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USA
11th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

AASA urges schools to defend E-rate as FCC weighs changes

The School Superintendents Association (AASA) is urging schools to defend the federal E-rate program as the Federal Communications Commission considers changes that could narrow, restructure, or potentially end the initiative. E-rate provides schools and libraries with 20%-90% discounts on Internet connectivity and network infrastructure, supporting nearly 149,000 institutions in 2024. The FCC is considering questions including whether support should be limited to rural communities, whether internal network connections should remain eligible, and whether funding should be tied to screen-time policies. AASA and other education groups warn that reduced support could force schools to divert funding from staff and programs, particularly in higher-poverty communities.

INTERVENTION VS REMEDIATION

Intervention or Remediation? The Difference Matters

When students struggle, the answer isn't always more of the same support. Remediation helps students access grade-level learning, while intervention delivers the intensive instruction needed to close significant skill gaps and drive accelerated progress. Understanding the distinction is critical for building an effective MTSS framework and ensuring every learner receives the right support at the right time. This article discusses practical strategies for identifying when students need remediation, intervention, or both.

Read more about intervention vs remediation

 

FINANCE

Trump school choice program could rival major federal K-12 funding streams

The Trump administration’s federal school choice program, launching next year, could become one of the country’s largest sources of K-12 funding, according to an analysis by the American Federation for Children. The program will offer eligible taxpayers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on donations of up to $1,700 to scholarship-granting organizations, which can fund expenses including tuition, tutoring, and books for public, private, and home-school students. The AFC estimates that 121.5m taxpayers will be eligible to participate. If 20% contribute, the program could generate $37.6bn annually, rivaling the combined funding of Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, while 5% participation could generate $9.4bn. However, actual participation remains uncertain, with comparable state programs typically attracting only 1%-3% of eligible taxpayers. Potential barriers include limited public awareness, administrative burdens, donors’ ability to contribute, and some states’ reluctance to participate.

TESTING

Ohio considers tighter testing oversight after 52 schools are flagged

Ohio lawmakers may consider tighter oversight of standardized testing after the state identified significant testing anomalies at 52 public and charter schools. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce found unusual results in spring 2026 assessments, including late answer changes, scores inconsistent with student ability, sharp year-over-year shifts, and unusually fast completion times. Of the schools flagged, 37 were charter schools and 15 were traditional public schools. State Sen. Andrew Brenner, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said lawmakers could pursue changes during the fall lame-duck session, but he wants to wait for the department’s investigation to determine whether the anomalies resulted from cheating, software problems, test-preparation practices, or other causes. Education advocates have called for greater transparency and routine monitoring to protect the integrity of state assessments. Columbus City Schools, which initially self-reported its own testing anomalies, has said other districts are now asking about the safeguards it uses to identify irregularities.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Mobile boosts school safety with intervention specialists

Officials in Mobile, Alabama, are expanding school safety efforts by adding four intervention specialists at selected schools and pursuing funding for four additional school resource officers. The Mobile County Public School System will spend about $672,000 over three years on the specialists, who will provide mentorship, conflict mediation, family engagement, and other support intended to strengthen relationships among students, families, schools, and communities. The proposed school resource officers would be Mobile Police Department officers trained specifically for school assignments and would supplement, rather than replace, existing sheriff’s deputies and security personnel. Funding has not yet been secured, but officials hope to place the four officers in schools before the end of 2026, with the officers working in surrounding communities during the summer.

LEGISLATION

California tightens child online protections with new social media and AI laws

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed 13 child-safety bills aimed at strengthening protections for minors online, including a law prohibiting social media platforms from showing “addictive features” to users under 16. The restrictions target features such as autoplay and personalized content recommendations based on user data. The package also introduces safeguards for AI-driven chatbots. Adam’s Law requires crisis protocols for suicidal ideation, parental controls, and independent child-safety audits, while another measure targets digitally manipulated or AI-generated sexual material depicting minors. The legislation comes amid growing scrutiny of technology companies over the potential effects of social media and AI on adolescents’ mental health. Meta defended personalization as a way to deliver relevant, age-appropriate content to teens, while OpenAI, which supported Adam’s Law, highlighted the importance of making AI safer for younger users.

EMPLOYMENT

Michigan schools add 21,000 staff as student enrollment declines

Michigan public schools have expanded staffing even as student enrollment has declined, reflecting pandemic-era funding, increased demand for mental health and safety services, and state requirements for positions such as literacy coaches. From 2018-19 to 2024-25, schools added 21,023 employees, an 11% increase, while enrollment fell by 80,261 students, or 5%. The largest increase by number was among transportation, food service, custodial, and facilities workers, while district administration and central office staffing recorded a 41% increase. School officials argue that declining enrollment does not translate directly into proportional staffing reductions because students are spread across classrooms and buildings, while districts are serving growing numbers of students requiring special education, English-language, mental health, and other support. Critics contend that pandemic funding contributed to overstaffing and say districts will need to reduce costs as enrollment continues to fall, particularly now that federal COVID relief has expired.

