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: Warren’s plan, more lunch shaming, security guard controversy, and more!

Warren Releases Education Plan: Elizabeth Warren, a frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, released her education plan this week. The plan would dramatically increase funding for district-run public schools but also cuts funding for public charter schools. Under Warren’s plan, non-profit public charter schools could operate, but would lose their main source of funding, while for-profit charter schools would be banned altogether. The plan also takes aim at high stakes testing and education technology companies. It seems written to court the teachers’ union and indeed, Warren joined the currently striking Chicago Teachers Union the day after she revealed the plan.

District again Criticized for Lunch Policy: Cherry Hill Schools first made national news several months ago when they released a stringent policy regarding unpaid lunch bills. The old policy cut students off from receiving a school lunch if they owed $20 or more. It was viewed as unnecessarily punitive. The backlash they received caused the district to announce that they were looking at alternatives. After announcing their new, alternative policy this week, the district has once again found itself at the center of criticism. The new policy will allow students to still receive lunch if they owe money, but will block them from all extracurricular activities, including field trips and prom. The district says the measures are necessary to help alleviate the $25,000 of missing lunch payments on the books. Critics point out the district has turned down offers from private citizens to help pay the debt. While this is a single district, the discussion around Cherry Hill Schools has become a stand-in for a broader, nationwide discussion over how we handle school lunches and lunch debt. National politicians have spoken out on the district’s policies, which coincide with the enactment of federal policies that would restrict access to reduced price lunches for many students.

School Security Guard Fired then Rehired after Correcting Racist Statement: A school security guard in Wisconsin found himself in hot water after correcting a student who repeatedly called him the n-word. The guard repeated the word while telling the student not to use it. Both the security guard and student in question were black. The school says that this incident violated their zero-tolerance policy and fired the security guard. Many in the community was outraged and quickly organized several protests including a Change.org petition and a walk out. After the controversy spread nationwide, the district announced that they would rehire the security guard in question.

Happening Elsewhere:

High Schools to TikTok: We’re Catching Feelings

Schools now letting students stay home sick for mental-health days

Cory Booker’s School Choice Dilemma

California rural schools struggling to hire teachers could get help from $9.4 million in grants

What does the future of school safety in Colorado look like?

D.C. charter schools experience first enrollment drop since 1996

School officials in Maryland strengthen requirements for Holocaust education

'More parents want charters': Pennsylvania senators grapple with school reform proposals

Optimism, not resentment, rules as Oregon enters version 2.0 of school improvement crusade

Virginia’s spending on schools expected to rise by $596 million over two years

'This Is for Our 16,000 Homeless Children.' How the Chicago Teachers' Strike Extends Beyond School Issues

School strike's what-ifs draw dozens in Little Rock

Ransomware attack cripples San Bernardino City Unified School District's computer system

Oregon high school football coach disarms and hugs student carrying loaded shotgun

School district to eliminate locker rooms, replace them with gender-neutral facilities - Eastern Lancaster

Mayor Bill de Blasio ignoring New York City fourth-graders asking for a school, critic says

Rebuilding the village: A West Virginia school system strives to lift up its children by tackling poverty

Vermont high school girls soccer team yellow-carded for #equalpay shirts

Undefeated high school football team forfeits wins after using ineligible player in different jersey

A school resource officer has resigned after bodycam shows use of force against 11-year-old student

What’s going on where you are?

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