The Department of Defense Education Activity, which operates 161 schools on or near military bases worldwide, has halted all extracurricular activities, including sports, for more than 67,000 students.

During the shutdown, previously awarded federal grants to schools are expected to continue, but new grants are paused until Congress acts. Student loan borrowers and education programs could face further disruption if the shutdown drags on.

Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters announced that he would step down from his role overseeing the state's schools to lead the conservative group Teacher Freedom Alliance, saying, "We're going to destroy the teachers unions."

According to GovSpend, a data procurement database, K-12 public schools nationwide have spent nearly half a billion dollars upgrading their security infrastructure with various pieces of technology over the past five years.

More than 1,000 of Maryland's 1,361 public schools require repairs, renovation or replacement, according to the Maryland Comptroller's office. Meanwhile, construction costs have surged since 2019, with each new classroom averaging $1 million.

The game involves graduating seniors “assassinating” classmates within a set time by squirting them with water guns. It spread to high schools nationwide in the 2010s, fueled by TV shows, and has since grown more popular on social media.

Overall, 20 states have completely banned wireless communication devices—including personal phones or tablets—for the entire instructional day. There are, however, exceptions for students with disabilities who have individualized education programs.

Several of the biggest districts in the U.S. use Yondr bags to store kids' cellphones. But some schools are using lower-tech solutions.