Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' school system has transitioned to an almost entirely charter-based system, leading to significant improvements in test scores, graduation rates, and school renovations, though opinions remain mixed and challenges such as school closures and disparities persist.
The death of 5-year-old Khloe Teresa Williamson, who was found unresponsive in a laundry hamper in her Trussville home, is under investigation. The Trussville City Schools teacher's daughter was pronounced dead at the hospital, and an autopsy has been performed to determine the cause of death. Police believe the incident was accidental, and the school system is providing support to the family during this tragic loss.
The author reflects on their experience as a transgender person in an LGBTQ-unfriendly school system. They discuss moments from their childhood that should have indicated their gender identity, such as feeling uncomfortable in locker rooms, struggling with feminine fashion expectations, facing verbal abuse from religious individuals, acting out aggressively, and expressing their desire to not conform to traditional gender roles. The author emphasizes the importance of validating and supporting transgender individuals, urging parents to accept and affirm their children's gender identity.
Starting Monday, middle and high school students in the East Baton Rouge Public School System will have earlier start times at 7:05 a.m. and later dismissal times at 2:27 p.m. to make up for lost classroom instruction time due to a bus sickout and early dismissals. Elementary school students will not be affected by the changes. Students have also received new bus cards with updated routes and are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early at their bus stops.
In this personal essay, the author shares her journey as a teacher and the challenges she faced in the American education system. She highlights the positive impact her own teacher had on her life and how it inspired her to become a teacher herself. However, she experienced a decline in the quality of education due to standardized testing and a lack of empathy for students. The author ultimately decided to leave the profession, recognizing the detrimental effects of the system on students' mental health and engagement. She calls for a shift towards fostering curiosity, connection, and engagement in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing students' well-being over test scores.
Wayde Byard, the spokesman for Loudoun County Public Schools, has been acquitted of perjury charges by a Virginia jury. Byard was accused of lying to a special grand jury investigating the school system's handling of two sexual assaults at two different high schools in 2021. The perjury case was the first prosecution to go to trial from the special grand jury's probe, commissioned by Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares at the request of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.