All articles tagged with #school districts
Western Pennsylvania school districts are implementing isolation, contact tracing, and vaccination clinics as the state’s measles outbreak exceeds 900 cases. While some districts report zero cases, others are addressing gaps in vaccination rates, particularly in Amish communities, amid a statewide surge.
A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation found that at least 20 Pennsylvania school districts linked parents to Vaclib.org, an anti-vaccine site, via exemption forms as vaccination rates fell and herd immunity weakened in dozens of elementary schools. While a state ad campaign aimed to boost immunizations, districts broadly shared the misinformation—some without realizing it—that then was removed after media inquiries. The findings highlight a lack of centralized oversight and enforcement of vaccine laws in Pennsylvania, and raise concerns about contributing to measles risk as districts face divergent messaging about vaccines.
Meta settled its Breathitt County School District case, part of a wave of settlements by YouTube, Snap, and TikTok over social-media harms to youths; terms were not disclosed. The dispute was set to be the first bellwether trial in the federal MDL, with around 1,200 districts still involved and upcoming July proceedings in Los Angeles and a January federal bellwether.
A coalition of Wisconsin school districts and teachers filed a lawsuit against the state Legislature, seeking increased funding for K-12 education, arguing current allocations are insufficient to meet student needs and duties under state law.
Teachers are increasingly using AI detection software to identify student use of AI in assignments, but these tools are often unreliable and can produce false positives, leading to concerns about fairness and accuracy. Schools are spending significant money on these tools despite research showing their limitations, and educators are advised to use them as supplementary rather than definitive evidence, focusing instead on teaching students to understand and adapt to AI technology.
The Trump administration announced it will withhold over $65 million in federal grants from New York City, Chicago, and Fairfax, VA, due to their refusal to change policies on transgender and nonbinary students or their diversity and equity programs, citing violations of civil rights law.
Major school districts including New York City, Chicago, and Fairfax County risk losing $24 million in federal grants for not complying with Trump-era policies that restrict transgender students' access to facilities and participation in sports, citing violations of Title IX and prompting political debate and potential legal actions.
A record five Texas school districts are at risk of state takeover due to consecutive failing grades, with the Texas Education Agency considering actions such as replacing school boards or shutting down schools, amidst ongoing evaluations and recent court rulings allowing the release of school performance ratings.
Texas released two years of A-F ratings for about 1,200 school districts, showing 14% received an A, 71% a B or C, and 15% a D or F, following a legal battle over the rating system that aims to inform parents and communities about school performance.
The U.S. Department of Education found five Northern Virginia school districts in violation of Title IX for policies allowing students to access sex-segregated facilities based on gender identity, leading to proposed corrective actions including policy rescission and clarification on sex-based access. The investigation was prompted by complaints and reports of safety concerns and inappropriate behavior, with the Department emphasizing the importance of biological definitions of sex in school policies.
A coalition of school districts and advocacy groups, including Alaska's largest district, sued the Trump administration over a $6 billion funding freeze for education programs, arguing it violates federal laws and harms students. The administration initially paused the funds citing misuse of funds, but later unfroze over a billion dollars, though many districts remain in limbo, leading to legal action claiming unconstitutional overreach.
Minnesota school districts are awaiting over $74 million in federal education funds that have been withheld by the U.S. Department of Education, impacting programs for low-income and English learner students, with districts like Minneapolis and St. Paul experiencing significant funding delays and uncertainties about future budgets.
The Trump administration has announced it will withhold over $6 billion in federal education grants for schools, citing a review of funding allocations due to the change in administration, which may disrupt school planning and programs across the country.
Several Oklahoma school districts, including Edmond, Jenks, and Bixby, have opted not to show a prayer video mandated by State Superintendent Ryan Walters due to conflicting communications from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The video, which features Walters praying for students, was initially required to be shown, but a recall notice was issued shortly after due to an incorrect link. Districts have cited local authority and the lack of state department mandate power as reasons for not airing the video, with some superintendents criticizing Walters' handling of the situation.
Michigan is set to receive $25 million in federal funding to add 104 electric school buses across 27 school districts as part of the 2023 Clean School Bus Program. This initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for schoolchildren. Grand Rapids Public Schools and the Kent Intermediate School District will receive the largest shares of the funding, with plans to add 15 electric buses each. The state has also allocated $125 million in state funds to further support the transition to cleaner school transportation.