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USA
21st May 2026
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THE HOT STORY

RFK Jr. backs school screen time restrictions and nutrition reforms

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a new surgeon general’s advisory warning about the harms of excessive screen time for children while visiting Iowa for the signing of the state’s “Make America Healthy Again” legislation. The advisory encourages schools and families to limit cellphone and screen use among children, citing concerns about mental health, physical health, academic performance, and social development. Kennedy praised Iowa’s existing cellphone restrictions in schools and called for similar policies nationwide. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also signed a broad health-focused law that limits digital instruction for K-5 students to one hour per day, bans certain food dyes and additives in school meals, expands physical activity requirements, and seeks tighter restrictions on SNAP purchases of unhealthy foods. The law additionally requires more nutrition training for medical students and allows pharmacists to distribute ivermectin over the counter. Kennedy described Iowa’s actions as an example of “bold public health leadership” focused on prevention, nutrition, and healthier lifestyles.

STATE COMPLIANCE GUIDES

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Not sure if you’re covering everything your state requires? These state-specific guides help you quickly understand mandates, align courses, and streamline planning, so your district stays compliant without guesswork.

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SPECIAL EDUCATION

Four Kansas school districts unite to challenge state over special educaton funding gaps

The Blue Valley, Olathe, De Soto, and Shawnee Mission school districts are preparing legal action against the state of Kansas, arguing that chronic underfunding of special education is forcing schools to divert millions of dollars from general education budgets. The districts formed the Kansas Public School Funding Coalition after collectively spending more than $119m during the 2024-25 school year to cover special education costs that they say should have been funded by the state. Olathe shifted $44m from its general fund last year, while Blue Valley transferred $16m and expects that figure to rise to nearly $18m this year. Under Kansas law, the state is required to cover 92% of special education excess costs, but districts say lawmakers have consistently failed to meet that obligation. State funding covered 75.4% of excess costs in 2024-25 and is projected to fall to roughly 65.2% next year. District leaders said the funding gaps are contributing to staff and program cuts, pressure on salaries, and larger class sizes as demand for special education services grows. The coalition said it had exhausted efforts to resolve the issue through legislative advocacy and has now issued a request for proposals for legal services.

Philly district pushes for more inclusive classrooms for students with disabilities

The Philadelphia School District plans to phase out its Intensive Learning Support (ILS) program at the end of the current school year, part of a broader effort to educate more students with disabilities alongside their general education peers. ILS classrooms are designed for students who are significantly behind academically and typically provide smaller class sizes, specialized interventions, and general curriculum instruction. Under the new plan, many students currently enrolled in ILS will transition into general education classrooms, where they will receive additional support services through a combination of in-class assistance and targeted pull-out interventions. Nathalie Nérée, the district’s chief of special education and diverse learners, said the district decided to end the program after reviewing student growth data, including standardized test scores and Individualized Education Program progress. According to Nérée, students in ILS classrooms showed “minimal to none” academic growth. The district said the change is part of a larger initiative to reduce the number of special education students educated separately from their peers. Federal law requires schools to educate students with disabilities in the “least restrictive environment” whenever possible, but state data show that fewer than 40% of Philadelphia’s 23,000 special education students spent most of their school day in general education classrooms last year, well below the Pennsylvania state average of 60%.

LEGAL

Students sue Massachusetts over alleged segregation in high-poverty school districts

A lawsuit filed in Massachusetts accuses the state of maintaining a racially segregated public school system by assigning students to schools based on where they live, concentrating Black and Latino students in high-poverty districts with fewer educational opportunities. The case was brought on behalf of nine students and four community organizations from districts including Springfield, Holyoke, Boston, Lawrence, Brockton, Lynn, and Worcester. Plaintiffs argue that housing-based school assignments replicate residential segregation and deny students equal access to better-resourced, predominantly white neighboring districts. The lawsuit cites a 2024 state advisory report showing that 63% of Massachusetts schools are segregated or intensely segregated, with schools serving larger populations of students of color posting weaker graduation and college enrollment outcomes. Massachusetts education officials said the state does not control district boundaries or have authority to require inter-district enrollment, but noted ongoing investments aimed at reducing educational disparities in high-poverty communities.

