Education Across the States

A Dubuque task force recommended on October 26, 2026 that the board close both Jefferson and Washington middle schools after 2027-28, put all sixth and seventh graders at Roosevelt, eighth and ninth graders at Hempstead, and tenth through twelfth graders at Dubuque Senior — a plan the district estimates would save 4.63 million dollars, the most of three scenarios, inside a 16.8 million dollar four-year cut. Plus an Iowa City closure-timeline update, 300,000 dollars in postsecondary readiness grants to six districts, a nutrition subgrant deadline, and a Sioux City licensing settlement.

Sources:

- Dubuque In Pursuit News, 'Task Force Recommends Closing Jefferson and Washington, Reshaping Dubuque's Secondary Schools' (October 26, 2026): https://dubuqueinpursuitnews.com/2026/10/26/task-force-recommends-closing-jefferson-and-washington-reshaping-dubuques-secondary-schools/

- KXEL Morning News for Wed. Oct. 28, 2026 (KCRG-TV9 newsroom report on the Iowa City closure timeline and March final-cuts vote): https://kxel.com/2026/10/27/kxel-morning-news-for-wed-oct-28-2026/

- Iowa Department of Education, 'Iowa Department of Education awards 300,000 dollars to six Iowa school districts for excellence in postsecondary readiness' (October 27, 2026): https://educate.iowa.gov/headline-story/2026-10-27/iowa-department-education-awards-300000-six-iowa-school-districts-excellence-postsecondary-readiness

- Iowa Department of Education, 'New subgrant supports nutrition initiatives for middle school and afterschool students' (October 26, 2026): https://educate.iowa.gov/headline-story/2026-10-26/new-subgrant-supports-nutrition-initiatives-middle-school-and-afterschool-students

- KCAU 9 News, 'Former SCCSD superintendent accepts suspended license following lawsuit' (October 27, 2026): https://www.kcau9.com/news/local-news/former-sccsd-superintendent-accepts-suspended-license-following-lawsuit/

AI Generated

Kentucky's new Proactive Postsecondary Admissions opt-in form is live in Infinite Campus under the My Kentucky Future Act, plus the Jefferson County board's November vote on five fewer school days and the open comment window on student teaching rules.

Sources:

- Kentucky Teacher (Kentucky Department of Education), Oct. 22, 2026, 'Proactive Postsecondary Admissions Program Opt-In Forms Are Now Available in Infinite Campus': https://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/10/proactive-postsecondary-admissions-program-opt-in-forms-are-now-available-in-infinite-campus/

- Louisville Courier Journal, Oct. 27, 2026, 'What proposed JCPS calendar changes could mean for your summer break': https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/jcps/2026/10/27/proposed-jcps-calendar-2027-28-what-to-know/92458921007/

- Kentucky Teacher (Kentucky Department of Education), 'Education Professional Standards Board approves teacher certification changes to give teachers, schools more flexibility' (16 KAR 5:040 student teaching changes): https://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/08/education-professional-standards-board-approves-teacher-certification-changes-to-give-teachers-schools-more-flexibility/

- Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, proposed amendment to 16 KAR 5:040 (filed Aug. 31, 2026; public hearing Nov. 23, 2026; written comments through Nov. 30, 2026) — search apps.legislature.ky.gov for '16 KAR 5:040' to retrieve the filed markup document

AI Generated

In Hays, a kindergarten class of one hundred sixty-four, against a senior class of two hundred seventy-five, shows how enrollment-driven funding cuts a budget even when costs do not fall, while Blue Valley families watch a November ninth board meeting, the Kansas School for the Deaf survey closes Friday, and fourteen thousand eight hundred fifty-one Seals of Literacy sit against a July twenty twenty-eight license deadline.

