[Weekly EdNews Round Up] What Educators Need to Know About the Latest School Shooting

No one knows better than educators about the importance of staying up-to-date. In Edmentum’s Weekly News Round Up, you’ll find the latest and most interesting education news, all in one place.

Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the STEM School Highlands Ranch students, families, and community members. Read more about the story in Highlands Ranch, and other stories in this week’s EdNews Round Up.

What Educators Need to Know About the Latest School Shooting
EdWeek
A day after a routine school day was again shattered by gun violence, the emerging details in the STEM School shooting in Colorado were beginning to take shape and drive home how no school shootings are the same.

Ed Dept works to undo educators' TEACH Grant student loans
Education Dive
After it was revealed that Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants — which the U.S. Department of Education awarded to aspiring teachers who said they'd work in low-income schools — oftentimes became loans that teachers had to pay back, the department has been working to correct the issues.

When Was the Last Time American Children Were So Afraid?
The Atlantic
This week, America got another reminder of the fear that its schoolchildren must make sense of every day. On Tuesday afternoon, nine students were shot—one of them fatally—at STEM School Highlands Ranch, near Denver.

To Help Children Learn Braille, Lego Will Introduce Bricks Designed For The Blind
npr
Fewer children today know how to read Braille. Advocates say the tactile toys are a great introduction to the reading and writing system.

After backlash, school district changes decision to give kids with lunch debt jelly sandwiches
USA Today
A Rhode Island school district has changed its policy after facing criticism for a plan to serve students who owe lunch money sun butter and jelly sandwiches instead of a hot meal.

Many Schools Struggling to Serve Gifted Students with Disabilities
The Hechinger Report
Parents say it’s often impossible to find schools to educate bright kids who have disabilities. Now some are fighting to change that.

April Jobs Report Tells Us That Kids Need Math Skills For The Future
Forbes
Business leaders have emphasized for years that numeracy is a key skill they look for when they hire; yet they have trouble finding qualified applicants because many have limited abilities in using basic math, or can’t understand numbers effectively in their role

Education policy is often a topic of conversation in state and federal legislatures. Stay in-the-know with this week’s top stories regarding education reform at the state and national level.

Democrats Seek to Cut $40 Million From Federal Aid to Charter Schools
EdWeek
The House appropriations bill crafted by Democrats would cut $40 million from the federal charter school grant program, although the cut to charter school grants was not part of the initial bill language or summary released by the House appropriations subcommittee that oversees the U.S. Department of Education's budget.

Roundup: Curriculum in state education policy
Education Dive
Sex education and school choice are two of the top subjects up for debate in state legislatures. Education Dive has updates on key proposals.

The fine print: Five important things to know about Tennessee’s final voucher legislation
Chalkbeat
When Tennessee’s General Assembly approved an education voucher plan this month within hours of receiving compromise legislation, both supporters and critics set to work examining the final language.

Florida passes bill to promote career training in schools
WTXL
Florida schools will help students plan for careers even if they don't want to seek a four-year college degree under a wide-ranging education bill heading to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Educator loan forgiveness bill addresses Colorado teacher shortage
Chalkbeat
Rural superintendents could soon have a more compelling pitch for job candidates who are on the fence: up to $25,000 in student loan forgiveness for teachers who take hard-to-fill positions in remote districts.

Texas Senate approves school finance reform bill
Texas Tribune
The Texas Senate approved a bill to massively overhaul public school finance, but backed away from using an increased sales tax to lower school district property taxes. The chambers will need to negotiate how to give teachers pay raises and whether to adjust how students take standardized tests.