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USA
7th October 2026
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THE HOT STORY

ChatGPT Teen Mode falls short on homework and safety protections, report claims

Common Sense Media has concluded that ChatGPT’s Teen Mode poses an “unacceptable risk” to users under 18 after conducting about 4,000 interactions with the teen and general versions of the artificial intelligence (AI) tool. The nonprofit found that Teen Mode’s study features could be easily bypassed or provide direct answers to assignments, while parental alerts did not consistently activate during test conversations involving suicidal thoughts, self-harm, eating disorders, or violent behavior. The report also found that ChatGPT sometimes interacted with teenagers in a friend-like manner, inconsistently enforced boundaries around harmful content, and could not reliably determine a user’s age. Common Sense said these shortcomings are particularly significant given its survey finding that 70% of teens use AI for homework help, including 63% who reported using it to obtain answers to assignments. OpenAI disputed the testing methodology, saying technical issues prevented some safeguards, including parental notifications, from operating correctly during the evaluation. The company said it remains committed to teen safety and developed study mode with input from child development and learning experts, as well as teenagers. Common Sense urged educators to discuss AI risks with students and help them understand that chatbots can be unpredictable and unreliable, particularly during crisis situations.

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DISTRICTS

Los Angeles faces federal enforcement action over parental access to student information

The U.S. Department of Education has launched an enforcement action against Los Angeles USD (LAUSD), alleging that its gender policies improperly withhold information from parents, including information about students’ gender identities. Federal officials said the district’s policies could violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, which establish certain parental rights regarding students’ education and records. LAUSD has denied wrongdoing and said it was unaware of any new demand or filing from the Trump administration. Federal officials have not provided details about the specific nature of the enforcement action or what measures they are seeking from the district, leaving the scope and potential consequences of the action unclear.

Colorado schools seek share of Trump-backed scholarship tax credits

Colorado public school organizations are moving quickly to participate in a new federal tax-credit scholarship program backed by the Trump administration, which takes effect January 1. The program offers taxpayers a credit of up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, which can provide families with money for educational expenses. While private school students are expected to be major beneficiaries, Colorado advocates believe public school students could use the funds for tutoring, SAT preparation, Advanced Placement test fees, and programs in districts operating four-day school weeks. At least three organizations, the Colorado Public Schools Foundation, Denver Public Schools Foundation, and RESCHOOL, are creating separate nonprofits to serve as scholarship-granting organizations. Supporters see the program as a potential new revenue source for public education that could free existing philanthropic, state, or local funding for other priorities. Colorado faces a tight timeline to approve participating organizations by December, and the program’s longer-term future in the state is uncertain. Gov. Jared Polis supports participation, but Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Weiser opposes the program, and Colorado’s next governor will need to renew participation in 2028. Critics remain concerned that most of the funding could ultimately benefit private schools rather than public school students.

TECHNOLOGY

North Texas students help schools navigate AI, devices, and screen time

Students across North Texas are taking a more active role in shaping school policies around artificial intelligence (AI), digital devices, and screen time as districts grapple with rapidly changing technology and limited statewide guidance. Groups such as Descreened, founded by Wylie High School students, are encouraging teenagers to reduce unnecessary screen use through offline activities, while AI SMART at Trinity Christian Academy is advocating for clearer rules that allow students to use AI as a learning tool without replacing independent thinking. Concerns about screen time extend beyond schools, with research from Rutgers University finding that the share of U.S. preschool-aged children who were read to at least three times a week fell from about 85% in 2019 to 75% in 2024, with increased screen time associated with a lower likelihood of reading. Meanwhile, AI SMART members argue that simply banning AI could leave students unprepared for workplaces where the technology is becoming increasingly common. Texas currently has no statewide policy governing AI use in schools or limiting school screen time, although Gov. Greg Abbott has called for lawmakers to address screen time next year.

LEGAL

Washington state suspect arrested over alleged role in Tumbler Ridge school shooting

U.S. authorities have arrested 30-year-old James Cody Bryant of Washington state on a charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country in connection with the February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, which killed eight people and wounded dozens. Prosecutors allege Bryant was repeatedly in contact with 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar before the attack, offering advice, providing more than $100, and agreeing to livestream the shooting on Twitch. Authorities said Bryant and Van Rootselaar met online about three years before the shooting and later discussed plans for mass violence. Bryant allegedly provided technical advice, including after Van Rootselaar’s car failed to start while traveling to the school, and agreed to help broadcast the attack to increase the shooter’s notoriety. Prosecutors said the pair also discussed sending weapons, although Bryant allegedly refused to do so. The arrest is the first indication that another person may have participated in planning the massacre. Separately, seven victims’ families sued OpenAI in April after information emerged that Van Rootselaar had used ChatGPT to plan the attack, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman later apologized for the company not alerting law enforcement after the shooter’s account was banned.

