Education Archives

Judges blocks Trump push to cut funding to public schools over diversity programs

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s guidance forbidding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in K-12 public schools. The ruling Thursday came in a lawsuit brought by National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union. In February, the Education Department told schools and colleges they needed to end any practice that differentiates people based on their race or they were at risk of losing their federal funding. The department ordered states to gather signatures from local school systems certifying compliance with civil rights laws, including the rejection of what the federal government calls “illegal DEI practices.”… Continue Reading

Trump orders a plan to dismantle the Education Department while keeping some core functions

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the Education Department. The Republican president announced his plan Thursday. Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. And the White House says the department would not close completely right now. It is to retain certain critical functions, like managing federal student loans and Pell grants.… Continue Reading

Schools use AI to monitor kids, hoping to prevent violence. Our investigation found security risks

Schools are turning to AI-powered surveillance technology to monitor students on school-issued devices like laptops and tablets. The goal is to keep children safe, especially amid a mental health crisis and the threat of school shootings. Machine-learning algorithms flag suspected problems like bullying, self-harm or suicide and then alert school officials. But these tools raise serious questions about privacy and security. When The Seattle Times and The Associated Press partnered to investigate school surveillance, reporters inadvertently received access to almost 3,500 unredacted student documents through a records request. The documents were stored without a password or firewall, and anyone with the link could read them.… Continue Reading

Most US kids aren’t gaining fast enough in reading and math. These schools are different

COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — The average American student remains half a grade level behind pre-pandemic levels of achievement in both reading and math. That’s according to the Education Recovery Scorecard, an analysis of state and national test scores by researchers at Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth. The scorecard gives the most comprehensive picture of how American students are performing after the pandemic. It’s based on tests taken by students in Spring 2024. By then, the worst of the pandemic was long past, but schools were dealing still with a mental health crisis and high rates of absenteeism. In reading, especially, students are even further behind than they were in 2022, the analysis shows.… Continue Reading

US colleges returning to campus sexual assault rules created during Trump’s first term

WASHINGTON (AP) — Schools and universities responding to complaints of sexual misconduct must return to policies created during President Donald Trump’s first term, with requirements for live hearings and more protections for accused students. In a memo to education institutions across the nation, the Education Department clarified that Title IX will be enforced according to a set of rules created by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The rules govern how complaints of misconduct are investigated and how to settle cases where students present differing accounts. Colleges have already been returning to DeVos’ 2020 rules in recent weeks after a federal judge in Kentucky overturned the Biden administration’s Title IX rules.… Continue Reading

Founder of artificial intelligence company used by schools in Los Angeles, NYC, Atlanta is arrested

NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of an artificial intelligence company that worked with large school districts nationwide has been arrested on fraud charges. Joanna Smith-Griffin had been arrested Tuesday in North Carolina. She is the founder of the AI technology company ALLHere Education Inc. It serviced schools in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta using a chatbot that created learning plans for each student. Federal authorities say she defrauded investors out of millions of dollars by inflating the company’s financial information to secure investments. It was not immediately clear who would represent her in an afternoon court appearance in North Carolina.… Continue Reading

North Carolina offers schools $1 million to help take students on field trips

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There’s a new $1 million pilot project to help North Carolina public schools get financial reimbursements for taking students on field trips to places like state museums, aquariums and historic sites. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and his administration’s natural and cultural resources secretary on Wednesday unveiled the new “Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund.” K-12 schools can seek reimbursements for the cost of students visiting dozens of state-managed attractions for things like entry fees, transportation or meals. Schools with high percentages of students from low-income families will receive priority. And there will be a set-aside for western schools affected by Hurricane Helene.… Continue Reading

Wake County public libraries offer free online tutoring

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Wake County Public Libraries (WCPL) has partnered with Tutor.com to offer free, on-demand online tutoring for all library cardholders. This new service provides students, parents, and adult learners with help across a wide range of subjects, including many available in Spanish. Through Tutor.com, library cardholders can receive one-on-one assistance in math, science, English, and more via two-way text-chat. The service supports learners of all ages, including homework help, test prep, and writing improvement. … Continue Reading

Is ‘Judge Judy’ on the Supreme Court? Lack of civics knowledge leads to colleges filling the gap

BLUFFTON, South Carolina (AP) — Surveys show that a third of American adults can’t name the three branches of the federal government. One found that 10% of college graduates think TV’s “Judge Judy” serves on the U.S. Supreme Court. Many people think it’s time for a new push for civics instruction in college. Advocates say civics _ the study of citizens’ rights and responsibilities _ fosters a sense of unity and an ability to deal with disagreement. It empowers citizens, and maybe it can heal America’s divisions. But there’s an ongoing debate over whether legislatures should impose these mandates or it should be left up to academics to decide how to fit this into their curricula.… Continue Reading

State Board of Education chair Eric Davis says NC schools are closing achievement gaps caused by pandemic

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – The pandemic recovery is continuing in classrooms but one of the state’s top education leaders says there’s still plenty of work that needs to be done. State Board of Education chair Eric Davis was a recent guest on Carolina Newsmakers hosted by Don Curtis. He said student test results are trending in the right direction. “We’re closing the gap that was created by the pandemic,” said Davis. “And I want to thank our teachers, principals, parents, students and all of those who volunteered to help our students catch up, recover and close that gap that the pandemic created.”… Continue Reading