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USA
29th July 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Court stops Education Department's latest attempt to end school mental health funding

A federal judge has blocked the U.S. Department of Education from moving forward with another attempt to terminate nearly $1bn in school mental health grants, ruling that the agency likely acted unlawfully by reassessing previously approved grants using new policy priorities. U.S. District Judge Kymberly Evanson found the department could not evaluate multiyear grants against criteria that were not in place when the funding was originally awarded, and said states did not have to wait until the grants were formally canceled before challenging the decision in court. The grants, created by Congress in 2018 and 2020 following a series of school shootings, support the recruitment of mental health professionals in underserved schools. According to the coalition of states challenging the cuts, the programs have provided services to nearly 775,000 students in their first year, contributed to a 50% reduction in suicide risk at high-need schools, reduced absenteeism and behavioral issues, and improved student engagement. The judge also ruled the department could not withhold grant payments without providing recipients with notice and an opportunity for review, finding its planned actions were likely arbitrary, capricious, and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

LEGAL

Georgia teen sentenced to life without parole for Apalachee High School shooting

Colt Gray, the Georgia teenager who pleaded guilty last week to carrying out the 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Nicholas Primm ruled that the attack, which killed two students and two teachers and injured nine others, was a deliberate act rather than the result of youthful immaturity, rejecting defense arguments that Gray's abusive upbringing and troubled home life should leave open the possibility of parole. During the sentencing hearing, family members of the victims urged the court to ensure Gray would never be released, describing the lasting trauma caused by the shooting. Prosecutors presented evidence that Gray had become fixated on previous mass shootings and sought notoriety, while the defense highlighted years of abuse, neglect, parental substance misuse, and untreated mental health issues. The judge acknowledged Gray's difficult childhood but concluded that it did not excuse his actions, stating that the harm inflicted on the victims, their families, and the community warranted a sentence of life without parole.

FINANCE

Green Bay seeks $158m referendum to avoid budget cuts without raising tax rate

The Green Bay Area Public School District (GBAPS) has approved a four-year, $158m operational referendum for the November 3 ballot, asking voters to provide additional funding to help prevent further cuts to staff and educational programs while keeping the district's current property tax rate unchanged. If approved, the referendum would generate an additional $29m in the 2027-28 school year, rising to $36m, $44m, and $49m over the following three years. District leaders said the increased funding is needed to address growing budget deficits driven by declining student enrollment, rising inflation, higher operating costs, and what they describe as inadequate state funding. Superintendent Michael Hernandez said the revised proposal incorporates higher inflation assumptions to reduce the likelihood of future budget cuts, while School Board members emphasized the measure is intended to preserve existing services rather than fund new initiatives. The district said the referendum would remain tax-neutral by maintaining its current tax rate.

DISTRICTS

Chicago Public Schools removes furlough plan

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has removed its proposal to impose five unpaid furlough days on district employees next school year after opposition from board members, unions, and community members ahead of this week's budget vote. The district said it revised its revenue assumptions by increasing its projected tax increment financing (TIF) surplus to $285m, up $85m, allowing it to eliminate the planned furloughs, which would have taken effect in January on days when students were already scheduled to be off. The revised nearly $10bn budget still includes hundreds of staff reductions, increased special education staffing, and spending freezes beginning in January. Chief executive Macquline King said updating the proposal would help avoid disruptions at the start of the school year and ensure the district can proceed with short-term borrowing and meet September payroll obligations.

POLICY

More states move to restrict four-day school weeks

A growing number of states are tightening restrictions on four-day school weeks as more districts adopt the abbreviated schedule to address budget pressures and teacher shortages. Indiana recently enacted a law requiring schools to meet new academic and operational standards, including maintaining an A state accountability rating, offering enrichment and intervention programs on non-school days, and meeting the state's $45,000 minimum teacher salary, before receiving annual approval to continue using a four-day schedule. More than 2,100 schools in 26 states operated on four-day weeks during the 2024-25 school year, up from about 1,600 schools in 24 states six years earlier, although they still represent a small fraction of U.S. public schools. Research has generally found little difference in student achievement when instructional hours are maintained. Supporters of four-day weeks argue the model helps rural districts recruit teachers and better meet local needs, while critics say policymakers should ensure shortened schedules do not negatively affect student learning.

New Hampshire task force calls for more collaborative school evaluation model

A New Hampshire task force of school leaders has proposed a major overhaul of the state's school accountability system, recommending a greater focus on continuous improvement, collaboration, and student growth rather than compliance with regulations. The State Accountability System Task Force says the current framework encourages schools to "check boxes" instead of identifying areas for improvement, and has proposed adding measures such as science achievement, five-year graduation rates, expanded postsecondary readiness indicators, and peer reviews to create a more comprehensive picture of school performance. The recommendations would also revise the state's input-based accountability system by extending review cycles from two years to three, simplifying compliance reporting, and providing schools with support instead of punitive oversight when deficiencies are identified. Every six years, schools would participate in peer reviews conducted by educators from other districts to help identify strengths, share best practices, and set improvement goals. The report also recommends placing greater emphasis on student academic growth, attendance, and the progress of the lowest-performing students.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Florida, Georgia, and Colorado test security drones designed to stop active shooters

