Education Across the States

Sixty-two percent of California school board races will not appear on the November ballot despite new trustee pay raises, the state superintendent race has raised a fraction of past cycles, and CSU faculty begin a strike-authorization vote.

Sources

- EdSource, "Pay raises fail to attract more candidates to run for California school board seats," published October 27, 2026 (analysis of 2,225 races in 52 counties; AB 1390 stipend caps; Getting Down to Facts report): https://edsource.org/2026/pay-raises-fail-to-attract-more-candidates-to-run-for-california-school-board-seats/768942

- EdSource news brief, "Here's which California state superintendent candidate has raised the most money," October 26, 2026 (campaign finance filings as of October 17, 2026): https://edsource.org/news-updates — search EdSource for "state superintendent candidate has raised the most money"

- EdSource news brief, "CSU faculty union seeks strike authority as contract talks stall," October 23, 2026: https://edsource.org/news-updates — search EdSource for "CSU faculty union seeks strike authority"

- EdSource news brief, "Cost of University of California education surpasses $50K for Californians," October 26, 2026, citing The New York Times: https://edsource.org/updates/the-cost-of-a-university-of-california-education-surpasses-50000-for-california-residents

- Assembly Bill 1390 (Solache, 2025), California Legislative Information: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov → Bills → search "AB 1390" in the 2025-2026 session

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What Act 565 of 2025 requires after a teacher removes a student from class in Arkansas — the conference, the ten-day interim placement, and the no-return rule — and how a manifestation determination review replaces that conference for students with disabilities, as briefed to the state special education advisory council on October 20, 2026.

Sources:

- Arkansas Advisory Council for the Education of Children with Disabilities, Agenda, October 20, 2026 (Act 565 Update by ADE Legal; SPP/APR Initial Reflection; Mediation/IEP Process; next meeting January 19, 2027): https://arksped.ade.arkansas.gov/documents/AdvisoryCouncil/SectionReports/OCT2026/Arkansas_Advisory_Council_Agenda_Oct2026.pdf

- Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Understanding and Implementing the Provisions of Act 565 of 2025 (general guidance; definitions, conference, interim placement, three-removal rule): https://adecm.ade.arkansas.gov/Attachments/Act_565_General_Guidance_142600.pdf

- Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Act 565: Considerations for Students with Disabilities (manifestation determination review, two questions, FBA/BIP, reentry, Child Find): https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/Act_565_Considerations_for_Students_with_Disabilities_(15)_OSEFP.pdf

- ADE Commissioner's Memo COM-26-016, September 12, 2025, Act 565 of 2025 — Student and Teacher Protection Act Guidance (effective August 4, 2025; amended Arkansas Code 6-18-511) — search: ADE Commissioner's Memo COM-26-016 Act 565

- Act 565 of 2025, full text (House Bill 1062, 95th General Assembly): https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=565.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R

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Tonight Tucson Unified's board studies closing five east-side schools for 2027-28, but the district's own 94-page packet states the annual savings three different ways — and cannot show what its last closures actually saved.

Sources:

- Three Sonorans, October 26, 2026, reading of the Tucson Unified 94-page agenda packet (three savings totals, property-value swap, missing sixth scenario, closure history): https://threesonorans.substack.com/p/tusds-own-documents-cant-agree-on

- Three Sonorans, Cragin Elementary closure analysis (district timeline approved 4-1; October 27, November 10, November 17, December 8 dates), reporting the Arizona Daily Star, October 21, 2026, and Arizona Luminaria: https://threesonorans.substack.com/p/tusds-cragin-closure-plan-has-a-numbers

- Three Sonorans, Magee Middle School into Sabino High School analysis (grades 6-12 campus, earlier court blocks), reporting the Arizona Daily Star, October 22, 2026: https://threesonorans.substack.com/p/a-judge-twice-blocked-middle-schoolers

- Collier Elementary into Bloom Elementary, fifth proposal, October 23, 2026: KGUN 9 reporting, republished by Tucsonans — search KGUN 9 for 'Collier Elementary Bloom Elementary Tucson Unified October 2026'

- Arizona State Board of Education, A-F Appeals Timeline SY25-26 (October 26, 2026 meeting; letter grades released by November 1, 2026; appeals close November 16, 2026): https://azsbe.az.gov/schools/a-f-school-letter-grades/f-appeals

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Alaska districts are already hiring teachers for next fall while the one hundred thousand dollar H-1B visa fee sits blocked by two federal courts, extended through September 2027 by proclamation, and unresolved on appeal — and five hundred seventy-three educators on visas, about eight point five percent of the state's teaching workforce, are the reason the outcome matters in rural classrooms.

