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The U.S. Department of Education has encouraged states to apply for waivers from key provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to shift greater control over education policy to the states. In response, several states, including Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma, have proposed or implemented changes spanning federal funding, standardized testing, and school accountability, such as consolidating multiple funding streams into flexible pools, introducing alternative or expanded testing options, and redirecting school improvement funds directly to students rather than institutions. While state leaders argue these measures will reduce bureaucracy, improve efficiency, and allow more targeted academic support, critics warn they could weaken accountability systems, reduce transparency, and risk diverting resources away from disadvantaged groups, including English learners. Most proposals remain under review, with Iowa the only state so far to have secured approval, and others at various stages of consideration or revision.

 

Education Week News

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The Waukesha School Board has approved the sale of the Hawthorne Elementary School building to Adeline Montessori School for $2.5m, with the transaction set to close on July 1. The board voted 8-1 in favor of the sale, with Board member Diane Voit casting the only dissenting vote. Superintendent James Sebert noted: "There are limited buyers for schools and they are not easy to sell, so we feel fortunate regarding the price and the sale." Adeline Montessori, which began in Waukesha in 2020, has experienced rapid growth, increasing its enrollment from 27 students to over 160. Principal Emily Rodriguez expressed excitement about returning to Waukesha, emphasizing the school's commitment to serving all students, including those with special needs. The school plans to operate in its new building by the start of the 2026-27 school year and is awaiting approval to add high school grades.

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Tennessee House Republicans have passed a bill requiring public schools to collect and report students’ immigration status, marking a potential challenge to the 1982 Plyler v. Doe ruling, while still allowing undocumented children to attend school and avoiding measures that could risk over $1.1bn in federal education funding. The legislation, approved by a 70–25 vote, forms part of a broader Republican push to expand immigration checks across public services, has prompted strong opposition over concerns about costs, student safety, and data use, and is expected to face legal challenges as it returns to the Senate.

 

The Tennessean

Connecticut lawmakers are considering a proposal to introduce a 2-cent-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages to fund universal free school meals, with revenue intended to cover up to $90m in annual costs. While there is broad support for providing free meals to students, the tax has faced opposition from industry groups and some stakeholders who warn costs would be passed on to consumers and could extend beyond sodas to other products. Supporters argue the measure would create a dedicated funding source for a popular program, with surveys suggesting strong public backing for both free school meals and a sugary drink tax to support them.

 

CT Insider

Electric school buses could help reduce electricity prices for all consumers by improving grid efficiency, as their flexible charging schedules allow utilities to increase off-peak usage and spread fixed infrastructure costs across more users without major new investment. Charging overnight or during periods of excess solar generation, combined with managed charging systems, enables buses to add demand when the grid has spare capacity, while vehicle-to-grid technology allows them to feed power back into the system, reducing peak demand and lowering overall costs. These capabilities can also generate revenue for school districts and provide backup power during outages. With U.S. household electricity bills up about 30% since 2021, research showing electric vehicles have delivered net financial benefits to the grid strengthens the case for wider adoption, positioning electric school buses as a scalable tool to lower costs, improve grid resilience, and support the transition to cleaner energy.

 

ACT News

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a significant reduction in speed limits around over 800 schools, lowering them to 15 mph by the end of the year. The initiative is part of the enforcement of Sammy's Law, which aims to enhance safety for students. Currently, many schools have speed limits of 20 mph, while others are capped at 25 mph. Mamdani said: "Lower speeds save lives," emphasizing the importance of this measure. A 2022 Streetsblog investigation revealed that school zones experience a higher rate of crashes and injuries, particularly in areas with a greater proportion of students of color. The city plans to implement these changes based on traffic data and community feedback, with the goal of expanding the initiative citywide by the end of Mamdani's first term.

 

Chalkbeat

New York City education officials are proposing a new selective high school in Lower Manhattan focused on advanced technology fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics, computer science, and advanced math. The proposed Next Generation Technology High School would aim to prepare students to both develop and responsibly use AI, with potential partnerships involving universities and technology companies. If approved, the school would open with a freshman class in the fall and expand one grade at a time. The proposal has sparked debate because the city has yet to release formal guidance on how AI should be used in its schools, despite previously promising rules earlier this year. Some parents and educators support the school as a forward-looking effort to prepare students for technology careers, while others worry the city is moving too quickly without understanding AI’s effects on learning, academic integrity, and student well-being. Critics have also raised concerns about the school’s selective admissions process and about replacing an existing small high school at the site.