Schools in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado are introducing pilot programs that deploy nonlethal drones designed to respond to active shooter incidents within seconds. Developed by Mithril Defense, the drones can be activated by teachers using panic buttons or a mobile app and are remotely operated to reach a suspected attacker in as little as 15 seconds, using flashing lights, sirens, pepper gel, or high-speed impacts to distract and incapacitate the threat while law enforcement responds. The technology is being tested at nine schools, including three in Florida, five in Georgia, and one in Colorado, as part of state-funded and locally financed pilot programs worth more than $1m combined. Supporters say the drones could provide critical protection during the first moments of an attack, particularly at schools without dedicated resource officers, and were inspired in part by the delayed police response during the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, school shooting. However, the initiative has drawn criticism from school safety experts and gun violence advocates, who question whether military-style technology belongs on school campuses.

GOVERNANCE

Former Walton philanthropy advisor added to Arkansas Board of Education

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed former Walton Personal Philanthropy Group senior advisor Gary Stark to the State Board of Education, replacing Adrienne Woods for a term running through June 30 2033. A lifelong educator and former nonprofit executive, Stark has held leadership roles with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching and the Milken Family Foundation, and previously received the Milken Educator Award. His appointment comes as Sanders continues to advance education reforms, including the LEARNS Act, which expanded school choice through Educational Freedom Accounts that provide eligible families with 90% of the state's per-pupil public school funding, or $7,208 for the upcoming school year.

TEACHING

Research highlights teachers' critical role in outdoor play and experiential learning

New research by Charles Sturt University Associate Professor Brendon Hyndman, based on a survey of 135 teachers from around the world, has found that the quality of outdoor play depends as much on teacher confidence, autonomy, and institutional support as it does on school facilities. The study, published in the Journal of Experiential Education, argues that outdoor play should be recognized as a core part of experiential learning rather than time away from the classroom. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, the research found that teachers are more likely to facilitate meaningful outdoor play when they have professional autonomy, feel equipped with the necessary skills, and receive support from colleagues and school leaders. Many respondents said they had received little formal training in outdoor play, while inadequate infrastructure, staffing, and resources often shifted their focus toward managing risk instead of supporting students' development.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Mental health concerns ease in Milwaukee, while food insecurity and anxiety persist

A new Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that middle school students across Milwaukee County and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) are reporting stronger connections to their schools, improved feelings of safety, and better access to supportive adults, although mental health challenges and food insecurity continue to affect many students. More than 13,100 students from 86 public middle schools participated in the countywide survey during the 2024-25 school year, including more than 9,200 students from 72 MPS schools. The survey found that 59% of Milwaukee County students said they feel a sense of belonging at school, up from 53% in 2023, while 61% said their teachers care about them, up from 55%. Reports of anxiety and prolonged sadness declined but remained widespread, affecting 52% of county students and 53% of MPS students, with female students reporting significantly higher rates. Depression also fell, and more students said they had access to emotional support both at school and outside their families. Students also reported feeling safer on campus, with 63% of county respondents saying they feel safe at school most or all of the time, compared with 57% two years earlier. Rates of vaping, alcohol use, marijuana use, and school fights all declined modestly, while physical activity increased. Food insecurity also improved slightly, although more than one-third of students still reported experiencing hunger because there was not enough food at home during the previous month, underscoring the ongoing challenges facing many families.

INTERNATIONAL

Seoul school curriculum to emphasize history, constitutional values, and anti-discrimination

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to introduce a new civic education course into the school curriculum following controversy over Paichai High School students allegedly mocking the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, with the aim of strengthening students' understanding of democracy, history, and civic responsibility. The elective course, tentatively titled "Democratic Citizenship Through Coexistence and Communication," will focus on history, constitutional education, and preventing discrimination and hate through classroom discussion and interactive learning. The initiative was accelerated after nationwide criticism of the incident and is expected to be introduced in Seoul schools from the 2028 academic year, with officials also pledging rigorous oversight to ensure political neutrality in the curriculum. 

AND FINALLY......

Colorado tops national education rankings

Colorado has been ranked the top state for education by U.S. News & World Report, rising from third place last year, based on measures spanning preschool, K–12, and higher education. Governor Jared Polis welcomed the recognition but cautioned that the ranking reflects a "low bar," noting that the U.S. education system still trails many other developed countries and that too many Colorado students are struggling to meet academic expectations. The ranking was supported by Colorado's expanded early childhood education programs, including universal preschool and free full-day kindergarten, as well as an improving high school graduation rate, which rose to 85.6% for the Class of 2025. However, student achievement remains a concern. On the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 35% of Colorado eighth graders met or exceeded proficiency in reading and 32% did so in math, despite outperforming national averages in both subjects. It was followed by New Jersey, Florida, Wyoming, and Wisconsin; the top 10 was rounded out by Utah, Massachusetts, Washington, South Dakota, and North Carolina.
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