Every week our newsroom monitors the news for the top stories in education from a variety of sources ranging from the mainstream media to blogs and other analysis, and compile them for you. Here’s the latest in education:
WA education ranking drops again, below national average – KIRO 7 News Seattle
KIRO 7 News
Washington State’s K-12 education ranking has fallen below the national average, putting the West Coast state in the bottom-half for all 50 states. This news comes from data collected from a study done by the Annie E. Casey Foundation looking at reading and math proficiency for K-12 grade levels, as well as high school graduation rates. Washington State currently ranks 27th out of all 50 states in terms of education standards, with 66% of 4th graders not meeting reading standards and 70% of 8th graders failing to meet math standards. In addition to poor academic proficiency, there have been upticks in student absenteeism, with 33% of 4th grade students deemed as chronically absent from school in 2024. These are troubling trends that demand attention but state officials and education experts claim that the academic woes are due to budget cuts and failing to properly fund schools puts student academic achievement at risk of further decline.
Budget conference: Lawmakers agree on K-12 education budget as some schools brace for cuts
Florida Politics with additional reporting from Politico
A few days after the Department of Education introduced a slimmed-down federal budget, the Florida Congress reached a consensus on June 11 for next year’s state K-12 spending. The $29.5 billion plan represents a 3% increase from the current fiscal year, averaging approximately $9,130 per student. Notably, the budget alleviates parents’ concerns that classes will not receive funding, with Advanced Placement being specifically covered. An additional $100 million was allocated to the plan to increase teacher pay, although the number of students using private school vouchers is projected to rise to 429,000. This trend has divided the state’s House and Senate on whether to include a line item in the budget to support school choice programs.
Families file suit challenging Arkansas law that requires Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms
AP News
Families in Arkansas have filed a lawsuit that challenges a law that requires the Ten Commandments to be posted in classrooms in the state. The law will take effect in August 2025 for public school classrooms and was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The lawsuit argues that the law violates the separation between Church and State in the First Amendment, forcing students into religious observance and scripture that may be unwanted. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed the suit on behalf of the families along with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, as well as the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The lawsuit is using Supreme Court precedent to shape the argument based on Everson v. Board of Education (1947) and Engel v. Vitale (1962). A federal judge blocked a previous measure on January 1, 2025 that would have enacted a similar law in the state of Louisiana.
The Trump Budget for K-12 Schools: 5 Key Takeaways
Education Week
President Trump‘s administration has proposed the 2026 K-12 educational funding budget which eliminates over $7 billion in funding for schools. This would cause the dismantling of many federally funded programs.Many special education programs would be affected and put at risk. States would gain more rights and flexibility with their programs, but would lose funding towards family resources, technical assistance, and preschool disability services. Although this would require Congress to re-authorize a special education law, which may not happen in the near future. Programs like the national school lunch program and Headstart would maintain their funding levels and charter school grants would increase from $60 million to $500 million. Separate from the budget a $10 billion tax credit scholarship program was proposed for private K through 12 schools which would allow families more school choice options. This proposal is known as the “Big Beautiful Bill”.
Trump admin asks Supreme Court to lift injunction blocking dismantling of Education Department
Fox News
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that blocks it from dismantling the department of education (DOE). Back in March President Trump filed an executive order stating that closing the DOE would help families escape a “failing education system “. In May, US district judge Myong John blocked the administration’s attempt to dismantle the DOE and ordered the reinstatement of all fired employees. The Department of Education has rejected the judges ruling stating that it’s politically motivated and that the president and education secretary have the authority to reorganize the agency at their will. These rulings and orders have faced backlash and political opposition. Back in February, Democrats were blocked from entering the Department of Education building.
