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The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in various sectors necessitates a significant update in media literacy education within schools. Brian Baker, a consultant for Media Literacy Now, emphasized the challenge, commenting: "It is difficult for the media literacy, education world to keep up with the world of technology and specifically AI development." A recent survey revealed that 61% of elementary school educators believe their students struggle to differentiate between AI-generated and non-AI-generated content. To address this, at least half of U.S. states have enacted laws to enhance media literacy education, with 11 states passing new legislation since January 2024, according to the report by Media Literacy Now. Educators like Kelly Guilfoil and Jonathan Broersma are implementing critical thinking strategies regarding AI use, aiming to foster responsible engagement with technology among students. As Baker noted, the integration of media and AI literacy is essential to prepare students for the complexities of the digital landscape.

 

Education Week News

What’s Shaping Special Education Today

With approximately 7.5 million students nationwide receiving special education services, guidance around special education continues to evolve making it difficult for leaders to keep pace with the most relevant information. To help leaders stay current, a curated collection of the latest special education insights and free resources brings together expert perspectives and research‑aligned guidance.

These timely resources spotlight current thinking on special education as intervention, evidence‑based dyslexia practices, and instructional approaches that support students with learning disabilities across broader systems of support.

 

The Alaska Senate Finance Committee has advanced a draft capital budget allocating nearly $250m for state facilities and maintenance projects, including a significant increase in funding for education infrastructure. The proposal adds $88m to the governor’s original plan, with major allocations directed toward K-12 schools and the University of Alaska system in response to longstanding concerns over deteriorating facilities. The draft includes $57.8m for K-12 school maintenance and $17m for university projects, addressing a backlog exceeding $400m across more than 100 school repair needs, particularly in rural areas facing failing infrastructure. Funding will support priority projects such as roof replacements, heating systems, and safety upgrades, while also providing targeted support for specific schools, including rebuilding efforts and improvements to Mt. Edgecumbe High School. Lawmakers emphasized the urgency of addressing deferred maintenance, warning that failing to act could lead to higher long-term costs and worsening conditions for students and staff. While the budget represents progress, officials acknowledged it covers only a portion of the need, with further revisions possible as the proposal moves to the full Senate and House for consideration.

 

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Los Angeles County schools experienced a significant decline in enrollment, losing 32,953 students this year, which represents a 2.6% drop and accounts for 44% of California's overall enrollment decrease. The Los Angeles USD faced an even steeper decline of 4.5%, losing 16,765 students. Elizabeth Sanders, a spokesperson for the California Department of Education, said: “Declining school enrollment in California reflects the national trend.” Factors contributing to this trend include declining birth rates, rising housing costs, and changes in migration patterns. Thomas J. Kane, director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard, noted that “the decline itself shouldn't be surprising,” emphasizing the need for schools to adjust their plans proactively.

 

Los Angeles Times

The Green Bay School District is set to implement a new high school schedule starting in the 2026-27 school year, with significant changes for East High School, which will transition from a trimester to a semester system. The new schedule will feature seven 50-minute periods and a 30-minute advisory, with lunch reduced to 35 minutes. However, the introduction of longer "blocked" class periods has been postponed until the 2027-28 school year. A district spokesperson mentioned that teachers interested in blocked classes will receive professional development to prepare for the upcoming changes. "The idea... is to have longer class periods as an option," the spokesperson said. While some schools will see minimal changes, East High will experience a notable shift in its daily structure.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

Colorado Democrats are drafting legislation that could merge the small, high-poverty Sheridan School District with Denver Public Schools, as concerns mount over ongoing labor disputes, declining performance, and limited resources. The proposal, led by State Sen. Jeff Bridges, follows a teachers’ strike that began in early April and reflects broader worries about the district’s stability, student outcomes, and infrastructure. Supporters argue consolidation could provide Sheridan’s roughly 900 students, many from low-income backgrounds, with greater resources, operational efficiencies, and stronger academic support in a larger district. However, district leaders strongly oppose the plan, warning it could disrupt the community, erode local control, and potentially displace students. Critics also question the legality of such a move and fear it could lead to longer commutes and weaken community ties, while negotiations over the strike continue and lawmakers weigh next steps.

 

The Colorado Sun

Minnesota lawmakers have made school safety a top priority following recent incidents, with broad bipartisan agreement that more funding, stronger safety planning, and improved threat reporting systems are needed. However, with only weeks left in the legislative session, deep divisions remain over how to implement these measures, preventing consensus on a final package. Both Democrats and Republicans support increasing school safety funding, but differ on how it should be distributed and used. Republicans favor a broad approach that allocates funding to public, charter, private, and tribal schools, with an emphasis on physical security measures such as school resource officers and building hardening. Democrats, particularly in the House, prioritize investment in mental health professionals and student support services, arguing that prevention through early intervention is more effective than focusing primarily on infrastructure. There are also disagreements over the total size of funding and where the money should come from within the state budget. Despite these differences, legislative leaders from both parties have expressed a willingness to negotiate and reach a compromise before the session ends. There is cautious optimism that a multi-layered school safety package, likely combining elements of funding, planning, and support systems, can still be agreed upon, though significant policy gaps remain unresolved.

 

MPR News

In the wake of a recent shooting, Natomas USD officials in Sacramento, California, are advocating for the return of school resource officers. This request comes after the fatal shooting of 16-year-old De’Jon Sledge at Natomas High School, which was described by the Sacramento County District Attorney as a “violent attempted robbery.” The city had previously withdrawn from a $2.1m contract to provide these officers due to staffing shortages. District officials stated: “While we recognize the difficult reality that no system can eliminate every risk, we continuously reevaluate and strengthen our processes and procedures as part of our commitment to the safety of our students and staff.” A city spokesperson confirmed that the request is currently under consideration.

