Education Across the States

Rhode Island's 2026 scores narrow the gap with Massachusetts — but in reading the gap closed because Massachusetts fell from 51% to 40% while Rhode Island stayed flat at about 33%, while in math Rhode Island's fifth straight year of gains did real work; plus the economically disadvantaged gap (now 1.4 points in reading), the grade 11 reading slide, and the attendance recovery data (+15.8 points in reading, +19.8 in math for students who stopped being chronically absent).

Sources:

- Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), '2026 Rhode Island School Assessment and Accountability Results Show Gains in Math, Steadiness in Reading, and Continued Progress in Closing Achievement Gaps' (October 9, 2026): https://ride.ri.gov/press-releases/2026-rhode-island-school-assessment-and-accountability-results-show-gains-math-steadiness-reading-and-continued-progress-closing

- RIDE, 2026 Assessment and Accountability Appendix (RICAS, SAT/PSAT, NGSA, chronic absenteeism, and Massachusetts comparison data): https://ride.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur806/files/2026-10/RI2026-Assessment-and-Accountability.pdf

- Ocean State Media, 'Rhode Island is closing the test score gap with Massachusetts. But is that really progress?' (October 20, 2026; interview with John Papay, director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University): https://www.oceanstatemedia.org/education-news/2026-10-20/rhode-island-is-closing-the-test-score-gap-with-massachusetts-but-is-that-really-progress

- Education Data Center, 'Rhode Island: 2026 Assessment Results' (October 2026) — search statetestscoreresults.substack.com for 'Rhode Island 2026 Assessment Results' to verify grade-level and district detail against RIDE's data files.

AI Generated

Montana is creating a certified special education technician who may deliver instruction and conduct assessments under a licensed teacher's direction but may never create the special education record, interpret an evaluation, decide an IEP, or run its meeting — and the same rulemaking clarifies that a student who completes the IEP goals for high school completion shall be awarded a diploma.

Sources:

- Board of Public Education, MAR Notice No. 2026-176.1 — proposed amendments to ARM 10.55.602 and 10.55.805 and new ARM 10.55.725 (Special Education Technician), Montana Administrative Register Issue No. 15, August 7, 2026: https://bpe.mt.gov/Home/MAR-Notice-No-2026-176.11.pdf

- Board of Public Education, Proposed Chapter 55 Rulemaking Timeline — Accreditation Standards, Special Education Technician License (Economic Impact Statement Nov 18-20, 2026; adoption authorization Dec 15-16, 2026; effective Feb 5, 2027): https://bpe.mt.gov/Home/Timeline-2.pdf

- Montana Board of Public Education, Administrative Rules page (Chapter 55 and Chapter 57 rulemaking notices): https://bpe.mt.gov/Home/Administrative-Rules

- Montana Office of Public Instruction, Special Education page — Chapter 55 Negotiated Rulemaking Committee sessions, MOE Memo October 2026, Graduation Form and Examples of HS Graduation PWN (May 2026): https://opi.mt.gov/educators/school-climate-student-wellness/special-education/

- 34 CFR 300.156, Personnel qualifications (paraprofessionals must be appropriately trained and supervised under state law, regulation, or written policy): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/34/300.156

- U.S. Department of Education, IDEA regulation text for Section 300.156: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/b/300.156

- Northern Broadcasting System, Montana Schools Start New Year Amid Staffing, Funding and Attendance Concerns (Aug 27, 2026) — Superintendent Hedalen on rural and reservation teacher shortages: https://northernbroadcasting.com/2026/08/27/montana-schools-start-new-year-amid-staffing-funding-and-attendance-concerns/

- Verification steps without a stable URL: for the technician certification requirements themselves, search the Montana Secretary of State's Administrative Rules of Montana for ARM 10.57.439; for the current status of the rulemaking after this episode, check the Board of Public Education Administrative Rules page above for the adoption notice.

AI Generated

Tomorrow night Clark County's board opens the formal rewrite of its graduation regulation, and this deep dive reads the proposed Regulation 5127 end to end: all six diploma types, the Adjusted and Alternative diploma pathways and services through age twenty-two, academic plans, core enrollment exceptions, physical education and external credit rules, the weighted GPA that decides class rank, and the December tenth final action families can still influence.

