Education Across the States

National Park College's trustees voted October 28 to pursue a merger into the University of Arkansas System — now headed to the UA Board of Trustees — alongside four new three-year STEM Model School designations that complete a preschool-to-graduation pathway in Izard County, and the 2026 School Garden of the Year winners closing out Farm to School Month.

Sources:

- Talk Business & Politics, 'National Park College trustees approve UA System merger' (published October 28, 2026): https://talkbusiness.net/2026/10/national-park-college-trustees-approve-ua-system-merger/ — Oct. 28 resolution, president authorized to negotiate and execute the merger agreement and transition plan, proposal advances to the UA Board of Trustees, NPC would be the 10th Arkansas community college in the UA System

- Encyclopedia of Arkansas, 'National Park College' (encyclopediaofarkansas.net, search 'National Park College Encyclopedia of Arkansas'): National Park Technology Center offers seven career and technical programs for high school juniors and seniors

- Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Arkansas STEM Model Program page (dese.ade.arkansas.gov, search 'AR STEM Model Program designated schools'): program goals and the designated schools list — 2026-2029 class (Izard County Consolidated Elementary, ICC Preschool, Vaughn Elementary Bentonville, Walker Elementary Springdale), 2025-2028 class (ICC Middle and High, Bernice Young Elementary), 2024-2027 class (Willis D. Shaw Elementary)

- Arkansas Department of Agriculture, 'Arkansas Department of Agriculture Announces Winners of the 2026 Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest' (portal.arkansas.gov): https://portal.arkansas.gov/news/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-announces-winners-of-the-2026-arkansas-grown-school-garden-of-the-year-contest/ — all eight winners, award amounts, judging criteria, October as Arkansas Farm to School Month

- Arkansas Department of Education, State Board of Education meeting dates (dese.ade.arkansas.gov, search 'DESE State Board meeting dates 2026'): second Thursday of each month; November 12, 2026

AI Generated

Arizona's 2025-26 A-F letter grades were released October 28, three days early: K-8 A ratings rose from 35% to 40%, most schools earned an A or B, appeals run to November 16, and ASU is taking three-year elementary and special education degrees to rural Arizona. Sources: Arizona Republic / azcentral, 'More Arizona schools earned top marks. See the new rankings,' October 28, 2026 (search azcentral.com for the article title to locate the rankings); Arizona State Board of Education, A-F Appeals Timeline SY25-26, azsbe.az.gov, Schools > A-F School Letter Grades > F-Appeals; Arizona State University, ASU News, 'ASU partners with community colleges to bring 3-year teaching degrees to rural Arizona,' October 28, 2026 (search news.asu.edu for the article title); Washington Elementary School District and Marana Unified School District 2025-2026 school letter grade releases, via each district's website news section.

AI Generated

Juneau's school board learned Tuesday that funding to continue its grant-supported special education teacher apprenticeship — 11 apprentices the district calls a game changer — was denied, leaving a third cohort at a standstill as a January budget process approaches; plus the Nov. 3–7 deadline cluster: the statewide election, Anchorage's Nov. 4 district-elections hearing, and DEED's projected ADM, civics-materials, and fall OASIS deadlines.

Sources:

- Juneau Independent, 'Reelected school board members seek to carry out campaign promises, express upcoming budget woes' (published October 29, 2026; Oct. 27, 2026 Juneau Board of Education meeting): https://www.juneauindependent.com/post/reelected-school-board-members-seek-to-carry-out-campaign-promises-express-upcoming-budget-woes — swearing-in and vote counts (5,233 / 5,783; certification Oct. 20), five vacancies, 18 emergency certified / 18 third-party contractors / 2 retired / 3 international special education teachers from the Philippines, SEED grant supporting 11 special education apprentices, continuation funding denied, cohort 3 at a standstill, January budget process, superintendent on the Nov. 3 governor's race

- Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Submitting Data to DEED / data collections calendar (education.alaska.gov, search 'DEED data collections Projected ADM November 5 Fall OASIS November 7'): Projected ADM Submittal due November 5, 2026; Fall Student OASIS Submission due November 7, 2026; Report Card Data Collection due November 15, 2026