Sources:

- Hays Post, Enrollment dips in Hays USD 489; trend could mean budget cuts (board review, October 19, 2026): https://hayspost.com/posts/e76dc04c-4746-4214-893a-50e9a133c1e3

- Hays311, USD 489 Kindergarten Class of 164 Highlights Enrollment Decline and Budget Pressure Ahead, October 20, 2026: https://www.hays311.com/stories/2026-10-20-usd-489-kindergarten-class-of-164-highlights-enrollment-decline-and-budget-pressure-ahead/

- Blue Valley Schools, An update on Blue Valley's budget and planned reductions (district update, October 2026): https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/about/dept/communications/news/details/~board/news-media/post/bv-budget-and-planned-reductions

- Johnson County Post, 'It's part of their identity': Blue Valley to end Chinese Immersion Program, citing budget challenges, October 19, 2026: https://johnsoncountypost.com/2026/10/19/bvsd-to-cut-chinese-immersion-299461/

- Mandarin Immersion Parents Council, Kansas district votes to close Mandarin immersion due to budget shortfall, October 20, 2026: https://miparentscouncil.org/2026/10/20/kansas-district-votes-to-close-mandarin-immersion-due-to-budget-shortfall/

- Keep BV Mandarin, key dates for the November 9, 2026 Blue Valley board meeting and Open Forum speaker requests — search keepbvmandarin.org for 'Key dates' if the page moves

- Innivee Strategies, Kansas School for the Deaf and Innivee Strategies Announce National Search for Next Superintendent (survey closes October 30, 2026; posting in December 2026; start July 1, 2027): https://inniveestrategies.com/kansas-school-for-the-deaf-and-innivee-strategies-announce-national-search-for-next-superintendent/

- Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), Kansas sees overall improvement in state English language arts and math assessments, October 19, 2026 (draft 'What Matters Most' 2025-26 annual report; 14,851 Seals of Literacy as of September 30, 2026): https://www.ksde.gov/news-center/news-releases/2026/10/19/kansas-sees-overall-improvement-in-state-english-language-arts-and-math-assessments

- KSDE, Kansas Education Framework for Literacy (Seal of Literacy structured-literacy requirement for license renewal by July 1, 2028) — search ksde.gov for 'Kansas Education Framework for Literacy'

AI Generated

The federal trial of former Indiana Virtual School director Phillip Holden began Tuesday in Indianapolis — the day after founder Thomas Stoughton pleaded guilty — in a forty-four million dollar case built on allegedly inflated count-day enrollment at two online charter schools that closed in 2019. The episode explains the count-day funding mechanism the case turns on, the prosecution and defense openings, the whistleblower allegation, and what to watch as the trial runs into next week.

Sources:

- Chalkbeat Indiana, 'Former Indiana Virtual School director goes on trial in $44 million fraud case' (Aleksandra Appleton, Oct. 27, 2026): https://www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2026/10/27/indiana-virtual-school-fraud-trial-begins/

- School Matters, 'Virtual charter school case goes to trial this week' (Oct. 26, 2026) — indictment summary, peak claimed enrollment of 7,000, Percy Clark sentencing scheduled Jan. 14, 2027: https://inschoolmatters.wordpress.com/2026/10/26/virtual-charter-school-case-goes-to-trial-this-week/

- Chalkbeat Indiana, 'Former virtual charter schools leader pleads guilty to wire fraud' (June 5, 2025) — Clark plea, $1.3 million monetary judgment, $44.6 million total restitution: https://www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2025/06/05/virtual-charter-school-leader-pleads-guilty/

- Indiana Code 20-24-7-13, Virtual Charter Schools; Funding; Reporting (special education grants calculated in the same manner as for other school corporations) — verify at iga.in.gov, search 'IC 20-24-7-13 virtual charter school funding'

- WFYI / Indiana Public Media, federal grand jury indictment coverage (Jan. 24, 2024) — verify at ipm.org, search 'Indiana Virtual School grand jury indicts'

AI Generated

Every Alabama school system had to certify by September 30, 2026 that no child with a disability gets a shortened school day for a bus schedule or administrative convenience — this deep dive traces that assurance from the 2012 federal civil rights review that created it, through what the law allows and forbids, to the state funding round closing November 6, 2026 that pays for full-day supports.

