public schools

A nationwide public sector strike is planned for Tuesday, September 29 in France, involving teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and public transport staff. In Paris, a demonstration is set to march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation via Bastille. Travellers are warned that RATP services may be disrupted, and schools, hospitals and transport across the country could be affected.

A Stanford Medicine study concludes that cutting ultra-processed foods from school menus will be a difficult task. Researchers at Stanford examined the challenges involved in changing school meal programs, finding that removing such foods is not straightforward. The findings suggest schools face practical obstacles in overhauling menus to meet growing demands for healthier food for children.

France is preparing for a day of strikes and protests as civil servants demand pay increases amid ongoing budget pressures. Unions are mobilising public-sector workers across the country, and disruption to schools, transport and other public services is expected. The walkout reflects broader discontent over wages failing to keep pace with the cost of living.

The finance committee of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is reviewing a proposed $2.1 billion budget while the district remains under investigation. The budget review covers district spending plans for the coming year, with the ongoing inquiry adding scrutiny to financial oversight. Details of the investigation's scope and its potential impact on the budget process were not provided in the report.

Thousands of students across Germany staged strikes on Friday, 25 November, protesting the reintroduction of conscription, growing militarisation, and education cuts. Writing in Savage Minds, Ana Vracar reports that the movement reflects broader youth resistance to defence spending priorities. The strikes are part of a recurring wave of student mobilisations across German cities, with participants demanding investment in schools rather than the military.

A Notre Dame Law School amicus brief is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the question of religious exclusions in higher education funding. The filing argues that programs excluding religious institutions or students from otherwise available public funding raise constitutional concerns and warrant the Court's attention. The brief adds to ongoing legal debate over equal treatment of religious organizations in government benefit programs.

NPR's politics segment examines Donald Trump's escalating conflict with the press alongside his administration's push to roll back federal health and education spending. Analysts weigh how the media confrontations are shaping coverage while budget reductions threaten public health programmes and school funding, drawing concern from policy advocates and educators.

A federal court ruling has cleared a path for the opening of a Jewish charter school in Oklahoma, according to Education Week. The decision marks a significant development in the debate over religiously affiliated charter schools, which critics say violates church-state separation but supporters view as an expansion of school choice.

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in a 'Dialogue with Communities' event dedicated to implementing the school nutrition reform. The initiative, which she has championed, aims to overhaul how meals are provided in Ukrainian schools, improving standards and children's health. The event brought together communities to discuss practical steps for rolling out the reform across the country.

Health authorities are tracking a measles outbreak connected to a high school that continues to expand. The outbreak's growth suggests additional cases are being confirmed among students or their close contacts, prompting public health officials to urge vaccination checks and caution anyone who may have been exposed to monitor for symptoms.

Efforts to ban ultra-processed foods from public schools are running into significant practical obstacles, according to reporting highlighted by News-Medical. Schools face challenges around sourcing affordable alternatives, reworking contracts with food suppliers, and meeting nutrition standards on tight budgets. The debate touches on children's health, obesity prevention, and the feasibility of overhauling cafeteria menus at scale.

EdSource has published a comparison of where California's candidates for state superintendent of public instruction stand on major education issues. The side-by-side look covers the positions of those vying to lead the state's school system, giving voters a guide ahead of the election. It offers a breakdown of how each candidate differs on key policy questions affecting California schools.

A new report highlights growing concern over young people's mental health, pointing to exam pressure, extreme heat linked to climate change, and anxiety about an uncertain future as key drivers. Commentators say the combination of academic stress and environmental worries is pushing youth wellbeing up the public agenda and prompting calls for better support services in schools and communities.

Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania are putting preparations in place as a statewide measles outbreak approaches 900 confirmed cases. Officials are working to limit potential spread in classrooms, with the outbreak's scale raising concern among parents and health authorities across the state. Details on specific measures being taken by individual districts have not yet been reported.

Democratic Texas state Representative Gina Hinojosa is positioning herself to appeal to conservative mothers frustrated with public schools in Texas. The report highlights growing anger among parents typically aligned with the right over the state of education, and suggests that discontent could create a political opening for Democrats in upcoming races.

Former Chicago mayor and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has put forward a five-point ethics plan while arguing that his party should look to Republican-led states for lessons on education policy. His remarks add to a broader debate among Democrats about how to regain ground on schools and restore public trust, with Emanuel positioning himself as a voice urging the party toward more pragmatic positions.

Barbers Hill Independent School District in Texas built a $200 million education foundation, and the structure of that foundation is now under scrutiny. Reporting from Houston and Texas public media outlets is drawing attention to how the entity was organized and how its funds are handled. Questions are being raised about the governance and financial arrangements behind the large education foundation tied to the district.

Florida is holding a listening tour this week allowing residents to weigh in on the state's new science education standards. The public sessions give parents, teachers and community members a chance to comment before the standards are finalized, as the state continues to revise what students are expected to learn in science classrooms.

A Wall Street Journal opinion piece argues that the familiar debate over public versus private schooling misses the point, suggesting the framing of the school-choice question itself is flawed. The essay is being circulated among education commentators, adding to ongoing debate in the United States over school choice, funding and how families should weigh their schooling options.

A federal judge has ruled that Oklahoma cannot block a Jewish charter school from opening in the state. The decision means state education authorities must permit the school to proceed, despite prior attempts to deny its charter. The case touches on questions of religious schools and public funding, and reactions are likely to focus on its implications for church-state separation in American education.

A Pennsylvania junior military college could be forced to move its campus to Oklahoma, according to public radio reporting on the institution's future. The story raises questions about what pressures might push the school out of state and what the move would mean for students, staff and the local community.

The Minnesota Department of Education has launched a task force to review the state's standardized testing system. The announcement, reported by KTTC, signals a possible re-examination of how student achievement is assessed in Minnesota schools. Details on the task force's membership, timeline and scope have not yet been made public, and it remains unclear what specific changes the review could bring.