Chalkbeat

Two conservative law firms, Alliance Defending Freedom and the Heritage Foundation, have joined the defense team in a federal lawsuit against the Elizabeth School District over the removal of 18 books from school libraries. The books, which are primarily by or about LGBTQ people and people of color, were taken off shelves in 2024 amid claims of inappropriate content, and the case is set for a December trial.

Detroit school board chair LaTrice McClendon and vice chair Corletta Vaughn will not be on the November ballot due to late campaign fees owed to Wayne County, creating a potential shake-up in the board's future direction. Five of seven board seats are up for election, with three other board members also not seeking reelection.

The article discusses ongoing racial and class-based segregation in U.S. schools 70 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Ary Amerikaner, a lawyer and education policy advocate, leads Brown’s Promise, an organization aiming to promote school integration and influence national policy.

A new Memphis group, Together4Students, supports a state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools to achieve education goals like doubling high-performing schools by 2035. Founded by Henry Jones and Mark Sturgis, the group partners with Memphis Lift and seeks 2,500 petition signatures to end the district's lawsuit against the state oversight board.

Newark Public Schools is appointing nine new principals, five new directors, and five new assistant superintendents for the upcoming school year, with a focus on promoting internal candidates and diversifying leadership. The changes follow retirements and include roles at elementary and high schools, alongside challenges such as improving student performance and integrating AI into classrooms.

Teachers and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) urged the Chicago Board of Education to reject a proposed $9.88 billion budget that includes furloughs, a spending freeze, and staff cuts to address a $732.5 million deficit. The budget proposal has sparked tensions, with teachers citing issues like large class sizes and inadequate custodial support, while the CTU demands increased state funding and legal action against Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas for delayed tax revenue.

New York officials propose mandatory updates to teacher preparation programs to align with the science of reading, emphasizing evidence-based methods like phonics and phonological awareness. The regulations aim to address concerns that many programs fail to properly train educators in reading instruction, requiring compliance by 2028.

Proposition NN, a fifth attempt in a decade to raise school funding in Colorado, aims to increase teacher salaries, reduce class sizes, and invest in education. Supporters, including educators and the Colorado Education Association, believe public sentiment has shifted in favor of the measure, though it faces opposition from conservative groups like the Independence Institute.

New York families left $62 million in unspent Summer EBT food benefits last year, with $120 per child available for eligible families until Sept. 8. The program aims to combat hunger during school closures, but 26% of issued funds went unused, reverting to the federal government.

A record 38 Indiana school districts are requesting property tax increases in November for operating expenses, capital needs, or security projects due to state law changes. Recent reforms, including a property tax relief bill and restrictions on referendum timing, have intensified financial pressures, with districts citing the need to maintain existing services rather than fund new programs.

Over $1.6 million has been raised in Chicago school board election campaigns since October, with contribution caps lifted for the board president race. Key candidates include Victor Hendorson, Hilario Dominguez, Jessica Biggs, Jennifer Custer, and Sendhil Revuluri, as Chicago prepares for its first fully elected school board in November.

The City Council approved a one-time $10,000 payment for public school paraprofessionals in an effort to improve retention and recruitment. Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized the bill as violating state labor law, while Councilmember Carmen de la Rosa highlighted the affordability crisis and low starting salaries for paraprofessionals. The program, costing $244 million, would distribute payments in four installments starting in 2027.

Digital standardized testing is keeping Chromebooks in classrooms as educators prioritize preparing students for computer-based assessments despite some backlash against screen time. Examples include Los Angeles and Baltimore maintaining devices for third graders due to testing requirements, while critics argue assessment should not solely drive tech use in education.

New York City officials limited outdoor activities for the Summer Rising summer school program due to wildfire smoke, with the Education Department urging schools to reschedule outdoor trips. The smoke and heat have reduced students' outdoor time, leading to indoor activities and concerns about health risks, particularly for those with asthma.

Chicago Public Schools released a $9.88 billion 2026-27 budget amid financial strain, including five furlough days, a spending freeze, and layoffs of 760 teachers and 800 support staff. The district seeks additional state or city funding to avoid cuts, while unions and school board members criticize the measures as harmful to students.

The Detroit school board approved a two-year teacher contract with 3% annual pay raises, retention bonuses, and a new AI policy. The agreement, covering 2026-2028, includes increased salaries for teachers with master’s degrees and stipends for classrooms with students requiring special support.

No charter schools applied to take over Denver Public Schools at risk of closure due to low performance. Denver's School Transformation Process aims to replace or restructure persistently low-scoring schools, but district officials withdrew their own applications after no charter competitors emerged.

Five candidates for Chicago's elected school board were removed from the ballot by the city's Board of Election Commissioners, leaving some districts with only one candidate. Removed candidates have five days to appeal, and the board also dismissed challenges for five other candidates.

Newark’s Hopeworks program trains young adults in AI, coding, and web development to prepare them for high-demand tech jobs. Participants like Monajah Williams gain skills through hands-on training and paid internships, with the program emphasizing adaptability and human skills in an AI-driven job market.

New York City is expanding five high-demand special education programs into preschool classrooms for the first time, adding 250 seats across 26 schools with a $67.5 million investment. The initiative aims to address the city's ongoing failure to provide classroom seats for all preschoolers with disabilities, a legal requirement, and aligns with Mayor Zohran Mamdani's push for universal childcare.