Virginia high school suspended more than 300 hundred students over anti-ICE walkout during school hours

Good news! Bravo! Maybe these students should learn to protest after school or on weekends!

"A high school in Virginia suspended over 300 students for walking out of class for an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest ...

A letter from principal Heather Abney to parents of students said that the district did not endorse the walkout and that students who left campus without permission would be punished according to their regular code of behavior. A total of 303 students were suspended for three days. ..."

Praise rolls in for high school suspending hundreds of students over anti-ICE walkout: 'Adults are taking charge' | Blaze Media

Texas makes MAJOR move in favor of school choice

Good news! Up to a 40,000 children have immediately signed up!

(194) Texas makes MAJOR move in favor of school choice - YouTube

India launches nationwide AI-skilling program for one million youths

Good news! India, a rising superpower!

India launches nationwide AI-skilling program for one million youths - Nikkei Asia "Top official says artificial intelligence unlikely to threaten jobs in Global South"

Rajasthan Hosts Regional AI Impact Conference, Advancing India’s Vision for Inclusive and Responsible AI "Programme launched to train 1 Million young people in AI Skills"

Why more parents in China are turning to home-schooling

Good news!

India’s School Dropout Rate Halved: Small Policy Moves Bring Big Changes with Palki Sharma

Good news! Very recommendable! Feed children and they come to school!

Kids in the UK are hacking their own schools for dares and notoriety

Signs of our times! What pranks did we do as teenagers? 😊

"Kids are making a mark in the U.K.’s cybersecurity arena, and not in the way their parents want them to. According to the country’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), students were behind more than half of personal data breaches in schools.

In a warning to teachers and educational institutions, the ICO outlined its analysis of 215 data breach reports resulting from security incidents originating from inside schools, finding that 57% of the hacks were pulled off by students. ..."

Kids in the UK are hacking their own schools for dares and notoriety | TechCrunch

There’s Only One True Bipartisan Issue Left: Banning smartphones in school

This is a good one! A sad state of affairs! What is the definition of the lowest common denominator?

Banning smartphones and other smart devices from classrooms is a stupid and medieval idea! These devices and AI need to be integrated into the K-12 education.

The hyperbole that smartphones etc. cause mental illness in children is a false trope!

"... The Anxious Generation debuted as the top-selling, non-fiction book on the New York Times best-sellers list in March of 2024 and has remained on the list for the last 74 weeks — a Harry Potter-like longevity that, to put it mildly, is rarely accorded with works from PhD social scientists. This week, it’s back at number one.

39 states now have some sort of phone restrictions in schools, and 18 states and Washington, D.C. have bell-to-bell bans — which ban phones for the entire school day — according to Haidt. After the next legislative sessions, which in many state capitols begin after the new year, more states are sure to enact full bans. The issue has rallied conservatives and liberals, and its potency with parents has largely steamrolled libertarian objections and big tech lobbying. ..."

There’s Only One True Bipartisan Issue Left - POLITICO "Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” has prompted an unlikely bipartisan revolution to ban phones in classrooms."

"How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness?

Arizona School Districts’ Growing Problem with Empty Buildings and Empty school Buses

This issue has been mentioned a few times in recently! And it applies to other states as well.

"Arizona’s district schools are sitting on 78 million square feet of excess space.

That’s enough for more than 630,000 students.

That unused real estate is worth $12.2 billion and costs taxpayers $1 billion every year to maintain."

"Arizona’s district public school system has deep roots, stretching back to its territorial days. For most of its history, this system grew alongside Arizona’s population, fueled by the fact that 80% or more of Arizona’s 6-year-olds went to their local district public school. Arizona school districts built schools, hired teachers, and expanded bus routes, anticipating perpetual growth. By the 2010s, Arizona’s public K–12 system was a sprawling network of thousands of school buildings, vehicles, and people - designed to educate a swelling student body in a state that assumed this would go on forever.

But the tide has turned. Since 2008, district school enrollment has steadily declined, and the decline is accelerating. Enrollment dropped another 5% since 2019 alone – in contrast to the growth mindset that once defined the system. Meanwhile, educational choice has reshaped the landscape: 40% of incoming kindergarteners now opt for charter or private schools, despite smaller facilities, leaner staffs, and a lack of formal transportation options. Despite this shift, district schools have doubled down on expansion, adding 499 new buildings and boosting gross square footage by 3% in just the last five years. Today, Arizona’s public district schools have 78 million square feet of ‘excess’ space.

This report exposes the inefficiencies that have taken root. It’s a story of misaligned priorities and outdated systems, where resources pile up unused while student outcomes falter. Capital spending has increased by 67% to $8.9 billion since 2019. Transportation costs have increased by 11.3% to $561.2 million, despite a 45% drop in eligible bus riders. Urban districts have seen a 63% increase in bus miles per rider, while rural and choice students often struggle to access reliable transportation services.  ..."

Arizona School Districts’ Empty Buildings and Empty Buses

Oklahoma Tests New Teachers for Indoctrination. Really!