- Alaska's News Source / Alaska News, 'Alaska asks for free civics lessons as a new graduation requirement approaches': DEED request for free civics lessons, tests and projects, responses due November 6, 2026; requirement applies to students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2027

- Anchorage Assembly proposal AO 2026-130 (district-based school board elections; public hearing November 4, 2026; April 6, 2027 ballot if advanced) — as covered in Alaska Education Daily, October 23, 2026

AI Generated

Alabama's public schools have about twelve thousand fewer students this fall — a second record drop in a row that could cost state funding for seven hundred fifty to eight hundred positions next year — and state officials can account for only part of it: kindergarten fell by about two thousand eight hundred, activated CHOOSE Act awards cover roughly one in five of the missing students, and a state-law blind spot on homeschool numbers leaves the rest unexplained five days before voters choose the governor who will decide the program's future.

Sources:

- Alabama Daily News, 'Alabama public schools lose nearly 12,000 students, face funding cuts' (October 9, 2026): https://aldailynews.com/alabama-public-schools-lose-nearly-12000-students-face-funding-cuts/ — preliminary enrollment 702,000 down from 714,000, Mackey's October 8, 2026 State Board comments, 366 positions cut this year and 750 to 800 projected next year, kindergarten down 2,700 to 2,800, fifth grade up 1,000, Alabama Department of Revenue CHOOSE Act figures (8,963 applied, 4,096 awarded, 2,655 activated), and the state-law bar on collecting statewide homeschool enrollment numbers

- ALPolitics, 'Alabama Schools Could Lose 800 Funded Teaching Units' (October 14, 2026), reporting ABC 33/40 and WSFA coverage: https://alpolitics.com/alabama-schools-could-lose-800-funded-teaching-units/ — Foundation Program mechanics for the 2027-28 school year and Birmingham AFT Local 2115 president Richard Franklin on Midfield, Fairfield, and Tarrant

- Alabama Reflector reporting via Opelika Daily News, 'Doug Jones Now Says He Would Phase Out the CHOOSE Act' (October 14, 2026): https://opelikadailynews.com/doug-jones-now-says-he-would-phase-out-the-choose-act-letting-current-students-finish/ — Jones phase-out position, CHOOSE income caps lifting, and Mackey's statement that the program alone does not explain the loss

- Alabama Secretary of State, 'Secretary of State Wes Allen Announces Start of Absentee Voting in Alabama' (sos.alabama.gov): https://www.sos.alabama.gov/newsroom/secretary-state-wes-allen-announces-start-absentee-voting-alabama — absentee application by mail due October 27, 2026, in person by October 29, 2026; hand-delivered ballots by November 2, 2026; mailed ballots received by noon November 3, 2026

- Alabama State Department of Education / Alabama State Board of Education work session, October 8, 2026 (preliminary fall enrollment figures, as reported by Alabama Daily News and WSFA; verify by searching 'Mackey enrollment 702,000 October 8 2026' on alabamaachieves.org and aldailynews.com)

AI Generated

DC's October 5 enrollment count is moving through OSSE's audit as audited enrollment flattens, pre-kindergarten falls, and births and lottery applications point to fewer students entering the early grades — with funding, under-enrolled buildings in Wards 7 and 8, and the December 11 certification ahead.

Sources:

- Capital City Post, 'D.C. school enrollment flattens as pre-K numbers drop' (published October 21, 2026): https://capitalcitypost.com/articles/d-c-school-enrollment-flattens-as-pre-k-numbers-drop-mvgfmsly — 2025-26 audit figures, DC Policy Center analysis, UPSFF .6 billion, projections

- The Washington Sun, 'D.C. Schools May Soon Have a Big Problem: Fewer Kids' (published October 9, 2026): https://www.washingtonsun.com/metro/dc-schools-declining-student-enrollment — birth data (9,854 in 2016 to 7,318 in 2025), lottery totals, under-50-percent-capacity schools, on-record comments from Paul Kihn, Anoosha Imran, Chad Aldeman, Kaya Henderson, and Joanna Blotner