 

EdSource

A conservative legal group has filed a federal complaint against Montgomery County Public Schools, arguing that its gender identity guidelines violate constitutional rights and federal privacy laws by limiting what information is shared with parents. The policy allows students to keep their gender identity private and directs staff to assess potential risks before informing families, citing safety concerns for some students. America First Legal is seeking an investigation and the removal of the guidelines, claiming they breach parental rights and free speech protections. School officials said the policies are regularly reviewed and comply with the law, emphasizing their commitment to supporting students. The complaint marks the second major challenge to the district’s guidelines, following a previous lawsuit that was dismissed in court.

 

Bethesda Magazine

Ohio school officials and education groups are opposing a provision in Senate Bill 311 that would require districts to sell unused school facilities at fair market value and prioritize certain buyers, arguing it undermines local decision-making. Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeff Talbert and other education leaders said the bill’s 60% enrollment threshold for closures is arbitrary, could conflict with community preferences, and may limit flexibility for future needs or development projects. While lawmakers say the changes address concerns about vacant buildings, unions and school associations are calling for revisions to preserve local authority over property use and long-term planning. In a joint statement, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, the Alliance for High Quality Education, the Ohio School Boards Association, and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, requested revisions to the legislation that would let districts “maintain buildings for district operations,” and preserve district property for “anticipated growth or long-term facility planning needs.”

 

Ohio Capital Journal

A growing number of New York City public schools are adopting the International Baccalaureate (IB) model as an alternative to selective gifted programs, aiming to provide rigorous, inclusive education for all students. Led initially by Brooklyn’s District 13, the initiative now includes five elementary schools and two middle schools, forming the city’s first IB pathway spanning early childhood through eighth grade, with the goal of continuing into IB high schools. The IB approach emphasizes inquiry-based, interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to connect global issues to their own lives, develop critical thinking skills, and engage in project-based assessments rather than traditional test-focused instruction. Educators and district leaders view it as an equity tool that broadens access to enriched learning opportunities and reduces academic segregation within schools. Schools adopting IB have reported benefits beyond academics, including increased student engagement, improved writing and critical thinking skills, and stronger connections between classroom learning and real-world issues. For example, students at Restoration Academy applied lessons from literature and science to investigate water quality and advocate for change, illustrating the model’s focus on student voice and civic engagement. The program has also helped address practical challenges such as declining enrollment. At P.S. 56 in Brooklyn, IB replaced fragmented programs and contributed to a more cohesive school environment, rising enrollment, and improved reading proficiency rates. However, transitioning to IB requires significant investment, including teacher training, curriculum redesign, and annual program fees, as well as strong buy-in from school leaders and staff.

 

The 74

The Wall Street Journal looks at how an influx of wealthy families into South Florida is intensifying pressure on private school capacity and prompting billionaires to fund new campuses tailored to elite expectations. Jeff Greene built The Greene School in West Palm Beach after seeing too few openings for incoming families, creating a campus with flight simulators, 3-D printing, sailing, and tightly managed dismissal systems. Other high-profile figures, including Stephen Ross, Adam Neumann, and John Marshall, are also backing new schools despite steep costs, permitting delays, and neighborhood resistance. Greene said: “You can’t just write a check and magically have a great school.” The expansion push reflects a growing belief among affluent parents that strong private-school options are essential for relocation, especially for families focused on prestigious college admissions and specialized programming.

 

Wall Street Journal

Pennsylvania’s Black teacher workforce remains far below the share of Black students, a gap The 74 argues stems from post-desegregation policies that dismantled the pipeline rather than from simple lack of interest. It points to targeted early teaching experiences as a stronger remedy than broad workforce initiatives. The Freedom Schools Literacy Academy is offered as one example, giving high school and college students classroom roles, coaching, and training in Black pedagogy. In 2025, apprentice interest in teaching rose from 89% to 95%, while nearly 9 in 10 participating students met or exceeded literacy growth goals.

 

The 74

After a week of negotiations, the U.S. Department of Education has made only minor structural adjustments to its proposed accreditation reforms, leaving the core policies largely intact despite widespread concerns from higher education stakeholders. Critics argue the proposals could undermine institutional autonomy, conflict with federal law, and open the door to political influence over accreditation and access to federal student aid. While some committee members and policy experts raised objections—particularly around expanded federal oversight, changes to peer review, and new requirements tied to academic freedom and civil rights—the department maintained that the reforms fall within its authority and are necessary to modernize the system and address gaps. Supporters say stronger standards and accountability are needed, but others warn that vague language could allow future administrations to misuse the rules, with uncertainty remaining ahead of further negotiations in May.

 

Inside Higher Ed

A cross-country analysis of G7 and other advanced economies found that building resilient education systems during the COVID-19 pandemic required more than simply maintaining instruction, highlighting the need for targeted academic support, mental health investment, and stronger data systems. Countries that implemented focused interventions, such as tutoring programs and remedial education, were more effective at helping disadvantaged students recover learning losses, while gaps in digital access and resources widened inequalities. The research also emphasized that academic performance and “soft skills,” including emotional well-being, confidence, and engagement, are closely linked, meaning policies must address both learning outcomes and student mental health. Differences between countries, such as Belgium’s proactive mental health support versus rising youth distress in Japan, underscored the importance of integrating well-being into education strategies. Additionally, systems with robust data collection, like the Netherlands, were better equipped to track student progress and respond to challenges, while fragmented data limited effectiveness in others. Overall, the findings suggest that resilience must be deliberately built into education policy through targeted funding, early intervention, and continuous monitoring, rather than relying on schools and students to adapt on their own.

 

The Conversation