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USA
3rd November 2026
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THE HOT STORY

School leaders urged to strengthen communication ahead of political crises

Education researchers Kristina Brezicha and Alyssa Hadley Dunn have outlined four research-based strategies to help school districts prepare for political crises and support educators, students, and families during periods of uncertainty. Drawing on research into schools' responses to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, the authors found that many teachers received little or no administrative guidance, leaving them to navigate difficult classroom discussions independently. Their recommendations emphasize clear and consistent communication from superintendents, mental health and well-being support for school staff, flexibility for educators to respond to evolving situations, and shared responsibility between teachers and administrators. The authors argue that school leaders should acknowledge uncertainty, encourage collaboration, and provide practical resources rather than leaving individual teachers to manage politically sensitive events alone. Ahead of today's midterm elections, they stress that proactive leadership can strengthen institutional trust, resilience, and schools' ability to support their communities.

STATE ASSESSMENT PREPARATION

From 28% to 54% on the State Assessment

At Westview Elementary in Phenix City, average proficiency rose from 28% to 54% after the campus brought in Lumos for its state assessment practice. 
  • 26-percentage-point gain in average proficiency
  • Targeted, consistent practice inside existing intervention blocks
  • Lumos is backed by ESSA Level 3 evidence
  • In a study of 600+ schools, 92% using Lumos with fidelity saw 15%+ improvement
“Targeted instruction and consistent practice are helping students build confidence, close gaps, and achieve success.”

— Samantha Cochran, Instructional Coach, Westview Elementary

See whether Lumos can lift your campus’s state test scores this year.

See How Lumos Helps Schools Grow

 

GOVERNANCE

Alabama school board races spotlight divisions over student counseling

Alabama's State Board of Education elections have sparked debate over social-emotional learning (SEL) and the role of school counseling in public education. Republican candidates Cathi Bradford and Emily Jones have called for restrictions on SEL, arguing that schools should prioritize academic instruction and limit emotional development programs to dedicated counseling settings. Democratic opponents Angela Morgan and Shatika Armstrong have defended SEL, emphasizing its importance in helping students manage emotions, overcome personal challenges, and improve academic performance. The debate follows the board's March approval of updated statewide counseling standards, replacing a framework last revised in 2003. The new model emphasizes parental involvement, transparency, student well-being, and collaboration between counselors and families. Jones has also raised concerns about ensuring counseling standards align with Alabama's laws on gender identity. Meanwhile, the Alabama School Counselor Association has defended the revised framework, arguing that it will strengthen student support, clarify counselors' responsibilities, and improve family engagement.

DISTRICTS

Des Moines school boundary overhaul raises concerns over longer commutes

Des Moines Public Schools has proposed major changes to attendance boundaries under its $265m Reimagining Education plan, raising concerns that some students could face longer commutes and more frequent school transitions. The proposal would reorganize the district into three geographic regions, directing students toward East, Lincoln, and Roosevelt high schools, while converting North and Hoover into specialized, opt-in signature schools offering STEM, STEAM, and other programs. Changes would begin in the 2028-29 school year and phase in through 2032, with existing students permitted to remain at their current schools. Community feedback has highlighted concerns about transportation, overcrowding, equitable access, and disruptions to neighborhood school assignments, with only 46% of survey respondents supporting the proposed boundaries. Although officials have revised North High School's transition timeline, transportation arrangements and costs remain unresolved. The school board will hold a public hearing on November 4 before voting on the proposal on November 17.

FINANCE

New federal education tax credit offers funding for tutoring, learning support, school expenses

The federal scholarship tax credit program has broadened the scope of school choice by allowing families to access privately funded scholarships for tutoring, special education services, curriculum materials, transportation, and computer equipment without transferring children out of public schools. Jennifer Weber, a K-12 education policy fellow at the Manhattan Institute, notes that 31 states have joined the initiative, including New York, where Gov. Kathy Hochul opted in despite opposition from teachers unions and legislative leaders. Proposed federal rules would prioritize low-income students already receiving public benefits or school-based tutoring. Supporters argue that the program could help address learning gaps, expand educational opportunities, and improve access to specialized services for children with disabilities. However, teachers unions have criticized the initiative as a permanent voucher system that could undermine public education. Weber argues that successful implementation will depend on states approving scholarship organizations serving public school families and ensuring parents understand which services qualify for funding.

Milwaukee Public Schools faces $58m budget shortfall

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has reported a preliminary operating fund deficit of approximately $58.3m at the end of the 2025-26 school year, following an additional $12.3m in overspending despite efforts to reduce costs. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius has attributed the shortfall to years of inadequate budgeting, rising transportation expenses, and school meal costs that exceeded available reimbursements. The district has responded by eliminating hundreds of positions, restricting hiring, reducing contracts, and delaying staff raises. Under a revised budget approved on October 29, MPS projects that the deficit will narrow to approximately $23m by the end of the current school year. Meanwhile, enrollment has fallen 2,544 students below projections, although a state funding exemption has helped protect district revenue. The combined property tax levy for MPS and Milwaukee Recreation is increasing by approximately $6m, while the overall tax rate is declining to a projected $9.36 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

POLICY

Texas schools implement Ten Commandments display law amid legal challenges

Texas public schools have begun displaying Ten Commandments posters in classrooms under a new state law requiring the biblical text to appear prominently in every classroom, despite ongoing constitutional challenges. The legislation has prompted sharply divided reactions, with supporters arguing that the displays promote traditional moral values, while opponents contend that they violate the First Amendment's prohibition on government establishment of religion. A conservative Christian organization has launched a compliance tracker to monitor implementation across approximately 9,000 public schools, while other groups are distributing alternative posters featuring Buddhist teachings, human rights principles, and objections to the mandate. Many school districts have instructed teachers to treat the displays as legal requirements rather than instructional materials. More than a dozen families from different religious backgrounds have challenged the law, which survived an appeals court ruling in April. The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether to hear the case, leaving schools to navigate the mandate amid continuing debate over religious expression, constitutional protections, and public education.