- OSSE, 2026-27 School Year Student Enrollment Audit and Child Count Handbook: https://osse.dc.gov/publication/2026-27-school-year-student-enrollment-audit-and-child-count-handbook — audit scope under D.C. Official Code sections 38-1804.02, 38-205, and 38-2906(d)

- OSSE, Start of School: Attendance page (osse.dc.gov, search 'OSSE Start of School Attendance enrollment audit December 11 2026'): enrollment freeze October 5, 2026, correction October 6-8, November 10 and November 13 steps, final certification December 11, 2026

AI Generated

A complete plain-English walk through the definitions that control the entire IDEA — child with a disability and all thirteen categories, FAPE, specially designed instruction, related services, assistive technology, transition services, and the parent and agency definitions — with the 34 CFR Part 300 criteria teachers use at the eligibility table and guidance for finding the five key state-level choices in your own state regulations.

Sources:

- 20 U.S.C. § 1401, Definitions (Cornell LII): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/1401

- 34 CFR § 300.8, Child with a disability, including paragraph (c) category definitions: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/a/300.8/a — verify by searching 'IDEA regulations 300.8 child with a disability' on sites.ed.gov

- 34 CFR §§ 300.5–300.6 (assistive technology), 300.17 (FAPE), 300.22 (IEP), 300.30 (parent), 300.34 (transportation), 300.39 (special education), 300.42 (supplementary aids and services), 300.43 (transition services): verify by searching the section number plus '34 CFR' on ecfr.gov or sites.ed.gov/idea/regs

- OSEP, Questions and Answers on Secondary Transition (Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services): verify by searching 'OSEP Questions and Answers on Secondary Transition' on ed.gov

- OSEP, IDEA Regulations: Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities (Oct. 4, 2006), on 34 CFR 300.307–300.311 and 20 U.S.C. 1401(30): https://sites.ed.gov/idea/files/Identification_of_SLD_10-4-06.pdf

- Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), Key Definitions in Part B of IDEA — Child with a Disability: https://www.parentcenterhub.org/fapebrief-ref-list-child/

AI Generated

A plain-English, part-by-part walkthrough of Vermont State Board of Education Rules Series 1200: the Board's organization and statutory powers (16 V.S.A. sections 161-164), its meetings, the rules of practice for formal proceedings (petitions, service, intervention, hearings, hearing officers), exceptions, the discrimination part (reasonable accommodations, homebound and hospitalized instruction, Section 504 hearings), and waivers of regulations for locally established objectives.

Sources:

- State Board of Education Rules, Series 1200 (Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-002), Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School): https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/vermont/22-002-Code-Vt-R-22-000-002-X

- 16 V.S.A. sections 161 (Board membership), 162 (removal), 163 (staff; meetings), 164 (Board powers and duties), and 212 (Secretary of Education duties) — Vermont Legislature, legislature.vermont.gov: Statutes > Title 16

- Vermont Administrative Procedure Act, 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 (rulemaking petitions, hearings, evidence) — verify at legislature.vermont.gov: Statutes > Title 3, chapter 25

- Vermont Agency of Education, State Board of Education rules page — verify by searching education.vermont.gov for 'State Board of Education rules Series 1200'

AI Generated

Superintendent Chris Reykdal says Washington's current school funding is a constitutional violation eight years after McCleary — this deep dive breaks down the $633 million inflation gap, the $1.2 billion basic-education request and the $755 million layer on top of it, why special education (the Safety Net and the $30 million statewide IEP platform) sits at the center, what the state's new Ninth Grade Success evaluation proves funding can buy, and how the November 3 Initiative 645 vote on $11.4 billion of revenue decides the terrain for the 2027 session.

