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USA
2nd September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Schools scramble to set AI rules as Google opens Gemini to all K-12 students

Google has expanded access to its Gemini AI chatbot through Google Classroom to K-12 students of all ages in districts that had already enabled Gemini, prompting concerns about whether schools had sufficient time to assess, monitor, and establish appropriate rules for its use. Gemini can help students create flashcards, quizzes, and study guides, assist with math and writing assignments, and generate images, but educators and experts have raised questions about age-appropriate use, student safety, AI literacy, and teacher preparedness. Google says districts can disable Gemini at any time and that the tool includes educational and safety measures, while some school leaders are holding back access until staff receive appropriate training. The rollout comes as schools increasingly develop AI policies and grapple with how to integrate rapidly evolving technology without undermining student learning or teachers’ professional judgment.

DIGITAL CURRICULUM

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DISTRICTS

Texas districts race to improve failing campuses ahead of 2027 takeover threshold

At least 14 Texas public school districts have at least one campus that received a fourth consecutive failing grade in preliminary 2026 accountability ratings, putting them at risk of state intervention if those schools fail again in 2027. Under Texas law, the education commissioner must either take over a district or close a campus after it receives five consecutive unacceptable ratings, with a takeover replacing elected trustees with a state-appointed board of managers for at least two years. Some districts are pursuing turnaround plans, closing struggling campuses, or partnering with outside organizations to pause potential sanctions, while others have reported academic improvements that could help them avoid intervention. Austin ISD has already met the threshold for potential state action after two campuses received a fifth consecutive failing rating, although districts have until September 11 to appeal their 2026 ratings.

Columbus-area schools assist immigrant students amid status changes

Columbus City Schools and South-Western City Schools are providing support to immigrant students and families facing uncertainty following changes to Temporary Protected Status (TPS), including Haitian students whose TPS-linked employment authorization expired on July 27. Columbus City Schools said its priority is maintaining a safe, supportive learning environment and connecting families with resources, while South-Western City Schools is offering case-by-case assistance through language support staff and social workers. The districts are responding amid heightened concerns over immigration enforcement, with Columbus City Schools instructing staff not to grant uninvited government or law enforcement officials access to school buildings without a warrant or guidance from the district’s legal team.

LEGAL

California education groups seek broader reform of sex abuse lawsuit costs

The California School Boards Association (CSBA) and other education groups have declined to support Senate Bill 577, arguing that the proposed reforms do not sufficiently address the rising costs of child sexual assault lawsuits against public agencies. The legislation, which has passed the Legislature and is expected to be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, would raise the legal standard for certain plaintiffs aged 40 or older and require schools and other agencies to adopt sexual assault prevention plans and codes of conduct, but it does not include the cap on victim awards sought by education groups.

MANAGEMENT

Budget, staffing, and political pressures hold back school transformation, study finds

A new Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) study of 307 New England superintendents has found that nearly 90% believe their districts need substantial change in at least one core area, but most are prioritizing incremental improvements rather than fundamentally redesigning schools. Leaders cited tight budgets, staffing shortages, political pressures, limited time, and stakeholder expectations as barriers to deeper changes, such as eliminating academic tracking, restructuring staffing and schedules, and giving students greater control over their learning. The researchers argue that school boards, states, communities, philanthropies, and policymakers need to provide stronger long-term support and incentives for transformation, particularly as districts contend with persistent achievement gaps, elevated chronic absenteeism, and a rapidly changing workforce.

ATTENDANCE

Green Bay Schools prioritizes attendance as new academic year begins

Green Bay Area Public Schools has made student attendance a key priority as the district begins the new school year, with superintendent Michael Hernandez emphasizing that consistent attendance is essential to improving academic outcomes and helping families feel connected to their schools. Hernandez, who began his role on July 1, said establishing strong attendance habits from the first day is an important foundation for the year. Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich also highlighted the district’s teachers, staff, facilities, and educational opportunities, while stressing that students need to attend school to benefit from them.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

New DOJ guidance raises concerns over special education transition services

New U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) guidance has raised concerns among disability advocates and researchers that schools could scale back transition planning designed to prepare students with disabilities for college, employment, and independent living. The DOJ has said it will no longer rely on Olmstead guidance when enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, although the 1999 Supreme Court ruling itself has not been overturned. Experts warn that the change could confuse educators about their obligations and weaken expectations for community-based, independent living, while transition plans required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act must still address postsecondary education or training, employment, and, when appropriate, independent living. Three Democratic lawmakers have called on the DOJ to rescind the guidance, arguing that it risks reversing decades of progress toward greater integration for people with disabilities.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Boise School District rolls out eight electric buses in federally funded project

Boise School District has added eight electric school buses that will serve 29 schools during the 2026-27 school year, prioritizing underserved neighborhoods and areas near major roadways. The $2.7m project, funded entirely through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, has covered the buses and charging infrastructure without using district general funds. The buses have an estimated range of 100-120 miles per charge, produce no tailpipe emissions, and are expected to eliminate nearly 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions across the eight-vehicle fleet.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Student housing demand rises, but investors see widening market divide

U.S. student housing pre-leasing reached 89.1% across Yardi’s 200 major markets in July, up from 88.1% a year earlier, as students secured accommodation at a faster pace ahead of the new school year. However, Harrison Street Asset Management, which has allocated more than $24bn across 432 student housing properties since 2005, said investment performance is increasingly diverging between university markets due to enrollment trends, funding cuts, new supply, and shifting student demand. The firm is focusing on leading institutions where enrollment and demand remain strong, with many of its target markets operating at or above 95% occupancy, while housing supply has lagged enrollment growth at universities including Virginia Tech, Auburn University, and Penn State. Harrison Street has also capitalized on investor demand by selling assets, including a 12-property student housing portfolio for $910m earlier this year.

INTERNATIONAL

Former U.S. teacher urges revival of China-U.S. education exchanges

Retired U.S. educator Ronald Sakolsky has called for renewed, adequately funded teacher exchange programs between China and the United States, arguing that education and sustained people-to-people engagement can help rebuild relations between the two countries. Sakolsky participated in the U.S.-China Teachers Exchange Program, which ran from 1996 to 2014 and sent 116 American teachers to China and 332 Chinese teachers to the United States. He said governments should take the initiative in restoring exchanges, while ordinary citizens must maintain relationships and promote greater understanding by considering perspectives from both countries.
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