Tag Archives: education

Topeka’s NBC News affiliate reports: Gov. Laura Kelly ordered all K-12 schools in Kansas to close for the remainder of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. “This situation has evolved rapidly and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future,” Gov. Kelly said. “The reality of this pandemic is that it cannot be controlled statewide if school buildings …

The New York Post reports: Mayor Bill de Blasio — facing a coup from parents and teachers over his refusal to close city schools amid the coronavirus –has finally succumbed to the mounting pressure and agreed to shut them down, well-placed sources told The Post on Sunday. The closure will occur early in the week, a source added. Gov. Cuomo …

USA Today reports: The nation’s largest labor union has lined up behind Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, with the National Education Association on Saturday endorsing the former vice president for the Democratic nomination over his last remaining primary rival Bernie Sanders. The NEA’s board of directors chose Biden following a recommendation from the organization’s political action committee board, following months of …

The New York Post reports: New York City teachers are calling for a “mass sickout” on Wednesday in response to Mayor de Blasio’s insistence on keeping public schools open amid the coronavirus outbreak. Twitter postings calling for the sickout started appearing Friday, with nervous teachers consulting colleagues about taking the drastic action to protect themselves and their families. In an …

Seattle’s Fox affiliate reports: The Seattle Public School District will close for at least two weeks amid concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus. The district announced the closure in a message sent to families. “The decision to close the district was extremely difficult,” the message said. “We know that closing our schools will impact our most vulnerable families and …

The Boston Herald reports: The two big South Boston St. Patrick’s Day traditions of a parade in the streets and a breakfast for area VIPs have been canceled over fears of the spreading coronavirus, officials announced Monday night. “In collaboration with Congressman Lynch, Councilors Flaherty and Flynn, Senator Collins, Representative Biele, and David Falvey from the South Boston Allied War …

The Associated Press reports: Japan is announcing the closure of schools nationwide through March to help control the spread of the new virus. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he asked all elementary, middle and high schools to remain closed until spring break ends in early April. The measure comes amid growing concern about the rise in the number of untraceable …

USA Today reports: Reagan National University was supposed to be a place of higher learning in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. But it was unclear how it awarded degrees. By all appearances, at present it has no students, no faculty and no classrooms. An agency meant to serve as a gatekeeper for federal money gave the university approval to operate anyway. …

NBC News Des Moines reports: Stakeholders and lawmakers went back and forth today over a House bill that some are calling “anti-LGBTQ” legislation. The bill would require schools to notify parents about any lesson or curriculum related to sexual orientation or gender identity, in case parents want to excuse their child from class. Some say it comes down to a …

The Washington Post reports: Two kindergartners in Utah told a Latino boy that President Trump would send him back to Mexico, and teenagers in Maine sneered “Ban Muslims” at a classmate wearing a hijab. In Tennessee, a group of middle-schoolers linked arms, imitating the president’s proposed border wall as they refused to let nonwhite students pass. In Ohio, another group …

Via press release: The West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously tonight to rename one of its elementary schools after former First Lady Michelle Obama. The Board’s vote makes the school the first in Northern California and the second in the state named after the former first lady. The Board considered the proposal after receiving a …

CNBC reports: As student debt continues to climb, President Donald Trump on Monday released a budget for 2021 that would slash many of the programs aimed at helping borrowers. Student loan spending would be cut by $170 billion in Trump’s plan, titled “A Budget for America’s Future.” The reductions include “sensible annual and lifetime loan limits” for graduate students and …

NBC News reports: The former head of bond giant Pimco was branded a “common thief” by a federal judge and sentenced Friday to nine months in prison for his role in the sweeping college admissions cheating scandal. Douglas Hodge, who had earlier admitted paying $850,000 in bribes to get four of his seven kids admitted to elite colleges, also had …

Michigan Live reports: A conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion at Saline Area Schools quickly turned volatile Monday morning when one parent asked another why he didn’t “stay in Mexico.” For a community looking to heal and build unity after an incident involving racist messages shared among students via Snapchat, the exchange caught many in attendance off guard. During the …

From the Facebook page of Mississippi Rep. Jill Ford: Yesterday, January 27, 2020, was a historic day for not only Governor Tate Reeves as he presented his State of the State address to the people of Mississippi – favorite line: “we’ve been singing the Blues long enough, it’s time to sing Gospel now – the Good News”. It was also …

NBC News reports: Two of the largest banks in the U.S. say they will stop donating millions of dollars to Florida’s private school voucher program after a newspaper investigation found that some of the program’s beneficiaries discriminate against LGBTQ students. In a statement to NBC News and CNBC on Wednesday evening, Wells Fargo confirmed that it would no longer participate. …

Louisville’s NBC News affiliate reports: A lawsuit has been filed after a Kentucky high school student was expelled from her Christian school after images appeared on social media showing her celebrating her 15th birthday while smiling next to a rainbow cake. The suit, filed Thursday, contends that Whitefield Academy expelled the teen due to her perceived sexuality. School administrators said …

The Washington Post reports: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken another whack at former first lady Michelle Obama’s signature achievement: Establishing stricter nutritional standards for school breakfasts and lunches.  On Friday, USDA Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps announced new proposed rules for the Food and Nutrition Service that would allow schools to cut the amount of vegetables and fruits …

CBS News reports: President Donald Trump on Thursday is expected to announce new guidelines in regard to prayer in schools. It’s not clear what that might be, but it is seen as a sign of the president trying to solidify support from evangelicals. The Washington Post reports that the president’s official schedule for Thursday includes “THE PRESIDENT announces guidance on …

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports: Virginia Union University has revoked permission for a group that planned to honor President Donald Trump at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony. A flyer distributed Tuesday listed Trump, along with son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, as honorees at Urban Revitalization Coalition’s planned Jan. 20 event at the Richmond university. (There was no indication that …