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The Secure Rural Schools Act, which provides essential funding for school districts surrounded by untaxed federal land, expired in fall 2023. However, on Tuesday, the U.S. House voted overwhelmingly, 399 to 5, to extend the program through 2027 and provide retroactive payments to affected districts. Jaime Green, the superintendent of Trinity Alps USD, emphasized the importance of the program, commenting: "If the Secure Rural Schools Act was extended, financially we will be alright for years to come." The program, originally enacted as a temporary measure, has faced funding lapses due to congressional disagreements. The recent extension aims to stabilize funding for rural schools, which have been significantly impacted by the decline of the logging industry and the federal government's ownership of land.

 

Los Angeles Times

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Texas has initiated a partnership with Turning Point USA to establish chapters of the organization in every high school across the state. Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault announced the initiative, emphasizing that schools should not obstruct the formation of these clubs. Abbott said: "Any school that stands in the way of a Club America program in their school should be reported immediately to the Texas Education Agency." The partnership follows discussions between Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and Thifault, with the aim of expanding Turning Point's influence in schools. The organization, founded by the late Charlie Kirk, has faced criticism for its views; the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group that tracks extremism, describes it s an organization with a strategy of sowing fear “that white Christian supremacy is under attack by nefarious actors, including immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, and civil rights activists.” Abbott noted that while he would not endorse similar initiatives for progressive causes, he believes in promoting constitutional principles and values in education.

 

The Hill

The Texas Tribune

U.S. News

Facing a $10 million budget shortfall and a decade of declining enrollment, the Cedar Rapids Community School District is considering major cost-cutting measures, including closing four to six elementary schools and the Truman Early Learning Center. Since 2017, the district has lost over 2,000 students—1,000 in the last two years alone—without major budget adjustments. With the end of pandemic-era federal aid looming, school officials are engaging staff and the community to explore reductions across operations, staffing, and programming. A final plan is pending, but school board members stress that difficult decisions are necessary to “right size” the district and stabilize finances. The district is also launching a marketing campaign to boost enrollment, as more families opt for charter schools, private schools, and open enrollment in neighboring districts.

 

The Gazette Cedar Rapids Iowa

The partnership between Des Moines Public Schools and the Des Moines Public Library allows students to access library resources using their school IDs, benefiting approximately 12,000 students in grades seven through twelve. This initiative aims to address the lack of dedicated library spaces in some schools, particularly Lincoln High School, which is the only high school in the district without a library. However, the partnership has faced criticism from groups like Moms for Liberty, who argue it undermines state laws restricting access to certain books. Rep. Helena Hayes stated: "Allowing the public libraries now to grant full access to any material definitely subverts that." Despite the controversy, library advocates emphasize that public libraries are designed to serve the community and do not act in loco parentis for parents. The partnership is seen as a significant step toward expanding access to educational materials for students.

 

Des Moines Register

At a recent hearing, parents expressed significant concerns regarding the proposed closure of Chickasaw Middle School by Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) due to chronic underenrollment. The district plans to merge Chickasaw with Westwood High School, which has raised safety issues, particularly regarding the combination of middle and high school students. Joseph Cox, who leads the nonprofit Youth of Westwood, said: "They're good about making decisions about us without us." The school board is set to vote on the proposal in February, but many parents feel their voices have not been adequately heard. Board Chair Natalie McKinney emphasized that the closure is not a "foregone conclusion" and encouraged community feedback before the vote. MSCS aims to address safety and support concerns as part of the merger process.

 

Chalkbeat

The U.S. Supreme Court has directed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to reconsider its ruling on a New York state law that eliminated religious exemptions for school vaccinations. This decision follows the high court's previous ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which affirmed parents' rights to challenge public school curricula based on free exercise of religion. The case, Miller v. McDonald, arose after New York's 2019 law removed religious exemptions in response to a measles outbreak. Amish schools and parents contested financial penalties imposed for non-compliance, arguing that the law infringes on their First Amendment rights. The 2nd Circuit previously ruled that the law did not pose an existential threat to the Amish community, referencing Wisconsin v. Yoder. In a related matter, the Supreme Court declined to review a case regarding book removals in public libraries, which has implications for school libraries as well.

