Federal

Counties with large areas of public land get federal funding that many rural schools rely on. The most recent round of payments in May will be the last unless Congress votes to extend the program.

Districts across the country must make tough decisions about cuts that will affect millions of families as soon as the next school year. The cuts, which many districts put off during the pandemic, could interrupt the recovery of U.S. students.

The families, who are Jewish, Christian, Unitarian Universalist and nonreligious, alleged in court papers that the new law “substantially interferes with and burdens” the parents’ First Amendment right to raise their kids in whatever religion they want.

A dispute between Alaska’s education officials and their federal counterparts over whether the state spent pandemic relief equitably has had its first tangible consequence: the state must receive a federal OK before it can spend nearly $1 million in grants.

The district overhauled its approach to budgeting this year, aiming to downplay enrollment size as a factor, provide all schools with certain base positions—and steer more dollars to schools serving the city’s most vulnerable students.

Additionally, researchers from FutureEd argue a two-tiered approach to state testing could work. Here's what that looks like.