Sources:

- Yale University Office of International Students and Scholars, Presidential Proclamation Extends H-1B $100,000 Fee Policy; Fee Remains Blocked by Court Order (September 18, 2026 extension of Proclamation 10973 through September 21, 2027; June 8, 2026 Massachusetts vacatur; July 24, 2026 First Circuit stay denial; USCIS position that the fee is not owed at this time; August 25, 2026 proposed $103,265 cap-subject fee, comments closed September 24, 2026): https://oiss.yale.edu/news/presidential-proclamation-extends-h-1b-100000-fee-policy-fee-remains-blocked-by-court-order

- CUPA-HR, Federal Judge Blocks H-1B Fee Proclamations From Enforcement (September 30, 2026 Northern District of California order vacating agency policies under both proclamations and barring enforcement pending notice-and-comment rulemaking; D.C. court split): https://www.cupahr.org/resource/federal-judge-blocks-h-1b-fee-proclamations-from-enforcement/

- Alaska Legislature, House Joint Resolution 39 (enrolled), urging the federal government to waive the new H-1B visa fees for teachers in the state: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HJR039Z.PDF

- U.S. Senate press release, March 12, 2026, introducing legislation to exempt public schools from the $100,000 H-1B fee (573 educators on visas, about 8.5 percent of the teaching workforce; Kodiak Island Borough, Bering Strait, and Kuspuk district statements; $6,000 to $12,000 existing per-teacher sponsorship cost) — search: Senate Introduces Legislation to Help Alaska's Public School Staffing Shortage, March 2026

- S. 4087, 119th Congress, a bill to exempt public school employees from H-1B fees imposed by Presidential Proclamation 10973 — introduced March 12, 2026, referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, no further action recorded: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4087

- Alaska Beacon reporting, republished by Copper River Country Journal, May 2026, on the Legislature passing the teacher visa-fee waiver resolution and the federal exemption bill — search: Alaska Beacon foreign teachers H-1B visa fee resolution

- Alaska Educator Retention and Recruitment Center job board (Bering Strait School District special education posting for Elim for the 2027-2028 school year, posted October 5, 2026; rural special education postings October 2026): https://jobs.aerrc.org

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In two weeks in October, five of the seven members of the Alabama Educational Television Commission were dismissed and a sixth resigned — and the new board now decides whether Alabama Public Television stays with PBS, months after a statewide survey found fifty-four percent of Alabamians favor keeping the affiliation and sixty-two percent want officials out of programming decisions.

Sources:

- Alabama Public Television, Alabama Public Television Welcomes Changes to AETC Governing Board, October 5, 2026 (five new appointments by congressional district; loss of federal support through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting): https://aptv.org/apt-news/47261/

- Alabama Reflector via Current, Gov. Kay Ivey dismisses five members of Alabama Public Television governing board, October 5, 2026 (HB 220 removal authority effective Oct. 1; dismissals Oct. 2; survey backstory; November vote to maintain PBS): https://current.org/2026/10/gov-kay-ivey-dismisses-five-members-of-alabama-public-television-governing-board/

- Alabama Reflector via Current, Commissioner resigns from Alabama Public Television governing board, October 16, 2026 (Adetunji resignation letter Oct. 8; survey 54 percent / 62 percent figures; complete turnover in twelve months): https://current.org/2026/10/commissioner-resigns-from-alabama-public-television-governing-board/

- Alabama Daily News, Ivey replaces five of seven members of Alabama Public Television board, October 3, 2026, and AETFA approves viewer survey contract with Cygnal (September 16, 2026; thirty-nine thousand five hundred dollars, six hundred respondents): https://aldailynews.com/ivey-replaces-five-of-seven-members-of-alabama-public-television-board/ and https://aldailynews.com/alabama-educational-television-foundation-authority-approves-viewer-survey-contract-with-cygnal/

- WSFA 12 News, Read the results of the Alabama Public Television survey, September 30, 2026 (full survey results; commission to meet in February 2027 on the findings; PBS contract renewed through the middle of 2027) — search: WSFA Alabama Public Television survey results February 2027

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

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Four days before the District's first structured-literacy compliance letters are due, Alex and Jordan explain what D.C. Code section 38-2264 actually requires of kindergarten teachers, how the grade-by-grade rollout reaches third grade only in 2029-30, and why a high compliance rate on paper will not by itself prove reading instruction has changed.