 

Education Week News

New York Times

This year has posed significant challenges for families in California, particularly for Rosalba Ortega, a farmworker from Bakersfield, who struggles to provide for her two granddaughters. With rising rent and food prices, Ortega noted: "There’s not much food for them." A recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California revealed that three in 10 Californians, including half of lower-income residents, have reduced meals to save money. Experts emphasize that hunger and economic distress can adversely affect students' academic performance and their decisions regarding college attendance. Natalie Wheatfall-Lum, director of TK-12 policy for EdTrust-West, stated: "What’s happening out of school can have a huge impact on their ability to learn while they’re in school." Research indicates that children struggle to focus when SNAP benefits are depleted, leading families to resort to unhealthy food options.

 

EdSource

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has expressed strong opposition to the Senate Banking Committee's proposed crypto market structure bill, the Responsible Financial Innovation Act. AFT President Randi Weingarten stated: "If passed, it will undercut the safety of many assets and cause problems across retirement investments." The AFT argues that the legislation poses "profound risks to the pensions of working families and the overall stability of the economy." Concerns include the potential for widespread fraud and the erosion of protections for traditional securities. Weingarten emphasized that the bill could lead to unsafe assets in pension and 401(k) plans, warning that it may lay the groundwork for the next financial crisis. The AFT's stance reflects broader apprehensions among labor unions and state officials regarding the implications of the bill on financial oversight and consumer protection.

 

CNBC

Georgia will equip all 2,300+ public schools with opioid overdose reversal kits by spring 2026 as part of a statewide initiative funded by opioid settlement dollars. The Georgia Overdose Response Partnership aims to curb rising overdose cases in schools and ensure staff can respond to emergencies using naloxone (Narcan). The program supports “Wesley’s Law,” which permits schools to administer opioid antagonists and grants staff legal immunity when acting in good faith. Over half the schools have already received kits, with full rollout expected by spring.

 

CBS News

WALB

Des Moines Public Schools is introducing the My Ride K-12 app to enhance bus tracking for parents and caregivers. The new app replaces the Here Comes the Bus app and provides additional features, such as school boundaries and transportation eligibility, according to Samantha Sonnichsen, the district's director of transportation. The app includes GPS tracking and is designed to improve safety by allowing only two registered users per student, who can manage access for others. Currently, the system is not mandatory for all students due to the absence of scanning equipment, but efforts are underway to secure funding for necessary upgrades. The My Ride K-12 app is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, and it supports multiple languages.

 

Des Moines Register

Local residents have voted to replace Lexington High School with a new $660m campus, one of Massachusetts’ most expensive public school projects. Set to open in 2029-2030, the new building will address overcrowding and infrastructure issues at the 70-year-old campus. The Massachusetts School Building Authority will contribute up to $121.7m in grants. While supporters hailed the result as a much-needed investment, critics warned the design may be too small to accommodate future population growth from new housing developments. However, school district leaders have emphasized the new building is designed with the ability to expand, such as converting the district’s central administrative offices, which will be located there, into classrooms, if needed.

 

The Boston Globe

The U.S. Education Department has agreed to end former President Joe Biden’s SAVE student loan repayment plan as part of a proposed settlement with Republican-led states who argued it was too generous. SAVE, which offered low or $0 payments and early loan forgiveness for low-income borrowers, will stop accepting new applications, and 7m current enrollees will be shifted to other plans. Borrowers must soon choose between fixed or income-driven options, ahead of the rollout of new Republican-backed repayment plans in 2026. The change comes as 12m borrowers are already behind on payments, raising concerns about a potential default wave.

 

NPR

New research by DCU’s Create centre has found that 86% of primary and post-primary teachers in Ireland are experiencing moderate to high levels of personal and work-related burnout. The 2025 Teacher Occupational Wellbeing Research report, which surveyed over 1,000 educators, identified workload as the primary contributor, alongside unrealistic parental expectations, complex work structures, and challenges in supporting students with special educational needs. In response, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has called on Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton to establish an independent review of teacher workload, mirroring a recent initiative in Northern Ireland. INTO General Secretary John Boyle warned that “intolerable and unmanageable demands” are fuelling burnout, contributing to teacher shortages and vacancies.

 

RTÉ

Rod Paige, the first Black and first educator to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education, has died at 92. Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001, Paige championed the No Child Left Behind Act, a landmark education reform focused on standardized testing and accountability to close achievement gaps. Though initially celebrated, the law later faced mounting criticism for its rigid mandates and inadequate support for underperforming schools. Paige’s tenure was marred by controversies, including inflammatory comments about teachers’ unions and a public relations scandal. A former Houston schools superintendent, Paige remained active in education after leaving office, co-authoring books and briefly leading Jackson State University.

 

New York Times

The Texas Tribune