Each week, AAE brings its members a round-up of what’s happening in education. From big, eye-catching headlines to the stories most papers overlook, we find the news our members really want to see. This week, more guns find their way into schools, teachers strike, charters are under attack, and more!

Leading our news this week is teacher diversity. On Wednesday, the Association of American Educators along with 75 education groups sent a letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos and other education leaders urging them to diversity the teaching field. It's an issue getting a lot of attention nationwide with 20 groups sending a second letter also urging work in this field.

Another Week of Guns in Schools: A school shooting was narrowly averted last Friday when coach and former San Francisco 49er, Keanon Lowe tackled a student with a gun in a Portland high school. Had Lowe not acted so heroically, the news this past week would have been very different. Unfortunately, that was not the only incident of weapons in schools this past week. A teacher in Florida brought a hand-gun and knives to school while a teacher in North Carolina threatened a mass shooting at the school where she taught. The Florida teacher appears to have been trying to make a statement about a recently passed law that would allow teachers in Florida to be armed. Similar bills are being considered in North Carolina, where the threats happened and in Texas.

Sander’s Education Plan Attacks Charters: Bernie Sanders is the latest presidential candidate to release an education plan. The plan would involve a massive increase of school funding and more than double the federal education budget. Funding increases would focus on Title I spending and special education. But not every funding change is an increase. Sanders’s plan calls to halt all funding for all charter schools, blaming them for a rise in school segregation and stirring controversy.

Week Long Strike Continues in California: On Monday, teachers in the New Haven School District went on strike for the first time ever. Like many recent union actions, the dispute was over teacher pay, with the union asking for a 10% jump while the district said it could only afford 4% and is already over-extended. The teachers in the district already have the highest salaries in the region, but that is offset by the cost of having to pay for their own healthcare. District administrators have tried to keep schools open to provide students with a safe place, although they are focusing only on enrichment and not new learning. The decision to strike has been influenced by union actions in other parts of the country. Talks have been held between the groups on and off over the week, but schools are still shuttered today.

Happening Elsewhere:

DeVos equates lack of school choice with communist East Germany

Secret Betsy DeVos visit to Poway school upsets some parents

Special “Teacher Appreciation Rates” Offer Returns at Seven Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels This Summer

More years spent in education associated with lower weight and blood pressure

How Schools are Reducing their Environmental Impact, Improving Health, and Cultivating Stewardship Values- 2019 Green Ribbon Schools Announced

La. governor pushes for extra $18M in budget for early education

Work Still Going On in WV Education Reform

South Carolina school district considers a 4 day school week

Students With “Emotional Disturbances” Face High Rate of Suspensions

Special education advocates hoped for more from 2019 Texas Legislature

Mississippi lawmakers funneled $1.5 million in education money to Weight Watchers

Survey: Pay is biggest driver behind Missouri teachers quitting

Arizona lawmakers considering using taxpayer money to pay for out-of-state private schools

Nevada teachers rally, push for better education funding

1 in 4 Mississippi third graders flunk tougher reading test

‘Starvation diet’ for schools protested by California teachers, officials, students at Capitol

Teacher, state workers get raise in $9B budget passed in SC

California lawmakers consider sweeping charter-school changes

Texas to approve $1.6 billion for teacher raises

All 7 members of the Chicago Board of Education step down

What’s going on where you are?

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