Indiana lawmakers are expected to vote on a final budget Thursday evening, with an expansion of school voucher eligibility and increased funding for K-12 schools. All Indiana families will be eligible for school vouchers starting June 2026, costing the state around $93 million. The latest budget maintains 2% increases in tuition support for public schools over two years and allocates additional funds for curriculum materials.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2025/04/24/vouchers-for-all-start-in-2026-budget-year/A new safety levy will help fund advanced courses, career education programs and extracurricular activities in local high schools. The levy aims to offset costs for upgraded security infrastructure, increased mental health support, school resource officers and safety training. Trustee Jeffrey Avergis emphasized the importance of investing in student safety, stating that parents want to feel confident their children are safe at school. The levies would cost an average homeowner $2.75 per month, but proponents argue it provides quality education, enrichment opportunities and a safe learning environment for over 9,000 students.
https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-county/missoula-school-officials-encourage-support-for-levies-to-avoid-budget-cutsThe 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/2099022