Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele, an educator at Weequahic High School in Newark, N.J., participated in the Amistad Commission's Summer Institute at Stockton University, advocating for the importance of teaching Black history. The institute aims to raise awareness about the state's Amistad Law, which requires African and African American history in school curriculums, and Akinyele highlights the law's role in promoting inclusive education.

The US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has vacated a preliminary injunction that prevented the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing sensitive records from the US Department of Education, the Treasury Department and the Office of Personnel Management. The lawsuit, led by the American Federation of Teachers, argued that DOGE's access would violate the Privacy Act of 1974, but the court found that the potential harm was minimal.

Schools are using creative strategies to combat chronic absenteeism, which remains 50% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Nathanael Greene Middle School in Providence, R.I., added bus stops and provided weekend food bags, reducing absenteeism from 50% to 25%, and New York City high schools have seen significant improvements by targeting students on the verge of chronic absenteeism with brief weekly check-ins.

Teachers are increasingly using AI to support English learners and students with individualized needs, with tools like Amira and Brisk offering personalized feedback and translation. However, concerns include inaccurate translations, potential instructional gaps and bias against non-native English writers.

Ohio has become the first state to require all public K-12 schools to create AI frameworks. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has until the end of the year to release a model AI use policy, after which school districts must adopt their own policies by July 1, 2026.

US schools are feeling the effects of federal funding cuts to institutions such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The cuts threaten database access, partnerships between public and school libraries, and teacher-training programs, with high-poverty and rural areas particularly at risk.

Monticello will serve as a hub for a national civics education initiative, funded by a $1 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The initiative, led by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation under President Jane Kamensky, will aim to enhance civic understanding in collaboration with other historic sites, museums and cultural organizations.