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USA
13th August 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Student loan fight escalates as unions challenge ‘professional degree’ rules

A coalition of major labor unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, National Nurses United, and the AFL-CIO, has sued the Trump administration over its narrower definition of “professional degree” programs under new federal student loan rules. The groups argue that excluding programs such as social work, education, and public health from the higher $200,000 lifetime federal borrowing cap could make graduate education less affordable, worsen staffing shortages in public-service fields, and push students toward private loans that are ineligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Graduate students otherwise face a $100,000 lifetime federal borrowing cap under changes that took effect July 1. The lawsuit alleges that the Education Department improperly added requirements when determining which degrees qualify for the higher borrowing limit and failed to follow proper rulemaking procedures. A federal court has already blocked the narrowed definition from taking effect while litigation continues, but the unions say the department’s interim approach still excludes key master’s programs.

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FINANCE

Oregon schools could need up to $5bn more as education costs climb

Oregon’s Quality Education Commission estimates the state will need to increase K-12 funding by nearly $2.5bn, or 22%, to about $13.8bn for the 2027-29 school years simply to maintain current services, while more than $16.2bn, an increase of roughly $5bn or 41%, would be needed to meet new academic and attendance targets. The recommendations come as Oregon faces declining revenues, rising health care and personnel costs, and concerns about student outcomes despite spending about $19,700 per K-12 student, above the national average. With personnel compensation consuming about 85% of State School Fund dollars, educators, administrators, and lawmakers are also calling for an overhaul of the state’s decades-old education funding model to better reflect student needs, mandated services, and the true cost of delivering education.

OPERATIONS

Chicago unions clash over school funding as SEIU ramps up election spending

The SEIU Illinois State Council has transferred $1.1m to the super PAC Brighter Futures Chicago, intensifying its involvement in the upcoming Chicago school board elections. This move comes amid escalating tensions with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), which has also backed opposing candidates for school board president. SEIU Executive Director Anthony Driver criticized the CTU's support for a controversial budget amendment, commenting: "Hope is not a budget line." The budget, which includes $150m in unconfirmed state funding, has become a focal point of contention between the two unions. CTU Vice President Jackson Potter defended the budget as a necessary pressure tactic to secure state funding. As the election approaches, both unions are mobilizing resources, with SEIU and CTU representing significant numbers of educators and support staff in Chicago Public Schools.

New Florida safety rule extends high school disciplinary records into college

Florida school districts are now required to transfer high school students’ disciplinary records to the in-state colleges and universities they enroll in, under a new school safety measure adopted following the April 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University. The records, which must be transferred within five school days, can include verified reports of serious or recurring behavior, threat assessments, psychological evaluations, treatment plans, and certain therapy or progress notes maintained by school staff. Supporters, including state Sen. Don Gaetz, argue that sharing information about threats, weapons, or past violence could help prevent campus attacks. However, the policy has also raised concerns that behavioral or disciplinary issues from childhood could follow students into adulthood and affect their college experience.

POLICY

Idaho education board approves AI framework, transgender sports dispute rules

The Idaho State Board of Education has approved a framework establishing standards and best practices for the use of generative artificial intelligence in K-12 public schools, including recommendations for teacher training, age-appropriate instruction, and model policies for districts. The framework does not require schools or educators to use AI and will now go to the Legislature for approval, with implementation planned before the 2027-28 school year if lawmakers sign off. The board also approved rules for handling disputes under Idaho’s transgender athletics ban, establishing procedures intended to resolve disputes promptly while protecting participants’ privacy, although individual institutions will continue to determine athletic eligibility.

LEGISLATION

Federal bill aims to strengthen language and international education

North Carolina Democratic Reps. Deborah Ross and Valerie Foushee, alongside California Rep. Jimmy Panetta, have introduced the Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act to reauthorize and expand Title VI programs under the Higher Education Act, providing federal support for foreign language instruction, international studies, fellowships, research, and international business education. The proposal comes as foreign language study has declined at U.S. colleges, North Carolina has eased language-related education requirements, and the Trump administration has sought to eliminate or reshape federal funding for international education. Ross argues that stronger language skills are important for national security, economic competitiveness, international trade, agriculture, and cross-cultural communication, although the Democratic-sponsored bill could face difficulty advancing through the Republican-controlled House.

