Education Across the States

The Agency of Education's updated school and district profiles are due today for the merger committees, and the education claims from Wednesday's final gubernatorial debate are checked against the public record three days before Election Day.

Sources:

- What Scott and Janoo Got Right — and Wrong — in Their Final Debate (Compass Vermont, October 30, 2026): https://www.compassvermont.com/p/what-scott-and-janoo-got-right-and

- Vermont School Consolidation: Progress Update 10.26.2026 (DRM Government Affairs, October 26, 2026; AOE profile target date October 31, 2026): https://www.drm.com/articles/vermont-school-consolidation-progress-update-10-26-2026/

- Vermont Agency of Education — news and Weekly Field Memo listings (checked October 31, 2026; latest Weekly Field Memo October 29, 2026; no public posting of the updated profiles found as of the morning check): https://education.vermont.gov

- Final Vermont Governor Poll has Phil Scott Holding a 3-Point Lead (State Navigate, October 27, 2026; poll conducted October 23-25, 1,752 likely voters): https://articles.statenavigate.com/vt/final-vermont-governor-poll-has-phil-scott-holding-a-3-point-lead/

- Gubernatorial Candidates Prepare for a Mad Dash to the Finish (Seven Days, October 2026): https://www.sevendaysvt.com/home-design/diyhome/gubernatorial-candidates-prepare-for-a-mad-dash-to-the-finish/

- Act No. 170 Act Summary (Vermont General Assembly; nonhomestead residential tax class effective July 1, 2029 if conditions are met): https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/ACTS/ACT170/ACT170%20Act%20Summary.pdf

- Vermont general election November 3, 2026 — early voting through November 2 and ballot return deadlines: Search: Vermont Secretary of State elections November 3 2026 early voting ballot return close of polls

AI Generated

Nebraska paused SNAP benefits on October 29, so for November the school cafeteria, the meal application, and Lincoln's emergency pantry carry the food safety net — plus tonight's special education finance close, the November 1 and 2 filing stack, and Tuesday's $218 million in school bond votes.

Sources:

- Lincoln Public Schools, October 31 Monthly Update (SNAP pause information from Nebraska DHHS; 24 Community Eligibility Provision schools; free and reduced meal applications; LPS Emergency Pantry at Bryan Community): https://home.lps.org/update/october-31-monthly-update/

- Nebraska Department of Education, NDE Bulletin (SPEDFRS 2025-26 closes October 31, 2026; Assurance Statement closes November 1, 2026; Teacher Vacancy Survey closes November 4, 2026): https://www.education.ne.gov/bulletin/

- Nebraska Revised Statutes § 79-1155 (final special education financial reports due October 31 each year): https://www.NebraskaLegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=79-1155

- Nebraska Revised Statutes § 79-10,147.02 (School Financing Review Commission annual report due by November 1 each year): https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=79-10,147.02

- Nebraska Department of Education, 2025/26 Annual Financial Report and Audit Timelines (AFR filing deadline November 2, 2026; audit filing deadline November 5, 2026): https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2526AFR_AuditTimelines_Instructions.pdf

- Nebraska Department of Education, School Finance and Organization Services Bulletin, October 2026 (2025/26 Annual Financial Report due November 2, 2026): https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/NDE_SFOS_Bulletin_Oct2026.pdf

- Nebraska Department of Education, State Board Agendas (November 6, 2026 meeting; written public comment closes 9 a.m. November 5, 2026): https://www.education.ne.gov/stateboard/state-board-agendas/

- Hola Nebraska, Early Voting in Nebraska Ends Nov. 2 (in-person early voting through November 2; Election Day November 3 poll hours and ballot-return deadline): https://holanebraska.org/2026/10/05/nebraska-early-voting/

- South Sioux City Community Schools, 2026 Bond Referendum ($95 million proposal, no tax levy increase): https://www.supportus.info/south-sioux-city

- Dakota County Star, City blesses School bond (South Sioux City proposal details; two new buildings; Covington and Lewis & Clark to close; prior $127 million vote): https://dakcostar.com/stories/city-blesses-school-bond,92978

