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: JUUL, finger guns, Little Rock, and more!

School Districts Push Back against JUUL: Vaping has become a major concern for many school districts, as the trend to use e-cigarettes has grown among teens. Now, four school districts are taking their fight directly to JUUL. Districts in Kansas, Missouri, Washington, and New York are suing the company, stating that the growth of vaping is triggering a health crisis among students. There have been over 1,000 cases of vaping-related lung injuries in recent months in the US. JUUL claims that it does not target teens and only intends for its products to be used when trying to quit smoking.

Guns & Finger Guns in School: This week was not a good one for school officials trying to avoid school violence. Multiple students were found to have brought guns into their public schools. This included instances in San Antonio, TX, St. Paul, MN, and Spring, TX. In some cases, the incidents were only discovered after the student involved posted images on social media. The students in all three incidents were arrested. In another incident, a female student was arrested after she pointed a finger gun at other students, which administrators viewed as making threats. The student involved was charged with a felony. Some have called the punishment overly harsh when compared to punishments given to male students who brought actual weapons on campus.

Little Rock School District Changes Course on Local Control: After protests by teachers and community members, the Arkansas State Board of Education backed off on a plan that unintentionally created concern the Little Rock School District would be divided into three inequitable systems. The proposed plan would allow some schools to return to complete local control but would require different leadership for schools that were deemed failing. Many worried that this would lead to a segregated school district. On Thursday, the state board of education met to approve a new plan that would still place all schools under local control but with a memo of understanding with the State that will dictate parameters of the local board’s role and responsibilities. In the same move, the board of education voted to remove recognition of the Little Rock Education Association as the collective bargaining unit for the district.

Happening Elsewhere:

Desperate to fill teacher shortages, US schools are hiring teachers from overseas

These cities are valedictorians when it comes to high school graduation rates

Why Is Middle School So Hard for So Many People?

School spending is increasing in the US; here are the standouts

17 charter schools in Nevada put on notice over performance

NorCal wildfire blackout will keep more than 100,000 kids home from school

Medical marijuana OK at K-12 schools in California after Gov. Newsom signs new law

Push to increase the number of teachers of color in California classrooms gains momentum

Analysis of first year of Illinois's new school-funding program shows that inequity endures

Tiny school districts to Lansing: Stop acting like ‘middle-schoolers’

NC receives more federal grant money to help increase diversity at charter schools

Proposed laws would require counselor-to-student ratios in Pennyslvania schools

Pennsylvania school districts consider options as they deal with exploding lunch debt

Texas is spending millions to bring the "portfolio model" to its schools

Voters Near Baton Rouge Want Better Schools. First, They Need a New City

Cherry Hill school district's computer network suffers possible ransomware attack

Denver school board candidates debate whether district should stop closing schools or opening new ones

State will audit Inspire charter school network for alleged fraud

Philly school board chair: Despite missteps, we back superintendent

Providence School workers missed 1,100 days due to child welfare cases

What’s going on where you are?

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