curriculum

An Ottawa parent is asking whether families can fully opt out of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's 'appropriate use of technology' curriculum in the early grades. They argue a junior kindergartener does not need digital citizenship lessons yet and should focus on foundational learning first. The question has struck a chord with other parents weighing screen time, early education priorities and how much technology belongs in the classroom for four- and five-year-olds.

Brian Greene, the Columbia University physicist and science communicator, has stopped teaching the university's Frontiers of Science course after more than a decade in the classroom. Greene, known for his work popularizing string theory and theoretical physics, was a longtime fixture of the core science curriculum, and his departure marks the end of a notable chapter for the course.

Education commentators are highlighting a decline in test scores across European countries, while England's results have remained stable. The claim, discussed by educator Katharine Birbalsingh, attributes England's performance to its approach to school standards and curriculum reform. The discussion is drawing attention among teachers, policymakers and parents debating what explains the contrast between England and its European neighbours.

University World News is asking whether higher education institutions can meaningfully teach democracy if history is dropped from the curriculum. The piece raises concerns that civic education is being detached from its historical foundations, leaving students without the context needed to understand democratic institutions and how they developed. It has prompted reflection among academics about the role of history departments in citizenship education.

A new survey of K-12 educators finds many teachers and school librarians are self-censoring, avoiding or dropping certain books from lessons and collections to steer clear of controversy over reading materials. The findings come amid ongoing public disputes in the United States over book bans, curriculum content and what students should be allowed to read in schools.

Eight of the fifteen seats on the Texas State Board of Education are up for election in the upcoming midterm vote. The board sets curriculum standards and textbook policies for the state's public schools, so these contests could shape how subjects like science and history are taught for millions of Texas students. Local outlets are highlighting the races as voters head to the polls.

Ohio's reading scores have gone up, prompting debate over whether the state's science of reading curriculum mandate is responsible. The improvement follows Ohio's requirement that schools adopt phonics-based, evidence-backed literacy instruction statewide. Educators and policymakers are weighing the gains, with some attributing them to the new approach and others pointing to other possible factors behind the upward trend in early literacy results.

Rochester Institute of Technology has announced a new master's degree program in biological sciences. The university says the graduate program will expand advanced training options in the biological sciences, adding to its portfolio of science and technology degrees. Details on enrollment, curriculum and start dates have not been widely reported yet.

Candidates in Kansas disagree over whether parents should have more opportunities to intervene in their children's education. The debate reflects a broader national argument over parental rights in schools, with some candidates pushing for expanded parental oversight of curriculum and school decisions, while others warn that such measures could undermine educators and complicate school governance ahead of the election.

West Virginia has announced its intention to establish a space academy, according to local reporting from The Dominion Post. The announcement signals the state's interest in building a presence in the growing space and aerospace education sector. Details about funding, location, curriculum or partnerships have not yet been made available.

Toronto Pearson International Airport and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum have launched a first-of-its-kind education program. Details of the partnership, including its curriculum, target audience and duration, were not disclosed in initial coverage. The initiative links Canada's busiest airport with a national museum, and is being noted in Canadian aviation media as an unusual collaboration between an airport operator and a heritage institution.

A debate is under way in Peru over comprehensive sex education and what it means for the protection of children and adolescents. Human rights advocates frame access to age-appropriate sex education as a matter of children's rights, including protection from abuse and informed health decisions, while critics worry about the content taught in schools. The discussion touches on the roles of the state, families and educators in shaping the curriculum.

Inditex and Mango, through an employer group, have partnered with business school ESIC to expand training programmes for fashion retail in Spain. The collaboration aims to build skills across the sector as both companies scale their store networks and adapt to changing retail demands. Details on curriculum and enrolment were not provided in the initial report.

Book bans in U.S. schools have reached their highest level in five years, according to an update circulated by EdSource. The report underscores the intensifying battles over school library and curriculum titles, with parents, educators and advocacy groups clashing over what students should be allowed to read. The trend has drawn national attention as several states expand restrictions on books dealing with race, gender and sexuality.

The University of Cincinnati's College of Nursing has expanded congenital syphilis education within its Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program. The move comes as congenital syphilis cases rise in the United States, making it important for future nurse practitioners to recognise and treat the infection during pregnancy. The university says the curriculum update aims to better prepare students to help reduce cases.

The US Education Secretary spoke about parental rights over children's education, addressing the extent to which parents should influence schooling decisions. The remarks touch on a politically charged debate in the United States over curriculum content, school choice, and the role of parents in public education, an issue that has become central to education policy discussions.

The Education Secretary has called on schools to strengthen how they teach the history of communism and socialism. The appeal asks schools to give students a fuller picture of these ideologies and their historical consequences. The announcement has drawn attention in education and political circles, with debate expected over curriculum priorities and how such history should be taught.

A commentary argues that the warning of Henry A. Wallace, the Iowa-born former US vice president who cautioned against fascism and political complacency, remains relevant to how civics is taught in Iowa schools. The piece links Wallace's message to current debates over what civics education should cover and how history and democratic responsibility are presented to students in the state.

An editorial from Central New Jersey argues that the Bridgewater-Raritan school district must not allow political disputes to disrupt its schools. It calls for keeping education decisions focused on students rather than partisan or ideological conflicts, a message likely aimed at local school board tensions and ongoing debates over curriculum and district governance.

A new PEN America report finds that book bans in US public schools have reached a record high, marking the most extensive wave of school library and curriculum removals the free expression group has documented. The findings cover titles pulled from classrooms and libraries, often over content relating to race, gender and sexuality. The report has drawn wide attention in the ongoing US debate over censorship, parental rights and education policy.

Iowa's gubernatorial candidates met for a debate focused on education, a top issue for voters in the state. The discussion covered school funding and policy priorities ahead of the election. Education has been a recurring flashpoint in Iowa politics, with debates over curriculum, teacher standards and public school investment drawing close public attention.

A national report has graded Florida a 'C' for the quality of financial literacy education offered in its high schools, according to Florida Daily. The rating places the state in the middle of the pack on how well it prepares students to manage money, budget, and understand credit before graduation. The grade is likely to renew debate over whether Florida should strengthen its personal finance curriculum requirements.

Maryland is refreshing its driver education program and the rookie driver's manual used to train new motorists. The state's curriculum and instructional materials for first-time drivers are being updated, a change relevant to teens preparing for licensure and the driving schools that teach them.