public schools

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.