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USA
17th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

McMahon faces growing impeachment calls over Education Department restructuring

Democratic lawmakers have intensified calls to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and are seeking an inspector general investigation into her restructuring of the Department of Education. During her 18 months as secretary, McMahon has cut more than 40% of the department’s staff, closed regional divisions, and transferred core responsibilities to other federal agencies through interagency agreements as she pursues President Donald Trump’s mandate to return greater education authority to the states. Critics, including Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), argue that the changes have harmed students, federal employees, and public education, while McMahon and the administration maintain that the restructuring is lawful, reduces federal bureaucracy, and is intended to improve student outcomes. Three former education secretaries and the American Federation of Government Employees are also seeking an investigation into the costs of the staff reductions, including subsequent hiring to replace or reinstate some workers.

VISUAL LEARNING

Making Math Click for Multilingual Learners

Math can be challenging for any learner, but multilingual learners may face an additional barrier: learning new mathematical concepts while navigating unfamiliar academic language. Visuals and gestures can help bridge that gap, making abstract ideas more concrete and giving students multiple ways to access meaning. 

Reveal Math intentionally uses visual representations and mathematical language to support comprehension and create more opportunities for multilingual students to participate and demonstrate their mathematical knowledge.

Ready to make math more accessible and engaging for multilingual learners? Explore practical strategies using visuals and gestures to support every student. 

Read the blog here.

 

NUTRITION

School meal programs seek emergency federal support

The School Nutrition Association is urging federal leaders to provide emergency per-meal reimbursements beginning next fiscal year as rising food, labor, and equipment costs put growing pressure on school nutrition programs. The organization has asked the USDA to use Section 32 Funds for the additional support, citing an SNA survey of 1,240 school meal program directors in which 99% said they need more funding, 98% reported challenges with food costs, and 95% cited both labor and equipment costs. More than half expressed serious concern about their programs’ financial sustainability over the next three years, while 70% said current reimbursement rates are insufficient to cover the cost of producing a school lunch. Although the SNA welcomed $75m in new farm-to-school and kitchen infrastructure grants, it said the funding does not fully address the financial pressures facing programs, which could intensify as proposed nutrition standards potentially increase protein requirements and seek to reduce ultra-processed foods. The association said schools would need additional staffing, culinary training, equipment, and infrastructure to implement such changes while maintaining financially sustainable meal programs.

FINANCE

NY teachers unions push Gov. Hochul to opt out of federal scholarship tax credit

New York teachers unions and civil rights leaders are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to reverse her plan to participate in a federal tax-credit scholarship program that takes effect in January 2027. The program allows taxpayers donating up to $1,700 to eligible scholarship organizations to receive an equivalent federal tax reduction, with funds available for private school tuition, tutoring, and other education-related expenses. Union leaders argue that the program could undermine public schools, benefit relatively affluent families, and direct public funding toward private schools that may not serve students with disabilities or other higher needs. Hochul’s office maintains that the program could also support public school students without reducing state or local education budgets, while a coalition of anti-poverty groups, community organizations, and charter school leaders has similarly argued that participation could expand access to tutoring, after-school programs, special education services, and other support.

Montana rural school closure highlights financial pressures

Salmon Prairie School, a one-room K-8 school that has served Montana’s Seeley-Swan Valley for more than a century, has entered non-operational status after years of low enrollment, rising costs, and growing pressure on local taxpayers. School officials said a 2023 open-enrollment law, HB 203, added to those challenges by requiring districts to make tuition payments when resident students attend schools elsewhere. Salmon Prairie paid roughly $28,000 in tuition last school year, while 14 students left the district, and seven attended the school in fiscal 2026. At least nine small Montana districts have entered non-operational status since 2023, although supporters of HB 203 dispute that the law alone is responsible for closures. Shelley Turner, who leads the Montana Association of School Business Officials, said HB 203 has shifted what was previously a more informal open-enrollment system toward a standardized process involving additional administration, student tracking, and tuition payments between districts. While acknowledging the law can affect community perceptions when taxes rise as local enrollment falls, Turner cautioned that attributing a district’s closure solely to tuition costs is “probably an overstatement.”

Portland schools audit questions $61.5m construction management contract

A draft audit has criticized Portland Public Schools over its $61.5m contract with Texas-based Procedeo to manage major school construction projects, estimating that the district overpaid by between $4m $14m compared with similar contracts elsewhere. The audit also questioned the district’s rapid restructuring of its Office of School Modernization, the procurement process surrounding Procedeo’s selection, and contract provisions that could make changing project managers difficult or costly. Auditors identified up to $22m in potentially questionable spending, including spending on projects and personnel that they said was not authorized or clearly documented by a voter-approved bond measure. The district said it disagrees with some findings but has begun making improvements, while Procedeo said it was selected through a competitive, public process and has provided needed oversight. Auditors recommended renegotiating the contract, strengthening internal oversight, and reviewing an unusual bonus structure that could provide Procedeo with about $6m for on-time project completion.

