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New CDC data reveals that 4.2% of U.S. kindergartners had vaccine exemptions in the 2025-26 school year, up from 3.6% the prior year. Coverage declined for all reported vaccines, and the Trump administration's recent executive order aims to reshape childhood vaccine recommendations.
The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday released new school discipline guidance, explicitly rejecting previous Democratic administrations' attempts to reduce discipline disparities for Black and other historically marginalized students. The Dear Colleague letter, issued by the Office for Civil Rights, calls on schools to 'stop racial balancing' and clarifies that Title VI and the Constitution do not require or prohibit unintentional disparate impact. This guidance follows the Trump administration's recent rescission of the disparate impact legal theory, signaling a shift in enforcement priorities.
The Federal Communications Commission is accepting public comment on a proposed rule that weighs changes to or discontinuation of the E-rate program, a 30-year-old initiative providing discounted internet services to schools and libraries. The comment period closes Oct. 13.
Texas families have filed a joint petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking review of lower-court rulings that upheld state laws mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms. The cases, Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District and Cribbs Ringer v. Comal Independent School District, ask the justices to determine whether such laws breach the First Amendment's establishment clause and parents' free exercise rights. The high court may accept or decline the cases, which mirror disputes arising from similar statutes in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama.
This week's top story: unions sue the Education Department over a 'professional degree' rule that caps federal loans for education graduate students at $100,000, while other professional degrees allow up to $200,000. Plus: Bellwether reports 200 million additional missed school days annually, UndauntedK12 finds extreme weather impacted 9 million students, CISA releases K-12 cybersecurity guides, special education complaints rise 46%, and the rescission of disparate impact may narrow investigations.
Foussat Language Academy, a K-5 magnet school in California's Oceanside Unified School District, piloted a multi-tiered system of supports for social-emotional learning last semester. The model pairs brief in-class SEL lessons with counselor and clinician screening to expedite mental health interventions. After a successful initial pilot, the program is now fully launched, with teacher training scheduled for August.
Houston Independent School District (HISD) has retained its B rating for the 2025-26 school year, marking the second consecutive year at this level since the Texas state takeover in 2023. Wheatley High School, a focal point of the takeover, achieved its first A rating. The district saw an increase in A/B-rated schools but also reported five failing schools, up from zero the previous year. State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles remains cautiously optimistic, while the Texas Education Agency has extended the takeover until at least June 1, 2027.
CISA issued new K-12 cybersecurity guidance on Aug. 12, offering two guides to help school and district leaders establish and maintain cyber defense programs. The resources address persistent threats like ransomware and data breaches, while acknowledging challenges such as budget constraints and recent federal workforce reductions.
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New York City Public Schools, the largest U.S. district, will assign 'school avoidance' liaisons to every building as part of a settlement resolving a 2024 federal lawsuit. The liaisons will identify and respond to emotional and psychological barriers to attendance, with implementation deadlines set for 2027.