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18th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Federal judge overturns Education Department policy targeting DEI-related grants

A federal judge has struck down a U.S. Department of Education policy requiring the termination of grants supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, ruling that the directive was arbitrary and capricious. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley found that the policy lacked clear criteria for determining which programs constituted DEI and failed to consider the impact of cancellations on teachers and teacher-training programs. The department announced in February 2025 that it was canceling more than $600 million in grants, with more than 90% of awards under two K-12 teacher preparation programs ultimately terminated. The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by eight Democratic-led states, although separate claims seeking to recover terminated funding would need to proceed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

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.

 

FINANCE

Washington Gov. holds off on federal education tax credit decision

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has not decided whether the state will participate in the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program, which will allow taxpayers in participating states to donate up to $1,700 to approved scholarship organizations in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit. Supporters argue the program could generate substantial additional education funding, with Democrats for Education Reform estimating more than $700m in potential donations for Washington students, while critics contend it could direct public resources toward private education and weaken accountability. Scholarships could cover private school tuition, room and board, and other expenses, while public school students could use funds for services such as tutoring, certain special-needs support, computer equipment, and activities not funded by schools or the state. Ferguson has said he will wait for final federal rules before making a decision, as advocates and opponents continue to debate the program’s potential impact on public education funding and school choice.

DISTRICTS

Philadelphia looks to school consolidation to expand high school course choices

Philadelphia’s school district is seeking to address disparities in high school course offerings through a plan to close 17 schools, including five high schools, beginning next year, with students consolidated into larger schools that could have more resources for classes and extracurricular activities. Ten of the district’s 55 high schools currently offer only one AP or IB course, while some smaller schools provide limited choices in foreign languages, arts, and electives, in contrast with competitive magnet schools that offer more than a dozen AP courses and multiple arts and language options. District officials argue that higher enrollment and facility investments could support more equitable access to courses, although educators say details about the additional opportunities have yet to be clearly defined. Some students and teachers also remain concerned about the trade-off between expanding academic choices and preserving the smaller school environments that can provide students with a stronger sense of community.

LEGAL

Wyoming Supreme Court finds key parts of school funding system unconstitutional

The Wyoming Supreme Court has partly upheld and partly reversed a lower court ruling that found the state had chronically and unconstitutionally underfunded public schools. The court found that lawmakers violated students’ rights by failing to adequately account for inflation and the actual cost of teacher salaries in the state’s school funding model, creating disparities among districts and failing to meet constitutional requirements for an adequate public education. However, the justices reversed requirements for the Legislature to fund computers for every student, nutrition services, and school resource officer programs, and ruled that the state does not have to conduct a statewide assessment of school facilities for educational suitability. The decision comes as lawmakers recalibrate Wyoming’s school funding model, with Gov. Mark Gordon calling for a durable, transparent, and financially sustainable system that provides greater predictability for schools.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Experts urge simpler, age-appropriate lockdown drills

School safety experts and research distinguish routine lockdown drills from more intense active shooter simulations, despite the terms often being used interchangeably. Lockdown drills generally involve locking doors, turning off lights, and moving out of sight, while active shooter simulations can include actors, simulated gunfire, fake blood, and nonlethal projectiles. In a piece for The Conversation Emily Greene-Colozzi, assistant professor of criminology and justice studies at UMass Lowell cites studies that suggest lockdown drills may improve preparedness, reduce fear, and potentially limit casualties. She also notes that evidence on high-intensity simulations is mixed, and that concerns remain about psychological harm. Experts recommend age-appropriate, neutral approaches, particularly for younger children, but inconsistent terminology, policies, and practices across states make it difficult to assess the overall benefits and risks of school preparedness drills.

POLITICAL

Nevada Gov. puts teacher pay, resources, and accountability at center of education agenda

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has made education a central part of his second-term agenda, proposing competitive teacher pay, potential student loan assistance for early-career educators, and additional resources for schools, although he has not specified how the measures would be funded. Nevada significantly increased K-12 funding earlier in his term, with lawmakers approving a $2.6bn increase in 2023 and base per-student funding rising from $7,074 in fiscal 2023 to $9,414 in fiscal 2025, but subsequent increases have not kept pace with inflation. Lombardo has also emphasized school accountability, literacy, math skills, and preparing students for college or employment. Democratic challenger Aaron Ford has criticized the state’s education record under Lombardo and is proposing reading specialists in every elementary school, smaller class sizes, expanded career and technical education, better staff pay and training, and a parents council. State data show that fewer than half of students in grades 3–8 met proficiency standards in reading and math during the 2025-26 school year.

SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Indiana private school voucher program hits records for spending and enrollment

Indiana spent a record $548m on its private school voucher program during the 2025-26 school year, up from $497m a year earlier, as participation reached a record 80,548 students across 385 schools. More than half of participating families earned over $100,000 annually, and nearly 70% of voucher recipients had never attended an Indiana public school. Vouchers averaged about $6,800 per student and covered up to 90% of the per-pupil funding that would otherwise go to a student’s local public school district. The program has expanded further for the current school year, with Indiana removing income and other eligibility restrictions and making vouchers available to all students attending private schools.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Michigan student vaccine exemptions climb as immunization rates continue to fall

Michigan’s school-age children are receiving vaccine exemptions at the highest rate in a decade, with the statewide waiver rate rising to 7.1% in 2025 from 6.2% in 2024, continuing a five-year decline in vaccination participation. Kindergarteners recorded the highest waiver rate at 7.7%, while nearly 25,000 students received exemptions statewide, and rural districts generally reported higher rates than urban and suburban systems. Public schools had an overall immunization rate of 90%, compared with 80.9% at private schools, while health experts warned that higher exemption rates could increase the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases spreading in schools. The trend has intensified debate over Michigan’s waiver requirements, vaccine policy, and changing public attitudes toward immunization, as health advocates push for stronger vaccination policies and some parents and officials seek easier access to exemptions.

EARLY YEARS

Hawaii adds more than 100 public pre-K classrooms as private preschool capacity shrinks

Hawaii has spent or committed more than $120m to expand public preschool and opened more than 100 classrooms, but the state’s overall preschool capacity has still declined as private providers close or reduce enrollment. The state had 25,426 preschool seats as of August, roughly 2% fewer than at the start of the decade, with 40 traditional private preschool sites closing over the past three years amid lower enrollment, staffing shortages, rising costs, and competition from free public programs. Despite the decline, access has improved as Hawaii’s population of three- and four-year-olds fell by more than 10% between 2020 and 2025, and the state projects nearly 82% of children will have preschool access next year, compared with 63% in 2020. Hawaii has also expanded its Preschool Open Doors subsidy program, which now has a $50m annual budget, but application delays have left some families unable to enroll their children and added pressure on private providers. Early education advocates say the state has made preschool more affordable but needs to strengthen its teacher workforce, improve subsidies, and better support private programs alongside continued public expansion.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Portland Public Schools contractor faces scrutiny over billion-dollar construction program

A former senior project manager at Portland Public Schools has raised concerns about Procedeo, the contractor overseeing more than $1bn in construction projects, alleging problems with project oversight, procurement compliance, budgeting, and the $472m modernization of Cleveland High School. Eric Gerding, who resigned after 13 years with the district, said Procedeo’s management contributed to logistical problems during Cleveland’s temporary relocation, proposed cost-saving measures that could increase long-term expenses, and, on multiple occasions, instructed him to bypass public procurement procedures. His allegations follow a draft external audit that found the district put $1.8bn in voter-backed bonds at risk, described Procedeo’s $61.5m contract as overpriced, and identified more than $762,000 in overpayments. Portland Public Schools said it will investigate Gerding’s concerns and noted that Procedeo has reported nearly $20m in savings over eight months, while Procedeo defended its selection process and broader role in overseeing the bond program.

ABSENTEEISM

Michigan schools make gradual progress on chronic absenteeism

Michigan’s chronic absenteeism rate declined for a fourth consecutive year, with 27.2% of K-12 students missing at least 10% of the school year, down from 27.9% a year earlier and a peak of 38.5% in 2021-22. Significant disparities remain, with about 38% of economically disadvantaged students chronically absent, compared with 15% of students who are not economically disadvantaged, while Detroit Public Schools Community District recorded a rate of 60%. Schools and local governments are experimenting with strategies including home visits, transportation assistance, attendance incentives, health services, and family engagement, as officials cite factors such as economic instability, health issues, and student disengagement. The continued high absenteeism comes as Michigan faces academic challenges, including third-grade reading proficiency of just over 38% in 2025.

INTERNATIONAL

U.K. teens ranked unhappiest in Europe

U.K. teenagers have recorded the lowest life satisfaction among 29 European countries for the second consecutive PISA survey, according to analysis by The Children's Society. Almost one in five 15-year-olds reported low life satisfaction, while 11.1% said they were unhappy with school, and 43% worried about achieving good grades at school or college. Wider concerns also affected well-being, with four in 10 young people worried about rising prices, and 38% concerned about crime. Girls reported lower satisfaction than boys in several areas, including school, family, appearance, and life overall, with 21.2% unhappy with how they looked. The findings highlight the pressures affecting students both inside and outside the classroom, and the need for greater support for young people's well-being. Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children's Society, said: "This isn't a one-off. It's a pattern, and it should be a wake-up call."
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