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USA
30th July 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Lawmakers renew push for federal school cybersecurity support

A bipartisan Senate bill introduced by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mark Warner (D-VA) would provide $20 million over two years to strengthen cybersecurity in K-12 schools through new federal resources, including a Cybersecurity Information Exchange, a Cybersecurity Incident Registry, and a School Cybersecurity Improvement Program. The proposal, a renewed version of legislation that failed to pass in 2023, would be directed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to help schools access best practices, funding opportunities, cybersecurity tools, and training. The legislation would also establish a national registry to track the dates, details, and outcomes of cyberattacks against K-12 schools, helping identify trends and improve prevention and response strategies. Education organizations, including the Consortium for School Networking and the National Association of Elementary School Principals, have endorsed the proposal, citing the growing threat ransomware and other cyberattacks pose to schools, student data, and classroom operations. 

POLICY

HHS shifts teen pregnancy funding toward abstinence-focused programs

The Trump administration has terminated more than 50 federally funded Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants across 25 states, canceling the remaining $143m in funding two years early for initiatives that worked with schools and community organizations to reduce teen pregnancy and support student well-being. The Department of Health and Human Services said the affected programs conflicted with administration priorities, while simultaneously seeking applications for new grants that place greater emphasis on abstinence. Organizations affected by the cuts warn the loss of funding will end services that connected students with trusted adults, health resources, and relationship education, potentially reversing progress as U.S. teen pregnancy rates have reached historic lows. Several grantees have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the funding cancellations, arguing the move is unlawful and could negatively affect student health, attendance, and educational outcomes.

New Texas classroom commission to advise on public education

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed 21 current and former educators from school districts across Texas to serve on the newly created Texas Classroom Commission, a teacher-led advisory group that will develop recommendations to strengthen classroom instruction, support teachers, and improve student achievement ahead of the state's 90th Legislative Session. The commission will provide guidance to the Governor, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Legislature, and is chaired by former teacher and State Board for Educator Certification Chair Courtney Boswell MacDonald. The commission builds on previous education initiatives, including the Teacher Vacancy Taskforce and the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding, which contributed to increased special education funding, higher teacher pay, expansion of the Teacher Incentive Allotment, and classroom discipline reforms. Abbott said the new panel will ensure educators play a central role in shaping the future of public education in Texas.

LEGAL

Report details widespread abuse claims at Michigan arts school

An independent investigation commissioned by the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan has uncovered 70 accounts of alleged sexual misconduct involving 47 former faculty and staff members spanning the 1950s through the 2010s, along with allegations involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a former donor to the Michigan arts school. The report describes allegations ranging from grooming and inappropriate touching to sexual abuse, prompting the school to provide the names of those accused to local authorities, although none are current employees and more than one-third are deceased. The investigation also found that two former students reported sexually inappropriate conduct by Epstein, who donated more than $400,000 to the school between 1990 and 2003. Interlochen apologized to survivors, said the findings were "devastating," and stated that the institution has since implemented comprehensive safeguarding policies and cultural changes to better protect students. 

FINANCE

New oversight panel aims to strengthen Iowa City school finances

The Iowa City Community School District has appointed a new Financial Oversight Committee of seven community finance experts, two school board members, and the district's chief financial officer to strengthen financial transparency, accountability, and long-term fiscal sustainability following a financial crisis. The independent advisory panel, which will hold its first meeting in August, will provide recommendations on budgeting, audits, internal controls, risk management, and financial reporting to help rebuild public confidence. The committee was created after the district disclosed it had failed for years to accurately track spending and revenue, including approving a $10m interfund loan to cover operating expenses. In response, the district has already cut $7.5m from its 2026-27 budget through staffing reductions, spending freezes, and other cost-saving measures, while warning it may require another $10m loan by September to meet cash flow needs.

Former LAUSD Super opposes bill he claims will undermine Prop. 28 arts funding

Former Los Angeles USD (LAUSD) Superintendent Austin Beutner is urging California lawmakers to reject Assembly Bill 2440, arguing that it would weaken voter-approved protections established under Proposition 28, the 2022 ballot measure that dedicates roughly $1 billion annually to expanding arts education in public schools. Beutner, who authored Proposition 28, contends the bill would allow districts to use the funding to replace existing arts spending rather than expand programs, contrary to the measure's original intent, and could effectively shield districts from legal challenges over past spending practices. The dispute centers on LAUSD, which Beutner sued in 2025, alleging the district improperly replaced existing arts funding with Proposition 28 money instead of supplementing it. LAUSD has denied any wrongdoing, maintains it has complied with state guidance, and says it did not help draft the legislation. Supporters of AB 2440, including several education and arts organizations, argue the bill is needed to clarify ambiguous funding rules that have complicated implementation across school districts. The bill has already passed the California Assembly unanimously and is awaiting consideration in the State Senate.

Proposed Oakland school millage sparks debate over education funding

Oakland County voters will decide next Tuesday whether to approve a six-year, 1.5-mill regional property tax that would provide an estimated $781 per student annually to every public school district and charter school in the county. If approved, Oakland would become the latest Michigan county to adopt an enhancement millage, joining nine other regions that use local property taxes to supplement state education funding for operating expenses, such as teacher salaries and student services. Supporters argue the measure is one of the few available tools to help districts address rising costs and provide more stable funding amid concerns that Michigan schools remain underfunded despite recent increases in per-pupil state aid. Critics contend the proposal lacks sufficient detail about how districts will spend the additional money and question whether taxpayers should pay more without clearer accountability. If the measure passes, nearly 60% of Michigan public school students would attend districts receiving enhancement millage funding. School districts would have broad discretion over spending, although some, including Berkley Schools, have pledged to direct most of the funds toward recruiting and retaining teachers. 

