primary election will determine whether Oklahoma continues toward a calmer, more traditional education agenda or returns to combative political leadership. Teachers and parents warned that previous political battles created fear in schools and distracted from improving the state’s poor academic performance.

LEGISLATION

Alaska Legislature approves expansion of infant learning program

Alaska lawmakers have approved legislation to expand the state’s Infant Learning Program for developmentally delayed infants and toddlers, with the bill now awaiting Governor Mike Dunleavy’s decision after previously vetoing similar funding increases. The proposal would broaden eligibility for the program, lower the threshold for children to qualify for services, and provide nearly $6 million in additional funding to help providers hire staff and expand therapies covered by Medicaid. Advocates said the current standards leave many children without support during critical stages of brain development, while nearly half of children who receive early intervention ultimately avoid needing costly special education services later in school. Families and healthcare providers described the program as life-changing, citing improvements in speech, mobility, and cognitive development among children receiving therapy and support. Supporters also argued the expansion would save the state money over time by reducing future special education costs and improving long-term outcomes for children with developmental delays.

North Carolina lawmakers push to expand AED access in public schools

North Carolina lawmakers are considering legislation that would require every public school campus to have at least one automated external defibrillator, or AED, near athletic facilities, amid concerns that some schools still lack the potentially life-saving devices. The proposal, which has passed the state House and could be included in the upcoming budget, is expected to cost about $2m. Supporters cited growing awareness of sudden cardiac arrest risks among students and athletes, with the American Heart Association reporting six cardiac arrests in North Carolina schools during the 2023-24 school year, including one death. Advocates, healthcare professionals, and survivors told lawmakers that rapid access to AEDs can be critical during emergencies, highlighting cases including Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin and East Carolina University athlete Hailey Yentz, whose lives were saved after receiving shocks from defibrillators. The American Heart Association said some North Carolina counties, including Wake County, still do not have AEDs in every public school, while supporters stressed that a single device per campus should be considered only a starting point.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Colorado students urge next Governor to prioritize youth mental health crisis

Colorado students and mental health advocates are urging the state’s next governor to make youth mental health a top priority, warning that mounting academic pressure, social media stress, anxiety, depression, and limited access to care are pushing many young people into crisis. While youth suicide rates in Colorado fell in 2024 to their lowest level since 2007, hospitals continue to see growing numbers of children needing emergency psychiatric care and long-term support. Students interviewed for the report said constant pressure to succeed academically and socially, amplified by curated social media content, has created an exhausting culture of perfectionism. Members of Colorado’s Youth Council on Mental Health called for schools to expand mental health education, improve counseling support, increase awareness of existing programs like “I Matter,” and teach students healthier ways to manage screen time and online comparisons. A coalition of more than 60 organizations, including Children’s Hospital Colorado and Healthier Colorado, is pushing policy proposals for the next administration, including appointing a chief children’s mental health officer, creating a statewide mental health commission, and establishing a dedicated youth mental health fund supported partly through digital platform fees and social media litigation settlements. Students said policymakers must also listen more directly to young people when designing solutions, arguing that without urgent action, their generation risks long-term emotional and social consequences.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Safety skills shine at NYSBCA

The 50th Annual New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) School Bus Driver Safety Competition took place on May 2, 2026, at Rockland Lake State Park, featuring drivers from across the state. Participants showcased their skills through written exams, obstacle courses, and driving challenges. "School bus drivers are among the most highly trained transportation professionals on the road," said Paul Quinn Mori, NYSBCA's president. Timothy Pulaski from Suffolk Transportation Service won both the Type A and Rookie awards, while Carolina Mariaca from Chappaqua Transportation took first place in the Type C category. The top three winners in each class will compete in the National School Transportation Association's School Bus Driver International Safety Competition in June 2026. The event was supported by various sponsors, including BusPatrol and Leonard Bus Sales, Inc.

