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USA
14th August 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Nearly one in four U.S. students remains chronically absent six years after pandemic

U.S. public schools continue to struggle with elevated chronic absenteeism six years after the pandemic began, with 22.6% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2025, down about one percentage point from the previous year but still substantially above the roughly 15% recorded before COVID-19. Data collected from 45 states by the free-market-oriented American Enterprise Institute think tank indicates that attendance is gradually improving, but researchers say pandemic-era changes to attitudes toward regular attendance have persisted and could make it difficult for schools to reverse declines in academic performance. Districts are increasingly pursuing efforts to bring students back to classrooms, including Los Angeles USD, where administrators have visited families to encourage attendance. Chronic absenteeism in the district declined to 27.7% last school year but remains above the 26% recorded in 2018-2019, illustrating the continuing challenge of returning attendance to pre-pandemic levels.

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FINANCE

Chicago school board seeks voter views on millionaire surcharge

The Chicago Board of Education has voted 12-1 to place two nonbinding questions on the November ballot to gauge voter support for raising additional revenue for Chicago Public Schools (CPS). One asks whether Illinois should impose a surcharge on millionaires to increase public school funding, while the other asks whether Chicago should levy financial penalties on owners of vacant or underdeveloped lots and direct the proceeds to CPS. The advisory measures, the first placed on the ballot by the school board, come as CPS faces significant budget pressures, including uncertainty over $150m in anticipated state revenue. Supporters said the referendums could build public support for new funding sources, while the sole opponent argued they would not provide an immediate solution to the district’s financial challenges. The vote followed an initial failure to reach a quorum and renewed divisions between members aligned with the Chicago Teachers Union and other elected board members.

Denver schools put $44m mill levy override before voters

Denver Public Schools will ask voters in November to approve a nearly $44m mill levy override to fund employee raises, mental health and special education services, and career and technical education programs amid tightening state and federal budgets. The school board unanimously approved placing the measure on the ballot, with $25.8m earmarked primarily for employee raises, including a recommended $1,750 base salary increase, $4.9m for expanded mental health and special education services, $4m for career and technical education hubs, and $9.3m for charter schools. If approved, the measure would cost the average homeowner about $5.91 per month, or $71 annually. District supporters argue the additional funding could help address teacher retention, crowded classrooms, and shortages of student support services.

TECHNOLOGY

Texas weighs broader classroom screen restrictions after statewide cellphone ban

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed further restricting the use of laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices in K-12 classrooms, arguing that schools should emphasize books, handwriting, and direct teacher instruction while reserving technology for specific lessons and assessments. The proposal, which would require legislative approval next year, follows Texas’ statewide ban on cellphone use in public schools and comes amid broader concerns about the effects of excessive screen time on children. Abbott has not yet detailed specific limits or how restrictions would differ by grade level, but he cited reports of improved participation, grades, and reduced bullying following the cellphone ban. Several Texas districts have already begun reducing classroom technology and limiting AI use, while six states have enacted laws addressing screen time in schools.

NUTRITION

Urban School Food Alliance appoints first medical advisor as it expands school nutrition focus

The Urban School Food Alliance has launched its School Lunch is Healthcare initiative to highlight the role nutritious school meals can play in children’s health, including a free six-part educational video series for nutrition professionals, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners. The nonprofit, which represents 19 school districts serving 3.8m students, including The New York City Department of Education and Dallas ISD, has also appointed Dr. Manasa Mantravad as its first medical advisor. The initiative comes amid increased scrutiny of school nutrition from the Trump administration, including concerns about ultra-processed foods in federal meal programs, while school nutrition advocates are calling for additional funding to support healthy and scratch-made meals.

TEACHER TRAINING

OpenAI Academy brings AI training to more than 1,600 K-12 educators

OpenAI Academy is running a two-month series of AI Skills Jams for more than 1,600 K-12 teachers, administrators, and support staff across the U.S., focusing on practical ChatGPT applications for lesson planning, special education, family communication, and administrative work. Participants work with OpenAI mentors, district partners, and other educators to develop ready-to-use AI workflows, with examples ranging from adapting materials for students with learning differences and translating family communications to analyzing assessment data, creating classroom visuals, and supporting school operations.

LEGISLATION

Colorado strengthens protections for students with disabilities

Colorado has enacted SB26-125, strengthening protections for students with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination in public schools, requiring equal access to educational programs and reasonable accommodations, and establishing state-level oversight through the Colorado Department of Education. The law also creates grievance procedures and enforcement mechanisms designed to ensure schools comply with the protections. Disability advocates supported the legislation after families reported delays and unanswered complaints to the federal Office for Civil Rights, amid staffing cuts and planned changes to federal education oversight. Advocacy Denver said the state law provides an additional avenue for resolving disputes regardless of changes at the federal level, while the U.S. Department of Education said its restructuring efforts would continue to protect students’ civil rights.