EARLY YEARS

Chicago school board considers universal preschool for three-year-olds

The Chicago school board is considering a resolution to study expanding full-day preschool to all three-year-olds and changing how Chicago Public Schools (CPS) provides special education services to young children. The proposal would examine barriers to early childhood access, including for bilingual students, and consider sending special education staff to private childcare settings rather than transporting children to district schools. CPS Superintendent Macquline King strongly opposes the proposal, warning that it could create significant costs for the financially strained district, duplicate existing services, and potentially require CPS staff to serve children in private and faith-based schools. Supporters argue that stronger early childhood programs could improve outcomes and reduce later intervention costs, while some board members have raised concerns about affordability, district enrollment, and implementation. The board could vote on the resolution later this month.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Ohio school report cards face scrutiny over poverty, performance, and accountability

Ohio’s school report card system is facing renewed scrutiny ahead of the release of 2025-26 ratings, with education officials divided over whether the five-star system fairly measures school performance. Supporters argue that measures including academic progress, achievement gaps, graduation, early literacy, and college, career, workforce, and military readiness provide parents with transparent accountability and recognize student growth. Critics, including Cincinnati Public Schools and Ohio Education Association officials, contend that ratings remain heavily influenced by community income and can disadvantage large urban districts serving higher proportions of marginalized students. Of Ohio’s 607 districts in 2024-25, 57 received overall ratings below the state standard, including eight of the state’s nine urban districts. Critics have also questioned why private schools receiving public voucher funding are not subject to the same report cards, while supporters maintain that holding districts to common statewide standards gives families a clearer picture of student outcomes.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Data center growth near U.S. schools prompts calls for stronger environmental safeguards

A proposed section of the 2,100-acre Quantum Frederick Data Center Campus in Maryland would sit about 500 feet from Carroll Manor Elementary School, prompting concerns about potential health, environmental, and financial effects. More than 3,000 data centers are already operating in the U.S., with over 1,500 more under development, while research cited in the article found that about 1,878 public schools are within one mile of an existing or planned facility. Experts said potential concerns include air pollution linked to electricity generation, heavy water use, PFAS exposure, noise, and light pollution, although the long-term health effects of hyperscale data centers remain uncertain. Frederick County school officials have installed air monitoring equipment at Carroll Manor and requested noise monitoring, while also raising concerns that increased electricity demand could raise utility costs for the district. A proposed agreement would provide $110m in developer-funded community benefits, including $30m for renovations at Carroll Manor Elementary School, while reducing planned data center development by nearly 20%. The area closest to the school would also be designated as parkland rather than used for a data center, although the agreement still requires local approvals.

STEM

Afterschool STEM programs expand, but rural students face access gaps

STEM education has become increasingly common in afterschool programs, with 92% of parents reporting that their child’s program offered science, technology, engineering, or math activities in 2025, up from 73% in 2020, according to the Afterschool Alliance. However, significant geographic disparities remain: only 39% of rural parents said their children participated in STEM activities at least twice a week, compared with 67% of urban parents. Broader access to afterschool programs also remains limited. Parents of nearly 30m children wanted afterschool programming in 2025, but only 7m were able to enroll. The Afterschool Alliance said rural areas face particular challenges because of fewer programs, staff, funders, universities, and other STEM resources, while 85% of families living more than 30 miles from a metropolitan area reported access to a STEM component, compared with 96% of urban families.

HIGHER EDUCATION

UC's A-G requirements under review

The University of California (UC) is reviewing its A-G requirements, the high school courses necessary for admission, for the first time in decades. Faculty leaders are assessing whether these requirements adequately prepare students for UC's academic challenges. “The goal of this A-G policy review is to consider how UC defines and evaluates college readiness in a rapidly changing educational environment,” said Ahmet Palazoglu, outgoing chair of the university's Academic Senate. Currently, only 54% of high school graduates meet these requirements, which include a minimum of 15 year-long UC-approved classes. The review may lead to changes in subject areas and the number of required courses, with recommendations expected by May. The earliest any changes could be implemented would be in 2027.

Justice Department accuses UC Berkeley Law of favoring Black applicants

The Justice Department and Education Department have alleged that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law unlawfully favored Black applicants over similarly qualified white and Asian applicants in 2024 and 2025. The Justice Department claims Berkeley Law used racial proxies and essay prompts to discriminate in admissions, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and is seeking a resolution agreement with the school. According to the government’s analysis, Black applicants had 6.5 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants in 2024, and 5.8 times higher odds in 2025, while median LSAT scores among admitted Black students were lower than those of admitted white and Asian students. Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky rejected the allegations, saying the school “scrupulously complies” with federal and state law, and does not consider race in admissions decisions.

INTERNATIONAL

Beijing expands integrated K-12 education groups

Beijing is strengthening its network of education groups to provide more integrated K-12 learning and expand access to resources across schools. In Chaoyang district, 21 education groups have been established, with leading schools supporting suburban and underprivileged campuses. The Beijing Chenjinglun High School Education Group, which encompasses 46 campuses and more than 30,000 students and teachers, has introduced a program connecting curricula and teaching across grades 1 through 12. Beginning this semester, 15 disciplines are participating in reforms designed to break down traditional grade boundaries, strengthen collaboration among teachers, and provide students with more continuous academic and extracurricular development. The initiative is part of Beijing’s broader effort to reform education and cultivate talent as technology, including AI, changes learning needs. Officials say greater flexibility across grade levels could allow schools to tailor instruction more closely to individual students’ progress and abilities.
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