American schools

US resident Jesse van Rootselaar has been arrested in connection with a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The arrest links an American resident to the Canadian case, and the name is now being searched widely in Canada and the United States as news outlets report on the development in the investigation.

The American Library Association has released a list of the 150 most challenged books documented from 1990 through 2025. The release coincides with Banned Books Week and the ALA's official 150th anniversary on October 6. Librarians and readers are sharing the list as debates over book challenges in schools and libraries continue across the United States.

The Goldwater Institute is calling for a renewal of civics education in American classrooms, arguing that schools have drifted away from teaching students the fundamentals of government, citizenship and the Constitution. The push reflects a broader national debate over what schools should teach and how to prepare young people for informed participation in democratic life.

UTSA and Rice are facing off in a college football game, with Rice opening game week practice ahead of the matchup. The Roadrunners-Owls contest is drawing attention from fans following both programs as they prepare in the American Athletic Conference race. Coverage includes practice notes and previews as the two Texas schools get set to meet on the field.

Houston's football program has unveiled new 'Gridiron Galaxy' helmets featuring 10 different design variations ahead of its game against UCF. The striking uniform rollout is drawing attention from college football fans as the two schools prepare to meet, with the space-themed designs adding extra buzz to the American Athletic Conference matchup.

Banned Books Week, launched in the United States in 1982 in response to a surge in challenges to books in libraries, schools and stores, is drawing attention again. The annual observance aims to support the freedom to seek and express ideas. PEN America has published its list of this year's most banned books, fueling discussion about censorship and access to literature.

A report asks why many Americans are falling behind on basic money skills such as budgeting, saving and managing debt. The piece points to gaps in financial education and everyday money habits as a growing concern for households. Commenters and readers are weighing in on whether schools, employers or families should take more responsibility for teaching personal finance.

Education Next has published its Blue November Mailbag, a roundup feature addressing readers' questions on the big picture in education. The piece gathers and responds to queries about the current state of schooling and education policy, offering the publication's take on the issues dominating debate this month. Education Next regularly uses mailbag editions to engage its audience on the trends and controversies shaping American education.

Authors Malinda Lo, Ellen Hopkins, and Jennifer L. Armentrout are taking part in a discussion series about having their books banned, in a second installment featured by American Libraries Magazine. The three writers, whose young adult novels have frequently been targeted in school and library challenges, speak about their experiences with censorship. The conversation comes amid a continuing wave of book bans across the United States.

The Presidential Fitness Test, a long-running program that had been phased out of American schools, is set to return, and ABC News is asking whether it will actually get children moving more. The test, which once measured students' performance in activities like running, push-ups and sit-ups, has long been debated by educators over whether it motivates kids or discourages those who struggle physically.

President Trump has championed artificial intelligence in American classrooms, but his Federal Communications Commission is weighing whether to end the E-Rate program, the subsidies that fund internet access for schools and libraries. The potential clash between promoting AI-driven education and cutting the connectivity that makes it possible has drawn wide media attention across US outlets.

A Newsweek opinion piece argues that America's reading crisis is also a case for investing in music education. The author suggests music learning supports the literacy skills many American students are lacking, framing music programs as a practical tool for academic recovery rather than an optional extra. The argument feeds into ongoing debate over falling reading scores and how schools should respond.

The federal government has launched a $10 million student fitness challenge offering schools prizes of up to $1 million, a push aimed at boosting youth physical activity at a time when children's activity levels are lagging. Schools across the United States will compete for the funds, with the scale of the prizes drawing attention to how far kids have fallen behind on exercise.

A Hollywood developer has announced a $450 million plan pitched as an 'old school' effort to rescue the struggling movie industry. Details of the proposal remain limited beyond the announcement, but it comes as film and television production has slumped in Los Angeles, prompting widespread debate about how to bring jobs and shoots back to the historic centre of American cinema.

A new report examines what happens to small American college towns when their local college or university closes. Beyond the loss of students and jobs, closures can hit local housing markets hard, as homes once rented to students and staff sit vacant and town revenues shrink. The piece looks at how these communities cope economically and with real estate fallout.

The American Folk Art Museum is presenting an exhibition of so-called 'schoolgirl' art, works traditionally made by young female students in the United States in earlier centuries. The show draws attention to pieces such as embroidery, watercolors and other exercises produced in girls' schools, now regarded as significant examples of American folk art and appreciated for their craftsmanship.

The American Federation for Children has announced the appointment of a new Director of School Partnerships. The role is expected to focus on building relationships with schools as the organisation continues its work on school choice in American education. Details of the appointee's background and specific responsibilities were not included in the announcement.

A commentary published by the Yakima Herald-Republic questions the slogan 'Make Education Great Again', asking which children such an education agenda would actually serve. The piece examines whether proposed education policies would benefit all students or only some, and invites readers to consider equity in American schooling as political debate over education policy continues.