Become more informed in minutes...

As the new school year begins, many students in the U.S. face the challenge of adjusting to new schools due to widespread closures. According to an analysis by Big Local News at Stanford University, 1,156 schools closed last year, the highest since the pandemic. Vallejo City USD, for instance, has seen enrollment drop from nearly 18,000 to about 9,300, leading to significant budget cuts and staff layoffs. Lydia Rainey, research principal at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, said, “States aren't about to open the coffers and swoop in with additional funds to save schools.” The decline in enrollment, driven by lower birth rates and increased private school options, could lead to a loss of $11.5 bn in state revenue annually by 2030-2031. Closing schools often fails to provide the expected financial relief and can negatively impact students' academic performance, as noted by Marisa de la Torre from the UChicago Consortium on School Research.

 

San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Chronicle

Personalizing Digital Math Learning 

Every student brings unique strengths, challenges, and learning needs to the classroom. Personalized digital learning helps educators respond to these differences by adapting instruction to each student's progress, providing targeted practice, and creating learning experiences that evolve as needs change. 

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, digital learning can help ensure students receive the right support and opportunities to grow at the right time. Discover how California Reveal Math puts personalized digital learning into practice, using real-time insights and adaptive technology to help educators support students' mathematical growth. Watch this video to see how California Reveal Math personalizes student learning like never before. 

Watch this video

 

Recent data from the California Department of Education reveals that primary and secondary students in Sonoma and Napa counties made some gains in testing, particularly in science, but still lag behind state averages in English and math. In Sonoma County, 32.28% of students met or exceeded science standards, an increase of 8.39% from the previous year. However, only 44.63% met standards in English, reflecting a 1.35% decrease. Napa County saw similar trends, with 31.77% of students meeting math standards, a 5.23% increase from last year. Overall, California students showed a decline in English and math proficiency, with only 49.26% and 38.35% meeting standards, respectively. "While state scores on ELA increased 5% from 2022, scores still trail 4% behind pre-COVID data gathered in 2019," the report noted.

 

Press Democrat

American schools should integrate food education into everyday teaching to improve students’ health, critical thinking, and civic engagement, according to Jason Hammel, a Chicago chef and co-founder of the nonprofit Pilot Light. In an opinion article for The 74, Hammel highlights that American students receive fewer than eight hours of nutrition education annually, while approximately one in five children and teenagers are obese. He argues that food education should extend beyond nutrition advice to help students understand food production, environmental sustainability, and the broader social and economic systems shaping their diets. Through Pilot Light, teachers incorporate food-related activities into subjects such as math, science, history, and English, using hands-on lessons to increase student engagement and connect classroom learning to real-world issues. Hammel highlights examples of students advocating against Styrofoam use and developing solutions to protect school-raised chickens, demonstrating how food education can encourage problem-solving and community participation. He calls for greater investment in food education across American schools, arguing that it can equip students with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health, communities, and environment.

 

The 74 (Online)

A new Education Week survey has highlighted the diverse professional backgrounds of school board members, with 44% of 478 respondents reporting no professional experience in education, compared with 30% who had worked as classroom teachers. The findings have sparked debate over whether education experience is essential for effective school governance. Supporters of diverse professional backgrounds argue that expertise in finance, construction, technology, and management can strengthen boards’ ability to oversee budgets, policies, and major projects, while ensuring broader community representation. Others emphasize that firsthand teaching experience provides valuable insight into classroom operations, instructional practices, and student needs. The discussion suggests that effective school governance depends on balancing professional expertise, community advocacy, collaboration, and a commitment to student success.

 

Education Week News

Joseph Williams, a senior director at Rialto USD, has filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation and harassment by school board member Evelyn Dominguez. Williams claims he was demoted after reporting racial and gender-based harassment, including Dominguez's comments that he "needed to think more like a woman." The lawsuit, filed on October 19 in San Bernardino County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages and highlights a history of misconduct within the district. The lawsuit also points to broader issues of accountability and retaliation within Rialto Unified, where other allegations of misconduct have surfaced.

