Top 10 Stories

01

First Nationwide School-Choice Program Gets Its Rulebook

The U.S. Treasury released its proposed rule on October 1 for the Education Freedom Tax Credit, described as the first federal school choice program available nationwide. Created under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill, it offers a tax credit for contributions that fund scholarships families can use for schooling, moving a debate long fought state by state onto federal ground.

02

Trump Administration Moves to Rewrite Head Start Rules

Federal officials proposed sweeping changes to the regulations governing Head Start, the early-childhood program that serves some of the nation's most vulnerable young children. Providers warn the changes would fall hardest on certain regions and families, reviving a year of uncertainty around the program.

03

SAT Scores Rebound for the Class of 2026

The College Board reported on September 29 that the class of 2026 posted a mean total score of 1045, up 16 points from the prior year, with gains across every demographic group and in both the reading-writing and math sections. It is the first broad increase in several years.

04

‘Defend the Spend’ Adds a Hurdle for School Grant Money

Beginning November 1, the U.S. Department of Education will require grant recipients to justify in writing any drawdown of already-approved funds. The policy, which the department calls defend the spend, has administrators worried it could slow money reaching districts and states.

05

Education Department Formally Rescinds the 2024 Title IX Rule

The department finalized the removal of the Biden administration's 2024 Title IX regulation, which had extended protections to LGBTQ+ students and employees, reverting to the 2020 rule. The 2024 version had already been blocked across much of the country by legal challenges.

06

Schools Confront a ‘Swatting’ Crisis

The Education Department and the Department of Justice issued joint guidance for K-12 schools and colleges on preventing and responding to swatting, the false reporting of a violent crime to trigger a heavy police response. The agencies called it a crisis, citing lost instructional time, trauma, and millions in costs.

07

Most 8th Graders Aren't Ready for Algebra, and Many Who Are Skip It

An NWEA analysis of about 55,000 students found that roughly a quarter of 8th graders appear ready for algebra, yet a quarter of those students do not take it even when it is offered, and only 42 percent of the schools studied offer 8th-grade algebra at all.

08

Thirteen States Pay Teachers More for Hard-to-Staff Schools

A National Council on Teacher Quality report released September 29 found that 13 states use additional pay to draw teachers to hard-to-staff schools and 17 offer extra pay for shortage subjects, while 10 require districts to weigh teacher performance in salary decisions.

09

Teacher Vacancies Harden Into a Long-Term Trend

New workforce data point to persistently higher teacher vacancy rates and a growing share of underprepared teachers entering classrooms, even as overall turnover has eased from its pandemic-era peak. The pattern suggests the shortage is settling in rather than passing.

10

Book Challenges Hold Near Record Highs

Formal efforts to challenge and remove books from schools and libraries remain near their all-time highs and stay concentrated in a handful of states, according to new tallies, keeping the fight over classroom and library shelves firmly in the national conversation.