Curriculum
High schoolers say school counselors emphasize college pathways — and not CTE
A report released Monday by the RAND Corporation shows that 66% of high school students from middle-income families said their schools emphasized four-year colleges when discussing future paths, while only 11% mentioned community colleges, 16% mentioned technical training and apprenticeships, and 17% mentioned full-time work. Meanwhile, 70% of students pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher said their schools did a good job planning for their futures, compared with only 50% of non-bachelor's degree students.
K-12 Dive Trendline on Curriculum
As the 2026-27 school year begins, some U.S. schools will display the Ten Commandments in classrooms under new laws. Since 2021, eight of nine related bills have been signed, involving states such as Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama. Despite multiple lawsuits from civil rights groups, recent federal court rulings have largely favored the laws. Based on data from the Education Commission of the States (ECS) and recent court documents, this article analyzes the legislative process, judicial challenges, and parental opposition actions regarding the Ten Commandments bills.
Can AI adequately assess critical thinking?
A new study led by the AugmentED project finds that AI, when assessing students' critical thinking, performs well only on two sub-skills—synthesizing information and evidence strength—while accuracy on the remaining four sub-skills is insufficient, with a maximum accuracy of just 78%. Researchers emphasize that AI is not yet suitable for comprehensive classroom assessment and requires further validation and attention to fairness.
Michigan direct admissions program launches for high school students
The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) has launched the MI College Match direct admission program, with 20 public and private colleges participating. Students can receive admission offers by uploading their transcripts, without needing to submit essays or recommendation letters.
How a genocide education program equips California educators with skills, resources
Since pioneering legislation 41 years ago requiring the teaching of Holocaust and genocide history, California has continuously funded related educational programs. This June, the fourth annual summer institute organized by the California Teachers Collaborative brought together 110 K-12 educators, enhancing teachers' abilities to address antisemitism and other discriminatory topics through scholar lectures, survivor testimonies, and teaching resource training. Surveys indicate that participating teachers generally report the course resources as highly practical and experience significantly increased teaching confidence.
Should Algebra 1 and geometry be blended into one course?
Some U.S. school districts are attempting to integrate mathematics courses such as Algebra 1 and Geometry into a combined teaching approach, replacing the traditional subject-separated model. Latrenda Knighten, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, believes that integrated teaching helps strengthen the internal coherence of mathematical knowledge, but emphasizes that courses must be carefully designed, teacher training enhanced, and equity principles upheld; otherwise, implementation may be ineffective.
Judge deals blow to Trump administration’s gutting of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued a partial injunction on Wednesday against the Trump administration's overhaul of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP). The ruling found that the administration's pivot to an abstinence-only approach and the cancellation of grants that did not align with this policy were implemented without following required administrative channels. While the judge temporarily halted the policy implementation, he did not order the reinstatement of the nearly all-terminated grants, citing jurisdictional questions. The case, Hennepin County v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, involves plaintiffs including Hennepin County, King County, and a Planned Parenthood affiliate.
How ‘The Odyssey’ opens doors to storytelling and historical perspectives
电影人克里斯托弗·诺兰改编的《奥德赛》正掀起暑期观影热潮，也让这部高中英语和社会研究课堂中教授数十年的史诗再次成为焦点。教育工作者指出，这部作品在叙事结构、历史视角和神话教学方面具有独特价值，能够激发学生的想象力与同理心。
Learning to craft personal statements requires dedicated time, encouragement
As high school students prepare college essays and other high-stakes personal statements, educators stress the importance of guided practice, in-class feedback, and strategies to counter the influence of generative AI. Experts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and NYU offer insights on fostering authentic student voices.
Improv in ELA Classrooms: A Pathway to Student Engagement and Creative Risk-Taking
Educators highlight how dramatic improv techniques in English/language arts classes can foster participation, creativity, and psychological safety, encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones.