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USA
23rd July 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Limited access to advanced math linked to STEM workforce gaps

A new report from Just Equations argues that systemic barriers continue to limit Black students’ access to high-quality mathematics, with Black students representing 15% of U.S. public school enrollment but only 6% of those taking AP math courses during the 2021-22 school year. The report says unequal access to Algebra I in middle school, Algebra II, calculus, and other advanced courses restricts college and career opportunities, contributing to Black workers accounting for 9% of the STEM workforce despite making up 12% of the overall workforce. The organization is calling for reforms that expand access to advanced math, redesign high school math pathways, invest in culturally responsive instruction, and remove admissions practices that reinforce inequities, arguing that improving math opportunities would strengthen both educational outcomes and workforce diversity.

FINANCE

KCKPS faces potential loss of federal funding over parental notification rules

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education have given Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) 14 days to revoke internal guidance allowing staff discretion over disclosing a student's gender identity to parents, warning the district could face a lawsuit and the loss of federal funding if it fails to comply. The agencies allege the district’s practices violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and have also ordered KCKPS to review its policies, notify staff that all student information must be shared with parents or guardians, and provide records of any internal transgender-related guidance dating back to 2017, while the district maintains it has not violated federal law. 

Consultant says Minneapolis Public Schools’ finance operations at 'crisis point'

Minneapolis Public Schools is working with an outside consultant to strengthen its financial management after a series of budget deficits, accounting errors, and oversight concerns exposed weaknesses in the district’s fiscal controls. A newly unredacted investigative report found that a former controller withheld transfers to a health insurance trust account without written approval, concluding that there was little meaningful oversight of those actions, although the report did not allege criminal wrongdoing. The latest findings add to growing concerns over the district’s financial governance following more than $5m in IRS penalties, an external consultant’s assessment that the finance division was at a “crisis point,” and an auditor’s identification of inadequate controls over district disbursements. District officials say they are taking steps to improve transparency, secure additional revenue, and implement recommendations from outside experts to strengthen long-term financial oversight.

LEGAL

New Connecticut homeschool oversight law faces FERPA challenge

The Home School Legal Defense Association has asked the U.S. Department of Education to investigate Connecticut’s new homeschool oversight law, arguing that its requirement for public schools to share families’ information with the Department of Children and Families for abuse screening violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). State officials defend the law, which takes effect in 2027 and was enacted following several high-profile child abuse cases, saying it is a narrowly tailored measure to protect vulnerable children, while homeschool advocates argue it infringes on parental rights, could jeopardize federal education funding, and places additional strain on DCF resources.

TEACHER TRAINING

Fort Worth ISD aims to phase out uncertified teachers by 2029

Fort Worth ISD has voted to seek a two-year extension from the Texas Education Agency to continue hiring uncertified teachers in core subjects through the 2029-30 school year, joining more than 570 Texas districts requesting additional time to comply with new state certification requirements. District officials said they have hired 998 certified teachers and 142 uncertified teachers for the upcoming school year, following a surge in resignations after the state takeover, while committing to phase out uncertified teachers as they complete certification under the extended timeline.

LEGISLATION

House Republicans advance bill defining biological sex under Title IX

House Republicans have advanced the Title IX Clarification Act of 2026, legislation that would define sex under federal law as biological male or female, saying it codifies the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on transgender athletes and protects female-only spaces. Democrats and some legal experts argue the bill goes beyond the Court’s decision by potentially limiting Title IX protections for transgender and LGBTQ+ students, including in areas such as admissions, counseling, and discrimination, while supporters maintain it simply clarifies existing law and preserves protections based on biological sex.

TECHNOLOGY

School districts expand data privacy policies as AI adoption grows

K–12 school districts are increasingly adopting formal data governance programs to strengthen student data privacy, improve cybersecurity, support compliance with regulations such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and prepare for the growing use of artificial intelligence in education. District leaders are documenting policies, enforcing least-privilege access, reviewing software vendor agreements, and using tools such as multifactor authentication, single sign-on, identity management, and data loss prevention to better safeguard sensitive information. School technology leaders say effective data governance requires districtwide collaboration rather than being treated solely as an IT responsibility. Massachusetts districts including Wayland Public Schools, Littleton Public Schools, and Norton Public Schools have implemented role-based access controls, strengthened oversight of third-party software providers, automated user account management, and established ongoing reviews of data access, emphasizing that governance policies must evolve continuously as technology and educational needs change.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Ohio workgroup calls for overhaul of student transportation system

An Ohio transportation workgroup has recommended a broad overhaul of the state's student transportation system, including eventually eliminating the practice of deeming transportation to private and charter schools "impractical," while persistent bus driver shortages continue to strain school districts across the state. Public school advocates argue that additional funding should prioritize traditional districts, citing difficulties recruiting drivers and reduced state education funding, while private and religious school groups are urging lawmakers to expand transportation access so students can reliably attend the school of their choice.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Billings Public Schools eyes new bus barn

Billings Public Schools is exploring the possibility of leasing land from the city of Billings at Wilson Park for a new bus barn, located near the current facility. This initiative is part of a long-term plan that originally considered the site for a fourth high school. The district's contract with its bus provider, First Student, is projected to increase by 57.25% by the end of the 2028 fiscal year. Superintendent Smith stated: "We are generating better outcomes for kids. We're utilizing resources to make schools better for the community and for kids." This project aims to enhance the district's transportation infrastructure.

TEACHER SUPPORT

New California law grants up to 14 weeks of paid leave beginning in 2027

California lawmakers have approved up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave for public school and community college teachers, a significant change for the state's approximately 300,000 educators. Previously, many teachers had to exhaust their sick days or face pay cuts after childbirth. Governor Gavin Newsom's endorsement of this provision, enabled by unexpected tax revenue, marks a reversal from his earlier stance in 2019 when he vetoed a similar bill. H.D. Palmer, spokesperson for the State Department of Finance, stated: “Educator workforce recruitment and retention has been a priority for the administration since the governor's first day in office.” The new policy aims to address the gap in paid leave access for teachers, who have historically been excluded from the state's paid leave program. The California Association of School Business Officials has shifted its stance to support the new plan, which is set to begin in January 2027.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Education Department opens admissions probes into five medical schools

The U.S. Department of Education has opened civil rights investigations into admissions practices at five medical schools over alleged racial discrimination, marking the latest step in the Trump administration’s broader effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in higher education. The investigations target Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine, East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, St. Louis University School of Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, and William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, while the administration continues wider scrutiny of universities over admissions, campus policies, and federal funding.

INTERNATIONAL

Eskasoni teachers seek suspension of biometric timekeeping before school year begins

Teachers and educational assistants in Eskasoni First Nation, located in Nova Scotia, say a new facial recognition attendance system introduced in their schools threatens employee privacy and lacks transparency around how biometric data is stored, who can access it, and whether informed consent was obtained. The Eskasoni Teachers' Union has documented instances in which the system allegedly displayed another employee's personal information, filed a formal grievance, and requested that the school board suspend the technology before schools reopen. While the school board says the system is intended to improve timekeeping accuracy, operational efficiency, and prevent time theft, union members argue they support accountability but oppose the collection and use of biometric data without adequate safeguards. The Nova Scotia Department of Education said it is not considering facial recognition technology in provincial schools and emphasized that Eskasoni's school board operates independently under the Mi'kmaq Education Act.

Seoul boosts support for Korean language education across the U.S.

South Korea’s Ministry of Education has expanded support for Korean language education in the United States by increasing the distribution of textbooks and teaching materials to 185,000 this year, up from 179,000 in 2025. The initiative, announced with the International Korean Language Education Foundation, also introduces customized resources for toddlers and preschoolers, addressing a longstanding gap in materials for early learners. The program includes new digital teaching tools designed for interactive classroom displays, reflecting growing demand for technology-based instruction. More than 600 nonprofit weekend Korean language schools across the U.S. will receive support, with eight regional Korean Education Centers coordinating textbook distribution, reallocating surplus materials, and providing teacher training as part of South Korea’s broader effort to strengthen cultural and language ties with its overseas Korean communities. 

AND FINALLY......

Trump promotes child savings accounts during first school visit of second term

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump visited Wheeler High School in suburban Atlanta to promote the administration’s Trump Accounts program, which provides a $1,000 government-funded savings account for children born during his current term if their parents enroll, with families able to contribute up to $5,000 annually until the child turns 18. Joined by several Cabinet officials, Trump described the initiative as a major investment in children’s financial futures, while critics questioned its fiscal impact, whether lower-income families will benefit, and the appropriateness of using a public school to host what opponents characterized as a politically charged event that also featured campaign appearances and prompted local protests. 
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