Half of D.C. public students will soon be barred from using phones in school
The Washington Post
D.C Public Schools are prohibiting the use of cellphones and other personal electronic devices during school hours starting this fall, citing concerns about student mental health, academic performance, and cyberbullying. The district is moving forward based on the success of pilot programs in middle schools, which saw better student-teacher relations and less distraction. While some families worry about communication during emergencies, officials argue phones are more disruptive than helpful in crisis situations. In response to growing concerns, the D.C. Council passed a broader ban that would apply to all public and charter schools, though its implementation is delayed until the 2026-2027 school year to allow more time for planning. (ML)
GlobeNewswire
By the year 2032, it is estimated that STEM in K-12 schools will reach a total of 168.63 Billion USD in overall market share. This growth will be accelerated by digital platforms and early childhood STEM introduction inside of classrooms throughout the country. Some of the major names in this education space are McGraw-Hill, EduCo International, Cengage Learning, and PASCO Scientific. The future of education will also involve AI implementation in the classroom during lessons and preparing students for a world where AI skills will be necessary, such as machine learning and data science. Government policy, public-private partnerships, and curriculum reform will all play important roles during this growth period. New forms of education will be able to meet students where they are in the world, such as online platforms and homeschooling environments. The potential for STEM to grow further in the field of education is very exciting and the benefits could even be greater than initially anticipated.
Ayotte signs bills to eliminate school voucher income cap and codify parental rights
New Hampshire Public Radio
Two of New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte’s high-priority education policy goals were achieved this past Tuesday (6/10) when she signed a bill enumerating parental rights and another removing the income-eligibility cap on the state’s voucher program. The Parental Bill of Rights mostly codifies what rights are already present in both the state law and constitution, but it also requires schools to keep parents informed about matters related to their children’s education. Critics of the bill believe that it is risky because the bill will require schools to “out” children to their parents. The bill that addresses the income-eligibility cap will allow 10,000 new students to participate in the voucher program which will reportedly cost the state $86 million over the next two years. Gov. Ayotte is combating criticism from opponents that argue that the bill takes money away from public schools and ultimately hurts the students enrolled in public education.
Some Los Angeles families are skipping school graduation because they are afraid of ICE
USA Today
At Palms Middle School in Los Angeles, a graduation ceremony was overshadowed by fear due to increased federal immigration enforcement. Principal Arturo Enriquez assured families that community members were watching for ICE agents. Many immigrant families skipped ceremonies fearing deportation. The recent detainment of a fourth grader and his father heightened tensions. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho vowed to shield students from enforcement during graduations, while protests and National Guard deployment increased fear across LA. Officials condemned the raids, citing trauma to students and families. Despite reassurances, the immigrant community remains anxious, fearing school campuses are no longer safe havens for children.
Teacher incentives, math education bills become law in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Voice
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has approved House Bill 1087 that will provide 10 years of salary increases for Oklahoma teachers for up to 35 years. Children of eligible teachers will also be eligible for state-funded scholarships in order to cover the costs of schooling. The scholarship named the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship is designed for children of teachers with at least 10 years of classroom experience and can cover the cost of full in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in the state of Oklahoma. In addition, HB 1287 provides $3 million to the University of Oklahoma for summer math tutoring services that high school students can access. Qualifying students must attend a public high school or public charter school. The bill is aimed at improving math proficiency in the state and ensuring that struggling students do not fall behind their peers by offering personalized support for students in need.
House lawmakers find consensus on benefits of school cellphone ban
K-12 Guide
House lawmakers have concluded a bipartisan agreement on screen time in schools. The argument was that unregulated classroom cell phone use can harm student’s achievement and mental health. The ban of student cell phone use during school has led to lower student discipline rates, higher teacher retention and more effective instructional time. Matthew Gibbins, the assistant superintendent at Richardson Independent School District in Texas states that one school reached a teacher retention rate of 94%, with educators highlighting that the phone-free environment is a reason for staying in the profession. “Perhaps most importantly, teachers across all campuses reported regaining more than 10 minutes of instruction per class period,” Gibbons said. “That’s over an hour per week per class that is not focused on student learning and connection”. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego University told the panel that smartphone use reduces both attention span and cognitive performance. Students also have less face-to-face interaction with their peers and instead opt to use their phone during breaks and lunch periods, she added.
Changes coming to Indiana’s preschool vouchers program
Fox 59
For the 2025-26 school year, the State of Indiana is making changes to their preschool vouchers. The program is capping at 2,500 students compared to the 6000 students enrolled during the previous 2024-25 school year. Another change was that qualifying children must have a working parent and are no longer eligible if their parent is searching for a job. The VP of Government Relations for the United Way of Central Indiana that “the demand has now caught up to the edge of where our resources are…” (LM)