Sources:

- D.C. Code section 38-2264, Achieving Competency in Structured Literacy Instruction, via OSSE, 2025-2026 Structured Literacy Compliance page (letter due Oct. 31, 2026 reporting compliance as of Oct. 5; OSSE posts letters within 15 business days): https://osse.dc.gov/page/2025-2026-structured-literacy-compliance

- OSSE, Structured Literacy Competency Requirement one-pager and FAQ (three competency pathways, prior completion back to January 2019, competency by start of 2026-27 or within one year of hire, 25-hour no-cost Science of Reading course, grade rollout 2027-28 / 2028-29 / 2029-30): https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Structured%20Literacy%20Competency%20One%20Page.pdf and https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Structured%20Literacy%20Competency%20FAQ.pdf

- OSSE, Kindergarten Structured Literacy Compliance Letter template, September 2026 (compliance cycle closing Oct. 30, 2026): https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/K_Structured%20Literacy%20Compliance%20Letter%202026-26_Fillable%20PDF%202.pdf

- Analysis: DC's literacy reform is still mostly on paper, October 22, 2026 (third-grade reading 31.2 percent vs 33.1 percent in 2019, citywide reading 39.6 percent, rollout and coaching account, coverage gaps) — search: Allister Chang Substack DC literacy reform still mostly on paper.

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Lock the door, pull the shade, move the children to the hard corner. The lockdown drill is rehearsed in every school in America — and it is the closest thing public school teachers have to a workplace safety law. In this national episode, Alex and Jordan trace why: a single definition in the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 wrote every public employee in the country out of the nation's workplace-safety law, and the right to a workplace free from recognized hazards stops at the schoolhouse door. We built the count from OSHA's own registry: in 29 of the 56 states, districts, and territories, a public school employee has a real safety regulator; in 27, there is no one to complain to. Plus the bargain police and firefighters got and teachers never did, the IDEA collision that stops abatement where a student is the hazard, New York's 2024 law that proves the fix can be built, and New Hampshire's paper right — a petition process aimed at a rulebook with no violence standard in it. The full written feature and the jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction coverage map are published with this story at educationacrossthestates.com.

Sources — OSHA, State Plans (22 full plans covering private and public sector workers; 7 public-sector-only plans: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, U.S. Virgin Islands): https://www.osha.gov/stateplans ; Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, section 3(5) definition of "employer" and section 5(a)(1) General Duty Clause: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/completeoshact and https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/section5-duties ; Littler, "New York Amends Workplace Violence Prevention Law to Extend Coverage to Public Schools" (Labor Law section 27-b, effective January 4, 2024): https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/new-york-amends-workplace-violence-prevention-law-extend-coverage-public-schools ; Parker & Covert LLP on California SB 553 / Labor Code section 6401.9 (written workplace violence prevention plans, including school districts, by July 1, 2024): https://www.parkercovert.com/new-requirements-for-california-employers-to-implement-workplace-violence-prevention-plans-by-july-2024 ; New Hampshire RSA chapter 277 (277:13-a employee petition for inspection; 277:15-a post-incident inspections naming school districts): https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXIII/277/277-mrg.htm ; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act discipline provisions, 20 U.S.C. 1415(k): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/1415 ; Bricker & Eckler on Ohio's Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP, ORC chapter 4167): https://www.brickergraydon.com/insights/publications/PERRP-are-your-employees-safe

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A deep look at special education in Puerto Rico: the Rosa Lydia Velez judgment, the Remedio Provisional remedy, the therapy-delivery gap, and the Oversight Board's case for funding recurring obligations with recurring money.

