Highlights
‘Stage Is Shifting Rapidly’ for High Schools: Are States Helping Them Keep Up? - The 74 - 18 February 2026
DOL’s AI literacy framework encourages experiential learning and ‘human’ skills - HR Dive - 18 February 2026
What role do regional workforce boards play in shaping local talent pipelines and expanding economic mobility? Join workforce leaders Tuesday, 2/25 at 2pm ET for a timely conversation on how America’s 570 workforce development boards are evolving from policy instruments created under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 into key conveners of employers, educators, and community partners. Hear from Melanie Flowers (Chief Workforce Strategy Officer, Craft Education), Kristen Fox (CEO, Business-Higher Education Forum), Jane Oates (Senior Policy Advisor, WorkingNation), and Josh Copus (Senior Director, JFF) as they explore how workforce boards are driving regional strategy, what best practices are emerging, and what it will take to strengthen their role in building the next generation of workers.
Federal Policy & Politics
Hegseth launches culture war against elite universities - The Hill - 18 February 2026
Education Department to rescind race eligibility rules for key grant program - Politico Pro (subscription model) - 17 February 2026
K-12 Education
Why District Leaders Are Rethinking Education Research and Policy - EdSurge - 18 February 2026
For College Applicants, Pressure to Make Summers Count Has Gotten Even Worse - The Wall Street Journal (subscription model) - 16 February 2026
When school size matters and when it doesn’t - The Hechinger Report - 16 February 2026
Higher Education
The Harvard of the South … Of the West? - The Atlantic (subscription model) - 18 February 2026
University of Texas System considers restrictions on ‘controversial’ teaching - Higher Ed Dive - 18 February 2026
Early Learning & Child Care
Gov. Newsom expanded free preschool. Now private daycares say they can’t afford to stay open - Associated Press - 17 February 2026
K-2 Suspensions Were Recently Banned in Nebraska. Now, Lawmakers Want to Go Back - The 74 - 18 February 2026
Biting, kicking, wandering the classroom: Teachers say there’s a rise in misbehavior even among the littlest kids - The Hechinger Report - 17 February 2026
Educator Talent & Staffing
Top teachers’ performance drops in high-poverty schools, showing school context is key - Chalkbeat - 17 February 2026
Backlash against student ICE protests targets educators, schools - Chalkbeat - 17 February 2026
Apprenticeship effort targets childcare - Wilkes Journal-Patriot - 18 February 2026
Technology & AI
Is AI Ready to Protect Schools From Cyberattacks? - Education Week (subscription model) - 17 February 2026
At These Universities, Using AI Isn’t Shunned — It’s a Graduation Requirement - The 74 - 17 February 2026
Why One AI Administrator Is Skeptical of AI - Inside Higher Ed - 18 February 2026
AI Optimization’s Impact on Use of Time, Space and Resources in Schools - The 74 - 18 February 2026
Student Health, Safety & Nutrition
Social Media Linked to Student Loneliness - Inside Higher Ed - 17 February 2026
What’s behind explosive student behavior? - The Hechinger Report - 18 February 2026
AI Usage Mirrors Young People’s Offline Struggles - Inside Higher Ed - 18 February 2026
Workforce & Career Pathways
A new kind of nursing classroom is on the street in Hampton Roads - WHRO Public Media - 18 February 2026
Engineering Degree Mobility for Working Learners - Evolllution - 18 February 2026
The Worst-Case Future for White-Collar Workers - The Atlantic (subscription model) - 18 February, 2026
NC Workforce Pell: Only a Fraction of Programs Expected to Qualify - The 74 - 17 February 2026
Opinion: Career and Technical Ed Benefits All Students. 4 Ways to Expand This Opportunity - The 74 - 18 February 2026
School Choice
Colorado’s ‘first public Christian school’ sues state over ban on religious public schools - Chalkbeat Colorado - 17 February 2026
School choice, not teacher pay, has been Tate Reeves’ priority for 2026 Mississippi Legislature - Mississippi Today - 15 February 2026
Opinion: Democrats, This Is Why You Haven’t Fixed Schools Yet - The New York Times (subscription model) - 17 February 2026
State & Local News
California | California school systems face red ink despite boosts in education spending - CalMatters - 18 February 2026
Connecticut | CT school leaders on Lamont’s K-12 budget: ‘A trainwreck for education’ - CT Mirror - 18 February 2026
Indiana | Bill with youth social media restrictions, more college degree cuts advances back to Indiana Senate - Indiana Capitol Chronicle - 18 February 2026
Kansas | Kansas May Withhold Millions From Universities With ‘DEI-CRT’ in Gen Ed - Inside Higher Ed - 18 February 2026
South Dakota | State Senate backs school cellphone ban - South Dakota Searchlight - 17 February 2026
Washington | Bill to boost financial aid for students at WA’s private colleges moves out of Senate - Washington State Standard - 18 February 2026
West Virginia | 71% of children leaving WV schools for homeschooling are chronically absent - West Virginia Watch - 18 February 2026
LA | LAUSD board approves up to 657 layoffs. Budget at 'breaking point,' Supt. Carvalho says - LA Times (subscription model) - 17 February 2026
Job Opportunities
Looking for your next opportunity in education? W/A Jobs features 3,500+ career opportunities from 300+ organizations across the education industry. Today’s featured role is:
McGraw-Hill is hiring a Director, Strategy Campaign to lead strategy and execution for Texas state adoption campaigns, coordinating sales, product marketing, academic design, and project management from early planning through go-to-market launch.