AI Generated

Two promised answers are still unpublished, the November first special needs education savings account window does not open under a court injunction, a one point five million dollar talent marketplace has no launch date, and Billings weighs a proposed superintendent pay package. Sources: Montana Board of Public Education homepage and events calendar, including the October 30, 2026 special meeting listing (checked October 31, 2026; no executive director selection announcement or minutes posted): https://bpe.mt.gov/ ; Citizen Portal, Board of Public Education interviews three finalists for executive director; schedules decision for Oct. 30 (October 29, 2026): https://citizenportal.ai/articles/11647907/montana/executive/public-education-board-of/board-of-public-education-interviews-three-finalists-for-executive-director-schedules-decision-for-oct-30 ; Montana Secretary of State, Secretary Christi Jacobsen announces YouthVote 2026 is now open (October 5, 2026; results set for October 30) and the Secretary of State YouthVote page (checked October 31, 2026; no results carried there yet): https://sosmt.gov/secretary-christi-jacobsen-announces-youthvote-2026-is-now-open/ and https://sosmt.gov/media/montana-youthvote/ ; Montana Office of Public Instruction, Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account FAQ (application windows May 1-June 1 and November 1-December 1; I D E A eligibility ages 5-19) — search opi.mt.gov for 'Education Savings Account FAQ'; Northern Broadcasting System, Montana Talent Marketplace receives $1.5 million boost (October 30, 2026): https://northernbroadcasting.com/2026/10/30/montana-talent-marketplace-receives-1-5-million-boost/ ; Flathead Beacon reporting and opinion on the ESA Supreme Court appeal (October 2026; appeal being briefed, oral arguments expected this fall) — search flatheadbeacon.com for 'Montana Families Deserve Their Education Options Back'; Q2 News (KTVQ) reporting on the proposed Billings superintendent compensation, summarized by WiseVoter (October 31, 2026): https://wisevoter.com/world/us/mt/billings/2026/10/31/billings-board-proposes-superintendent-salary-increase

AI Generated

St. Louis's final closure list closes nine schools but leaves about $14 million of its claimed $20 million in annual savings unexplained ten days before the November 10 vote, while DESE's Sunshine Law response deadline passed with silence, embargoed A-F draft grades slipped past October, and no-excuse early voting runs through Monday.

Sources:

- Final closure plan for St. Louis Public Schools met with urgency, skepticism (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Oct 2026): https://stltoday.cms.us-corp-qa-4.vip.tnpreprod.net/news/local/education/final-closure-plan-for-st-louis-public-schools-met-with-urgency-skepticism/article_7426bfab-a7d6-5b25-98f7-42829a6c291b.html

- The evolution of St. Louis Public Schools' consolidation plan (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Oct 2026): https://stltoday.cms.us-corp-qa-4.vip.tnpreprod.net/the-evolution-of-st-louis-public-schools-consolidation-plan/article_68125d97-e779-5ef6-bbfe-a51d9adf1dd1.html

- Understanding Missouri's A-F School Grading System: A Q&A Resource for Local School Board Members (Missouri School Boards' Association): https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1791910575/rsdmoorg/g0dxuwuj4cksxysaiuqb/msba-a-f-grading-qa.pdf

- Missouri Board discusses A-F grade adjustments, defers vote to December (Formative Spaces, Oct 2026): https://www.formativespaces.com/newsroom/missouri-af-school-grades-accelerated-december

- Governor's Executive Order 26-01 (Missouri Secretary of State): https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2026/eo1

- Missouri 2026 election deadlines, sourced to the Missouri Secretary of State (VoteClock): https://voteclock.org/missouri

- Proposition P (Parkway Schools): https://www.parkwayschools.net/about-parkway/proposition-p-2026

- Propositions I & N (Ritenour School District): https://www.ritenourschools.org/about-us/propsin

AI Generated

A closed Arundel boatbuilding school headed for auction is saved for York County high school students, and Maine launches a statewide count of where computer science is — and is not — taught, as its after-school coding program returns for a third year.

Sources:

- Biddeford Regional Center of Technology Leads Effort to Preserve the Landing School, Expand Access to Vocational Education (Biddeford School Department, via Biddeford Buzz, October 30, 2026): https://www.biddefordbuzz.com/post/biddeford-biddeford-regional-center-of-technology-leads-effort-to-preserve-the-landing-school-e

- The Landing School — Final Closure and Auction Information (October 9, 2026) and closure announcements (May–August 2026), The Landing School, Arundel: https://www.landingschool.edu/

- Maine DOE Launches Statewide Computer Science Landscape Study (Maine Department of Education, October 30, 2026): https://world.einnews.com/pr_news/953423321/maine-doe-launches-statewide-computer-science-landscape-study

- Pine Tree Programming Returns for Third Year, Bringing Hands-On Computer Science to Maine Students (Maine Department of Education, October 30, 2026): https://world.einnews.com/pr_news/953390316/pine-tree-programming-returns-for-third-year-bringing-hands-on-computer-science-to-maine-students

- Maine DOE Update – October 30, 2026 (Maine Department of Education; Computer Science Education Summit, November 6, 2026, Portland): https://world.einnews.com/pr_news/953423317/maine-doe-update-october-30-2026

AI Generated

Mississippi's high schools get their 2027-29 athletic classifications, rural counties push back in detail on consolidation, and district attendance policies are due November 1 under Senate Bill 2103.