Sources:

- ALSDE Memorandum FY26-3039, Shortened School Day for Students With Disabilities (August 25, 2026), with the Questionnaire Regarding Length of School Day 2026-2027 and the Assurance Statement due September 30, 2026: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/memos/fy26-3039-shortened-school-day-for-students-with-disabilities/

- U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Compliance Review #04-10-5001 resolution letter to the Alabama State Department of Education (July 27, 2012): https://www.ed.gov/media/document/04105001-apdf-24299.pdf

- Alabama Administrative Code, Special Education Services rules (Rule 290-8-9.05(2)(c), full instructional day): https://www.alabamaachieves.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Special-Education-Rules-of-State-Board-of-Education.pdf

- OSEP, Questions and Answers: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA's Discipline Provisions (July 19, 2022), Question C-6 on informal removals and administratively shortened school days: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/osers-qa.pdf

- U.S. Department of Justice settlement agreement with the State of Alabama on specialized treatment centers, Section IX compensatory education requirements: https://www.justice.gov/index%2ephp/crt/media/1427446/dl?inline

- ALSDE Memorandum FY26-2056, FY 2027 Special Education Services Application for State-Appropriated Financial Assistance (July 30, 2026; six funds; Round 2 deadline November 6, 2026): https://www.alabamaachieves.org/memos/fy26-2056-fiscal-year-fy-2027-special-education-services-application-for-state-appropriated-financial-assistance/

- Verification without a stable URL: the annual shortened-day memoranda for 2022-2025 are on alabamaachieves.org under Memos — search the site for "Shortened School Day for Students With Disabilities" and compare FY22-3041, FY23-3048, FY24-3053, and FY25-3042 with FY26-3039. A district's completed principal questionnaires are not posted publicly; ask the local special education coordinator for the building's Questionnaire Regarding Length of School Day 2026-2027 by that exact title.

AI Generated

Decatur Public Schools unveiled three draft Roadmap 2030 facilities scenarios on October 27, 2026, driven by 82 teaching vacancies, enrollment down from 12,057 in 1989-90 to 7,898 in 2025-26 with another 7-10 percent decline forecast, and a projected 5.9 million dollar FY27 operating deficit. One detailed scenario reorganizes the district into four grade bands and leaves some facilities unused as schools; community forums follow on December 7, 2026 and January 25, 2027, with the board scheduled to consider a recommendation on February 27, 2027.

Sources:

- Decatur Radio, 'Decatur Public Schools Outlines Possible Changes Under Roadmap 2030' (October 27-28, 2026): https://www.decaturradio.com/2026/10/27/426844/

- WCIA, 'Decatur Public Schools entering new phase of district architecture revamp' (October 27, 2026): https://www.wcia.com/news/education/decatur-public-schools-entering-new-phase-of-district-architecture-revamp/

- Decatur Tribune, 'Decatur Public Schools Share Next Phase of Roadmap 2030' (October 27, 2026): https://www.decaturtribune.com/2026/10/27/decatur-public-schools-share-next-phase-of-roadmap-2030/

- WCIA, '10-year enrollment projection paints bleak picture for Decatur Public Schools' (district forecast: 7,898 students in 2025-26, 12,057 in 1989-90, 7-10 percent further decline projected): https://www.wcia.com/news/education/10-year-enrollment-projection-paints-bleak-picture-for-decatur-public-schools/

- Decatur SD 61 FY27 tentative budget presentation (August-September 2026 board meetings; 5.9 million dollar projected operating deficit, 153.7 million dollars revenue vs 158 million dollars expenditures) — meeting summaries via Citizen Portal's Decatur SD 61 board coverage; search citizenportal.ai for 'Decatur SD 61 projects 5.9 million operating deficit'

- Illinois Association of School Boards, 'Illinois School Report Card to Be Released on October 30': https://www.iasb.com/news-listing/illinois-school-report-card-to-be-released-on-october-30

AI Generated

Three days after a three-alarm fire destroyed Lulu M. Ross Elementary in Milford, the district's return plan is out: six hundred students in grades two through four move to Milford Middle School on Monday, November second, and sixth graders move to Milford Central Academy. The complete record of the fire and the plan, the special education continuity duties that follow every child into the borrowed building — IEPs, related services, transportation, and the missed-services question for the lost week — plus two follow-ups: the city engineer's condemnation decision that starts the recovery, and the complete Delaware School Success Framework results, due October twenty-seventh and still not published, and the draft five-tier accountability framework, ending in state receivership, that heads for the January legislative session.

