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: Vaccinations, secessions, sex education, and more!

New School Vaccination Laws: In several states, the new school year also means there are new laws and regulations concerning vaccinations. Both New York and Washington State have new regulations which prevent parents from claiming exemptions to avoid vaccinations. In these states, parents cannot claim an exemption and still send their child to public school. Other states, like California, are in the process of making their laws around schools and vaccinations stricter. The new laws are an attempt to battle falling vaccination rates. In order for herd immunity to kick in, 90% of the population needs to be vaccinated, but increasingly, many communities are falling below that number. As a result, some communities have had to battle diseases long thought to be in the past.

School Segregation Increases Amidst Secessions: There’s been a trend in recent years of wealthy communities deciding to split their schools from their less-wealthy neighbors and form their own school districts. A study published on Wednesday detailed how this practice increases segregation. The study used an already existing formula that measured how much a district’s boundaries contributed to segregation. When they compared results before and after the split, they found that the new district boundaries substantially contributed to segregation. The splintering is happening mostly in the south, where school districts have traditionally encompassed entire counties as a method of helping to prevent segregation in schools.

Colorado Districts Battle State Over Sex Education: Colorado’s new requirements for sex education have several school districts up in arms. Colorado’s constitution gives schools local control over curriculum decisions and the districts maintain that the new law violates that provision. The fear is if the schools do not object to this law, they are opening the way for further intrusions on their rights over curriculum control. The effort is being led by Lewis Palmer School District 38, which has called on the Colorado Association of School Boards to investigate the law. Supporters of the law claim that it does not violate any rights and that school districts are not required to participate.

Happening Elsewhere:

In National Ranking of School Systems, a New State Is On Top

Harry Potter removed from Tennessee Catholic school library

Why districts spend millions to keep homeless students in place: ‘Changing schools is the last thing we want’

School lunches get upgrade, pleasing palates and boosting nutrition

School districts double down on drug testing, targeting even middle schoolers

When Active-Shooter Drills Scare the Children They Hope to Protect

School Dress Codes Hurt Girls The Most

Massachusetts bills would ensure recess for kids

Teachers in Wisconsin in short supply as children head back to school

School Districts in California Could Need Millions Of Dollars If Plan To Push Back School Start Time Passes

7 new laws that will impact Connecticut’s schools, from required courses to safety measures

New law requires Illinois schools teach contributions of gay, transgender people: ‘It is past time children know the names of LGBTQ+ pioneers’

Charter schools’ use of tax dollars upheld, Mississippi Supreme Court throws out SPLC lawsuit

The number of low-income children served after-school food in New Jersey is rising

Enrollment at New York public schools lowest in decades

NC School Report Highlights Inequality, Slow Progress

Gov. Wolf announces fees for Pennsylvania Department of Education charter school services

Utah charter school transparency meetings will not be open to the public

Military Base Loses Funding for New School to Trump’s Border Wall

Lone Tree school to leave Douglas County district amid plan to arm staff

What’s going on where you are?

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