public schools

A nationwide public sector strike is planned for Tuesday, September 29, in France, with teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and public transport staff expected to walk out. 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 may face disruptions across the country.

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.

The White House has moved to cancel federal funding for health and education programs that had already been approved by Congress. The move, reported by Roll Call, raises immediate questions about the administration's use of rescission or impoundment authority and its implications for Congress's power of the purse. Critics are expected to challenge the cancellations, while the affected programs face uncertainty over whether the money will ever reach schools, hospitals and public health initiatives.

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.

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in a 'Dialogue with Communities' event focused on implementing the country's school nutrition reform. The initiative, championed by Zelenska, aims to overhaul how meals are planned, funded and delivered in Ukrainian schools. The event brought together communities to discuss practical steps for putting the reform into effect nationwide.

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.

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.

Candidates for South Dakota governor have faced off in a debate covering data centers, education funding and economic development. The exchange highlighted differing visions for how the state should grow its economy and support public schools, with data center development emerging as a contested issue between the campaigns.

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.

Florida residents can weigh in on the state's new science education standards during a listening tour taking place this week. The tour gives teachers, parents and members of the public a chance to offer feedback directly to state education officials before the standards are finalized. The initiative comes as science curriculum requirements, including how topics are taught, remain a contentious issue in Florida schools.

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.

Barbers Hill Independent School District in Texas built an education foundation worth roughly $200 million, and its structure is now coming under scrutiny. Reporting from Houston Public Media and Texas Public Radio highlights questions about how the foundation is organized and how its funds are managed, drawing attention from education watchers across the state.

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.

The finance committee of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is reviewing a proposed $2.1 billion budget while the district remains under investigation. The review comes at a sensitive time, with officials weighing spending priorities for the upcoming year even as questions raised by the ongoing probe remain unresolved. Local coverage in North Carolina is following how the budget process moves forward alongside the investigation.

A strike at the Berwick Area School District has been avoided after an agreement was reached, according to a report from The Citizens' Voice. Details of the deal and which employee group was involved have not been made public, but the announcement means students and families will not face a work stoppage or disrupted classes in the district.

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.

Health officials in North Carolina have confirmed that a person tested positive for tuberculosis within the Rowan-Salisbury School System. The announcement was made by local health authorities, who are expected to notify anyone who may have been exposed and offer testing. Details about the individual's identity, school, and condition have not been released, and officials have not said whether others have shown symptoms.

Health officials in Rowan County have issued a press release confirming a tuberculosis case connected to the Rowan-Salisbury School System. The announcement is prompting local attention as families await details on potential exposure and any screening measures being arranged. No further specifics about the individual or the scope of the response have been made public yet.