Maybe it makes firing new teachers easier if it later turns out they do actually indoctrinate.

Maybe it scares some ideologue teachers from applying in Oklahoma.

"Oklahoma is now requiring new teachers from New York and California to pass a 50-question test screening for woke indoctrination, according to state superintendent Ryan Walters. 

Developed with the conservative group PragerU, the quiz covers topics such as biology, American history, and Christianity’s influence on the U.S. ..."

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - Join The Flyover

Chronic student Absenteeism Is Still a Struggle in many US cities

Bad news! What are these absent students doing? 

Are many of these absent students learning by alternative ways (e.g. home schooling, online learning)?

"New RAND surveys of school district leaders and American youths reveal several key insights about this persistent challenge:

• Chronic absenteeism in the 2024–2025 school year remained above pre-pandemic levels.
• In roughly half of urban school districts, more than 30 percent of students were chronically absent. That’s a far higher share of students than in rural or suburban districts.
• One-quarter of youths do not think being chronically absent is a problem.

..."

Policy Currents Newsletter: August 14, 2025 | RAND

Does it make sense to ban smartphones or their use by children from schools?

Not really! Prohibition rarely if ever works! Banning is a sign of cluelessness!

It is one thing to ban drugs, alcohol, and guns from schools, but smartphones?

There should be smarter ways to integrate smartphones, or other smart devices or even AI into curriculum of schools to benefit the students and their learning!

"A fast-growing network of American parents is seeking to curb the influence of smartphones and social media on their children’s health—and they are starting with schools.  

Bans and “bell-to-bell” policies: Much parent-led advocacy so far has focused on making schools smartphone-free environments. Once highly unpopular, such bans are quickly gaining traction:

74% of U.S. adults now support preventing students from using their phones during class, while 44% support all-day bans, per a Pew Research Center study from July.

37 states and D.C. have passed laws limiting classroom phone use, with about half passing all-day bans. ..."

Global Health NOW: U.S. FDA’s Slipshod Protection for Generics; Sierra Leone’s ‘Red Zone’; and The Push for Phone-Free Schools

Arizona School Districts’ Empty public school Buildings and Empty Buses due to declining school age population and private schools

Demography is destiny! What a dramatic change in school age population attending public schools!

"... But the tide has turned. Since 2008, district school enrollment has steadily declined, and the decline is accelerating.

Enrollment dropped another 5% since 2019 alone – in contrast to the growth mindset that once defined the system. Meanwhile, educational choice has reshaped the landscape: 40% of incoming kindergarteners now opt for charter or private schools, despite smaller facilities, leaner staffs, and a lack of formal transportation options. Despite this shift, district schools have doubled down on expansion, adding 499 new buildings and boosting gross square footage by 3% in just the last five years. Today, Arizona’s public district schools have 78 million square feet of ‘excess’ space. ..."

There are similar trends in other US states too. What about other Western countries?

Arizona School Districts’ Empty Buildings and Empty Buses

Pro abortion advocates find videos of fetuses growing in the womb shown to highschool students as part of sex ed offensive. Really!

Is there something wrong with that? Should these kind of videos not be shown in biology classes anyway?

How a fetus develops in the womb of a woman or in other mammals is a wonder of nature!

Why not show some videos on how brutal some abortions are especially late term abortions!

Abortion is no panacea. It should be avoided as much as possible! It is a terrible form of ending a human life!

"A growing number of American students taking sex education classes this fall will be required to watch videos of fetuses growing in the womb—a result of new “fetal development” laws passed in state legislatures nationwide. 

Six states now require such videos to be shown in sex ed; nearly 4 million students will see them this fall. 

20+ states have proposed similar bills since 2023.

Background: Showing such videos in schools is a key part of anti-abortion group Live Action’s strategy to influence young people. 

Its main tool: “Meet Baby Olivia,” a 3-minute video depicting the development of a fetus in utero, which has been frequently recommended in state legislation.

But medical experts say the video is misleading about development and is emotionally manipulative rather than educational [???]. ..."

Global Health NOW: HIV Patients ‘in Darkness’ as Aid Cuts Take Hold; Schools as Abortion Rights Battlegrounds; and The Brawl of the Wild

Unbound Academy - The Future of Education is Unbound

What is the future of K-12 education? Here is an example!

According to Google search:

"A new AI-driven virtual charter school called Unbound Academy is set to open in Arizona this fall, serving students in grades four through eight. 

Here's a closer look at the key details:

Location: Arizona (initially virtual).

Model: The school will utilize an educational model called "2 Hour Learning", where AI-driven apps will deliver core academic instruction (math, reading, science, language) for two hours daily, followed by four hours dedicated to group workshops, student-led projects, and mentorship sessions focusing on practical skills such as public speaking and financial literacy.

Technology: The AI system utilizes established platforms like Khan Academy and IXL, augmented by proprietary adaptive learning software and close teacher oversight.