Sources:

- CCSD Insider, Legislative Alerts: Graduation Rules, Funding, and 2027 Bills (October 25, 2026; reporting the October 29, 2026 agenda item 5.02, Reference 5.02 proposed Regulation 5127 text, October 20, 2026 County Commission File 26-2334 presentation, and Joint Interim Committee Document 34318): https://ccsdinsider.com/articles/ccsd-legislative-watch-oct25-2026-graduation-funding-bills

- CCSD Regulation 5127, High School Graduation Requirements (proposed/amended text, Diligent): https://ccsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/68118040-9adc-4c9a-b5a3-1ea5c13446e3/

- CCSD Policies and Regulations page (Notice of Intent for Regulation 5127, October 29, 2026 meeting; current 5127 REG): https://www.ccsd.net/about/school-board/policies-and-regulations — verify by opening the page and searching for 5127

- Nevada Department of Education, High School Diplomas and Graduation (diploma types, credit totals, ACT and Civics Assessment, Adjusted Diploma under NAC 389.015): https://doe.nv.gov/offices/office-of-teaching-and-learning/high-school-graduation

- NRS 390.600, criteria for standard diploma, adjusted diploma and alternative diploma (Nevada Legislature): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-390.html — verify by opening the chapter and searching for 390.600

- NAC Chapter 390, including NAC 390.440 standard diploma units of credit: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nAC/NAC-390.html — verify by opening the chapter and searching for 390.440

AI Generated

Six days before the November 3, 2026 general election, twenty-nine of Florida's sixty-seven school districts are asking their own voters to approve a one mill operating levy for teacher pay, school safety, and mental health services — this deep dive walks every major district's question, the Amendment 3 confusion sharing the ballot, and the special education staffing that rides on the result.

Sources:

- WFSU Public Media, 'Florida school districts turn to voters for help covering rising costs' (October 2026; 29 of 67 districts count): search news.wfsu.org for 'school districts turn to voters'

- Formative Spaces summary of the WFSU count with district revenue figures (Broward $358M, Orange $248.8M, Polk $75.9M, Duval $121M, Osceola $62.6M, Leon $29.3M): https://www.formativespaces.com/newsroom/fl-districts-voter-tax-levies-2026

- The Florida Trib, 'School tax proposals will share ballot with Amendment 3, prompting fears about voter confusion' (October 7, 2026): https://floridatrib.org/2026/10/07/school-tax-proposals-will-share-ballot-with-amendment-3-prompting-fears-about-voter-confusion/

- Broward County Public Schools, Referendum 2026 page (current levy funds ~$173M in supplements, 393 safety personnel, 224+ mental health professionals): https://www.browardschools.com/school-board/referendum-2026

- Miami-Dade County referendum renewal resolution and ballot language (88% compensation / 12% safety, July 1, 2027–June 30, 2031): https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?file=true&fileAnalysis=false&matter=260887&yearFolder=Y2026

- Orange County Public Schools, 'You Decide — One Mill' referendum page and official ballot summary: https://www.ocps.net/you-decide-one-mill

- School District of Palm Beach County, 2026 School Referendum page and official ballot language: https://www.palmbeachschools.org/about-us/2026-school-referendum

- Leon County Schools, referendum page (90% compensation; pay ranking projection; January 2028 first funds): https://www.leonschools.net/272606_3

- Florida Statutes §1011.73 (millage elections: general election only, four-year maximum, charter sharing): search flsenate.gov for '1011.73'

- Verification without a stable URL: Duval figures and Superintendent Bernier's remarks are in the Florida Trib article above and Jacksonville Public Education Fund's 1-mill materials at jaxpef.org; Polk campaign remarks are in The Ledger (Lakeland), August 25, 2026, search theledger.com for 'Committee launches campaign for tax to boost Polk school workers pay'; Osceola figures are in Orlando-area reporting of the district's position, search 'Osceola superintendent nothing left to cut'

AI Generated

North Carolina Pre-K reaches only 59 percent of eligible four-year-olds at rates providers say do not cover cost, as a bipartisan task force takes the case to the 2027 long session — and the State Health Plan signs an Atrium deal mid-open-enrollment, with enrollment closing November 6, 2026.

Sources:

- EdNC, Mebane Rash, October 27, 2026, 'NC Pre-K in action: Task Force gets a master class on this program with positive outcomes for children and communities': https://www.ednc.org/10-27-2026-nc-pre-k-in-action-task-force-gets-a-master-class-on-this-program-with-positive-outcomes-for-children-and-communities/

- EdNC, Hannah Vinueza McClellan, October 27, 2026, 'State Health Plan reaches deal with Atrium, discusses open enrollment and financial outlook': https://www.ednc.org/10-27-2026-state-health-plan-reaches-deal-with-atrium-discusses-open-enrollment-and-financial-outlook/

- NC Pre-K program handout and Task Force presentation reported in the EdNC October 27, 2026 article above (enrollment, rates, funding streams, closures); search EdNC for 'NC Pre-K in action' if the URL changes.

