Axios - District 91��Ƭistration

Austin public schools face reckoning as state takeover looms

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:56:55 +0000

A state takeover of local public schools looms as Austin ISD struggles to right failing campuses.

Why it matters: A takeover would mean governance of schools would move out of the control of a locally elected board of trustees.

Critics of a takeover say it could open the way for policy changes not necessarily aligned with the wishes of voters—but proponents argue that it could free the district to pursue reforms free of the pressures of local politics.

The post Austin public schools face reckoning as state takeover looms appeared first on District 91��Ƭistration.

]]>

AI’s education explosion leaves teachers in the dark

Wed, 27 May 2026 12:03:51 +0000

AI tools are reshaping the classroom and students’ critical thinking — but school leaders are lagging on giving teachers formal guidance for using the tech, a new report shows.

The big picture: AI should amplify the best parts of the classroom and streamline work for already stressed teachers, education experts tell Axios — not create an added burden for educators or replace human connection.

“AI is out there,” All4Ed CEO Amy Loyd tells Axios. “It’s not a question of whether or not our students are going to be using it; it’s a question of how well our educators are supported and receive the ongoing professional learning and capacity building to be able to be confident in it.”

The post AI’s education explosion leaves teachers in the dark appeared first on District 91��Ƭistration.

]]>

How Ohio schools teach COVID, 6 years later

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:53:32 +0000

Six years later, COVID is already becoming history—but how schools teach it is still evolving.

The big picture: Early research suggests K12 textbooks are presenting the pandemic in fragmented ways, avoiding deeper questions about its causes and consequences.

Meanwhile, kids who lived through it are now the teens in high school history classrooms, bringing their own lived, nuanced experiences into lessons.

]]>

Long after COVID shutdowns, many Ohio students are still learning online

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:28:00 +0000

Six years after Ohio first moved school online during COVID shutdowns, several virtual schools from that era remain.

Why it matters: Proponents say they offer flexibility to kids facing unique challenges, from health concerns to unstable homes and demanding jobs.

But the number of traditional K12 districts offering them has dropped by about a third since 2022, from 81 to 57, the latest state data shows.

]]>

Why one of North Carolina’s top school districts is eyeing closures

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:54:59 +0000

The board of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools could close up to two elementary schools as the district grapples with declining enrollment and budget shortfalls.

Why it matters: CHCCS is considered one of North Carolina’s best school districts. But its academic excellence doesn’t shield it from some of the same headwinds facing public school districts nationwide.

School officials say closing a few aging facilities can help the district right-size itself to suit its current student population.

]]>

Survey finds public schools struggling with property tax cuts

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:47:20 +0000

Many Indiana school corporations are considering cutting staff as the impact of property tax cuts takes effect, a new report shows.

Why it matters: Reducing support or teaching positions would grow class sizes, threatening hard-fought academic gains made after the pandemic.

Driving the news: Earlier this year, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1), a property tax cut that reduced how much money schools and other units of local government will get going forward.

]]>

New Orleans schools earn B grade, but new rating system looms

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:57:24 +0000

The NOLA Public Schools district received a B letter grade from the state, according to state data released Thursday. The score represents an improvement from three consecutive years of Cs, and the district’s highest score since 2018, when the majority of the city’s public schools—many of which were under state control after Hurricane Katrina—were moved back under the Orleans Parish School Board.

The rating system factors in a variety of criteria from last school year’s data—including standardized test scores and graduation rates—to determine how well a school is performing by state standards.

But the rubric is set to drastically change next year, and district officials warn that scores may drop again after it does.

]]>

Control over Indianapolis schools being debated by city-led group

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:24:53 +0000

The mayor of Indianapolis already has the power to open and close new charter schools, but the office could soon gain control over all schools in Center Township.

Why it matters: Giving the mayor additional authority over the city’s education system is one option on the table as the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance prepares to deliver its recommendations to the Indiana General Assembly.

Driving the news: The alliance presented options for redistributing resources and authority for schools within the Indianapolis Public Schools boundaries at a 3-hour long meeting Wednesday night—following months of meeting, study and public input.

]]>

Trump administration ends program to help low-income students get to college

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:50:32 +0000

A program to prepare low-income Hoosier students for college has ended after the $35 million federal grant that paid for it was canceled.

Why it matters: The Indiana GEAR UP program served thousands of students. It’s the latest casualty in President Trump’s war on any education funding that is perceived as tied to “diversity, equity and inclusion” initiatives.

Catch up quick: GEAR UP, administered by Purdue University’s College of Education, was federally funded since 2016 and received its most recent grant (a seven-year, $34.9 million award) last year.

]]>

Philly schools have big solar power potential

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:56:14 +0000

Philadelphia schools have untapped potential to cash in on the growing demand for energy production.

Why it matters: Utility bills are typically among the top costs facing schools.

The big picture: Energy costs are surging across Pennsylvania with no end in sight—due in part to the rapid growth of data centers that power artificial intelligence.

Driving the news: Installing solar panels atop Philly’s hundreds of school buildings has the potential to save an estimated $20 million over 25 years, per a new report from the nonprofit PennEnvironment. But up-front costs for Philly schools would total around $284 million, PennEnvironment deputy director Flora Cardoni tells Axios.

]]>