Assessment: Students' learning progress will be monitored through the AI system, and they will only advance to more challenging lessons after demonstrating mastery of the current material.

Teacher Role: Teachers will serve as guides and mentors, providing support and oversight while the AI handles the core curriculum delivery.

Parental Engagement: The school emphasizes student-teacher connection and aims to streamline communication between parents and the school.

Origins: Unbound Academy is linked to Alpha School, a private school in Austin, Texas, which uses a similar AI-driven approach. Alpha School reports high academic achievement among its students. ..."

"... What could your child accomplish if they could master academics in just 2 hours a day? ..."

Unbound - The Future of Education is Unbound "The first virtual charter school Powered by AI"

Credits: AI-focused private school Alpha expands to Scottsdale, plans national rollout

New Trump executive order aims to boost AI usage in classrooms

Good news!

Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Pushes Re-opening Education For Girls

Good news! Recommendable! Courageous, but good luck with that! Or will we see a positive change in Afghanistan?

Handyverbot an Schulen in Niederlanden: Erfahrungen nach einem Jahr

Verbote sind oft sehr schlechte Massnahmen, wie in diesem Fall!

Handys sollten in den Unterricht integriert werden, wenn möglich! Handys könnten u.a. individuelles Lernen fördern.

Handyverbot an Schulen in Niederlanden: Erfahrungen nach einem Jahr "Mehr Konzentration und weniger Mobbing: Auch in der Schweiz und Deutschland wird der Ruf nach einheitlichen Regeln lauter. Die niederländischen Schüler haben plötzlich ungeahnte «Probleme»."

Khan Academy founder brings AI tutor to American schools

Good news! A game changer! 

Individual learning and tutoring will become reality! I wish I had it when I was a kid!

"Sal Khan, founder of the education non-profit Khan Academy, has partnered with OpenAI to build an AI tutor called Khanmigo, which is now being tested in 266 US school districts. Besides tutoring, the tool can give feedback on essays, write lesson plans, and flag plagiarism.

The promise of Khanmigo is a chatbot that younger students will engage with as a teacher rather than just a homework-completing machine."

"Teachers and students across the U.S. are testing an AI-powered tutor that could change the way education works.

Khanmigo, created by Khan Academy founder Sal Khan, was designed to help students learn and teachers teach. ...

Khanmigo is now being piloted in grades 3 through 12 in 266 school districts across the U.S. ... the data they collect through Khanmigo ... is used to improve Khanmigo's memory and personalization.

Khanmigo is free for all teachers in the U.S., but school districts have to pay $15 per student per year to cover computation costs. ..."

Weekly Progress Roundup - by Malcolm Cochran - Doomslayer

Sal Khan wants an AI tutor for every student: here's how it's working at an Indiana high school

What's behind the ban on cell phones in K-12 schools? Foolishness

How many K-12 schools provide tablet computers or similar devices to each student? Then students could e.g. choose their own learning program at their own speed etc. 

The traditional role of teachers is entirely outdated! Teachers ought to be more like facilitators to encourage each student to learn on their own according to their preferences and capabilities.

Clearly, smart device use should be integrated into children/adolescents education!

Such banning of smartphones seems to be a foolish and counterproductive endeavor! The focus on possible addiction and misuse of social media by students is misguided!

"... States such as Florida, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Louisiana have passed laws recently to ban or restrict cell phones in K-12 schools, while countless school districts in dozens of other states have implemented policies to limit use. ...

high school students must stow phones in backpacks and use them only between classes and during lunch ...

Mounting research suggests that smartphone use may be fueling the country's mental health crisis among youth ..."

What's behind the ban on cell phones in K-12 schools? | Hub "A growing number of states and schools are now banning or restricting cell phones. Johns Hopkins experts Carol Vidal and Annette Anderson explain the research and weigh in on the controversial policies."

Canadian provincial school smartphone restrictions for students don’t go far enough. Really!

To restrict smartphone usage of school children seems to be again the topic du jour! Here is one example!

This article is based on medieval superstition and alchemy!

Smartphones could improve education and didactic!

Did we not go through this rubbish when TV sets became very affordable and widespread in the 1960s! I do remember! As belonging to this generation, I think most of us growing up during this time turned out fine despite spending hours and days in front of TV set. 😊

Like we have successfully integrated computers/video technology etc. into K-12 education, we ought to be able to do the same with smartphones as well!

"Thanks to the [Prince Edward Island] government’s new smartphone restrictions, when students return to school next week they’ll have less time with their phones. But while the restrictions are a step in the right direction, they don’t go nearly far enough. ...

And the evidence of the negative effects is mounting. Unlike adults, kids and teenagers do not have fully formed prefrontal cortexes, which predisposes them to increased anxiety and lack of focus.

According to one study, the typical teenager receives 237 smartphone notifications per day—about 15 per hour. Another study found it takes kids 20 minutes to regain focus after just one distraction. ..."

P.E.I. school smartphone restrictions don’t go far enough | Fraser Institute