GOVERNANCE

Detroit Public Schools to interview two candidates for temporary board appointment

The Detroit Public Schools Community District board will interview two candidates to temporarily fill the seat left vacant by the death of board member Iris Taylor, as Michigan law requires an appointment within 30 days. The selected member will serve through the end of 2026, while the seat will also be contested in the Nov. 3 election. The board plans to consider Sherisse Butler, the fourth-highest vote-getter in the 2024 election, and an unnamed applicant from a previous appointment process, with candidates scored on written responses and interviews before the board votes on the highest-scoring applicant. Neither candidate is running in the November election.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Columbus charter school boosts attendance and enrollment with in-house busing

United Schools, a Columbus charter school network with four campuses, has reported higher enrollment, improved attendance, more reliable transportation, and better communication with families after launching its own busing system in 2025 rather than relying on public school districts. However, the program cost about $1.8m in its first year, well above the anticipated $1.1m, as more students used the service and fuel, disability transportation, and homeless student transportation costs increased. With more than 70% of its roughly 1,000 students expected to use the buses this year, chief executive Andy Boy said state funding covers only about one-third of expenses, leaving the school and donors to fund the remainder. Boy supports exploring a regional transportation system for central Ohio, provided it serves traditional public, charter, and private school students equitably.

CYBERSECURITY

New federal resources aim to strengthen K-12 schools’ defenses against hackers

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has launched its K-12 Cybersecurity Foundations Resource Package to help schools and districts prevent, mitigate, and respond to cyber threats as students return for the new school year. The package provides guides, videos, and other materials with cost-effective, customizable steps for building cybersecurity programs, recognizing that districts vary widely in expertise, budgets, and technology. CISA said the resources are intended particularly to help schools with limited capacity protect sensitive student and staff data, reduce disruptions, and strengthen the security of critical education systems.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Redesigning classrooms for student wellness

California schools are increasingly incorporating quiet spaces, known as calming corners, to help students self-regulate and manage stress. These areas, initially designed for neurodivergent students, are now benefiting a wider range of children. Veronica Jones, a teacher at Pacific Sky Elementary, shared a student's experience: “It was her idea. She went in there, and maybe five minutes later, came back and rejoined the group.” Compton USD recently invested $3.1m in these spaces, aiming to provide all students with access to supportive self-regulation resources. Alicia Weyeneth, director of special education, noted that early feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive.” The movement reflects a shift towards accommodating students' emotional needs, with experts like Janet Barbieri emphasizing its broader benefits for the entire student community.

HIGHER EDUCATION

ASU fellowship connects K-12 engineering education with Navajo students’ everyday lives

Arizona State University’s Diné Engineering Education Pathways Fellowship is partnering with K-12 teachers across the Navajo Nation to co-design engineering lessons rooted in students’ cultures, communities, and everyday experiences. Supported by a U.S. National Science Foundation grant, the program uses familiar challenges, such as navigating icy conditions, freeing vehicles stuck in sand, and using solar energy, to teach engineering concepts while positioning educators as curriculum designers and leaders. Organizers ultimately hope to establish a network of Navajo Nation teachers who can develop, adapt, and share culturally sustaining engineering curricula, strengthening students’ connections among engineering, science, language, and their lived experiences.

INTERNATIONAL

U.S.-Pakistan partnership expands Fulbright and educational exchange opportunities

The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission have signed a five-year agreement to expand educational exchange programs between the two countries, including the U.S.-funded Fulbright scholarship program. The partnership is intended to give more Pakistani students and scholars access to the American education system, strengthen capacity across Pakistan’s higher education sector, and create opportunities for U.S. citizens to collaborate in Pakistan on research, business, and public health initiatives. Since its establishment by the two governments in 1950, USEFP says its exchange programs have supported more than 9,000 Pakistanis and nearly 1,000 U.S. nationals, helping participants develop professional expertise, conduct research, and build connections between the two countries.
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