LEADERSHIP

School superintendent turnover falls back toward pre pandemic levels

Superintendent turnover among the nation’s 500 largest school districts has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic, with just over 17% of districts changing leaders during the last school year, according to ILO Group’s Superintendent Research Project. The rate is similar to pre-pandemic levels, following a 45% increase in superintendent turnover nationally between 2020 and 2023. Despite the recent stabilization, the pandemic has left a lasting impact on district leadership. Of the 500 superintendents leading the surveyed districts when schools closed during the pandemic, only 78 remain in the same positions today. ILO Group chief executive Julia Rafal-Baer warned that frequent leadership changes can disrupt strategies, reset priorities, and prevent initiatives from producing results. The research also found that women now account for 34% of superintendents, an increase of 0.8%.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Schools look beyond safety lessons to protect students walking to class

School-age pedestrian deaths on weekdays during the school year have remained broadly unchanged over the past five years, with 134 children killed in 2024, according to an Education Week analysis of federal data. Researchers warn that children face particular risks around dawn and in the evening, while larger vehicles, high-speed road designs, and schools located farther from residential areas can make walking more dangerous. Experts say safety lessons and speed-limit signs are not enough, recommending measures such as narrower lanes, crosswalks, bike routes, and safer school entrances. New York City is reducing speed limits to 15 mph near hundreds of schools, redesigning streets, and expanding temporary car-free zones around schools. Researchers also encourage districts to map students’ routes and work with transportation authorities on infrastructure improvements that make walking and cycling safer.

Clark County School Police drops plans to pursue Flock Safety contract

The Clark County School District Police Department has decided not to pursue a contract for access to Flock Safety’s license plate reader network following a review by Police Chief Jeff Clark. The review began after reports revealed that the district had an agreement with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Foundation to access shared Flock cameras across Clark County and the Las Vegas area, prompting community concerns about student privacy and safety. Clark said the department does not own or operate Flock hardware, although it has previously accessed data through law enforcement partners. The district did not clarify whether police would continue accessing the technology through the Metro foundation, but Clark said the department would work with law enforcement partners and use available tools during emergencies involving imminent danger.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

School districts face higher fuel bills as Iran War compounds bus driver shortage

U.S. school districts are facing growing transportation pressures as higher diesel prices linked to the Iran War compound a yearslong shortage of school bus drivers. Districts are responding by consolidating and cutting routes, limiting optional trips, and introducing efficiency measures, with a May survey of 188 school officials finding that 40% had adjusted routes and 25% had eliminated some routes. Cherry Creek Public Schools outside Denver is short about 40 drivers and expects fuel costs of approximately $2 million to $2.3 million this year, well above its $1.5 million budget. The shortages can result in buses running 10 to 15 minutes late, potentially causing students to miss school-provided breakfasts or arrive late to class. Elleka Yost of the Association of School Business Officials International said federal programs introduced under the Biden administration to support electric school buses have since slowed or ended. She also cautioned that electrification is not an immediate solution for every district because of challenges including narrow or winding roads, small bridges, extreme temperatures, and a lack of trained technicians.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Watchdog probes transfer of higher education programs to Labor Department

The Education Department’s Office of Inspector General is investigating the Trump administration’s transfer of higher education programs to the Labor Department, examining how the department has executed, monitored, and managed the interagency agreement. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has signed 14 agreements shifting core department functions to other federal agencies as part of the administration’s effort to reduce the department’s role, although transferring statutory responsibilities or dissolving the agency entirely requires congressional action. The Labor Department has taken a greater role in administering higher education grants supporting historically Black colleges and universities, low-income students, students with disabilities, and other programs. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who requested the investigation, and other Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether the Education Department is continuing to meet its legal obligations, particularly after its workforce fell from 3,902 employees in January 2025 to about 2,300. Education Department officials argue that the partnerships will streamline services, reduce administrative burdens, and demonstrate that programs can be managed more effectively elsewhere. Other recent agreements have shifted certain civil rights enforcement responsibilities to the Justice Department and oversight of special education grant administration to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Higher education coalition seeks to block changes to international student internships

A coalition of higher education organizations has sued the Trump administration over a new interpretation of the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program, which allows international students to participate in internships, co-ops, and other work experiences related to their studies. ICE told universities in August that students would only qualify if the work experience is a graduation requirement for all students in the relevant degree program. The change has prompted universities including Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Tufts, and Suffolk to pause most new and pending CPT authorizations, with some students reportedly losing previously secured positions. In 2024, 130,586 international students received CPT authorization, with major employers including Amazon, Tesla, and Google. The plaintiffs argue that ICE changed its interpretation without adequate notice and are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the new requirements while the case proceeds.

Cornell case rekindles consent debate

A civil lawsuit against Cornell University and seven fraternity members has renewed scrutiny of New York’s sexual-consent laws, particularly the “voluntary intoxication” provision that critics say can leave heavily intoxicated victims without adequate legal protection. Gov. Kathy Hochul is pressing lawmakers to change the law, arguing that “if someone is too intoxicated to consent, it should not matter whether they chose to use drugs or alcohol.” The lawsuit alleges that a student was pressured into taking ketamine before being sexually assaulted, prompting prosecutors to reopen the case and appoint Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. Defense lawyers caution against treating allegations as established facts and warn that changing the law could complicate already difficult consent cases. Cornell has commissioned an independent review of its response, while advocates point to Texas, which recently changed similar legislation, as a possible model for New York.

INTERNATIONAL

Malaysia to expand school surveillance and counseling amid safety concerns

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said existing school safety measures remain insufficient after 5,681 bullying cases were reported between January and August 2026, adding that the true number was likely higher. Following several serious incidents involving students, Anwar called for greater urgency, transparency, and accountability, while warning schools against concealing cases to protect their reputations. The government has added 5,107 guidance and counseling teachers, trained 400 wardens, and authorized police to enter schools at any time. It will also allocate another RM15 million ($3.67 million) in 2027 to install CCTV cameras at 1,000 schools, while Anwar emphasized that parents also have a role in improving student safety and engagement with schools.
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