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USA
28th August 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Teachers call for more training and collaboration to support students with disabilities

Most general education teachers do not feel fully prepared to adapt instruction for students with learning disabilities, according to a nationally representative survey of 1,654 general and special educators by the National Center for Learning Disabilities and WestEd. Just 42% of general educators said they were completely confident in differentiating instruction, falling to 17% among those with fewer than three years of experience. By comparison, 60% of novice special educators expressed complete confidence, and 62% of special educators overall felt confident selecting academic interventions, versus 43% of general educators. The survey also identified concerns about collaboration and school leadership. Only 55% of educators believed colleagues consistently met students’ behavioral needs, and fewer than one-third said their leadership teams had sufficient training and knowledge to support students with learning disabilities. While roughly two-thirds reported having adequate resources and support, fewer than half said they had enough time to consistently meet students’ needs. The report recommends more leadership training, dedicated collaboration time, and compensated mentoring roles for experienced teachers.

STATE ASSESSMENTS

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DISTRICTS

Columbus schools push back against Ohio plan for struggling campuses

Ohio is seeking federal approval for greater flexibility in addressing persistently underperforming schools, potentially allowing the state to convert traditional public schools into charter schools, transfer their management to third parties, or close them. The measures would apply to schools that have remained on the state’s underperforming list for more than three years, following earlier interventions such as replacing instructional materials and conducting comprehensive academic reviews. Columbus City Schools has 15 schools currently identified as underperforming, including four that have been on the list since 2018. Columbus school officials have raised concerns about the proposal, arguing that previous takeover strategies produced mixed results and do not address underlying funding and socioeconomic challenges. Board President Antoinette Miranda said governance changes cannot substitute for adequate resources, while Superintendent Angela Chapman pointed to housing insecurity, economic instability, and other factors affecting vulnerable students. Ohio’s waiver request says interventions would reflect local circumstances and discussions with districts, although the state would ultimately have final authority.

House committee seeks more information on Chicago schools’ gender and sexuality policies

The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce has requested additional information from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as it investigates the district’s policies supporting transgender students, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and parental involvement in decisions affecting children. The committee is seeking CPS guidelines on gender and sexuality protections, written complaints about gender-related plans since 2023, teacher and coach training, and details of related courses and materials beginning in 2025. CPS has been asked to provide the information by September 11. The request follows CPS chief executive Macquline King’s testimony before the committee in June, when she defended the district’s policies as compliant with Illinois law and emphasized its commitment to equity. CPS previously faced a federal investigation over its Black Student Success Program, which resulted in the loss of millions of dollars in federal grants after the district refused to end the initiative. The committee said its latest investigation will help determine whether potential legislative changes are needed.

OPERATIONS

Education Secretary visits North Dakota as 50-state tour advances local control

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has visited Sweet Briar School, a small rural school near Mandan, North Dakota, as part of her 50-state “Returning Education to the States Tour.” McMahon, who said North Dakota was the 41st state she has visited since taking office, met with the school’s approximately 25 students and teachers, and highlighted the school as an example of education tailored to the needs of local communities. McMahon said the tour is intended to examine what and how students are taught, their responses, and where schools are making progress, arguing that states are best positioned to innovate in education. During the visit, Assistant Secretary Kirsten Baesler and Rep. Julie Fedorchak also promoted the Education Freedom Tax Credit, which North Dakota will participate in when it launches in January. The program provides taxpayers with credits of up to $1,700 for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations, which can provide families with funding for education expenses, including private K-12 tuition.

TECHNOLOGY

Districts curb student screen time while promoting purposeful technology use

School districts and states are introducing tighter technology policies amid concerns that excessive screen time is affecting student focus, mental health, and academic performance. Connecticut has encouraged schools to adopt bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions, while Florida’s Hillsborough and Pasco counties are emphasizing hands-on learning and more intentional technology use. Hillsborough plans to limit instructional technology in younger grades to create more opportunities for movement, peer interaction, and practical learning, while allowing greater technology use as students approach college and careers. The changes come as a survey found that more than 40% of K-12 teachers believe students’ ability to focus has declined over the past five years, while 86% are concerned about worsening student mental health. Educators are also reassessing artificial intelligence (AI), with trust in general-purpose AI chatbots falling 33% in favor of AI integrated into education platforms. School leaders are being encouraged to avoid blanket technology bans, tailor restrictions by students’ developmental stages, emphasize the quality of technology use, and strengthen digital literacy.

FINANCE

Milwaukee PS invests $19m in campuses ahead of possible closures

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is investing about $19m in renovations across six north side schools as the district prepares to resume discussions about potential school closures and consolidations. About $13m is being spent at Starms Discovery Learning Center, Brown Street Academy, Douglas Middle School, and Gwen T. Jackson School, which could receive additional students if nearby schools close. Improvements include bathrooms, playgrounds, furniture, lighting, flooring, landscaping, and signage. Separately, MPS has invested $3.52m at River Trail to support its agricultural program, including a greenhouse, and $2.5m at North Division to upgrade career and technical education labs. The investments come as MPS addresses a $96m deficit, deferred maintenance, staffing needs, and delayed inflationary raises. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said the upgrades could help attract and retain students, while an advisory group is expected to discuss possible school closures as the district moves toward finalizing its long-term facilities plan.