Sources:

- Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, How to Properly Fund Special Education Services, May 29, 2026 (enrollment and cost-per-student trends, expired pandemic funds, student-based budgeting, Section 504 capacity, Civil Service Reform requirements): https://oversightboard.pr.gov/how-to-properly-fund-special-education-services/

- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Puerto Rico 2026 IDEA Part B determination and FFY 2024 SPP/APR package (Needs Assistance for 2025 and 2026; Specific Conditions in effect; 30-day evaluation timeline under the Rosa Lydia Velez consent decree; early-childhood counts): https://sites.ed.gov/idea/files/PR-B-SPP-APR-FFY24.pdf

- El Nuevo Dia, Fiscal Board demands details on funding for nearly 2,500 special education students, September 14, 2026: https://www.elnuevodia.com/english/news/story/fiscal-board-demands-details-on-funding-for-nearly-2500-special-education-students/

- 787 Daily, Governor Announces 20.5 Million Dollar Allocation to Cover Special Education Transportation, September 30, 2026 (Oversight Board approval letter and second-semester deficit warning): https://787daily.com/news/2026-09-30-governor-announces-20-5-million-allocation-to-cover-special-/

- Puerto Rico Department of Education: https://de.pr.gov

- Verification without a stable URL: for the Rosa Lydia Velez compliance figure (68.9 percent, 11 stipulations closed), search the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly transition committee hearing record from late 2024 for PRDE testimony on the Rosa Lydia Velez stipulations; for the therapy-delivery percentages (55.2 percent speech, 39.7 percent psychological) and the 583.4 million dollar related-service spending figure, search NotiCel and Puerto Rico Senate special commission hearing coverage from 2026 on special education related services; for Remedio Provisional testimony, search the Senate special commission for legislative monitoring of the special education program (Senate Resolution 42) hearing record.

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Nebraska switches on eleven new ADVISER validation checks on the October 1 snapshot — four of them on special education setting codes by a child's exact age — opens a single residency front door for system-involved youth, and Omaha's Moonshot review shows why a reading gap is also an attendance and engagement gap.

Sources:

- New ADVISER Validation Errors/Warnings – Coming Soon, Nebraska Department of Education Bulletin: https://www.education.ne.gov/bulletin/

- ADVISER Validation bulletin category, Nebraska Department of Education: https://www.education.ne.gov/bulletin-category/adviser-psd/

- SRS-ADVISER Training (October 1 snapshot; October 31 data edit window closes), NDE Digital Document Portal: https://help.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SRS-ADVISER-Training.pptx.pdf

- Omaha Public Schools reviewing reading gaps through 'Moonshot' plan (WOWT First Alert 6, September 29, 2026): https://gray-wowt-prod.gtv-cdn.com/2026/09/29/omaha-public-schools-reviewing-reading-gaps-through-moonshot-plan/

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New Hampshire ranks first in the nation for students on Section 504-only plans at 8.4 percent, more than double the national rate — yet no one at the state or district level tracks what those plans cost, and no state or federal funding follows them. A look at what House Bill 1548's special education cost report would count, the Section 504 question it may leave unanswered, and what district leaders can count themselves this week.

Sources:

- Education Funding's Black Box, 'The Third Rail: Special Education and NH's Property Taxes,' October 23, 2026 (504-only and IEP rates from U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Civil Rights Data Collection 2023-24 public-use file, author's calculations): https://polimom.substack.com/p/the-third-rail-special-education

- U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 2023-24 Civil Rights Data Collection First Look (national: 15% IDEA, 4% Section 504 only): https://www.ed.gov/media/document/2023-24-first-look-civil-rights-data-collection-september-30-2026-114593.pdf

- Disability Scoop, October 19, 2026, 'Nearly 1 In 5 Public School Students Have IEPs Or 504 Plans': https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2026/10/19/nearly-1-in-5-public-school-students-have-ieps-or-504-plans/32226/

- NH HB 1548 (2026), requiring the Department of Education to collect and publish data on the costs of special education services — BillTrack50 summary: https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1916411

- Citizen Portal, October 23, 2026, Hollis-Brookline Coop committee flags rising out-of-district placements and a possible $1M special-education pressure on FY28: https://citizenportal.ai/articles/11438022/new-hampshire/school-districts/hollisbrookline-coop-school-district/committee-flags-rising-outofdistrict-placements-and-a-possible-1m-specialeducation-pressure-on-fy28

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