EduClips: Two Students Join Philadelphia School Board; Culture Wars Play Out in Texas Classrooms — and More Must-Reads From America’s 15 Biggest School Districts

EduClips is a compilation of the most important news headlines in the field of education from the largest school districts in the United States, where approximately 4 million students in eight states attend classes daily. You can read previous editions of EduClips here. If you want to receive the top school and policy news directly in your email inbox, sign up for the TopSheet Education Newsletter.

Top Story

FUNDING – The Senate has passed a spending package that includes increased funding for prominent education programs that focus on disadvantaged students and special education, among others.

On Tuesday, Senators voted overwhelmingly in favor of the legislation, which was formulated and approved by House and Senate appropriations leaders last week. The bill for fiscal year 2019 includes an additional $581 million in funding for the U.S. Department of Education compared to the current levels in fiscal year 2018. It’s worth noting that this figure does not take into account a provision that rescinds $600 million from reserves for Pell Grants meant for college students from low-income backgrounds. Title I and career and technical education grants will receive relatively modest increases, as will aid to charter schools and a block grant that districts can utilize to enhance school safety. (Read at Politics K-12)

National News

SCHOOL SECURITY – In the wake of recent school shootings, teachers are appealing to the public for assistance in purchasing safety supplies. (Read at Education Week)

21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS – An expert suggests that to find the keys to 21st century schools, one should look abroad. These keys include greater choice, strong accountability, and high-stakes tests for students rather than teachers. (Read at The74Million.org)

District and State News

PENNSYLVANIA – The Philadelphia school board is welcoming two 17-year-old members. (Read at the Philadelphia Inquirer)

TEXAS – Classrooms have become the latest battleground in Texas’s culture wars. (Read at The Guardian)

FLORIDA – How are Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum different? Their education plans shed some light. (Read at the Tampa Bay Times)

CALIFORNIA – California Governor Brown has signed a bill that bans for-profit charter schools. However, doubts surround its effectiveness. (Read at The Washington Post)

PUERTO RICO – Controversial reforms are being proposed for Puerto Rico’s struggling public schools in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. (Read at PBS Newshour)

CALIFORNIA – LAUSD’s superintendent has laid out his vision to make every school "a place of great teaching." (Read at LA School Report)

NEW YORK – For the first time in 20 years, New York City’s Teacher of the Year is from the city itself as well as West Africa. (Read at Chalkbeat)

ILLINOIS – Active-shooter alarms have been installed in Illinois schools, but questions remain about their effectiveness. (Read at Yahoo! News)

NEW YORK – It’s another year, and that means another series of school bus mishaps in NYC. (Read at the New York Post)

NEVADA – DNA evidence has linked a Clark County school bus driver to sexual assaults. (Read at the Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Think Pieces

GRADE INFLATION – A study suggests that grade inflation is more prevalent in wealthy schools, where parents have a greater ability to manipulate the system. (Read at The74Million.org)

SCHOOL LUNCH – A new study suggests that providing free lunch for all students leads to fewer instances of repeated suspension. (Read at Chalkbeat)

SCOTUS – The Supreme Court’s decisions hold significant power within America’s schools. (Read at The New York Times)

BURN VICTIMS – Inside a unique summer camp for young burn survivors, where they can just be kids for a week each year. (Read at The74Million.org)

Quote of the Day

"Last week was a perfect demonstration of why it is a terrible idea for politicians to dictate curriculum standards in public schools. This way, history is determined by majority vote rather than based on facts and historical accuracy. Unfortunately, that’s what we have in Texas." – Dan Quinn of the Texas Freedom Network, a left-leaning advocacy group, commenting on the decision to remove Hillary Clinton, Helen Keller, and Barry Goldwater from Texas’s history curriculum. (Read at The Guardian)

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