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12th June 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Districts prepare for more federal funding disruptions after 2025 delays

School districts across the U.S. are taking a more cautious approach to budgeting as concerns linger over the reliability of federal education funding following last year's temporary withholding of nearly $7bn in K-12 formula grants. While the Trump administration has assured states that more than $20bn in federal funding due on July 1 will be distributed on schedule, many district leaders remain wary after the unexpected delays experienced in 2025. Some districts are strengthening reserve policies, identifying potential spending cuts, and treating federal aid as supplemental rather than guaranteed funding. Concerns persist over the administration's broader efforts to reshape federal education spending, including the withholding of more than $2bn in competitive grants, the transfer of some grant administration responsibilities to the Department of Labor, and proposals to reduce future education funding. Although Congress largely rejected proposed education spending cuts in the current fiscal year, uncertainty remains around future budgets. A House appropriations proposal for fiscal 2027 would reduce Title I funding by $1.6bn and eliminate more than $3bn in funding for teacher development and English-language learner programs. As a result, many district leaders are preparing for the possibility of future disruptions even as federal officials continue to promise that current funding streams will remain intact.

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DISTRICTS

Green Bay education leader chosen as Menasha’s next superintendent

The Menasha School Board has appointed Dan Slowey, currently Green Bay Area Public Schools’ director of secondary education, as the district’s next superintendent following a review of three finalists. Slowey, who has previously served in principal and associate principal roles in Pulaski and Kimberly, will begin the position on July 1. Slowey will succeed Matt Zimmerman, whose resignation takes effect June 30. In announcing the appointment, Slowey said he looks forward to working with students, staff, families, and the community to build on the district’s existing strengths and help shape its future.

FINANCE

Maine voters approve nearly all school budgets in sharp turnaround

Maine voters approved nearly every school budget put forward during Tuesday’s local elections, marking a significant reversal from last year, when taxpayer revolts forced several districts to hold repeated budget votes and left some without approved budgets until November. Of at least 18 districts holding budget referendums, all but one secured voter approval. The stronger results were attributed to more modest spending proposals and higher voter turnout, particularly during primary election day. In Regional School Unit 21, voters approved a $64.8m budget with more than 60% support after rejecting two proposals last year. Superintendent Martin Grimm said the district had worked to identify savings and rebuild community confidence following previous budget disputes. While most districts saw budgets pass, some communities approved spending plans that included significant cuts. Augusta voters backed a budget that will eliminate teaching positions, remove Latin language instruction, and require students to pay to participate in sports. In Lewiston, voters approved a lower-cost budget that could result in dozens of job cuts after rejecting a more expensive proposal earlier this year.

Green Bay adds voucher funding disclosure to property tax statements

The City of Green Bay has begun including information on property tax bills showing how much local school tax revenue is used to fund private school voucher programs, a move supporters say improves transparency but that critics argue politicizes tax documents and presents an incomplete picture of school funding. The change, approved by the City Council in 2025, added a note stating that nearly $10m of the city’s school tax levy was allocated to private school vouchers, part of a broader $14.1m voucher levy for the Green Bay Area Public School District.  School choice advocates contend the disclosure is misleading because it excludes the financial impact of open enrollment programs, which cost the district a net $15.7m in 2024-25, although districts are permitted to raise taxes to offset voucher costs in ways they cannot for open enrollment.

LEGISLATION

Ohio lawmakers advance student support bill

Ohio lawmakers have approved legislation requiring schools to provide free academic interventions for students struggling in math or English language arts, while also adding a provision that exempts the state's classical schools from Ohio’s science of reading mandate. Senate Bill 19 requires districts to offer supports such as high-dosage tutoring, additional instructional time, extended school calendars, or learning support programs for students who score at limited skill levels on state assessments. The bill also requires districts where 51% or fewer third graders achieve proficiency in math to develop improvement plans and mandates automatic placement into advanced math courses for students who demonstrate high achievement. The legislation further directs the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to create a list of high-quality curriculum and instructional materials. Supporters said the measure strengthens academic support and ensures students do not fall behind, while some lawmakers and education groups said they would closely monitor implementation. The bill has gone to Gov. Mike DeWine's office for his signature.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Baltimore officials condemn ICE arrests on school property

