Become more informed in minutes....

Canvas, the online learning platform used by thousands of schools and universities across the U.S., suffered a widespread outage Thursday after hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on parent company Instructure. The disruption affected major institutions including Harvard and the University of Michigan during final exam season, as well as school districts in California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin, though most users regained access later in the day. Instructure said Canvas was operational again for most users, although some testing services remained offline. ShinyHunters claimed it accessed data belonging to more than 275m people across nearly 9,000 schools, threatening to release additional information unless Instructure responds by May 12. The group said the stolen data includes personal information such as names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and Canvas messages. Instructure disclosed a cybersecurity incident on May 1 and said forensic experts were investigating. The company stated there was no evidence that passwords, financial information, government IDs, or birthdates were compromised, and said the breach had been contained by May 2. The hacking group briefly posted ransom messages directly on student Canvas pages before those notices were replaced with maintenance alerts. ShinyHunters has previously targeted major companies including Ticketmaster, Microsoft, and AT&T, and has recently focused on education-related organizations.

 

CNN

USA Today

New York Times

Reuters

Florida Students Benefit from Free State Reading Program  

Florida students enrolled in New Worlds Reading are seeing promising literacy gains, according to state assessments. The free program delivers high-quality books and literacy resources to students who need extra reading support, with enrolled students scoring up to 15% higher on their state tests than their eligible, not enrolled peers last spring. With books and resources delivered directly to students’ homes and no additional lift for educators, New Worlds Reading helps districts extend instruction beyond the classroom, strengthen at-home reading practice, and improve literacy outcomes.

Explore how New Worlds can support your district’s literacy goals.

 

School districts across the U.S. are scaling back classroom technology use after spending billions on laptops, tablets, and educational software during the pandemic, amid growing concerns about student attention spans, academic performance, and excessive screen time. Schools spent between $15bn and $35bn in federal pandemic relief funding on education technology between 2020 and 2024 according to the Edunomics Lab, and by last school year, 88% of public schools reported providing every student with a device. However, at least a dozen states have since proposed or adopted policies limiting in-school screen time, including restrictions on virtual instruction and device use for younger students. Districts in Los Angeles, Utah, Iowa, Missouri, and Tennessee are among those introducing new rules or reconsidering classroom technology practices after pressure from parents and educators.

 

Washington Post

Flagler Schools are facing a significant financial challenge as they have lost 1,926 students to Family Empowerment Scholarships this year, resulting in an estimated loss of $400,000 in state funding. Chief Financial Officer Patty Wormeck explained that the third quarter calculation, which determines funding for the fiscal year, is based on October's enrollment count. Superintendent LaShakia Moore acknowledged the impact of this loss, stating: “$400,000 is a big deal,” especially considering other financial strains like increased fuel costs and health insurance premiums. Despite the decline, the district can manage the loss due to a $10.2m unrestricted general fund balance reserve. However, the trend of students leaving for scholarships has raised concerns about future enrollment, with projections indicating that Flagler Schools may not reach the anticipated 14,000 students this year.

 

Ormond Beach Observer

During Teacher Appreciation Week, the Lee County School District faces a nearly $47m budget deficit, causing concern among parents. Chelsea Gamache, a parent at Pine Island Elementary School, expressed her appreciation for the teachers, stating: "They give everything to the school, to the kids, to the families, to the community." Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin assured that critical programs and staff will be prioritized despite the budget realignment. Parents like Rachael White acknowledged the challenges but praised the teachers' dedication, saying: "We know these cuts are challenging, we know they're hard, but they still come every day with the same great attitude."  

 

WINK News

Broward County School Board members unanimously voted to allocate approximately $254.3m from a countywide referendum to support employees directly impacting students, including teachers and school safety personnel. If approved by voters on Novemebr 3, the funds will be distributed through negotiations between unions and the school district. The latest National Education Association report revealed that Florida ranks last in teacher salaries, with an average of $56,600 in 2025, compared to the national average of $74,400. Hixon noted that the referendum aims to address pay equity for the lowest-paid staff, as the district faces declining enrollment and state funding challenges. The referendum will be on the ballot for the upcoming elections.

 

The Miami Herald

The Lee County School District's consolidation plan for special education students is raising concerns about the future of Unified Sports, which has thrived in the area for a decade. Todd Dusenberry, a life skills teacher and coach, expressed that the plan could be "a death sentence to Unified Sports in Lee County." The district aims to address a $92.4m budget shortfall by centralizing special education services, which may limit access to Unified Sports for many students. Nathan Shaker, the district's chief academic officer, stated that the goal is to provide "better services" through specialized sites. However, stakeholders like Don Payne, the athletic coordinator for Special Olympics, worry that this change could reduce opportunities for students with disabilities. The program has seen significant growth, with 42 schools participating and around 1,200 athletes involved annually.  

