3 ways districts can better manage workers’ comp programs

Ensuring a strong reporting system and investigating claims immediately are crucial, says a K-12 finance expert.

Despite growing gun violence concerns, teachers say drills don’t help

Active shooter drills can be stressful for students, but just 16% of teachers say their schools have adults monitoring students for signs of trauma in real time.

To keep CTE programs up to date, look to the community

Working with local industry can help schools stay on top of needs and ensure educators have opportunities to upgrade their own skills, says one expert.

Student cellphone limits raise concerns over disability rights

Advocates say screen time limits could hinder access to general curriculum for students with disabilities.

Career-connected learning yields positive impact on learners’ future plans

A survey of New Hampshire middle and high schoolers shows students seek more career awareness and experiences.

Are schools communicating their AI policies to students well enough?

Some 37% of teens said they were unsure if their school had developed rules on AI use, according to a Common Sense Media survey.

Aging infrastructure, budget constraints weigh on K-12 facilities teams

Older buildings in need of repairs face stagnant capital improvement budgets and need plans for preventive maintenance and more, IncidentIQ says.

Stronger enforcement needed against youth e-cigarette use

An Illinois principal writes that vaping companies that target their products to teens often receive little more than a warning letter. 

The average U.S. student is less than halfway to full academic recovery

English learners, students experiencing homelessness and students with disabilities require urgent attention in particular, CRPE research says.

Science achievement still lags for 8th graders

In what NWEA calls the “first large-scale look” at science achievement trends, elementary progress in the subject has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Will the Supreme Court hear Maryland LGBTQ+ curriculum opt-out case?

The lawsuit brings into question whether the First Amendment allows parents to remove their child from instruction they say opposes their religion.

Teachers’ awareness of open educational resources hits 5-year high

Though 70% of teachers agreed digital materials provide more flexibility for students, most still reported preferring print, according to Bay View Analytics data.

$26M Talkspace contract with NYC stirs student data privacy concerns

Privacy advocates say the free telehealth counseling service is asking teens to disclose personal and sensitive information when signing up.

South Carolina Supreme Court deals blow to private school scholarships

Though other services can still be covered under the state’s new education savings account program, private school tuition cannot.

They shoot, they score: High school sports participation at all-time high

The rising popularity of girls flag football and continued growth in girls and boys wrestling are contributing to record high school sports involvement, says NFHS.

Using AI in lesson planning? Beware hallucinations

The potential for artificial intelligence to present an incorrect or misleading response as fact remains a possible side effect for these tools.

Women lead just 30% of large school districts

White men continue to hold the largest portion of superintendencies at 44%, according to data from ILO Group.

Where the 2024 presidential candidates stand on K-12 issues

From Title IX to chronic absenteeism, we examined the candidates’ campaign websites, past statements, party platforms and more.

College enrollment rate improved among high school class of 2022, report finds

Those graduates enrolled in college within one year at higher rates than the prior cohort, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found.

Parents push back on school cellphone bans

Some 78% of parents surveyed by the National Parents Union want their children to have cellphone access in case of an emergency.

Mental health services least accessible for students most likely to seek them

A new study finds poor mental health is linked to higher chronic absenteeism, which 14 states committed this week to reducing by 50%.

Kindergarten readiness not impacted by high number of adverse childhood experiences

Researchers find that while academic preparedness is not correlated with severe adversity, disruptive and internalizing behaviors are.

CDC finds student e-cigarette use at lowest level in a decade

An FDA official called the decline in vaping a “monumental public health win” but noted there is still work to be done in curbing its use.

Common App to expand direct admissions effort

The online portal will offer proactive acceptance letters from 116 colleges during the 2024-25 application cycle.

Was ESSER funding successful? Superintendents say it’s hard to generalize

The top spending approach for the last allocation is expanded learning time, but 15% of districts say they need more time to liquidate, an AASA survey finds.