https://desksandbells.com/2026-08-18https://desksandbells.com/share-home.svg https://desksandbells.com/news/rural-education-investment-crucial/2026-08-18https://desksandbells.com/share-rural-education-investment-crucial.svgRural Education Investment Crucial for Local Economies and Student FuturesA recent opinion piece highlights the importance of investing in rural education to bolster local economies and help students build a future close to home. Community colleges play a vital role in... https://desksandbells.com/news/federal-proposal-alter-head/2026-08-18https://desksandbells.com/share-federal-proposal-alter-head.svgFederal Proposal to Alter Head Start Program Sparks Concern Among ProvidersThe Trump administration's proposal to change the federally funded Head Start program has raised concerns among providers, who argue that the changes would undermine the program's mission and... https://desksandbells.com/news/federal-loan-caps-graduate/2026-08-18https://desksandbells.com/share-federal-loan-caps-graduate.svgFederal Loan Caps for Graduate Students Raise Concerns Over Access and AffordabilityThe Trump administration's new federal loan caps for graduate students have sparked debate over their impact on access and affordability in higher education. (Source: The Hechinger Report) https://desksandbells.com/news/ten-commandments-laws-challenged/2026-08-18https://desksandbells.com/share-ten-commandments-laws-challenged.svgTen Commandments Laws Challenged in Supreme CourtTwo prominent challenges to laws requiring school districts to display the Ten Commandments have been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Source: K-12 Dive) https://desksandbells.com/news/universities-sliding-decline-global/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-universities-sliding-decline-global.svgU.S. Universities Sliding into Decline as Global Education LeaderAmerican academic research and innovation are facing a decline in support, with top scholars leaving and international students dwindling. (Source: The Hechinger Report) https://desksandbells.com/news/slow-math-ai-helps/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-slow-math-ai-helps.svgSlow Math: AI Helps Students Learn More by Making Them Review MistakesA new study suggests that students may learn more when AI makes them slow down and review their mistakes. (Source: The Hechinger Report) https://desksandbells.com/news/low-screening-rates-autism/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-low-screening-rates-autism.svgLow Screening Rates for Autism and Speech Delays in New YorkDespite recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, many parents in New York are not completing developmental screeners for their young children, potentially missing crucial... https://desksandbells.com/news/california-school-streamlines-sel/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-california-school-streamlines-sel.svgCalifornia School Streamlines SEL Supports with Multi-Tiered SystemA California elementary school is piloting a multi-tiered system of supports model for social-emotional learning, which includes SEL curriculum, group support, and individual support for students. https://desksandbells.com/news/transforming-science-labs-compliance-cccab8/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-transforming-science-labs-compliance-cccab8.svgTransforming Science Labs: From Compliance to Critical ThinkingScience educators advocate for shifting lab reports from dry, compliance-based exercises to engaging, inquiry-driven experiences that foster critical thinking and creativity. By encouraging students... https://desksandbells.com/news/york-city-public-schools-6aa69a/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-york-city-public-schools-6aa69a.svgNew York City Public Schools to Deploy School Avoidance Liaisons in Every BuildingNew York City Public Schools will introduce liaisons in all school buildings to address school avoidance, a behavior linked to chronic absenteeism and emotional distress. The initiative follows a... https://desksandbells.com/news/revamping-school-playgrounds-become-7bf7b5/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-revamping-school-playgrounds-become-7bf7b5.svgRevamping School Playgrounds to Become Urban Climate OasesA nonprofit organization is working to transform schoolyards across the United States into welcoming and sustainable spaces for both students and local communities. (Source: The Hechinger Report) https://desksandbells.com/news/miami-dade-ends-free-103139/2026-08-17https://desksandbells.com/share-miami-dade-ends-free-103139.svgMiami-Dade Ends Free School Meals Due to Federal Cuts, Setting a Concerning PrecedentMiami-Dade County Public Schools will end its district-wide free meal program this August due to federal cuts to safety net programs under the Trump administration. The move follows a decline in SNAP... https://desksandbells.com/news/dyscalculia-common-yet-overlooked-b58770/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-dyscalculia-common-yet-overlooked-b58770.svgDyscalculia: A Common Yet Overlooked Learning Disability in SchoolsDyscalculia, a learning disability affecting number and math processing, impacts as many students as dyslexia but receives far less attention in schools. A recent brief highlights the lack of... https://desksandbells.com/news/unions-sue-education-department-32727d/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-unions-sue-education-department-32727d.svgUnions Sue Education Department Over 'Professional' Degree RuleA coalition of unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, has sued the U.S. Department of Education over its regulatory definition of a 'professional degree', which excludes education... https://desksandbells.com/news/cisa-releases-cybersecurity-guidance-b01c5d/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-cisa-releases-cybersecurity-guidance-b01c5d.svgCISA Releases K-12 Cybersecurity Guidance Amid Rising RisksThe U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a collection of free K-12 cybersecurity resources to help school leaders mitigate and respond to unique cyber risks. https://desksandbells.com/news/systemic-discrimination-cases-education-751063/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-systemic-discrimination-cases-education-751063.svgSystemic Discrimination Cases in Education: What's Next After Disparate Impact?The U.S. Department of Education has announced it will no longer pursue systemic race-based discrimination investigations under the disparate impact legal theory. This move may impact cases currently... https://desksandbells.com/news/improvisation-techniques-english-language-748a54/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-improvisation-techniques-english-language-748a54.svgImprovisation Techniques in English/Language Arts Classes Boost Student Participation and CreativityEducators are using improvisation techniques in English/language arts classes to encourage participation and creativity among students. (Source: K-12 Dive) https://desksandbells.com/news/schools-experiment-approach-purchasing-31f08a/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-schools-experiment-approach-purchasing-31f08a.svgSchools Experiment with New Approach to Purchasing Educational ToolsSchool districts are testing outcomes-based contracting, a method where vendors are paid based on student results, to ensure that educational tools are effective. (Source: The Hechinger Report) https://desksandbells.com/news/stop-teaching-fun-out-edb04c/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-stop-teaching-fun-out-edb04c.svgStop Teaching the Fun Out of Childhood and Let Kids Be KidsA recent pre-K curriculum has been criticized for over-instructing children on basic skills, such as kicking a ball, and undermining their natural ability to learn through play. https://desksandbells.com/news/houston-isd-maintains-rating-f8fdee/2026-08-16https://desksandbells.com/share-houston-isd-maintains-rating-f8fdee.svgHouston ISD Maintains B Rating for Second Year, Shows Progress Under State ControlHouston Independent School District (HISD) has retained its B rating for the second consecutive year, reflecting steady improvement since the state of Texas took over in 2023. Wheatley High School, a... https://desksandbells.com/students/2026-08-18 https://desksandbells.com/about/ https://desksandbells.com/sources-and-methods/ https://desksandbells.com/corrections/