TECHNOLOGY

Florida sets AI safeguards for K-12 schools and public colleges

Florida’s Board of Education has approved new rules governing artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 schools and public colleges, requiring adult supervision for autonomous AI tools used by pre-K-12 students, human review of AI decisions, and parental opt-in before children use approved instructional tools. Districts must maintain public lists of approved tools, provide AI safety training for teachers and administrators, and conduct additional reviews of tools used through fifth grade. The rules also prohibit AI designed to simulate friendships or emotional relationships with students, require tools to be viewpoint-neutral and free from undisclosed monitoring, and generally bar college students from using AI for graded assignments without instructor approval. Education Commissioner Henry Mack said the policy is intended to strike a balance between banning AI and allowing unrestricted access.

DISTRICTS

Minneapolis considers sweeping school consolidation as enrollment declines

Minneapolis Public Schools is considering three restructuring proposals that could remove academic programming from as many as 16 buildings and reroute thousands of students as the district responds to persistent enrollment and budget pressures. The district currently serves about 30,000 students despite having capacity for 43,000, and more than half of its 56 schools operate below 70% capacity; each proposal would move at least 12% of students and is designed to concentrate enrollment, staff, and programs in fewer buildings. At least 14 schools or programs would be affected under every option, although the district has not disclosed how much the changes would cost or save. Parents and the teachers union have criticized the potential closures and the timeline for consultation, while district leaders argue that consolidation could improve access to staffing and programs across schools. Public feedback will continue through mid-October, with the school board expected to vote before November 10 on changes for the 2027-28 school year.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Military-grade weapons at California schools draw oversight scrutiny

Police departments at some California K-12 schools have failed to fully comply with a 2021 state law requiring annual public disclosure and oversight of military-grade equipment. Nine of the state’s 21 public school police forces have purchased equipment including semi-automatic rifles, less-lethal launchers, and smoke grenades, while five had not published required reports in the past year before inquiries from CalMatters. Los Angeles School Police reported possessing 112 semi-automatic rifles and 104 bean-bag shotguns, while Twin Rivers Unified approved an equipment-use policy in May after owning military equipment for more than 20 years. School districts say the equipment is intended for extraordinary threats, including active-shooter situations, while some parents and educators have raised concerns about training, transparency, and the impact of military-style weapons on school communities.

TEACHER SUPPORT

Paid leave and postpartum accommodations could help schools retain teachers

Schools and states could help retain teachers by expanding paid parental leave and providing stronger workplace accommodations for employees returning after childbirth, according to experts. Fewer than a third of states require districts to offer teachers any paid parental leave, and Arkansas and Delaware are the only states providing at least 12 weeks of fully paid leave, leaving many educators dependent on accumulated sick days and unpaid leave. Postpartum teachers can face physical recovery challenges, anxiety, depression, difficulties with lactation, and burnout as they return to demanding classrooms, while schools are required under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, and postpartum conditions. Suggested support includes time for medical appointments, assistance with physically demanding duties, additional classroom help, and longer paid leave, which research has associated with lower postpartum depression rates, stronger mother-child bonding, and better infant health. California is set to expand support by providing educators with 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability beginning January 27.

ABSENTEEISM

Eviction alert system aims to curb chronic absenteeism among Tulsa students

Tulsa Public Schools is working with nonprofit ImpactTulsa to identify families facing eviction and connect them with legal aid, rental assistance, temporary housing, and other services in an effort to reduce chronic absenteeism and academic disruption. Since 2020, the partnership has matched student addresses with eviction filings, automatically contacting affected families, while a resource hub at East Central Middle School provides direct support and some teachers have been trained to offer basic “legal first aid.” The initiative comes as Tulsa faces an eviction rate of roughly 13%, with filings affecting more than 600 district children last school year, although fewer than 100 of 621 families contacted ultimately received district support. The article highlights evidence linking housing instability with persistent absenteeism and lower academic performance, while noting that Oklahoma’s rapid eviction process and limited assistance make intervention difficult. Tulsa’s approach has attracted interest from organizations in other U.S. cities seeking to develop similar connections between schools, housing support, and eviction prevention.

HIGHER EDUCATION

International student declines put pressure on U.S. college revenues

US colleges and universities are facing growing financial pressure from declining international student enrollment, with an American Council on Education survey of 300 senior leaders finding that 73% of those reporting declines have seen reduced revenues. Immigration restrictions and visa revocations were a moderate or extreme concern for 59% of leaders, while 49% identified their institution’s long-term financial viability as a leading concern. Among institutions experiencing international student declines, nearly a quarter reported cuts to research or student support budgets, 11% reduced financial aid, and 9% closed or merged programs. Leaders also highlighted concerns about federal research funding, academic freedom, institutional autonomy, public perceptions of higher education’s value, and increasing regulatory requirements.

INTERNATIONAL

China reconsiders role of English education as AI reshapes language learning

A viral call from Chinese math teacher Tang Jiafeng to make English optional in schools has reignited debate over whether the language should remain a core subject as artificial intelligence (AI) translation improves, student workloads remain heavy, and young people face uncertain employment prospects. Critics of the current system argue that its emphasis on grammar and testing often fails to produce practical fluency, while some schools and universities have already reduced English requirements, including a Shenzhen university that plans to phase out language courses in favor of classes comparing Chinese and Western cultures. Others argue that English remains important for accessing leading AI models, studying at international universities, traveling, and working globally, and warn that reducing public-school instruction could widen educational inequality by leaving wealthier families able to pay for private tuition. The debate also reflects broader questions about China’s future relationship with the world, and whether the country should prioritize greater global engagement or become more inward-looking.
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