DISTRICTS

Portland educators offered modest pay increase in short-term labor deal

Portland Public Schools and the Portland Association of Teachers have reached a tentative one-year contract agreement that would give educators an effective 1% cost-of-living increase during the 2026-27 school year. Under the proposed deal, teachers would remain on the current salary schedule for the first six months of the contract before receiving a 2% pay increase beginning in January 2027, resulting in an average 1% raise across the year. All other contract terms would remain unchanged from the existing three-year agreement reached after the teachers’ strike in 2023. Union leaders described the agreement as a realistic compromise given the district’s financial challenges. Portland Public Schools is facing a $56m budget gap for 2026-27 and projects an additional $65m shortfall the following year unless state funding increases. The one-year agreement would align Portland’s bargaining timeline with several other major Oregon school districts ahead of the state’s 2027-29 budget negotiations, allowing unions and districts to jointly advocate for additional education funding. The tentative deal still requires approval from union members and the school board.

TECHNOLOGY

School districts rethink Chromebook strategies amid AI supply crunch

K–12 school districts across the U.S. are facing rising device costs and longer delivery times as the global artificial intelligence boom disrupts technology supply chains and manufacturing capacity. The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has increased demand for processors, memory, and storage components, reducing supply for student devices such as Chromebooks and driving frequent price increases. Some manufacturers have reportedly raised prices even after purchase orders were submitted. In response, many districts have accelerated purchasing timelines, delayed refresh cycles, reduced device orders, or shifted from one-to-one programs toward shared-device models. Leasing arrangements and deferred payment plans are also becoming more common as schools try to manage budget pressure. Districts are increasingly focused on extending device life through protective cases, repair programs, and salvaging parts from retired hardware. Industry experts warned that supply constraints and elevated costs for components such as RAM and SSDs could continue through 2028 or 2029.

LEGISLATION

Proposed Michigan bills would let schools bypass some state education requirements

Michigan lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow school districts to waive certain state education rules in order to launch innovative learning programs, including career training, internships, apprenticeships, and competency-based education. The proposed bills would let participating districts bypass requirements such as seat-time rules tied to state funding and some graduation mandates. Supporters argued during a legislative hearing that current regulations often prevent schools from experimenting with programs designed to better engage students and prepare them for the workforce. School leaders and education advocates said many students find high school disconnected from real-world experiences. Supporters pointed to career and technical education, work-based learning, and hands-on programs as examples of approaches that could improve student engagement and outcomes. The legislation has bipartisan sponsorship and support from current and former state leaders, including former Republican governors Rick Snyder and John Engler. Innovation plans would require approval from local school boards and teachers unions.

CHARTERS

Sacramento education board defies charter revocation

The Sacramento County Board of Education voted 4-3 to overturn the Twin Rivers Unified School District’s decision to revoke the charters of Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools. This decision followed a state audit revealing that the schools improperly received over $180m in taxpayer funds. Twin Rivers officials cited failure to correct violations by the September 2025 deadline as a reason for the revocation. The California State Auditor also highlighted poor fiscal oversight, including nearly $2m spent on gifts and staff trips, and issues with teacher credentialing and graduation rates. Twin Rivers United Educators expressed disappointment, stating: "We remain committed to fighting for Highlands students, educators, and our greater community." Despite Highlands officials claiming improvements in compliance and monitoring, Twin Rivers maintained that material violations persisted. California Teachers Association President David Goldberg urged the board to uphold the revocation due to unresolved issues.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

