The Malaysian Ministry of Education has identified two major factors contributing to the rise in candidates failing all subjects in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. The increasing number of students working part-time jobs, especially at night in urban areas, is a significant contributor. Additionally, lack of focus on the learning process and issues related to literacy and numeracy are also cited as contributing factors. The ministry plans to conduct a post-mortem analysis to investigate the increase in failures and strengthen recovery programmes to better prepare students for the 2025 SPM.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/04/24/night-shifts-cited-as-major-factor-in-increased-spm-failures-moe-says/174306The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers have won stays on threats to school funds over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in several states, including California, Florida, and Texas. The groups challenged laws that would have diverted funding from these programs, which aim to address racial disparities in education.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/esg/union-wins-stay-of-threat-to-school-funding-over-dei-programsThe New York City Education Department is exploring "grow your own" programs to expand the teacher pipeline, inspired by successful models like Brooklyn International. This effort aims to address the city's historic challenge in hiring teachers.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/detroit/2025/04/24/afterschool-programs-face-grim-future-but-michigan-invests-50-million/A school official is urging parents to monitor their child's online activity, including photos and social media, after a potential incident involving harmful or inappropriate materials. The official's statement emphasizes the importance of open conversations between families and children about how to respond in such situations.
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/hamden-school-employee-placed-on-leave-students-find-inappropriate-images-online/3550219/San Diego Unified is expanding its community schools initiative, adding 10 new schools for the 2025-26 academic year. The expansion aims to provide more students with access to education and support services. The new schools will be located in various neighborhoods across San Diego, including Chula Vista, National City, and Imperial Beach. This move is part of a broader effort to address educational disparities and improve student outcomes for underserved communities.
https://www.cbs8.com/video/news/local/10-new-san-diego-unified-school-district-community-schools/509-498b1b90-591d-474a-b4c6-d944dae1fd34School safety expert Schachter emphasizes the need for a national database to provide parents with detailed information about their children's school environments, citing the importance of transparency in ensuring student safety.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/guns/father-of-parkland-shooting-victim-believes-every-school-should-have-threat-assessmentsSchoolAI is developing an AI platform that prioritizes teacher trust, student safety, and learning outcomes. The company's design focuses on supporting instruction rather than replacing it, with features such as FERPA and COPPA compliance, SOC 2 certification, and real-time insights through customizable dashboards. This platform aims to provide accessible accommodations for all students and offers flexible professional development training aligned with district needs and instructional goals. SchoolAI is committed to partnering with districts and education organizations to support AI literacy and readiness efforts, providing a trusted partnership approach to implementing AI in schools.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/25/tmt-newswire/globenewswire/schoolai-responds-to-national-ai-education-initiative-with-free-ai-readiness-program-and-trusted-support/2099022The US Department of Education has issued a directive requiring states to sign a certification form, which critics argue is vague and unconstitutional, limiting academic freedom and leaving schools uncertain about their compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. President Donald Trump's education secretary, Linda McMahon, warned that non-compliant states risk funding cuts, while Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, described the requirement as a "grave attack" on students, educators and knowledge itself.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-public-schools-diversity-equality-inclusion-dei-7d7ad707d91565753263a19ebde044e0US Education Secretary Janet McMahon warned states that refusing to sign a new certification form could result in funding cuts, stating that the form aims to prevent discrimination in schools. The April directive requires states to collect and sign the form on behalf of local school districts, adding language on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that threatens penalties for discriminatory practices.
https://whyy.org/articles/judge-blocks-donald-trump-dei-executive-order-schools-k-12/