 

Gothamist

Sonoma Valley USD in California has approved a comprehensive policy governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across its schools, establishing guardrails for students, staff, and other users as the technology becomes more widespread in education. The policy encourages AI as a tool to enhance learning, support teaching, and improve administrative efficiency, but stresses that it should supplement, not replace, critical thinking, instruction, and professional judgment. It also requires ethical, transparent use, equitable access, and strong safeguards around privacy and data security, alongside ongoing staff training and community engagement. At the same time, the district has clearly defined prohibited uses, including generating harmful or discriminatory content, sharing confidential or personal information, and violating academic integrity or conduct policies. Officials emphasized that the framework is designed to be flexible as AI evolves, with more detailed implementation guidance to follow.

 

Government Technology

Klein ISD is increasing campus security measures after three separate gun-related incidents at the Texas district in one week, including two students bringing firearms to high schools and an adult entering an elementary school with a holstered weapon. The district will expand police presence, conduct more random metal detector screenings, and introduce additional K-9 searches when students return from spring break, while reiterating strict consequences including expulsion and felony charges. Officials emphasized that staff responded quickly in each case, with no injuries reported, and urged parents to secure firearms and reinforce safety with their children.

 

Houston Public Media

Mike Daria, Superintendent of Tuscaloosa City Schools, has agreed to extend his tenure until December 2027 following a significant pay increase from $283,774 to $400,000, making him the highest-paid superintendent in Alabama. Daria, who has served since 2016, expressed gratitude for the board's confidence, commenting: "It says a lot about the mutual trust and respect that exists with the board and with me." Daria cited the ongoing progress within the school system and the upcoming Saban Center, a $120m STEM and arts education hub, as key motivators for his decision to remain. His career with Tuscaloosa City Schools spans 30 years, and he looks forward to contributing further to the district's advancements.

 

Tuscaloosa News

Efforts to expand free pre-kindergarten (pre-K) education in Michigan, led by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, face significant challenges in attracting and retaining child care workers and teachers. Despite initiatives like the MiEarly Apprentice program, which aims to support current workers in obtaining degrees and higher wages, the state remains classified as having “child care deserts,” with 79% of ZIP codes lacking sufficient child care slots. Jack Elsey, founder and chief executive of the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI), emphasized the importance of early education, commenting: “If we care about every child in this state being able to read and do math on grade level, an early foundation is critical.” The state aims to enroll 75% of four-year-olds in publicly funded early learning settings by 2024, necessitating an additional 1,700 lead teachers and 3,400 associate teachers. The Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative has committed nearly $3.4m to support these efforts.

 

U.S. News

South Korean high school students spend about six hours a day on screens but just over one hour on outdoor activities, highlighting a significant imbalance in physical activity, according to a report from the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The study surveyed 1,212 second-year high school students in 2024. Students reported using smartphones and computers for an average of 5.8 hours per day for girls and 6.2 hours for boys. The most common activities were entertainment and studying (1.5 hours each), followed by social media (1.4 hours), and gaming (1.1 hours). Girls tended to spend more time on social media, while boys spent more time gaming. By contrast, outdoor activities such as exercise averaged 1.1 hours on weekdays and 1.6 hours on weekends, and fewer than 40% of students said outdoor leisure activities were part of their routine. Nearly 99% of respondents reported daily use of phones or computers. The report also highlighted a significant perception gap between students and parents regarding device use. While 86.3% of students described themselves as moderate users and only 1.2% believed they overused devices, 36.7% of parents said their children were at high risk of multimedia overuse. Researchers warned that heavy screen use and reduced physical activity are linked to rising obesity and worsening vision among adolescents. Obesity rates among boys rose to 15.5% in 2024, up from 8.8% a decade earlier, while myopia among first-year high school students reached 74.8%, compared with 63.1% in 2005. Experts said addressing the issue requires considering both students’ and parents’ perspectives.

 

The Straits Times