ENROLLMENT

Enrollment declines hit North Texas schools

As students return to school in Texas, many North Texas districts, including Dallas ISD, are grappling with declining enrollment. Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde noted that Dallas ISD's enrollment has decreased by 3% from the previous year, continuing a trend of losing over 1,000 students annually since 2015. Factors contributing to this decline include immigration policies and demographic trends, such as lower birth rates. Elizalde said: “We are prepared to receive as many students as come through our doors,” as she anticipates enrollment to stabilize this year. The Texas 2036 report highlighted a statewide drop of 76,000 students in 2025, marking a 1.4% decline, the largest outside the pandemic. Despite these challenges, new initiatives like universal pre-K aim to attract more families to Dallas ISD.

EMPLOYMENT

California Assembly urges federal action as DACA processing delays sideline educators

California lawmakers are urging the federal government to accelerate DACA work permit renewals after prolonged processing delays have forced some educators to stop working when their existing authorization expires. The state Assembly unanimously approved House Resolution 124, which calls on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other federal agencies to expedite renewals for DACA recipients. More than a quarter of the roughly 506,000 DACA recipients nationwide live in California, including thousands working in K-12 schools and higher education, and advocates say unprecedented delays are disrupting classrooms, educators’ incomes, and students’ academic continuity. California State University faculty are also pursuing legislation that would allow students affected by delays to pause their studies and return without having to restart the university application process.

SPORTS

Income gap shapes access to youth sports as families face rising costs

A new AP-Ipsos poll has found that although Americans overwhelmingly view organized sports as beneficial for children, participation varies significantly by household income. About 7 in 10 parents of K-12 students earning at least $100,000 annually say their children participate in organized sports, compared with about four in 10 lower-income parents. Costs are a significant barrier: about two-thirds of sports parents spend up to $2,000 annually on equipment, fees, training, and travel, while scheduling, fees, travel, and equipment expenses are widely cited as challenges. Despite those pressures, parents largely believe sports provide important benefits, including physical fitness, teamwork, resilience, friendships, reduced screen time, and stronger self-confidence. Many also consider potential college admissions or scholarship benefits, although relatively few young athletes ultimately compete at the collegiate level or receive athletic scholarships.

STEM

DOJ finds three National Science Foundation STEM programs unconstitutional

The U.S. Department of Justice has determined that three National Science Foundation STEM education programs are unconstitutional because of their race-based criteria, including initiatives supporting Hispanic-serving institutions, graduate education, and minority participation. The programs account for roughly $104m of NSF’s $938m STEM education fund, although the DOJ said the agency cannot reprogram the funding and may instead treat it as residual funding within its broader STEM education appropriation. Two other programs can continue without provisions deemed unconstitutional, while four programs reviewed by the DOJ were found constitutional. The decision has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers and science advocates, who argue that eliminating the programs could reduce educational and career opportunities for underrepresented students.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Harvard wins dismissal of federal lawsuit over alleged antisemitic discrimination

Harvard University has secured the dismissal of a Trump administration lawsuit alleging that it failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination, with U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns ruling that the incidents cited by the government were “too isolated and episodic” to establish a persistent violation of federal civil rights law. The government had sought to halt $2.6bn in existing federal grants and recover millions of dollars in previous grant payments, citing incidents of antisemitism largely from the 2023-2024 school year. Harvard, which has acknowledged shortcomings in its previous response to antisemitism, argued that it has since undertaken extensive institution-wide efforts to address the issue and characterized the lawsuit as part of a broader dispute over federal funding and academic independence. The Justice Department said it disagrees with the ruling and is evaluating its next steps.

North Carolina approves 43 programs for new Workforce Pell Grants

North Carolina has approved 43 short-term workforce training programs for potential eligibility under the new federal Workforce Pell Grant program, which extends Pell funding to qualifying programs with strong completion and job placement outcomes. The unanimously approved programs span 16 community colleges and include training in fields such as health care, public safety, truck driving, electrical linework, welding, and emergency medical services, with Forsyth Tech and Gaston College each receiving six program approvals. The programs must now secure U.S. Department of Education approval before students can access federal financial aid, while the NCWorks Commission is continuing to evaluate applications and expects to approve additional programs later this year.

INTERNATIONAL

Ontario teachers to get C$750 Staples accounts for classroom supplies

Ontario has selected Staples Canada to operate its new classroom supply program, which will provide 80,000 elementary educators with C$750 ($540) each per school year to purchase everyday teaching supplies. The online portal will open September 1, a week before classes begin, and will offer around 3,000 products, including paper, storage units, math supplies, paper towels, and calculators, with the selection informed by a survey of 23,000 teachers. The province said Staples’ bid was nearly half the price of the second-ranked bidder and that orders will be delivered directly to schools within three to five business days, including in rural, Northern, remote, and fly-in communities. The initiative has faced criticism after it emerged that C$300 of each C$750 account will be drawn from existing school funding.
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