CLASSROOM

Study says civic education in U.S. schools lacks hands-on student engagement

A new report from the Center on Reinventing Public Education has found that while civic education is a core part of instruction in most U.S. schools, students have limited opportunities to develop civic skills through real-world participation. The report, based on survey data and interviews with leaders from 345 school districts, argues that effective civic education requires both classroom instruction and practical experiences, such as volunteering, community engagement, and civic dialogue. According to the report, 90% of school districts incorporate civics into required coursework, but only 35% provide civic learning opportunities outside the classroom, and just 13% require students to complete community engagement or civic action projects. The researchers also found that only 13% of districts require professional development to help teachers facilitate discussions on controversial issues. The report recommends that districts strengthen civic education by establishing clearer goals, expanding teacher training, providing shared instructional resources, and creating more opportunities for students to practice civic participation.

EMPLOYMENT

Milwaukee Public Schools targets laid-off Chicago educators to fill staffing shortages

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is recruiting educators affected by proposed staffing cuts at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), hosting a two-day job fair in Chicago with plans to make immediate job offers to qualified candidates. The district is seeking to hire about 200 teachers and 150 paraprofessionals as part of an effort to reduce class sizes and address vacancies before the new school year. The recruitment drive follows CPS's proposed budget, which would eliminate 760 teaching positions, 801 teacher aide positions, and 162 central office and citywide roles to help close a $732m budget deficit. MPS officials said similarities between the two urban school systems make Chicago educators strong candidates for positions in Milwaukee. The hiring campaign also supports Superintendent Brenda Cassellius' strategy to expand classroom staffing after MPS cut about 260 non-classroom positions to help close its own $46m budget gap. As of July 27, the district reported 111 teacher vacancies and around 100 paraprofessional openings, and said it has accelerated its hiring process while expanding recruitment efforts to attract qualified educators before the school year begins.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Settlement-funded program brings recovery experts into Arkansas schools

Ten newly trained opioid prevention recovery coordinators will begin working in four Arkansas school districts during the 2026-27 school year, helping students and families access prevention, treatment, and recovery resources while providing education on substance use risks. The positions are funded through a nearly $1.5m investment by the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership, which distributes the state's share of a national opioid settlement. The coordinators are the first graduates of the partnership's 80-hour Prevention Recovery Education Program, which organizers describe as the first initiative to combine prevention and recovery training. They will serve the Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Springdale, and Watson Chapel school districts, supporting efforts ranging from harm reduction education to connecting students with recovery services and alternatives to school expulsion. Program leaders say the initiative responds to data showing a continued need for opioid prevention and recovery support among Arkansas students.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Districts struggle to keep buses running amid budget pressures

School districts across the United States are scaling back bus routes and exploring alternative transportation options as driver shortages, rising fuel costs, inflation, and declining student enrollment strain education budgets. According to a 2025 survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 80% of districts reported transportation disruptions caused by bus driver shortages, while 73% cited budget constraints, with the number of U.S. school bus drivers falling 9.5%, from more than 223,000 in 2019 to 202,000. Education leaders warn that reducing transportation services can increase absenteeism and place additional financial burdens on families, particularly those without reliable access to a car. Districts are increasingly considering student-focused rideshare services and other alternatives, although federal school bus safety regulations limit flexibility. In Ohio, where transportation costs rose nearly 5% to an average of $1,273 per student in fiscal 2026, officials are reviewing policies to improve access as schools contend with ongoing funding pressures and persistent driver shortages.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Nevada Native American tuition waiver program faces uncertain future as costs rise

Nevada's Native American tuition waiver program, which allows eligible Native American students to attend public colleges and universities with tuition and fees covered, is facing questions about its long-term future as participation and costs continue to increase. Since its launch in 2021, the program has grown from about 170 recipients to nearly 700 students during the 2024-25 academic year, with annual costs rising to $3.9m, prompting higher education leaders and policymakers to seek a more sustainable funding model. Supporters say the waiver has expanded access to higher education for Native American students by allowing them to study full time without accumulating significant debt. The program was expanded in 2023 from a last-dollar to a first-dollar waiver, enabling students to use other financial aid for expenses such as housing and books. Officials have also reported improved retention rates among first-time Native American college students, although enrollment has remained relatively stable and it is still too early to determine the program's impact on graduation rates.

INTERNATIONAL

Japan prioritizes air-conditioned school facilities after Kumamoto quake

Japan's Ministry of Education has urged local education boards in areas affected by the powerful Kumamoto Prefecture earthquake to use air-conditioned school classrooms as evacuation shelters, rather than relying solely on gymnasiums and martial arts halls, where air conditioning remains uncommon. The recommendation follows a government survey showing that only 22.7% of elementary and junior high school gymnasiums nationwide are equipped with air conditioning, with the figure falling to just 13.4% in Kumamoto Prefecture. As of the morning of July 29, the ministry reported 11 students had sustained minor injuries while under school supervision, along with six faculty and staff members who suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious. The earthquake also caused damage to 72 schools in Kumamoto Prefecture, including structural damage to buildings and fallen equipment. Across Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima prefectures, a total of 106 schools were reported to have sustained damage.

AND FINALLY......

Oprah transfers leadership of South African Girls School

Oprah Winfrey announced significant changes for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa, stating that after the 2027 academic year, the residential campus will be returned to the Gauteng Department of Education. Winfrey emphasized that current students will be able to complete their education under the existing arrangement. Her organization has graduated over one thousand students and plans to continue supporting the community by funding tuition for girls attending other top-tier schools. Winfrey recalled her inspiration for OWLAG, saying: "From the very beginning, I said to Nelson Mandela, ‘I want to create a school for smart girls who will lead this country into glory." The organization expressed optimism about the future, stating: "For OWLAG, the next chapter is just beginning."
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