- State Health Plan board meeting materials and treasurer release reported in the EdNC October 27, 2026 article above; search shpnc.gov for '2027 open enrollment' for the current rate sheet.

AI Generated

By Saturday, October 31, every New York City public school must designate a school avoidance liaison under the legal agreement resolving the 2024 class action over students with disabilities who cannot get through the school door — what the liaison does, the four changes families should see, and the capacity, consistency, and timing questions — plus the state's planned partial repeal of the Indigenous mascot regulation's employee clause, with oral arguments November 4 and a final Regents vote expected in February.

Sources:

- Chalkbeat New York, 'How NYC is fixing its patchwork response to students who struggle to attend school' (August 3, 2026): https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026/08/03/nyc-lawsuit-agreement-creates-school-avoidance-guidance-liaisons/

- The Legal Aid Society and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, 'Legal Aid and Pillsbury Announce Landmark Agreement with New York City Public Schools to Better Support Students Experiencing School Avoidance' (August 6, 2026): https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/news-and-insights/legal-aid-pillsbury-landmark-agreement-nyc-public-schools-support-school-avoidance.html

- Chalkbeat New York, '1 in 3 NYC students chronically absent as rates remain stubbornly high' (September 17, 2026; chronic absenteeism 33.5% in 2025-26 from the Mayor's Management Report): https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026/09/17/nyc-chronic-absenteeism-rates-stubbornly-high/

- Chalkbeat New York, 'NYC proposes mandating a school avoidance liaison for every school' (June 16, 2026): https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026/06/16/nyc-attendance-rules-update-tackles-school-avoidance-chronic-absenteeism/

- K-12 Dive, 'New York City Public Schools to place school avoidance liaisons in every building' (August 13, 2026): https://www.k12dive.com/news/new-york-city-public-schools-to-place-school-avoidance-liaisons-in-every/827867/

- New York Post, 'NY plans to drop part of Native American logo ban in huge victory for Massapequa' (October 19, 2026): https://nypost.com/2026/10/19/us-news/nys-dropping-part-of-native-american-logo-ban-in-huge-victory-for-massapequa/

- Bloomberg Law, 'New York Will Repeal Portion of Indigenous School Mascot Ban' (October 19, 2026) — search Bloomberg Law for the headline to read the report of the state's letters to the Second Circuit.

AI Generated

The Blue Ribbon Commission was ordered to cut $250 million per biennium from Minnesota special education aid while maintaining FAPE — and unanimously told the Legislature not to do it. This deep dive walks through the charge, the enrollment and cross-subsidy numbers, each of the four savings recommendations in dollars (ADSIS, FIN 728 transportation, charter tuition aid, and Hold Harmless), the automatic default cut that follows if the Legislature does nothing, Saint Paul's $9 million-a-year exposure and its separate English learner vote due by October 30, Fridley's updated audit scrutiny, and the Permanent School Fund amendment on the November 3 ballot where a blank counts as a no.

Sources:

- Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education, Recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature, September 2026, prepared by Wilder Research for the Minnesota Department of Education: https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2026/mandated/261551.pdf

- Laws of Minnesota 2025, 1st Special Session, chapter 10, article 7, sections 7-8 (Commission charge and contingent cross-subsidy reduction), as reproduced in S.F. 4021 (2026): https://legiscan.com/MN/text/SF4021/id/3380121/Minnesota-2025-SF4021-Introduced.pdf

- Minn. Stat. 125A.76, subdivision 2e, special education cross-subsidy aid factor (44 percent FY2024-2026, 50 percent FY2027 and later)

- Saint Paul Public Schools, Superintendent Stacie Stanley letter to Governor Walz and Education Finance Chairs Kresha and Youakim, September 10, 2026, in the Commission report appendix (SPPS impact: $7.9 million FIN 728 and $1.5 million ADSIS annually from FY2029)

- Saint Paul Public Schools, Superintendent update, Immigration's Impact on Our Schools, October 12, 2026: https://www.spps.org/news-details/~board/superintendent-update/post/immigrations-impact-on-our-schools

- Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, SPPS delays vote on reducing English Learner positions to align with loss of 542 students, October 21, 2026: https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/spps-delays-vote-on-reducing-english-learner-positions-to-align-with-loss-of-542-students,181810

- FOX 9, St. Paul Public Schools board delays vote on midyear teacher cuts, October 2026: https://fox9.com/news/st-paul-public-schools-board-delays-vote-midyear-teacher-cuts

- Citizen Portal, Board hears district-level impact if state pursues $250M special-education cuts, Fridley Public Schools, October 21, 2026: https://citizenportal.ai/articles/11369092/minnesota/school-boards/fridley-public-school-district/board-hears-district-level-impact-if-state-pursues-250m-special-education-cuts

- MinneapoliMedia, Fridley Schools Face Additional State Financial Review as Overdue Audit Delays Recovery Plan, October 27, 2026 (reporting the Minnesota Reformer's account of MDE's October 20 letter and outside auditor): https://minneapolimedia.town.news/g/coon-rapids-mn/n/394461/minneapolimedia-news-fridley-schools-face-additional-state-financial

- Minnesota's Special Education Cuts: What the Blue Ribbon Commission Was Asked to Do, and What the Default Cut Means, October 2026 (analysis of the default cross-subsidy mechanism, per-pupil estimates, and Skeen v. State, 505 N.W.2d 299 (Minn. 1993) and Cruz-Guzman v. State, 916 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. 2018)): http://jvonkorff.blogspot.com/2026/10/minnesotas-special-education-cuts-what.html

- Governor's Office, Governor Walz Announces $20 Million to Build Minnesota's Special Education Workforce (Special Education Pipeline grants, 25 awardees, 150 joint recipients): https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/?id=1055-620868

- League of Women Voters of Minnesota, 2026 Proposed Constitutional Amendment – What You Need to Know (Permanent School Fund ballot language; blank ballot counts as a no): https://www.lwvmn.org/2026-constitutional-amendment/

- Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District 196, 2026 Constitutional Amendment (current distribution about $68 per pupil; proposed 4.5 percent of three-year rolling average, estimated about $101 per pupil): https://www.district196.org/about/elections-and-referendums/2026-constitutional-amendment

- Permanent School Fund Amendment FAQs: https://www.mnpsfamendment.org/faqs

- Association of Metropolitan School Districts, Connections, October 2026 (Blue Ribbon Commission final report summary, report released October 1): https://www.amsd.org/shared-files/14808/?Connections-October-2026.pdf

AI Generated

Six days before the vote, a full breakdown of Question 2 on New Hampshire's November 3 ballot: what HB 1300's school levy cap and SAU central-office cap actually do, the district math from Londonderry, Farmington, Concord, Bedford and Derry, both cases in on-record voices, why special education costs sit at the center of the cap, and why the polling math changes when blank ballots are excluded.

Sources:

- What is Question 2? New Hampshire's school district tax cap proposal explained (Seacoast Online / Portsmouth Herald, Oct. 27, 2026): https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/27/question-2-guide-new-hampshire-school-district-tax-cap-proposal/92219963007/

- What this Means: HB 1300 (Reaching Higher NH): https://www.reachinghighernh.org/content-item/552/what-this-means-hb-1300

- NH school leaders predict budget cuts under tax cap ballot question (NHPR via Manchester Ink Link): https://nashua.inklink.news/nh-school-leaders-predict-budget-cuts-under-tax-cap-ballot-question/

- Why NH's school tax cap vote could be closer than it seems (Boston Globe NH / New England News Press, Oct. 27, 2026): https://newenglandnewspress.com/why-nhs-school-tax-cap-vote-could-be-closer-than-it-seems/

- Protect Public Schools: Vote NO on Question 2 (NEA-NH, Oct. 8, 2026): https://neanh.org/advocating-change/new-from-nea-nh/protect-public-schools-vote-no-question-2

- Question 2 and Farmington Schools: NH HB 1300 tax cap analysis: https://hb1300.com/

- District Outlines Potential Effects of Proposed Tax Cap (Londonderry Times): https://londonderrytimes.net/district-outlines-potential-effects-of-proposed-tax-cap/

- A Guardrail, Not a Cut: How Question 2 on Tax Cap Brings NH Closer to the National Norm (Eric Pauer, Hollis Brookline News, Oct. 19, 2026): https://hollisbrooklinenews.org/a-guardrail-not-a-cut-how-question-on-tax-cap-brings-nh-closer-to-the-national-norm-p13092-300.htm

