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: immunizations, Juul, ransomware, and more!

Seattle Public Schools Cracks Down on Immunizations: A new law in Washington state removed the ability of parents to opt out of vaccinating their students. This compounded with recent measles outbreaks leading several districts in the state to crack down on student vaccinations. Seattle Public Schools gave parents a deadline of Wednesday to provide vaccination records. Without them, the students would be barred from classes. Many feared this would end up with thousands of public school students sent home due to a lack of records. As Wednesday came and went, however, only a few hundred were turned away from classes, since most parents complied with the new regulations.

San Diego Latest District to Sue Juul: San Diego Unified School District filed a lawsuit against the Juul, a maker of vaping products. The suit claims that vaping impedes the learning of students and has led to an increase in student absences. It also says that the district has needed to implement a vaping prevention campaign using funds that would otherwise have been spent in classroom materials. San Diego is the latest of several districts to sue vaping manufacturers. Districts filing lawsuits include Olathe Public Schools in Kansas, Palm Beach County Schools in Florida, Seattle Public Schools in Washington and Central Bucks County in Pennsylvania among others.

Hacking Attacks in California, Michigan: While students and administrators were home enjoying their winter break, school districts were once again vulnerable to malicious attacks. Pittsburg Unified School District, in California, has been crippled by a ransomware attack that affects every school in the district. Richmond Community Schools in Michigan is victim to a similar attack. In a ransomware attack, hackers infect computers with a program that renders them unusable and demand payment in returns for restoring them. Schools, which often have lax cybersecurity, are especially vulnerable to such attacks.

Happening Elsewhere:

An overlooked danger: school shootings after hours

School management software provider discloses severe security breach

America’s schools are more diverse than ever. But the teachers are still mostly white.

School bus drivers impaired by drugs, alcohol risk lives of hundreds of kids

Trump tells evangelical rally he will put prayer in schools

California’s effort to turn school staff into teachers starts to pay off

Audit finds few consequences for Georgia schools with ‘flexibility’ contracts

Hard-charging education reformer John White steps down as Louisiana schools chief

NC creates military friendly school award

NC school board eliminates one of two U.S. history courses to make room for new personal finance class

NC school chief says students are being improperly promoted. School leaders disagree.

NJ schools get early start on LGBTQ history lessons, soon to be required by law

'Cyber snow days:' Why few Pennsylvania school districts opted in for the program

Leader who moved SC charter school district ‘out of mediocrity’ is stepping down

A Brooklyn school district tackles school segregation

Jersey City mayor says appointed school board would be temporary

LAUSD Has A New (And Complicated) Way to Score Schools

Five LRSD teachers, school nurse suspended for 'involvement' in one-day strike

New York City’s school disciplinary approach ties principals’ hands, union says

Philadelphia wants money from Pennsylvania to deal with dangerous asbestos in schools

What’s going on where you are?

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