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From Kindergarten to K-12, Edtech news, school management and teaching strategies… Education Slice is the only trusted online news source in the US dedicated to covering current headlines, articles, reports and interviews to make sure you’re at the forefront of changes in the education industry.

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Education Slice
National
California Senate advances bill for statewide teacher training in math and reading

Senate Bill 1115, which proposes training for all California teachers and aides in math and reading, has passed its initial legislative hurdle despite not having a designated funding source and facing skepticism from advocates for English learners. The bill, sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and authored by Sen. Monique Limon, aims to enhance early literacy and numeracy skills amidst a tight fiscal year, where Governor Gavin Newsom has suggested that funding for new programs is unlikely. The bill does not specify a cost but acknowledges the significant investment required to train California's 300,000 teachers, potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. Thurmond emphasized the moral clarity in training educators with proven strategies to improve student learning, leveraging significant brain science insights. Critics, particularly advocates for English learners, express concerns that the bill's emphasis on the "science of reading," which includes programs like Lexia LETRS and CORE Learning, might disproportionately focus on phonics at the expense of broader language skills that are crucial for English learners. These programs, while backed by research, are seen by some as not sufficiently addressing the diverse needs of all students. The bill encourages the use of existing federal and state Covid relief funds, which have not been earmarked specifically for this purpose, to finance the necessary teacher training.

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Education Slice
California
California sues school district over controversial gender notification policy

The California Department of Education (CDE) has filed a lawsuit against Rocklin USD in Northern California, accusing it of failing to implement corrective actions for a gender notification policy deemed discriminatory. This policy, adopted in September 2023, mandates parental notification if a student requests to be identified by a name, pronouns, or bathroom use that differs from their biological sex. The CDE, which began investigating shortly after the policy's adoption, argues that this policy violates students' privacy rights and lacks any educational purpose. According to a report released by the CDE on February 1, 2024, the policy specifically targets a certain group of students and interferes unnecessarily in student-parent relationships. Despite the CDE's findings, Rocklin Unified has reportedly not complied with directives to cease implementation and communicate these decisions to school personnel and students. The lawsuit seeks immediate revocation of the policy and compensation for legal fees. This legal action highlights ongoing tensions surrounding parent rights and student privacy in school settings, reflecting wider national debates on these issues.

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Education Slice
Texas
Struggling to stay competitive: Texas teachers face salary gap concerns

The salary disparity between Texas teachers and the national average has become a significant concern. During the 2023-24 school year, Texas teachers are expected to earn an average of $62,463, which is over $9,000 below the national average, according to the National Education Association's analysis of Texas Education Agency data. This gap highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring competitive compensation for educators in the state. Additionally, Texas' full-time school support staff, including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and secretaries, earned an average of $30,382 during the 2022-23 school year. These figures underscore the economic pressures faced by essential school personnel, who often earn wages that are not livable. The funding for Texas schools also presents challenges. The state spent approximately $12,781 per student in the current school year, which is significantly less than the national average. This spending includes a $6,160 basic allotment per student, which has not seen an increase since 2019. The stagnant funding is causing school districts to struggle with budget constraints, leading to potential cuts in programs and staff, and making it difficult to attract and retain qualified teachers. Efforts to adjust teacher pay and enhance school funding did not advance in the 2023 Texas Legislature, largely due to debates over education savings accounts. This program, which was ultimately rejected by the Texas House, overshadowed other legislative efforts to improve public school funding.

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Education Slice
Florida
Controversy over LGBTQ book ban

A federal judge in Florida is considering whether book removals in schools are protected government speech, as argued by the state and some counties. The judge's decision could have significant implications for First Amendment law, particularly as Florida leads the nation in the number of titles removed from school libraries. The controversy began when school officials in Escambia and Lake counties removed the children's book "And Tango Makes Three" from shelves, which is based on a true story about two male penguins raising a chick together. The authors of the book, along with a student, filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the removal violated the First Amendment and students' right to receive information. The defendants argue that public school libraries are a forum for government speech, not free expression. The case will proceed against the Escambia County School Board, and the government speech question remains unresolved.

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