Sources:

- Clarion Ledger: MHSAA announces new Mississippi high school classifications for 2027-29 cycle (Oct. 27, 2026): https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/10/27/mhsaa-classifications-2027-29-cycle-mississippi-high-schools/92459760007/

- GoreSports: MHSAA releases 2027-29 classifications — a look at North Mississippi's numbers (Oct. 26, 2026): https://goresports.net/2026/10/26/mhsaa-releases-2027-29-classifications-a-look-at-north-mississippis-numbers/

- Mississippi Today via The 74: Rural Mississippi Communities Push Back on School Consolidation Efforts (Oct. 30, 2026): https://www.the74million.org/article/rural-communities-push-back-on-school-consolidation-efforts-theyre-just-looking-at-numbers-on-the-paper/

- WLBT: Mississippi attendance law brings new rules for student absences (Sept. 2026; Senate Bill 2103, November 1 adoption deadline, absence and documentation rules): Search: WLBT Mississippi attendance law brings new rules for student absences Senate Bill 2103

- Gulf Comprehensive Center: From Policy to Practice — Supporting Schools Through Shifting Attendance Expectations (Mississippi Attendance Playbook and the November 1, 2026 deadline): https://gulfcomprehensivecenter.org/from-policy-to-practice-supporting-schools-through-shifting-attendance-expectations-part-two-of-two-part-series/

- T-Mobile Newsroom: Friday Night 5G Lights names four Division Champions (Oct. 29, 2026; final vote through Nov. 8, winner Nov. 12): https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/friday-night-5g-lights-division-champions

AI Generated

Saint Paul's board votes six to one to avoid midyear layoffs, Minnesota's Permanent School Fund amendment heads to Tuesday's ballot, and the High School League's bylaw vote clock starts this weekend.

Sources:

- FOX 9: St. Paul Public Schools avoids layoffs amid $5M budget gap (Oct. 30, 2026): https://fox9.com/news/st-paul-public-schools-avoids-layoffs-amid-budget-gap-oct-30-2026

- Saint Paul Public Schools: Update on English Learner Staffing (special meeting Oct. 30, 2026, 4 p.m., 360 Colborne St.): https://www.spps.org/news-details/~board/news/post/update-on-english-learner-staffing

- Center of the American Experiment: What Minnesota voters should know about the education ballot question (Permanent School Fund amendment; fund value, FY2026 distributions, ballot wording): https://www.americanexperiment.org/what-minnesota-voters-should-know-about-the-education-ballot-question/

- MSHSL bylaw amendment process: Search: MSHSL Constitution 215 proposed amendment September 28 2026 letter Region Committees November 1 February 15

- Education Minnesota: Nominations open for 2027 Minnesota Teacher of the Year (Aug. 31, 2026; nominations through Nov. 1): https://educationminnesota.org/news/press-release/nominations-open-for-2027-minnesota-teacher-of-the-year/

AI Generated

Tomorrow, November 1, is the statutory deadline for New Hampshire's annual restraint and seclusion report — what the law requires it to show, how to read it, and the district paperwork that feeds it, plus the Attorney General's ballot-counting guidance for Tuesday's Question 2 vote and a seventy million dollar workforce announcement in Exeter with no New Hampshire school on the eligible list.

Sources:

- RSA 126-U:8, II, Review of Restraint Records by Department of Education (annual report each November 1 to the House and Senate education committee chairs; number and location of incidents and status of outstanding investigations): https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/new-hampshire/nh-statutes/new_hampshire_revised_statutes_126-u_8

- New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules, Ed 1202.02, Duty to Report (verbal notice as soon as possible; written notification within 5 business days; serious injury or death reports): https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-hampshire/ed/chapter-ed-1200/part-ed-1202/section-ed-1202-02/

- Disability Scoop, October 19, 2026, 'Nearly 1 In 5 Public School Students Have IEPs Or 504 Plans' (CRDC 2023-24: students under IDEA about 15% of enrollment, 68% of seclusions, 73% of physical restraints): https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2026/10/19/nearly-1-in-5-public-school-students-have-ieps-or-504-plans/32226/