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a mother and father while they were dropping off their children at a Baltimore elementary and middle school, triggering condemnation from state and local officials who said schools should remain safe spaces for families. Video of the incident showed agents restraining the father on school property while children arrived for classes, with the couple's children reportedly witnessing the arrests. The detentions took place outside Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School, which is temporarily operating from a building in East Baltimore. Maryland education officials said they had previously received assurances from ICE that enforcement actions would not occur on school grounds, while Gov. Wes Moore said his administration was seeking answers from federal authorities about why the operation took place at a school during student drop-off. School district leaders, city officials, and lawmakers described the incident as traumatic for students and families. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the footage "disturbing" and said schools should be places of safety, while Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said educators helped protect the children involved after their parents were detained.

New Hampshire launches statewide digital school mapping initiative for emergency responders

New Hampshire is investing $2.6m in a statewide digital mapping system designed to help police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel respond more quickly and effectively to incidents at public schools. Under the initiative, Critical Response Group will convert school floor plans into standardized digital maps that identify key locations such as classrooms, entrances, utility shutoffs, defibrillators, roof access points, security cameras, and panic buttons. State officials said the project will address inconsistencies in existing school plans and provide first responders with a shared operational picture during emergencies. Schools will be able to opt into the program, with participating campuses undergoing site walkthroughs, digital mapping and, where necessary, LiDAR scanning and drone surveys to create accurate layouts. The initiative follows New Hampshire's broader school safety efforts launched after the 2018 Parkland school shooting and is intended to improve both emergency response and preparedness training. The project will also include 27 scenario-based exercises bringing together educators and first responders.

STUDENT SUPPORT

California delays new federal job-training grants as rollout challenges mount

California students may have to wait until later this year to access new federal Pell grants for short-term job training programs, despite the program being scheduled to launch nationally on July 1. State officials say administrative, regulatory, and technology challenges have left California unprepared to implement the expanded aid program on the federal government's timeline. The new workforce Pell grants will provide $1,000-$3,000 to eligible students enrolled in short-term career training programs, such as automotive technology, information technology, healthcare, and skilled trades. The initiative is part of a bipartisan effort to align higher education more closely with workforce needs, but California Student Aid Commission Executive Director Daisy Gonzales warned that building the required systems and agreements could take weeks or months beyond the federal launch date. The delayed rollout comes amid broader concerns about workforce training effectiveness and accountability. California lawmakers are considering legislation that would tighten eligibility requirements for participating programs and improve data collection on graduate employment outcomes, while state officials cite the failure of a previous financial aid initiative as a cautionary example of launching new programs without sufficient infrastructure and support.

CHARTERS

Charter oversight disputes fuel lawsuits and frustration in Philadelphia

Philadelphia education leaders say the city’s charter school oversight system is increasingly strained, with charter operators accusing the district and school board of using inconsistent, biased, and overly political renewal evaluations. Although more than 20 charter schools have received ratings that could justify nonrenewal over the past five years, only one will close due to board action next school year. The dispute has triggered lawsuits from several charter operators, which argue that the renewal process leaves little room for negotiation and imposes unfair conditions. District officials say accountability is inherently difficult and that the state-mandated process gives schools opportunities to present evidence and appeal decisions. The Board of Education is revising its charter evaluation framework through Project RiSE, with a new model expected in September. Charter advocates say they want stronger accountability, but also a process they view as transparent, consistent, and fair across both the district and charter sectors.