 

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Alejandra Navarro was named the 2027 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year at the 13th annual A Salute to Teachers gala held last week. The event, organized by the Santa Barbara County Education Office, celebrated eight exceptional educators for their dedication to teaching and their communities. Over 275 attendees gathered at the Music Academy of the West in Montecito to honor the recipients, which included Selyn Barrette Harwin as the 2027 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year and several distinguished new educators and mentors.

 

Santa Barbara News-Press

Michele Bays, a dedicated member of the Patterson Joint USD Board of Trustees, concluded her 29-year tenure at a heartfelt farewell meeting on November 2. Having joined the board in 1997, Bays has been a significant figure in the district, witnessing the growth and evolution of the schools. 

 

TTown Media

Preparing students for an AI-driven future involves prioritizing essential human qualities and values. EdSurge highlights the challenges faced by school technology leaders, particularly at the Indian Community School (ICS) in Wisconsin, where the focus is on integrating AI responsibly. "Understanding how the technology works must come before using it," emphasizes the need for foundational AI literacy. At ICS, students learn about AI through hands-on activities before accessing AI tools, fostering critical thinking and ethical considerations. The article also discusses the environmental impact of AI technologies and the importance of community values in education. Ultimately, it advocates for a balanced approach that prepares students to navigate an AI-rich world thoughtfully and responsibly.

 

EdSurge

Ethan Mock, a 23-year-old student at Northern Arizona University, took a bold step into the semiconductor industry by enrolling in a tuition-free, three-month crash course at Rio Salado College. Despite having no prior experience, he was drawn to the program's promise of interviews with major chipmakers. “I do want to be in a booming industry,” Mock said, expressing excitement about his hands-on training in semiconductor manufacturing. The course is part of a broader initiative to address a projected shortage of 157,000 workers in the U.S. semiconductor sector by 2030, as highlighted by Shari Liss of SEMI. Community colleges are collaborating with industry leaders to provide accelerated training, aiming to fill entry-level positions quickly and effectively.

 

San Francisco Chronicle

More than 100 organizations, including the Association of American Universities, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Association of School Business Officials International, have urged Congress to intervene as federal agencies pursue changes to grant-making rules that would increase political oversight and give the Trump administration greater authority to cancel funding for projects that do not align with the president’s priorities. In a letter to lawmakers, the coalition argued that the proposed changes contradict bipartisan provisions passed by Congress in September and threaten congressional authority over federal spending. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Russell Vought, initially proposed the changes in May, but the White House cannot finalize the regulations until mid-December. The coalition warned that allowing agencies to implement similar measures could undermine Congress’s control over federal funding, create uncertainty for grant recipients, and raise constitutional concerns about the separation of powers. The OMB’s final rule is also expected to face legal challenges.

 

AAU	Inside Higher Education

Journalist Miriam Pawel’s book, California Dreams, examines the University of California’s evolution from its 1868 founding to the establishment of UC Merced, emphasizing its commitment to educational access and social mobility. Through five student experiences, Pawel explores early gender inclusion, rising tuition, housing affordability, and changing admissions policies. She highlights UC Merced’s role in expanding opportunities for underserved communities and the importance of faculty governance in shaping institutional decisions. Despite financial pressures, artificial intelligence, and political challenges, Pawel describes UC as a resilient institution whose future depends on maintaining its public mission.

 

EdSource

The European Commission has preliminarily found that TikTok has failed to adequately protect users’ mental health, warning that its recommendation algorithm exposes young and vulnerable users to repetitive content that could exacerbate anxiety and eating disorders. Regulators said safeguards, including the “not interested” button, have been insufficient to prevent users from encountering similar content related to dieting and body image, raising concerns that the platform’s engagement-driven model draws users into potentially harmful content “rabbit holes.”

 

The Guardian