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As the Trump administration threatens mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, U.S. school districts are taking proactive measures to protect immigrant students. Policies include restricting ICE access to campuses, training staff to handle enforcement requests, providing 'Know Your Rights' guidance, and working to reduce bullying and foster a sense of belonging. Experts emphasize that educators must be aware of undocumented students' right to education, while schools should cultivate an inclusive environment.
Multiple education finance and policy experts say that the historic influx of federal funds used to help K-12 schools recover from setbacks caused by the most severe global pandemic in modern times has so far been largely spent without waste or fraud and has been crucial to students' academic recovery. Experts say concerns about dramatic and widespread fiscal cliffs for school districts after most flexible federal COVID-19 emergency funds dissipate also appear to be exaggerated.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) determined that the Michigan Department of Education's (MDE) guidance during the pandemic was inconsistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, exacerbating harm to students with disabilities. OCR noted that MDE improperly restricted compensatory services for students statewide, including those at the Michigan School for the Deaf. The school reduced instructional time by 43% during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years and failed to provide speech and language services to 29 students. OCR stated that MDE refused to sign a resolution agreement and may face termination of federal funds or referral to the Department of Justice.
Multiple special education and disability rights advocates say there is currently insufficient evidence that anti-DEI actions are excluding special education students from general education activities, or that such claims have been explicitly made. However, they are increasingly concerned that, under the politicized DEI label, inclusive special education concepts are being misunderstood, potentially triggering a 'chilling effect' and even leading students with disabilities back to old paths of segregation and stigmatization.
From Wayzata High School in Minnesota to Spring Valley High School in South Carolina, an increasing number of American schools are removing rows of lockers from hallways or abandoning the traditional one-locker-per-student layout in new campuses. Digital learning, tight passing periods, and teenagers' reluctance to wear coats have collectively driven this change. Architects and educators are transforming former locker spaces into collaborative learning and social areas, but this trend also sparks discussions about campus social memory and opportunities for interaction.
The widespread packaging shortage that affected 2023 has continued into the new year. Domestic dairies, schools, and others are still plagued by a shortage of half-pint cartons that has lasted for months. Although predictions suggest the issue may not be resolved before the end of the school year, some assistance has already arrived. Some sources indicate that Pactiv Evergreen's closure of its Olmsted Falls, Ohio, plant last year is one possible cause of the supply disruption.
The number of school shootings in 2023 reached a new historical high for the third consecutive year. As of December 20, the K-12 School Shooting Database has recorded about 340 incidents. Despite the overall increase, deaths from mass shootings were lower than in 2022. Differences in definitions of school shootings among various organizations have caused data confusion, and experts call for a unified federal definition to improve prevention and response efforts.