Seattle School Board approves $1.34bn budget

The Seattle School Board has unanimously approved a $1.34bn budget for the 2026-27 school year as Seattle Public Schools works to address an $87m deficit. The technically balanced budget includes about $50m in savings, as well as the use of $21m from district reserves. Measures include eliminating about 69 central-office positions, cutting roughly 57 school-based positions, restructuring transportation services, and making other spending reductions. The budget was approved as the Seattle Education Association, which represents about 6,000 employees, authorized a strike amid ongoing negotiations over wages. Despite the cuts, Superintendent Ben Shuldiner has warned that the district remains “structurally insolvent” because spending exceeds state funding in areas including special education, transportation, and staffing. Without further changes, the district’s budget is projected to turn negative during the 2027-28 school year, potentially triggering state intervention.

TEACHER TRAINING

Kentucky expands teacher certification pathways and student teaching flexibility

Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board has approved changes to the state’s teacher certification system aimed at giving educators and schools greater flexibility. The revisions expand certification grade bands, with elementary covering kindergarten through sixth grade, middle covering grades 4-9, and secondary covering grades 7-12. They also establish a secondary general science certificate, make it easier for certified science teachers to add credentials, and create a pathway for qualified educators to teach specified computer science courses. The board also approved changes to student teaching requirements, including allowing teachers with fewer than three years of experience to serve as cooperating teachers, permitting up to two of four student-teacher observations to take place remotely, and providing greater flexibility in field placements. Emergency substitute teaching experience may also count toward student teaching placements, while candidates pursuing dual certification in elementary and special education will generally continue to complete placements at both elementary and middle or high school levels.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

New Hampshire students' mental health rebounds

The mental health of New Hampshire high school students has shown improvement following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey released by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The percentage of students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness decreased to approximately 34% in 2025, down from a peak of about 44% in 2021. This rate, however, remains significantly higher than the 25% reported prior to 2015. New Hampshire Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver stated: "The recent improvement offers an encouraging signal." The data reflects a positive trend in addressing student mental health needs in the state.

STEM

After-school STEM opportunities surge, but millions of children remain shut out

STEM learning has become increasingly common in after-school programs, with 92% of parents whose children participate reporting access to science, technology, engineering, or math activities, up from 73% in 2020 and 69% in 2014, according to an Afterschool Alliance survey of 30,000 parents and guardians. About 6.4m of the 7m children enrolled in after-school programs now have regular STEM opportunities, including hands-on activities designed to build curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. However, another 22.6m children whose parents want after-school programming cannot access it because of barriers including cost and limited capacity. The report calls for expanded funding, particularly in underserved and rural communities, and recommends including after-school providers in legislation designed to promote STEM education.

HIGHER EDUCATION

U.S. tightens internship rules for international students

The Trump administration is restricting international students’ access to internships, allowing them only when employers have partnerships with their schools, and the practical training is required for all students in their course of study. Schools that fail to comply could lose their certification to enroll foreign students. The change is part of a broader tightening of student visa and employment rules, including new visa-extension requirements and a proposed $100,000 fee for employers hiring international graduates through optional practical training. Universities have warned that limiting internships could make studying in the U.S. less attractive, particularly because work experience is important for entering the job market. New international student enrollment at U.S. institutions fell 17% last fall.

Canada attracts 48 U.S.-based professors in C$541m research drive

Canada has recruited 64 professors to universities across the country under a federal initiative designed to attract leading international researchers, with 48, or three-quarters, coming from U.S. institutions. The government has announced C$541m ($390.4m) in funding, including $504m for the initial 64 professors and $37m to help universities recruit another 63 emerging research leaders over the next year. Each professor will receive at least $1m annually in research funding over eight years, with the money intended to support broader research teams, including professors, students, and laboratory staff. The programs form part of Canada’s $1.7bn Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative, which Ottawa sees as an opportunity to strengthen Canadian science as the U.S. cuts billions of dollars in research funding. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Canada is competing with countries including France and other EU nations for leading academics and has strengthened the program to make it more attractive. Among those recruited is Canadian-born researcher Peter Caravan, who is returning after two decades at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and will receive $1.5m in research funding.

INTERNATIONAL

Cuba's schools open amid crisis

Cuba is set to begin its school year next week, despite facing a severe crisis impacting transportation, electricity, and teacher shortages. Education Minister Naima Trujillo said: "Cuba's educators are aware of the extraordinary impacts of the collective asphyxiation we are suffering ... so this will be a school year whose greatest victory will be that we are able to carry it out at all." Nearly 1.4m children will return to school, but teacher coverage has dropped to 73% due to emigration and better job opportunities. To address staffing shortages, the government plans to hire university students and retirees, while also encouraging schools to accept students in "comfortable clothes" due to a lack of uniforms.

Rising student anxiety strains Ontario mental health providers

Youth mental health providers across Ontario are preparing for a sharp rise in demand as students return to school, with experts pointing to academic and social pressures, increased time online, economic uncertainty, and anxiety about issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence. Eastern Ontario service coordinator 1Call1Click has seen demand increase 69% over four years, while the number of children under six seeking help more than doubled from 502 in 2024 to more than 1,000 last year. Kids Help Phone expects demand to rise 10% as school resumes and has already recorded a 27% increase in overnight demand. Providers say Ontario’s mental health system is struggling to keep pace, emphasizing earlier intervention through schools, primary care, communities, and families to prevent problems from escalating into crises.
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