School systems scramble to manage soaring diesel costs

School districts across the United States are reshuffling budgets and adjusting transportation operations as elevated diesel prices continue to strain finances amid the ongoing war in Iran. A new survey conducted in May by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the Association of School Business Officials International, and the National Association for Pupil Transportation found that many districts are already over budget on fuel spending and are preparing for additional financial pressure next school year. District leaders said prolonged high fuel prices could force cuts to extracurricular activities, facilities and maintenance projects, and noninstructional staffing. Some districts also plan to continue relying on reserve funds and renegotiate fuel supply contracts to manage volatility. The survey highlighted that most of the nation’s 500,000 school buses still run on diesel fuel, leaving districts heavily exposed to swings in global energy markets. Nearly two-thirds of districts also use natural gas or similar fuels for HVAC systems. Rural districts, which often transport students across longer distances, are expected to face the greatest pressure from sustained high fuel prices. About two-thirds of respondents said their states do not provide dedicated transportation funding that automatically adjusts for fuel price increases, making budgeting more difficult during periods of market volatility.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Democratic states sue Education Department over nursing loan policy

A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia has sued the U.S. Department of Education over changes that limit federal student loans for nursing degrees, arguing the policy could worsen healthcare worker shortages. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland, claims Education Secretary Linda McMahon exceeded her authority by refusing to classify nursing as a professional degree, a designation that would allow graduate nursing students to access higher federal loan limits. Under the new policy, nursing students pursuing graduate degrees would face the lower federal borrowing cap for nonprofessional programs, despite the high cost of nursing education. According to the lawsuit, an entry-level Master of Science in nursing program costs about $77,155 per year, compared with the federal loan cap of $20,500. The states also challenged the Education Department’s implementation of grandfathering provisions for current students, arguing it is unlawful to remove protections from students who transfer schools or temporarily withdraw and later re-enroll. Democratic attorneys general and governors involved in the lawsuit said the restrictions could discourage students from entering the nursing profession or force them to rely on more expensive private loans.

Harvard moves to curb grade inflation with new A-grade cap

Harvard University has voted to cap the number of A grades awarded in undergraduate courses as part of an effort to combat grade inflation and preserve academic standards. The new policy limits A grades to 20% per course, with a small allowance for additional A’s in smaller classes, and will take effect in fall 2027 after strong student backlash prompted a delay. University officials said the changes are needed after A grades rose to about 60% of all grades in 2024–25, compared with roughly 25% two decades ago. Harvard will also replace GPA with percentile rankings for academic honors because grade compression has made distinctions harder to measure.

INTERNATIONAL

Calgary schools face mounting disruption as substitute teacher shortages worsen

A growing shortage of substitute teachers across Alberta is leaving schools struggling to cover classes, with Calgary’s public school system now unable to fill roughly 200 teaching absences per day. The Calgary Board of Education said around 20% of substitute teaching jobs went unfilled in April, up from 16% a year earlier, forcing schools to combine classes, reassign principals, cancel teacher prep time, and rely on educational assistants to supervise students. Teachers said the shortages are contributing to burnout, with many reluctant to take sick leave because replacements are unlikely to be found at short notice. The Alberta Teachers’ Association said the problem intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic, when many substitute teachers left the profession permanently, while growing demand for teachers across the province has further strained staffing levels. The province has recently committed funding to hire nearly 1,900 additional teachers through new complexity teams and class-size reduction initiatives, alongside plans to fast-track teacher certification for internationally trained educators and skilled professionals.

China's Education Ministry promotes play-based learning over early tech exposure

China’s Ministry of Education has urged parents and schools to avoid relying on “digital babysitting” and instead prioritize play, companionship, sports, and outdoor activities for young children, as part of a nationwide push to strengthen preschool education practices. The ministry launched its 2026 national preschool education publicity month on Tuesday, emphasizing that play should remain the primary activity in early childhood education. Officials said digital tools, including reading companions, chat-based applications, and interactive games, should not replace traditional picture books, toys, or direct human interaction. The ministry also warned kindergartens against using digital products to automatically generate child observation records or developmental assessments, citing concerns about the improper and excessive use of technology in preschool settings. The announcement comes as China continues expanding access to preschool education. In 2025, the country’s gross enrollment rate for the three years before primary school reached 92.9%, while affordable kindergarten coverage climbed to 91.5%. China’s Preschool Education Law officially took effect on June 1, 2025, and the country has also begun gradually rolling out free preschool education programs nationwide.
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