Sources:

- Northwest Progressive Institute, The Cascadia Advocate, "Superintendent Chris Reykdal: The Legislature must amply fund K-12 schools in the 2027 session as the Constitution requires" (October 2026; Reykdal's September 10, 2026 budget priorities, the $18,315 vs $17,733 per-student comparison, the $633.4 million inflation gap, the $1.2 billion request breakdown, and Tom Ahearne's on-record comments) — https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2026/10/superintendent-chris-reykdal-the-legislature-must-amply-fund-k-12-schools-in-the-2027-session-as-the-constitution-requires.html

- OSPI Special Education Update — October 2026 (2027 session dates, January 11 to April 25, 2027; Safety Net / statewide IEP platform $30 million request and the 0.6% set-aside; post-school outcome survey closes November 1) — https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAOSPI/bulletins/42eafbd

- Washington State Standard via Gorge News Center, "Washington takes 'historic' step toward full funding for special education" (April 16, 2025; SB 5263 cap removal, $870 million over two budgets, the JLARC audit's $590 million local-levy backfill figure for 2022-23, Pedersen/Pollet/Couture quotes) — https://gorgenewscenter.com/2025/04/16/washington-takes-historic-step-toward-full-funding-for-special-education/

- Washington State Standard via Gorge News Center, "Washington 9th graders perform better with new program, but funding isn't guaranteed" (October 27, 2026; Ninth Grade Success evaluation — ~6 percentage point on-track boost, low-income +6.75 points, multilingual +10.96 points, North Thurston figures, $1.5 million per year request) — https://gorgenewscenter.com/2026/10/27/washington-9th-graders-perform-better-with-new-program-but-funding-isnt-guaranteed/

- Seattle Public Schools, 2026-27 Budget Book (special education instruction $313,950,592: $300,298,457 state supplemental + $13,652,135 federal) — https://www.seattleschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/26-27-Budget-Book-Online.pdf

- Washington State PTA, "Washington State PTA Opposes Initiative 645" (fiscal impact statement estimate of -$11.4 billion FY2027-31; Department of Revenue estimates of ~$3.1 billion for 2027-29 and ~$8.3 billion for 2029-31; OFM shortfall warning) — https://www.wastatepta.org/washington-state-pta-opposes-initiative-645/

- To verify the ballot language directly: search the Washington Secretary of State's November 3, 2026 general election voters' guide for "Initiative Measure No. 645" and read the ballot title and public investment impact disclosure.

- To verify the McCleary history directly: search courts.wa.gov for the June 7, 2018 McCleary order ending retained jurisdiction, and search app.leg.wa.gov for Senate Bill 5263 (2025) and House Bill 2242 (2017).

AI Generated

The CNMI Board of Education voted on October 13, 2026 to sue the Commonwealth over school funding — this deep dive works through the constitutional arithmetic behind that vote (a $37.1 million floor claimed under Article XV against $25 million enacted), the September conference trade that redirected about $12.5 million from the schools, the 64-hour austerity week and the Monday academy built to fill it, and what a funding shortfall does, service by service, to the FAPE a child with a disability is owed while the lawsuit remains unfiled.

Sources:

- Marianas Press, PSS Board Votes to Take CNMI Government to Court Over School Funding Crisis (Oct. 13, 2026 emergency meeting; Burgos, Che, Rother, Layde, Flores; vote 4 in favor, 1 abstention): https://marianaspress.com/news/article/pss-board-votes-to-take-cnmi-government-to-court-over-school-funding-crisis

- NMI News Service, Teacher to Board of Education: PSS Turmoil 'Is Your Fault' (Oct. 9, 2026; Rother's $148.4M general revenue / $37.1M floor math, $47.7M subtraction, March 11 veto of HB 24-33, $25.18M memo): https://www.nminewsservice.com/news/local/teacher-board-of-education-pss-turmoil-your-fault/

- Isla Public, 'Struggling to keep this government going': Apatang warns of furloughs, rising austerity after signing strained CNMI budget (Oct. 8, 2026; $100.7M base, $25M vs $32M, $16M front-load veto, furloughs up to 400): https://www.islapublic.org/news/2026-10-08/struggling-to-keep-this-government-going-apatang-warns-of-furloughs-rising-austerity-after-signing-strained-cnmi-budget

