public schools

French public sector workers are preparing for a nationwide strike on Tuesday, September 29, with teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and public transport staff expected to take part. In Paris, a demonstration is set to march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation via Bastille. The RATP transport network is among the services affected, and travellers are being warned of likely disruptions.

Public sector workers across France walked out in protest at a continued pay freeze, with action taking place ahead of debate over the 2027 budget. Unions are demanding wage increases to offset the rising cost of living, arguing that years of frozen salaries have eroded purchasing power for state employees. The stoppage has disrupted schools, hospitals and other public services, and has reignited debate over government spending priorities and workers' pay.

A new report from UC Berkeley Law examines how artificial intelligence affects human rights across law, media, and schools. According to the report, AI use raises concerns in legal proceedings, journalism, and education settings, with implications for due process, information integrity, and students' rights.

Financial Times reports that insurance against gun violence is becoming a booming business in the United States. Products covering active-shooter incidents and related liabilities are attracting growing demand from schools, businesses and event organisers amid the persistent toll of shootings. The rise points to how private markets are adapting to a risk that public policy has not resolved.

Teachers unions in California are campaigning to renew a state tax that generates billions of dollars annually for public education. The pitch comes as the tax faces an expiration deadline, with unions arguing the revenue is essential to maintaining school funding levels across the state. The debate over extension is expected to feature prominently in upcoming legislative and budget discussions.

A federal court ruling has cleared the way for a Jewish charter school to open in Oklahoma. The decision is significant because charter schools are publicly funded, raising unresolved questions about the separation of church and state. The case is expected to draw further legal challenges as other states and religious groups watch closely for its implications on publicly funded religious education.

Free speech organisations are warning that new education directives will broaden book bans in schools, arguing the orders will restrict what students can read. The groups say the measures give officials wider authority to remove titles from libraries and classrooms. The reports stem from Florida outlets, suggesting the policy debate centres on US state education policy, with civil liberties groups pushing back against expanded censorship powers.

The Princeton Review has released a ranking of private and public colleges offering the best return on investment, as reported by CNBC. The list highlights schools where graduates see the strongest financial payoff relative to tuition costs, a topic of growing interest as families weigh rising college prices against post-graduation earnings.

Around 300,000 people demonstrated across France on 29 September, according to the CGT union, in a nationwide strike demanding more resources for the public sector. The strikes and marches drew significant attention in Épinal and other towns, with unions pressing the government to invest in schools, hospitals and public services. The figure comes from union estimates and has not been independently confirmed.

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in a 'Dialogue with Communities' event focused on implementing the school nutrition reform, an initiative she has championed to overhaul how meals are prepared and served in Ukrainian schools. The discussion brought together officials and communities to review progress and next steps in rolling out healthier, modernised school food standards across the country.

Candidates running for governor of South Dakota have clashed in debate over data centers, education funding and economic development, according to reporting from South Dakota Searchlight. The exchanges highlight differing visions for how the state should grow its economy and support public schools heading into the election.

Researchers at Brown University's School of Public Health have published a new tracker mapping private equity involvement in healthcare across the United States. The tool aims to document which hospitals, physician practices and other providers are owned by private equity firms. It comes amid growing scrutiny of buyout firms' role in medical care and its effects on costs and quality.

The name Nantes is trending in France. Searches are clustered around the country's public sector strike movement, which has seen protests flare up in several cities, including Tours, where police reportedly fired tear gas after stones were thrown outside a high school. No specific incident in Nantes itself is confirmed by the available reports.

Oceanographer Dawn Wright has given an interview with Yale School of the Environment about mapping the deep ocean, discussing efforts to chart the seabed and what remains unknown about the abyss. The conversation highlights the scale of unmapped ocean floor and why completing this work matters for science and policy.

An opinion piece in the Austin American-Statesman argues that Texas should restore climate change to its core school curriculum. The author contends that students in the state deserve formal, science-based education on climate change as part of their standard schooling. The article is prompting discussion about how Texas public schools teach climate science.

Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's Secretary of State, is running for governor, campaigning on lowering everyday costs, strengthening public schools and protecting democratic institutions. Democrats Abroad is encouraging Michiganders living overseas to take part, noting that absentee ballots for the election begin reaching voters abroad on September 19 and directing them to request ballots through VoteFromAbroad.org.

Students at the Paul-Éluard high school in Saint-Denis have spent a week of mobilisation under the banner "On manque de tout" — "we're short of everything". The protest comes as a national call to block high schools is launched, with the movement continuing across Île-de-France. The action highlights grievances over a lack of resources and staff in schools serving disadvantaged areas, drawing attention to conditions in French public education.

PIX11 has launched a 'PIX Parenting Plus' segment focused on changes affecting New York City schools. The feature covers updates families need to know as the school year evolves, from policy shifts to classroom changes across the city's public school system. Parents in the city are following the coverage to stay informed about what is changing for their children.

Ohio has received a grade for its sex education standards, prompting discussion about what that rating means for public school students across the state. Local coverage examines how the assessment reflects the state's requirements for health and sexuality instruction, and what changes, if any, schools may face in how they teach these topics going forward.

Canadians are observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, reflecting on the residential school system that operated for over 160 years. Calls are circulating urging people to learn the history, read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action, and listen to residential school Survivors' testimonies.

New Bedford's School Committee Finance and Operations Subcommittee met, with coverage from local outlet The New Bedford Light. The session typically covers district budget, spending and operational matters affecting the city's public schools. Details of what was discussed or decided at the meeting were not provided, and no public reaction has been recorded so far.

Advocates, educators and mental health professionals gathered in Lansing, Michigan for a conference focused on youth mental health. Attendees discussed rising concerns among young people and strategies for better support in schools and communities. Organizers hope the event strengthens local networks and pushes the issue higher on the state's policy agenda.

Florida is holding a listening tour this week, giving residents a chance to weigh in on the state's newly drafted science education standards. The tour invites teachers, parents and community members to offer feedback before the standards are finalized, part of an ongoing public process over what students in Florida schools will be taught in science classes.

North Carolina Wesleyan University has established a new school focused on sports and entertainment. The announcement was reported by Raleigh-area station WPTF, which covered the university's move to expand its academic offerings in these growing industries. Details on programs, degrees and launch timing have not yet been made widely available, and public reaction so far appears limited to the regional news coverage.

The US Supreme Court deadlocked in a case over whether states must fund religious charter schools, leaving the constitutional question unresolved. A new Oklahoma case is now testing the same issue, keeping alive the debate over whether charter schools with religious affiliations can receive public money while excluding religious instruction from state funding rules.

A federal court has agreed to hear a case examining whether the Wake County school system wrongfully suspended a Republican candidate from their job. The dispute raises questions about whether the district's employment action was politically motivated. The case will test claims of improper treatment tied to the candidate's political activity, and the outcome could have implications for public employees who run for office.

Senator Andy Kim has introduced S. 5495, the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026, in the US Senate. The bill aims to change school meal eligibility rules for children of military families. Few details about its provisions or prospects are available yet, and no public debate on the measure has emerged so far.

Students across France held protests while public sector workers went on strike ahead of planned government budget cuts. Demonstrators gathered in multiple cities, with strike action affecting schools and public services. The action reflects mounting opposition in France to austerity measures planned by the government, with unions and student groups warning of deeper cuts to public spending and education.