- Seacoast Online / Portsmouth Herald, October 27, 2026, 'What is Question 2? New Hampshire's school district tax cap proposal explained' (Attorney General guidance: combined multi-town count; undervotes not counted): https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/27/question-2-guide-new-hampshire-school-district-tax-cap-proposal/92219963007/

- Seacoast Online / Portsmouth Herald, October 30, 2026, 'Feds unveil $70M rare earth education initiative at Exeter's Phoenix Tailings' (DOE PROSPECT announcement; eligible schools list; Phase 1 winners December 18): https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2026/10/30/feds-unveil-70m-rare-earth-education-initiative-exeter-phoenix-tailings/92517499007/

AI Generated

Michigan's 15 public universities lost more than 5,200 students this fall in the Michigan Association of State Universities' preliminary fall 2026 report, with graduate enrollment down 4.9% and transfers rising; plus Grand Rapids picks its next superintendent, the State Board takes its Nov. 10 meeting to Genesee County, and a judge reinstates Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the football playoffs ahead of a Nov. 6 hearing.

Sources:

- Detroit Free Press, Oct. 31, 2026, Michigan public universities lose 5,200 students this fall (MASU preliminary fall 2026 report): https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/universities/2026/10/31/michigan-university-enrollment-drops-2026-after-years-of-growth/92119008007/

- Michigan Department of Education press release, Oct. 30, 2026, State Board of Education Will Hold Its November Meeting in Genesee County: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/news-and-information/press-releases/2026/10/30/sbe-will-hold-its-nov-meeting-in-genesee-county

- USA TODAY / Detroit Free Press, Oct. 30, 2026, Judge orders Michigan high school football powerhouse reinstated in playoffs (MHSAA / Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Kent County show-cause hearing Nov. 6): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2026/10/30/grand-rapids-catholic-central-michigan-football-playoffs-judge-ruling/92525758007/

- Grand Rapids Public Schools, Oct. 28, 2026, Board of Education Selects Dr. Allison Tingwall As Next Superintendent — search: GRPS Board of Education Selects Dr. Allison Tingwall As Next Superintendent

- School News Network, Oct. 29, 2026, GRPS taps Chicago educator to be its next superintendent — search: School News Network GRPS taps Chicago educator next superintendent Tingwall

- Level Up Michigan (college-going 53% in 2025; 70% goal for class of 2029; Community College Guarantee awareness): https://levelupmi.org/

AI Generated

The missing outcome from Thursday's State Board meeting is now in the published record: Maryland adopted its Comprehensive PreK-12 Literacy Policy, expanding screening to pre-K and grades four through twelve and phasing promotion and retention to spring twenty twenty-eight — plus Baltimore County teachers protest the substitute shortage, and what Tuesday's school board elections are really about.

Sources:

- Citizen Portal, October 30, 2026, 'Board adopts PreK–12 literacy policy that expands screening and phases promotion timeline' (State Board adoption summary, October 29, 2026 meeting): https://citizenportal.ai/articles/11608339/maryland/school-boards/maryland-department-of-education/board-adopts-prek12-literacy-policy-that-expands-screening-and-phases-promotion-timeline

- ExcelinEd, October 30, 2026, 'Maryland State Board of Education Adopts Comprehensive Adolescent Literacy Policy' (policy elements: grades 4-12 evidence-based standards, screeners grades 4-12, parent notification and reading improvement plans K-8, professional learning, Secondary Literacy Addendum grades 6-8): https://excelined.org/2026/10/30/maryland-adolescent-literacy/

- Citizen Portal, October 21, 2026, 'BCPS reports 1,000 substitutes hired and outlines steps after ending Kelly contract' — search citizenportal.ai for 'BCPS reports 1,000 substitutes hired Kelly contract'

- Baltimore County teachers protest work conditions (WBAL-TV 11 reporting, via 92Q, October 28, 2026; TABCO demonstrations October 27, end-of-November contract target): https://92q.com/5918791/baltimore-county-teachers-protest-working-conditions/

- CNS Maryland / Local News Network (University of Maryland), October 20, 2026, school board candidate questionnaire on the Blueprint (62 of 70 respondents acknowledged financial/administrative burden) — search cnsmaryland.org for 'Board candidates fear Blueprint red ink'

- Maryland State Board of Elections, November 3, 2026 general election (polls 7 a.m.–8 p.m.) — search elections.maryland.gov for November 3 2026 polling hours

AI Generated