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, there’s lawsuits galore, school takeovers, and more!

Teachers Sue Over Loan Forgiveness Program: A group of teachers, led by the AFT, is suing the federal Education Department over the troubled Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The program is supposed to forgive the student loans of teachers who serve in low-income schools or high needs areas, however almost all applicants are unable to get their loans forgiven. In recent years, the program has rejected 99% of program applicants. Many of the applicants who were rejected have been working with the program for years and believed they were on track to have their loans forgiven. Many view the mismanagement of the program as an additional wound on a profession that is already low-paid.

Report Criticizes State Takeover Program: To combat low student achievement, Tennessee introduced a state-run school district. Over the past six years, the new Achievement School District has absorbed the state’s lowest performing schools. It is considered one of the most radical state-led reform initiatives and many states copied the program. A new report shows that schools in the district have not seen improved student achievement. A report released a few years ago showed similar results. With these results in mind, Tennessee and other states are rethinking their state takeover programs.

Florida Teachers Sue over Bonuses: On Tuesday, lawyers from the firm Morgan & Morgan filed a class action lawsuit that accuses the state of shortchanging Florida teachers when paying out bonuses. The lawsuit alleges that the state acted illegally when applying taxes to the bonuses. Under law, Social Security and Medicare taxes should be split evenly by the employer and the employee, however teachers in Florida ended up paying the full tax burden. The lawsuit alleges that districts were instructed by Florida education officials to push the taxes onto teachers.

Happening Elsewhere:

Schools work to expand agriculture education opportunities

Cyberattacks inflict deep harm at technology-rich schools

Schools redress rules amid passage of anti-discriminatory state policies

Can ‘growth’ data push parents to more integrated schools? A new study says maybe

Oklahoma woman to lead National Parent Teacher Association

Oregon Signs New Holocaust Education Law After Death Of Auschwitz Survivor

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia suddenly resigns

Critics say Idaho charter school group violated open meeting law, prompting AG review

Georgia State agency that authorizes charter schools gets new leader

New school funding suit in Idaho challenges kindergarten fees

How Colorado lawmakers are trying to make schools safer

Florida schools required to teach mental health courses after state ed board vote

Lawsuit will not interrupt Alaska public school funding

Alabama schools plans projects with more money from state

Little aide: Spring reading scores provide a promising ‘baseline’

We read Roger León’s Clarity 2020 plan for Newark’s schools so you don’t have to. Here’s what to expect in the next year.

Probe: Oklahoma virtual charter founders embezzled millions

Education commissioner seeks control of Providence schools

For the first time, Seattle schools general fund will break $1 billion in spending

These Teens Started Podcasting As A Hobby, Then It Turned Into Serious Journalism

What’s going on where you are?

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