Sources:

- Delaware Online / The News Journal, 'After fire, Ross Elementary School students to move to middle school' (October 27, 2026): https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2026/10/27/milford-elementary-students-displaced-by-fire-to-move-to-middle-school/92467542007/

- Delaware Online / The News Journal, 'Milford superintendent talks plans with city after catastrophic fire' (October 27, 2026): https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2026/10/27/milford-superintendent-talks-plans-with-city-after-lulu-m-ross-elementary-school-fire/92457430007/

- Delaware Online / The News Journal, 'District hopes to return Ross Elementary students to classrooms' (October 26, 2026): https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2026/10/26/after-ross-elementary-fire-students-may-return-to-classrooms-next-week/92452466007/

- State of Delaware News, 'Delaware sees continued progress in graduation and English language growth' (September 29, 2026): https://news.delaware.gov/2026/09/29/delaware-sees-continued-progress-in-graduation-and-english-language-growth/?print=print

- State of Delaware News, 'Delaware releases 2026 DSSF academic progress results' (September 15, 2026): https://news.delaware.gov/2026/09/15/delaware-releases-2026-dssf-academic-progress-results/

- State of Delaware News, 'Delaware schools receiving targeted literacy support show some of the state's strongest assessment gains' (August 18, 2026): https://news.delaware.gov/2026/08/18/delaware-schools-receiving-targeted-literacy-support-show-some-of-the-states-strongest-assessment-gains/

- Spotlight Delaware, 'DE Education Sec. Marten discusses school accountability, more' (September 30, 2026): https://spotlightdelaware.org/2026/09/30/education-sec-marten-discusses-school-accountability-impending-classroom-changes/

- Spotlight Delaware, 'Struggling Delaware school districts could be taken over under plan' (September 22, 2026): https://spotlightdelaware.org/2026/09/22/struggling-delaware-school-districts-could-be-taken-over-by-doe-under-draft-plan/

- Delaware Online / The News Journal, 'Delaware drafts plan for state intervention in low-performing schools' (September 18, 2026): https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2026/09/18/delaware-drafts-plan-for-state-intervention-in-low-performing-schools/91815907007/

To verify anything without a stable URL: on news.delaware.gov, search the Department of Education category for the complete Delaware School Success Framework release (scheduled October 27, 2026; not posted as of October 28, 2026) and for the School Quality and Student Success postponement notice (attendance data verification); on the Milford School District site, read the district's daily updates for transportation routes and schedules ahead of the November 2, 2026 return; Delaware special education regulations are Title 14, Regulations 922 through 929, at regulations.delaware.gov.

AI Generated

Not one school bond appears on any Idaho ballot on November 3, 2026. With bonds needing a two-thirds supermajority — none has passed in a November election since 2017 — districts are rebuilding school finance around plant-facilities levies, like Moscow's 65.6 million dollar measure at a 60 percent threshold, and supplemental levies that now pay salaries and special education costs, including a statewide special education reimbursement gap of at least 100 million dollars. Plus: the Rural and Underserved Educator Incentive Program deadline is Friday, October 30.

Sources:

- Idaho Education News, 'Feeling the pinch: Districts get creative with ballot measures' (October 27, 2026): https://www.idahoednews.org/news/feeling-the-pinch-districts-get-creative-with-ballot-measures/

- Idaho Education News, 'Moscow's unusual school levy draws support, skepticism' (October 2026): https://www.idahoednews.org/news/moscows-unusual-school-levy-draws-support-skepticism/

- Idaho State Board of Education, Rural and Underserved Educator Incentive Program Cohort 5 deadline extension to October 30, 2026 (October 7, 2026 release, via Gem State Chronicle): https://gemstatechronicle.com/2026/10/rural-underserved-educator-incentive-program-deadline-extended/

To verify the November 3 levy totals: on idahoednews.org, search 'Idaho districts seek 07 million' for the statewide November ballot levy breakdown.