- Isla Public, Apatang signs FY 2027 budget, issues broad vetoes (Oct. 5, 2026; Public Law 24-40, $152.8M revenue target incl. $47.7M earmarks, five-day partial shutdown): https://www.islapublic.org/news/2026-10-05/cnmi-governor-set-to-approve-fy2027-budget-after-partial-government-closure

- Marianas Press, 11th-hour budget talks begin as Oct. 1 deadline looms (Sept. 28, 2026 conference; ~$12.5M taken from PSS, $32M needed for 64 hours all year vs $25M identified): https://marianaspress.com/news/article/11th-hour-budget-talks-begin-as-oct-1-deadline-looms

- Marianas Press, Acting PSS Commissioner of Education Rallies 5-Day School Comeback Amid Deepest Fiscal Deficit in 30 Years (Sept. 17, 2026; 5-Day Promise, $44.9M request, $91M federal portfolio, Consolidated Grant reprogramming): https://marianaspress.com/news/article/acting-pss-commissioner-of-education-rallies-5-day-school-comeback-amid-deepest-fiscal-deficit-in-30-years

- Marianas Press, PSS Faces Looming Budget Crisis Amid Massive Typhoon Facility Repairs (May 20, 2026; $52M need, $40M minimum for 80 hours, $37.7M submission = 64-hour austerity): https://marianaspress.com/news/article/pss-faces-looming-budget-crisis-amid-massive-typhoon-facility-repairs

- Marianas Press, PSS ends substitute teaching contracts amid budget crisis; government lawsuit not filed (at least 33 substitute contracts terminated; 137 employees lost since January incl. 47 teachers; lawsuit not filed): https://marianaspress.com/news/article/pss-ends-substitute-teaching-contracts-amid-budget-crisis-government-lawsuit-not-filed

- House Bill 24-108, HS1, SD1 (FY2027 budget text; $25,028,571 PSS allocation, $16,177,027.52 first two quarters, monthly allotment not less than $2,696,171.25 Oct 2026-Mar 2027): https://cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/HB%2024-108%20HS1%2C%20SD1%20(092626%20800PM)%201142.pdf

- U.S. Department of Education, OSEP, 2026 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters, Part B - Northern Mariana Islands (June 18, 2026; Needs Assistance): https://sites.ed.gov/idea/idea-files/2026-spp-apr-and-state-determination-letters-part-b-northern-mariana-islands/mp-b-spp-apr-ffy24/

- U.S. Department of Education, OSEP, Part C Final Determination Letter for CNMI (June 16, 2026; Needs Assistance): http://cnmipss.org/sites/default/files/mp-01_spp_part_c_ffy_2024-25_finaldetermination_letter.pdf

- KSPN2 News, October 26, 2026 rundown (PSS will be suing; Student Success Academy continues on Austerity Mondays; early voting begins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYG5OVeLQAQ

To verify the lawsuit filing status: search the Marianas Press site (marianaspress.com) for PSS lawsuit reporting, and check the follow-up check scheduled for October 30, 2026. To verify Board of Education election results after November 3, 2026: search the CNMI Commonwealth Election Commission site for the 2026 general election results.

AI Generated

A plain-English, section-by-section walkthrough of 603 CMR 2.00, Massachusetts accountability and assistance for school districts and schools: the universal framework of reported measures and annual performance determinations, the six district standards, self-assessments, underperforming designations and turnaround plans, chronically underperforming designations and receivership with its defined exits and school committee petition rights, and mathematics content assessments for teachers in designated schools.

Sources:

- 603 CMR 2.00, Accountability and Assistance for School Districts and Schools, official text, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: https://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr2.html?section=all

- Massachusetts General Laws c. 69, sections 1I (MCAS and improvement plans), 1J (underperforming schools), and 1K (chronically underperforming districts and schools; receivership), and c. 15, section 55A (district reviews) — verify at malegislature.gov: Laws > General Laws

- Federal framework: Elementary and Secondary Education Act as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (state accountability systems, comprehensive and targeted support) — verify at ed.gov (ESSA) and ecfr.gov

AI Generated