TESTING

Colorado cuts CMAS testing time by up to 90 minutes

The Colorado Department of Education has announced plans to shorten standardized testing time for students in grades 3–8 beginning in spring 2027, responding to concerns from parents, educators, and lawmakers about excessive testing requirements. Under the changes, students in grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 will have their allotted testing time reduced by 45 minutes, from seven hours and 45 minutes to seven hours, while fifth- and eighth-graders will see a 90-minute reduction, from 11 hours to nine and a half hours. The Colorado Measure of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments will retain all existing questions, with officials citing evidence that most students finish well before the current time limits. Schools will also conduct fewer testing sessions, potentially reducing the number of testing days. Although officials expect the changes to ease testing burdens while preserving assessment accuracy, some State Board of Education members have raised concerns about students who need additional time and the potential for increased test anxiety.

TECHNOLOGY

U.S. youth survey finds widespread AI chatbot use among children under 13

Common Sense Media has reported that 49% of US children aged 9–12 have used artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots or companions, rising to 77% among teenagers aged 13–17, according to its 2026 census of 1,211 young people. Overall, 65% of respondents had used these tools, with approximately one-quarter of younger children and 47% of teenagers using them at least weekly. However, frequent use did not necessarily indicate satisfaction, as only 15% of younger users and 11% of teenagers reported enjoying AI chatbots significantly. The research also highlighted substantial screen media consumption, with teenagers reporting a median of approximately eight hours daily, compared with five hours among younger children, excluding homework. Meanwhile, disparities in computer access persisted, with 83% of lower-income households reporting access compared with 92% of higher-income households. The findings highlight challenges surrounding age-appropriate AI access, digital well-being, and educational technology inequality.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Boston Public Schools reports 86% morning bus punctuality, below district target

Boston Public Schools (BPS) has reported that its school bus services continue to fall short of the district's 95% on-time performance target during the first month of the 2026–27 academic year, despite improvements throughout September. Data shows that 86% of morning buses and 83% of afternoon buses arrived on time, compared with 88% and 82%, respectively, during the same period last year. Morning punctuality improved from 78% during the first five school days to 90% during the final five days, while afternoon performance increased from 78% to 85%. The district operates approximately 750 buses across 609 routes, serving more than 18,000 students through transportation contractor Transdev. Following persistent service disruptions, BPS fined Transdev more than $400,000 between March and June for severely delayed or missed trips, although it remains unclear whether penalties have continued this school year. Boston City Council is reviewing the contractor's performance and accountability measures amid ongoing parental concerns about missed classes, disrupted schedules, and additional transportation costs.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Universities expand AI adoption through existing tech platforms, stronger governance

U.S. universities have increasingly integrated artificial intelligence (AI) tools into existing campus technology systems, prioritizing data security, cost efficiency, and responsible adoption. Case Western Reserve University, the University of Hawaii, and John Carroll University have deployed Google's Gemini through their established Google Workspace environments, providing students, faculty, and staff with institutionally supported alternatives to potentially less secure consumer AI services. Their strategies emphasize leadership engagement, faculty training, clear usage policies, and ongoing technical support. Case Western Reserve has introduced campuswide workshops and advanced licensing options, while the University of Hawaii has developed guidance to help users select approved AI tools. John Carroll has established a steering committee overseeing privacy, ethics, and appropriate academic use. Despite growing interest, an IREX report found that only 34% of higher education institutions have a clear AI strategy aligned with academic and operational priorities, highlighting persistent challenges in governance and implementation.

Harvard wins dismissal of Trump administration admissions data lawsuit

Harvard University has secured the dismissal of a Trump administration lawsuit seeking extensive admissions records, including student application essays, as part of a federal investigation into compliance with the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling restricting race-based affirmative action. US District Judge Myong J. Joun ruled that the administration had failed to satisfy procedural requirements before seeking a court order compelling disclosure, but emphasized that the decision did not determine whether Harvard had discriminated or whether the government could ultimately obtain the requested information. The administration had sought five years of applicant-level data, including test scores, grades, essays, and admissions outcomes, broken down by race and ethnicity. Harvard argued that the requests were excessively broad and raised student privacy concerns. The Justice Department has indicated that it will amend its complaint.

INTERNATIONAL

China implements stricter regulations to safeguard children’s health and safety

China has introduced four new or revised mandatory national standards aimed at strengthening children's health and safety across education, sports training, and consumer products. The regulations establish stricter classroom lighting requirements to help prevent childhood myopia, addressing blue-light exposure, flicker, and lighting uniformity. Youth sports training providers must meet enhanced standards for instructor qualifications, class sizes, facilities, and emergency preparedness, with additional safeguards for high-risk activities. New product safety requirements cover goods intended for children under 14, introducing stronger protections against choking hazards, sharp edges, strangulation risks, and harmful chemicals. Revised toy safety standards also tighten restrictions on substances including formaldehyde, plasticizers, and boron, particularly in popular products such as slime and squishy toys. The measures are designed to close existing regulatory gaps, improve safety oversight, and establish more consistent standards across China's expanding children's products and services markets.
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