AI Generated

Hawaii Island schools have served nearly 8,000 pounds of locally raised beef under HIDOE's first regional sourcing partnership, announced October 27, 2026 — tested against Act 175's goal of 30 percent locally sourced school food by 2030, reported progress in single digits, and State Auditor Report 26-08's findings on tracking and unspent federal produce funds — plus UH Hilo's new High School Direct Entry nursing pathway reserving seats for Hawaii graduates.

Sources:

- HIDOE, 'HIDOE brings more local beef to school meals through regional partnerships' (Oct. 27, 2026): https://hawaiipublicschools.org/haw/2026-local-beef/

- Maui Now, same HIDOE release (Oct. 27, 2026): https://mauinow.com/2026/10/27/hidoe-brings-more-local-beef-to-school-meals-through-regional-partnerships/

- Hawaii News Now via EIN Presswire, 'Hawaii public schools serve nearly 8k pounds of locally raised beef' (Oct. 2026) — search 'Hawaii public schools serve nearly 8k pounds of locally raised beef' on hawaiinewsnow.com

- Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021 (farm to school program; 30 percent goal by 2030): https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/sessionlaws/Years/SLH2021/SLH2021_Act175.pdf

- Hawaii HCR 94 HD1 / SCR 130 (2026), legislative findings citing Auditor Report No. 26-08, 5.43 percent local procurement in 2023-24, unspent Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program funds, and the AINA Kitchen Network: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SCR130_HD1_.pdf

- Hawaii SB 894 SD2 (2025), citing the 2024 farm-to-school annual report figure of 6.14 percent: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB894_SD2_.PDF

- HIDOE, Free and Reduced-Price Meals Program page (Act 139 expansion to 300 percent of federal poverty level, SY 2026-27): search 'Free and Reduced Priced Meals Program' on hawaiipublicschools.org

- University of Hawaii News, 'UH Hilo opens doors for future nurses' (Oct. 27, 2026): https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/10/27/uh-hilo-future-nurses/

- University of Hawaii News, 'UH proposes 2-year tuition freeze, increases beginning in 2029' (feedback summary Oct. 29, 2026; Regents Nov. 19, 2026): https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/09/11/uh-proposed-tuition-schedule/

AI Generated

A nonprofit microschool in rural Pinal County serves mostly students with special needs — and the county says it is not a 'school' under its zoning code, because it is private. The full record: the June and July 2026 hearings, the neighbors and the sixteen families, the 6-2 recommendation to deny the permit, the Institute for Justice joining the case on October 22, and the Board of Adjustment ruling and November 18 supervisors hearing that decide what happens next. Plus the IDEA rights families trade when they leave public enrollment, and a correction: Prop 212 is not on the November ballot. Sources: Institute for Justice, Pinal County Microschools case page — https://ij.org/case/pinal-county-microschools/ ; Institute for Justice press release, October 22, 2026 — https://ij.org/press-release/national-law-firm-stands-with-pinal-county-education-entrepreneur-to-protect-microschool/ ; Pinal Post, 'Pinal County Weighs Post-Pandemic Microschool Case' (July 2026 hearing report, updated September 25, 2026) — https://pinalpost.com/state-48-microschool-permit-denial-planning-and-zoning-july2026/ ; Pinal Post, 'Family-Run State 48 Microschool Waits on Pinal County' (June 2026 hearing report, updated September 25, 2026) — http://pinalpost.com/state-48-microschool-hearing-continued/ ; The Beam, 'Arizona school voucher system' (July 8, 2026) — https://thebeam.org/arizona-school-voucher-system-went-from-unconstitutional-to-billion-dollar-program/ ; Arizona State Board of Education, A-F Appeals timeline SY25-26 — https://azsbe.az.gov/schools/a-f-school-letter-grades/f-appeals . To verify anything without a stable URL: search 'State 48 Microschool SUP-024-25' on the Pinal County Development Services site for the permit file; search 'Pinal County Development Services Code Update' for the code rewrite schedule; the AEI special-needs choice paper figures are quoted from its summary as republished October 27, 2026 — search 'AEI students with special needs private school choice Wolf Kristof'.

AI Generated