public schools

A nationwide public sector strike is planned for Tuesday, September 29, in France, involving teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters, and public transport staff. In Paris, a demonstration is set to march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation via Bastille. Travelers should expect disruptions, with RATP services likely affected, and check updated schedules before setting out.

A Stanford Medicine study concludes that cutting ultra-processed food from school menus will be tricky. The research suggests schools face practical obstacles in eliminating these products from meals served to students, though the specific challenges were not detailed in available coverage. The findings add to ongoing debate in the United States about the role of ultra-processed foods in children's diets and school nutrition policy.

NPR's politics segment examines Donald Trump's escalating conflict with the press alongside his administration's push to roll back federal health and education spending. Analysts weigh how the media confrontations are shaping coverage while budget reductions threaten public health programmes and school funding, drawing concern from policy advocates and educators.

Health authorities are tracking a measles outbreak connected to a high school that continues to expand. The outbreak's growth suggests additional cases are being confirmed among students or their close contacts, prompting public health officials to urge vaccination checks and caution anyone who may have been exposed to monitor for symptoms.

Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania are putting preparations in place as a statewide measles outbreak approaches 900 confirmed cases. Officials are working to limit potential spread in classrooms, with the outbreak's scale raising concern among parents and health authorities across the state. Details on specific measures being taken by individual districts have not yet been reported.

Democratic Texas state Representative Gina Hinojosa is positioning herself to appeal to conservative mothers frustrated with public schools in Texas. The report highlights growing anger among parents typically aligned with the right over the state of education, and suggests that discontent could create a political opening for Democrats in upcoming races.

California voters are being shown where the candidates for state superintendent of public instruction stand on major education issues. A comparison of the contenders' positions is drawing attention as the race gives voters a direct say over the direction of the state's public school system, covering topics at the center of education policy debates.

A new report highlights growing concern over young people's mental health, pointing to exam pressure, extreme heat linked to climate change, and anxiety about an uncertain future as key drivers. Commentators say the combination of academic stress and environmental worries is pushing youth wellbeing up the public agenda and prompting calls for better support services in schools and communities.

Former Chicago mayor and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has put forward a five-point ethics plan while arguing that his party should look to Republican-led states for lessons on education policy. His remarks add to a broader debate among Democrats about how to regain ground on schools and restore public trust, with Emanuel positioning himself as a voice urging the party toward more pragmatic positions.

A Pennsylvania junior military college could be forced to move its campus to Oklahoma, according to public radio reporting on the institution's future. The story raises questions about what pressures might push the school out of state and what the move would mean for students, staff and the local community.

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health has received a grant to investigate possible links between environmental exposures and Alzheimer's disease. The funding will support research into how factors in the environment may contribute to the development of the neurodegenerative condition, an area of growing interest to scientists studying dementia risk.

The Institute for Justice, a US public interest law firm, has announced the launch of a new Education Entrepreneurship Project, timed to the back-to-school season. The initiative is aimed at supporting people who want to start their own educational ventures, such as schools, tutoring services or other learning businesses. Details about the project's programs and activities remain limited in the initial announcement.

The Utah State Board of Education has determined that the Davis School District is not required to hold public discussions when hearing appeals over challenged or removed books. The finding resolves a question about transparency in the district's book ban appeal process, which has drawn attention as Utah schools continue reviewing and removing library titles.

The ACLU of West Virginia has filed a lawsuit against state officials challenging West Virginia's 44-year-old education funding formula, arguing the decades-old system fails to adequately and fairly fund public schools. The case could force a rethink of how the state distributes money to school districts. Advocates say the formula has not kept pace with modern student needs, while officials have not yet outlined their response.

Jessica Biggs, a candidate for president of the Chicago school board, is calling for the district to put student success ahead of politics. She argues the board's focus should shift toward outcomes for children in Chicago's public schools. The stance comes as education remains a contested issue in the city.

The Protective Buffers PA Coalition is holding a rally at the State Capitol in Harrisburg on October 7, calling on Pennsylvania lawmakers to increase mandatory setbacks between shale gas drilling operations and homes, schools and other sensitive sites. The coalition argues the current 500-foot buffer is inadequate to protect public health and the environment, and is pressing for stronger distance requirements from gas wells.

A renewed push for religious charter schools is drawing attention, centering on the Ben Gamla Jewish charter school proposal in Oklahoma alongside the St. Isidore Catholic case. Supporters argue states cannot exclude religious groups from charter programs, while opponents warn the move blurs the line between church and state and could reshape publicly funded education across the country.

The Joy and Justice Tour concluded in Columbia, South Carolina, where advocates argued that period poverty — the lack of access to menstrual products — is taking a toll on girls' mental health. Speakers urged greater awareness and support for students who cannot afford basic hygiene items, linking the issue to anxiety, shame and missed school days.

Kansas official Holscher made two stops in Emporia for public discussions covering education funding, property tax relief and state data center policies. The tour gave local residents a chance to hear directly about how schools are financed and how large data center projects might affect taxes and communities. The remarks touched on issues at the center of current state legislative debate.

The Fayette County Board of Education has proposed raising property taxes above the rollback millage rate, a move that would increase tax bills for local property owners. School boards typically adopt the rollback rate to offset rising assessments; exceeding it is legally defined as a tax increase and usually triggers public hearings. Residents in the Georgia county are likely to debate whether added school funding justifies the higher bills.

St. George, the newly formed city in Louisiana, is reshaping its plans for public education by moving toward a charter school model rather than operating traditional district schools. The shift would change how schools in the city are governed and run, and it is drawing attention as residents and education officials weigh what the transition means for students, teachers and school oversight.

The New Jersey Supreme Court is weighing Absecon's effort to withdraw from the Pleasantville public school district and send its high school students elsewhere. A ruling remains pending, and local officials and residents are watching closely because the decision would determine where Absecon students attend high school and how funding responsibilities are divided between the two Atlantic County communities.

Perillo has announced a bid for a second term, with a campaign platform focused on education, economic development, and affordability. The announcement was reported by The Monroe Sun. The platform signals an emphasis on local schools, job growth, and lowering cost-of-living pressures, though further details of specific policy proposals have not yet been laid out publicly.

The superintendent of the Johnson County school district in Wyoming has publicly reacted to a recent court ruling in an education lawsuit. The district is among parties affected by the decision, which touches on education funding or policy in the state. Details of the ruling and the superintendent's full statement have not been made widely available.