TEACHER TRAINING

Texas' district's teacher training high school celebrates first graduating class

Northside ISD’s CAST Teach High School is graduating its first class of students trained to become educators, as Texas school districts work to address ongoing teacher shortages and improve recruitment pipelines. The San Antonio-based school, launched in 2022 through a partnership with CAST Schools, gives students classroom experience, college-level credits, and training in curriculum development and instructional practices while they are still in high school. District leaders hope many graduates will eventually return to teach in Northside schools, which currently has 344 open teaching positions and a teacher turnover rate of 13%. Students at CAST Teach participate in internships, classroom takeovers, and assistant teaching roles across the district, with some planning careers in elementary education, dance instruction, and school psychology. District officials said the program was designed both to strengthen the future teacher pipeline and help address long-term staffing challenges facing public education.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Duke University faces questions over sustainability of planned data center

Duke University plans to build a $23 million data center on its Durham, North Carolina, campus to support artificial intelligence research and advanced computing, but the project is drawing scrutiny from faculty members and environmental advocates concerned about its impact on the university’s climate commitments. The planned facility will initially operate at 1.5 megawatts, with capacity to expand to 3 megawatts, and is expected to increase Duke’s energy consumption by 2% to 3% at peak load. University officials said the center is designed with a focus on sustainability, including exploring renewable energy sources and potentially reusing waste heat to support campus water-heating systems. Duke also said the facility’s emissions would be publicly tracked as part of its carbon reporting efforts. Critics, however, warned that even smaller-scale data centers consume significant amounts of electricity and water, particularly as Durham faces extreme drought conditions. Additionally, faculty members have questioned whether expanded AI infrastructure could undermine Duke’s long-term carbon neutrality goals, especially as the university acknowledged it will no longer be carbon neutral after 2025 without additional offsets or energy reductions.

INTERNATIONAL

Survivors and advocates push for accountability over Canada's pesidential schools

An international tribunal examining Canada’s role in the residential school system and unmarked graves has opened in Montreal, with survivors, legal experts, and Indigenous advocates calling for accountability, reparations, and greater recognition of human rights violations. The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal will hear testimony throughout the week from residential school survivors and expert witnesses, including Leo Nicholas, a survivor of the Mohawk Institute Residential School, who described years of abuse and trauma after being taken from his home as a child. Organizers said the hearings aim to challenge residential school denialism and reinforce Canada’s obligations under international law, despite the tribunal lacking formal legal authority. Christa Big Canoe, lead prosecutor against Canada for the tribunal, said the process could increase international pressure for change and support demands for concrete remedies for Indigenous communities. Tribunal secretary general Dr. Gianni Tognoni described the hearings as a starting point for action rather than symbolic condemnation, while organizers said hosting the proceedings at Montreal’s Indigenous-led Daphne Art Centre reflected the resilience and cultural survival of Indigenous peoples.

Japan: Foreign student enrollment drives sharp rise in demand for language assistance

The number of students in Japan’s public schools requiring help learning Japanese has reached a record 84,759, according to a government survey, reflecting growing diversity in classrooms and increasing pressure on local education systems. The education ministry said the figure, recorded as of May 2025, has nearly doubled over the past decade and rose by more than 15,600 from the previous survey in 2023. Foreign nationals accounted for most of the increase, totaling 73,313 students, while 11,446 Japanese nationals were also identified as needing language support. Nearly 40% of public schools nationwide now have students requiring Japanese-language instruction. Despite expanded support efforts, almost 9,700 students identified as needing assistance were not receiving it, with shortages of staff, funding, and regional resources cited as key challenges. Experts warned that inadequate language support can leave students isolated, struggling academically, or at risk of dropping out.

South Korea expands teacher protection law to include one-time complaints

South Korea’s National Assembly has passed amendments to the Teachers’ Status Act that expand legal protections for educators by allowing even single complaints to qualify as infringements on educational activities if they cause significant disruption. The revised law, passed unanimously on May 7, broadens previous rules that only applied to repeated malicious complaints, following growing concerns over teacher suicides, false child abuse allegations, and classroom disruptions linked to parent complaints and social media campaigns. The amendment also explicitly extends protections to online and non-face-to-face educational activities, including remote classes and digital counseling, amid rising reports of “cyber infringements” involving manipulated recordings and online harassment of teachers.
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