TESTING

Texas STAAR scores rise across all subjects

Texas high school students improved their performance across all five STAAR end-of-course exams this spring, signaling continued recovery from pandemic-related learning disruptions and years of targeted academic intervention. The strongest gains came in math and science. The percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations in Algebra I rose to 54% from 47% a year earlier, while biology scores increased by nine percentage points to 71%, returning to pre-pandemic levels. English results also improved, with grade-level performance rising from 51% to 55% in English I and from 56% to 60% in English II. Education Commissioner Mike Morath attributed the gains to focused instruction, high expectations, and potentially the state's new restrictions on student cell phone use during the school day. Improvements were also recorded among English language learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students across every tested subject. The end-of-course STAAR exams remain a graduation requirement for Texas students, although lawmakers have begun scaling back testing requirements, with the English II exam scheduled to be eliminated starting in the 2027-28 school year as part of broader testing reforms.

SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Competing Arizona ballot measures target future of $1bn voucher program

A political fight over Arizona’s $1bn Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program is intensifying as supporters of competing ballot measures race to collect enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot before the July 3 deadline. The teacher union-backed Protect Education Act would significantly scale back the nation’s first universal school voucher program by ending ESA eligibility for families earning more than $150,000 annually. A rival proposal from Fortify AZ would preserve universal eligibility while introducing stricter oversight and spending controls designed to address concerns over misuse of taxpayer funds. Arizona’s ESA program has grown rapidly from roughly 12,000 students in 2022 to more than 100,000 students this school year, with parents receiving about $7,000 per child for private school tuition, charter schools, homeschooling, and approved educational expenses. Former Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the universal ESA expansion into law in 2022, has launched a separate campaign defending the program, arguing that ESA misuse rates remain low and that school choice provides families with greater educational freedom. Other pro-voucher groups are urging voters not to sign either petition, creating an increasingly crowded and contentious campaign landscape as both sides seek the 255,949 signatures required to reach the ballot.

HIGHER EDUCATION

UC Davis faces discrimination allegations

The U.S. Department of Justice has accused the UC Davis School of Medicine of racial discrimination in its admissions process following a six-month investigation. The school, which denies these allegations, claims its admissions practices are "rigorous, individualized, and merit-based." Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon criticized the school's approach, stating: "Davis Med's actions reflect both unabashed contempt for the rule of law and plain disregard for the potential public health consequences of putting race over merit." The investigation revealed that the school adopted practices to circumvent the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which deemed race-conscious admissions unconstitutional. The UC Davis School of Medicine has become the third most racially diverse medical school in the U.S. in 2024, aiming to meet California's diverse healthcare needs. The Department of Justice plans to engage in settlement negotiations with the school, warning that a lawsuit may follow if negotiations fail.

INTERNATIONAL

New Brunswick agrees new teacher contract focused on retention

New Brunswick teachers have secured a new five-year collective agreement that includes a 14.5% salary increase through 2031, along with retention premiums of up to 3% for longer-serving educators, as the province seeks to improve recruitment and retention across the education system. The agreement will be applied retroactively to March 2026, when the previous contract expired. Union leaders said negotiations focused heavily on making salaries more competitive for early-career teachers and addressing staffing challenges, including an expected wave of retirements and ongoing substitute teacher shortages. The contract also includes provisions to compensate teachers when they give up lesson preparation time to cover classes for colleagues. While the province has not disclosed the total cost of the agreement, Education Minister Claire Johnson described the deal as a major step toward strengthening the education system, calling it "the closest thing" to a silver bullet for addressing workforce challenges.

AND FINALLY......

Close.... but no cigar

A group of high school athletes in Ipswich, Massachusetts, has forfeited a state playoff game due to a controversial photo showing them with cigars. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) prohibits tobacco use, leading the school district to block several players from participating. Drew Wile, a parent of one of the students, argued that the cigars were not real, stating, "The crime and the punishment are not even close to each other." John Gianakakis, another parent, explained how he created fake cigars using banana leaves and chamomile, emphasizing their poor quality. Despite the team's excitement for the Division 4 State Semifinals, they chose to forfeit rather than play with a reduced roster. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy criticized the school district's decision, calling it "insane" and suggesting that MIAA officials should face consequences for their actions.
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