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California takes action to prevent future charter school fraud
Following a significant fraud scandal involving A3 Education, California has taken decisive steps to reform the auditing and oversight of charter schools to prevent future misconduct. The scandal, which saw the indictment of founders Sean McManus and Jason Schrock in 2019, exposed deep flaws in the system that allowed the network of 19 schools to…
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Schools struggle with AI harassment
According to a new report from the Center for Democracy & Technology, schools are inadequately addressing the rising threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled sexual harassment. The report reveals that 40% of students and 29% of teachers are aware of deepfakes being shared in schools during the 2023-24 academic year. Kristin Woelfel, a policy counsel for…
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Schools on the brink: Pandemic-era enrollment drops threaten hundreds of institutions
A recent report by the Fordham Institute reveals that nearly 500 low-performing schools have lost 20% or more of their students since the pandemic, marking them as potential candidates for closure. The study emphasizes the need for school districts to proactively address these declines through interventions such as family engagement and targeted support. Sofoklis Goulas,…
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Columbus schools face transportation crisis
Columbus City Schools (CCS) is currently collaborating with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to provide bus transportation for approximately 120 charter and nonpublic students amid an emergency motion filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The district has previously deemed these students “impractical” for transportation, leading to complaints from parents about insufficient notice…
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Boston students face bus delays
This year, Boston Public Schools have faced significant challenges with late school buses, impacting students and families. On the first day of school, only 34% of buses arrived on time, the lowest rate since 2016. Mayor Michelle Wu attributed the delays to an “unexpected adjustment period” with a new bus tracking app, Zum, and a…
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EPA halts dangerous pesticide sales
In August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took significant steps to safeguard public health by halting the sale of a harmful pesticide linked to severe fetal damage. With over 1bn pounds of pesticides used annually in the U.S., many are sprayed near schools, exposing children to potential health risks. Ling Tan, a Maryland resident, expressed…