 

Naplesnews

News-Press.com

A large U.S. school district study found that district-wide renovations, upgraded HVAC systems, improved ventilation, and better cleaning practices were associated with fewer student absences caused by respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. The study tracked 45,428 students across 1,217 school days, covering seven school years and renovations at 45 schools. Researchers found that more than one-third of respiratory illness absences could potentially be reduced by keeping school facilities updated and meeting recommended ventilation standards. The findings also suggest that more frequent cleaning may help reduce gastrointestinal illness absences, while cooler classroom temperatures and higher absolute humidity could provide additional health benefits. Researchers said the results show that maintaining strong indoor environmental quality in schools can reduce infectious disease transmission and improve attendance.

 

Nature

A new high school in northeast Polk County is set to move forward after the Polk County School Board unanimously approved a comprehensive agreement with Fortress Secured LLC. The board had previously voted to spend $10m on 72.3 acres for the school site. District officials emphasized the urgent need for the new facility, as current high schools in the area are over capacity. This project marks the first public-private partnership for the Polk district. The district will pay Fortress $6.5m in pre-development fees, aiming for the school to open by fall 2028. Additionally, Superintendent Fred Heid proposed a performance-based bonus plan tied to various achievement metrics, stating he would share any bonus with district staff.

 

Lakeland Ledger

Teachers across the country are facing unprecedented behavioral challenges among young students, particularly those affected by the pandemic. A report from the National Center for Education Statistics revealed that 65% of elementary schools reported a need for more training in classroom management, up from 51% in 2022. Experts, including Wendy Reinke from the University of Missouri, emphasize that the pandemic has disrupted children's social-emotional development, leading to more severe behavior issues. Schools are divided on how to address these challenges, with some adopting restorative practices while others push for stricter disciplinary measures.

 

Bradenton.com

As parents prepare for kindergarten registration in Pasco County a new policy may require students to be potty trained before attending class. Superintendent John Legg emphasized the growing issue, stating: "It puts a tremendous stress on our kindergarten teachers to have kindergarteners and first graders in diapers."

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

Parents in Marion County are increasingly concerned about school bus safety following two alarming incidents within a week. A fatal crash occurred when a school bus collided with a pickup truck, resulting in the death of a 76-year-old man, while four students and staff on the bus were unharmed. Additionally, dashcam footage revealed another bus running a red light with seven students aboard. Parents expressed disappointment not only over the incidents but also regarding the school district's response. A spokesperson for Marion County Schools stated that the driver involved in the fatal crash has been removed from driving duties pending further investigation. Meanwhile, in Sumter County, another bus driver faces 29 counts of child neglect after a bus was struck by a train, although no children were injured in that incident.

 

Fox 35 Orlando

More than half of Big 12 member schools are opting not to use a new private-equity-backed line of credit worth up to $30m per institution under the conference’s recent agreement with RedBird Capital Partners and Weatherford Capital. Texas Tech, Iowa State, Colorado, Kansas State, and Arizona confirmed they will decline the financing option, joining Baylor, Cincinnati, Houston, TCU, UCF, and West Virginia, which have also said they are holding off for now. Kansas has not yet decided, while several other schools have not publicly commented. The broader deal, approved last week, includes a $12.5m investment into the Big 12 conference, a commercial partnership with RedBird to help generate new business opportunities, and optional credit lines for individual schools. If every school participated, the arrangement could total as much as $500m. Schools choosing to access the funding would repay the loans through deductions from future conference revenue distributions under a fixed repayment schedule. Several universities said they support the overall partnership despite declining the credit option, citing caution or a lack of immediate need for additional financing. RedBird said the agreement is intended as a long-term commercial partnership rather than a short-term funding mechanism, adding that schools will have one year to decide whether to participate as the college athletics landscape evolves. The deal reflects growing private-equity interest in college sports, following other recent investments across the sector, including TPG’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Learfield and prior investment discussions involving the Big Ten and UC Investments.

 

USA Today

Yahoo Sports

The Florida Department of Education has proposed a rule that would restrict admission to state community colleges to only U.S. citizens and those with lawful immigration status. This rule, which could be implemented as early as May, requires applicants to provide "clear and convincing documentation" of their status. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature have prioritized immigration enforcement, previously eliminating in-state tuition for undocumented students. Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, policy coordinator for American Friend Service Committee, said: “This would affect students that the state of Florida has already invested in.” The Florida Policy Institute estimates that denying access to undocumented students could cost the state up to $15m and worsen enrollment rates, impacting the economy and workforce. Samuel Santiago, a former Valencia College student, criticized the proposal as "cheap and shameful," emphasizing that it targets vulnerable members of the community.

 

Midfloridanewspapers

Nova Scotia’s regional centers for education will reduce 150 positions as part of a government effort to achieve administrative cost savings, with critics warning the changes could weaken student support services. Education Minister Brendan Maguire said 47 positions will be eliminated through attrition, while other staff, including teachers in specialist and administrative roles, will return to classroom teaching. The province says the changes are intended to strengthen student outcomes and address shortages of math, science, and French teachers. The cuts are tied to a provincial requirement for regional education centers and other public sector bodies to reduce administrative costs by 3% annually over the next three years. Opposition leaders criticized the move as an austerity measure disguised as reform. NDP Leader Claudia Chender said there is no evidence the reductions will improve student outcomes, class sizes, or access to in-school supports, while Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin argued that coaching and specialist positions are essential to improving educational performance.

 

CBC News