- Board warned HB 1300 could force multimillion-dollar cuts, citing rising special-education costs (Concord, Citizen Portal, Oct. 15, 2026): https://citizenportal.ai/articles/11219577/new-hampshire/school-districts/concord-school-district/board-warned-hb-1300-could-force-multimillion-dollar-cuts-citing-rising-special-education-costs-and-45-positions-already-cut

- New Hampshire House Republicans cite UNH poll showing support for school property tax cap (Granite State Times, Sept. 29, 2026): https://granitestatetimes.com/new-hampshire-house-republicans-cite-poll-showing-support-for-school-property-tax-cap

- New Hampshire Revised Statutes 126-U:8, annual restraint and seclusion report: https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/new-hampshire/nh-statutes/new_hampshire_revised_statutes_126-u_8

AI Generated

Mississippi's first forced charter closure: the authorizer board's own statement, the hearing record, the clean audit, and the December 31 deadline now facing 124 Canton elementary students — including what federal law requires for students with IEPs and Section 504 plans in a midyear move.

Sources:

- Clarion Ledger, Canton charter school faces closure after charter contract revoked (Oct. 27, 2026; carries the MCSAB press statement): https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/madison/2026/10/27/canton-charter-school-to-close-after-contract-revoked/92458228007/

- SR1 CPSA statement, Mississippi Votes to Close Its Top-Performing Charter School (Oct. 26, 2026; school's account, audit figures, hearing-officer summary, on-record quotes): https://www.sr1cpsa.org/post/mississippi-votes-to-close-its-top-performing-charter-school

- Mississippi Code Section 37-28-33, Renewal, nonrenewal or revocation of charter (revocation grounds and process; resolution and 10-day report): https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-37/chapter-28/section-37-28-33/

- Mississippi School Boards Association, 2026 Superintendent Search: Canton Public School District (enrollment 3,021, 10 schools, per-pupil expenditure): https://myemail.constantcontact.com/2026-Superintendent-Search--Canton-Public-School-District.html?soid=1134196935385&aid=9PlJc6ecNRE

- To verify the IDEA transfer rule discussed: search 34 CFR 300.323 transfer students comparable services IEP

- To verify the accountability context: search Mississippi Department of Education 2025-26 accountability grades October 15 2026 charter schools

- Mississippi Department of Education: https://www.mdek12.org

AI Generated

Missouri closed twelve of its thirty-four state schools for students with extensive support needs by June 2026, and this fall is the first semester at twenty-two locations — a full accounting of the vote, the verified reasons, the eighty-five percent of parents who said the closed schools worked best, the least restrictive environment case, and the replacement grant and cooperative promise that has no published funding line yet.

Sources:

- Missouri DESE, State Board of Education Approves to Reorganize Locations of Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled (Aug 12, 2025): https://dese.mo.gov/communications/state-board-education-approves-reorganize-locations-missouri-schools-severely-disabled

- Missouri DESE, Recommendations Presented to the State Board of Education to Reimagine the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled: https://Dese.mo.gov/communications/news-releases/Recommendations%20Presented%20to%20the%20State%20Board%20of%20Education%20to%20Reimagine%20the%20Missouri%20Schools%20for%20the%20Severely%20Disabled%20

- Missouri DESE, MSSD Consolidations Info Page (family summary, Dec 2025): https://oembed-dese.mo.gov/sites/dese/files/media/pdf/2025/12/MSSD%20Consolidations%20Info%20Page.pdf

- Missouri Independent via St. Joseph Post, Missouri State Board of Education votes to close 12 schools for disabled students (Annelise Hanshaw): https://stjosephpost.com/posts/3a321cab-af2e-465a-87b8-cdd379097bc5

- Missouri DESE, Office of Special Education News and Updates (Oct 31, 2026 Public Placement Fund, ECSE Final Expenditure Report, and MOSIS personnel deadlines; Nov 3, 2026 finance webinar): https://oembed-dese.mo.gov/special-education/listserv-news-and-updates

- Missouri DESE, State Board of Education Selects Lisa Sireno as Interim Commissioner of Education (Oct 21, 2026): https://dese.mo.gov/state-board-education-selects-lisa-sireno-interim-commissioner-education

- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. (FAPE and least restrictive environment)

- Understood.org, IEP basics and measurable goals explainers (plain-language explanation only, not legal authority)

AI Generated