Education News Update » 05-12-26

Avery Jones
May 12, 2026

OTHER STORIES

From the Teacher’s Desk: A Science of Reading Progress Report
Fordham


Why ZIP Codes Could

Determine How Many

Books Teachers Assign

Chalkbeat


Proposal to Ban AI Companions for Minors Advances in Senate

K12 Dive 


Student Gambling Is on the Rise. That Puts Schools on Alert

EdWeek


Why We Can’t Retreat From K12 Research and Development

DistrictAdmin

Ed Department Data

One important thing the Education Department did that seemed apolitical and effective was compiling basic facts about American schools. But now the work of disseminating this information has effectively ground to a halt. Since the Trump administration decimated the research arm of the Ed. Department, it has not updated a large swath of data that from the Digest of Education Statistics. This means we no longer have easily accessible, up-to-date information about the basic realities of American schools. Some key data collection about schools has continued. But since the raw data has often not been turned into accessible tables, it is difficult for the public to access or use it. And some data, such as crime and safety surveys, is no longer being collected. Chalkbeat

Middle & High School Math

Recent national test scores in math show a decline in student performance at the high school level that extends back more than a decade. And classroom educators confirm what the test scores show: They describe students arriving in middle and high school lacking foundational skills that make the task of introducing and guiding teens through topics like algebra especially daunting. In this special report, Education Week looks at where the academic pipeline in math from early grades through high school is failing to deliver, and what can be done about it. The report includes a look at how schools are attempting to rebuild the core academic grounding that many students lack. EdWeek

Canvas Cyberattack

A threat actor once again gained unauthorized access into Instructure’s Canvas learning management system on May 7, the ed tech company confirmed on its website. The incident caused disruptions for students and teachers nationwide. As of May 8, Instructure reported that Canvas is back online and safe to use. But some districts have temporarily disabled Canvas as company investigates the incident. During the earlier, April 29 breach, Instructure said that Canvas users at affected organizations had certain personal information exposed including names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages. K12Dive

These summaries are abbreviated highlights from the original articles. While we strive to capture key insights, these do not represent the full text or intent of the authors. We encourage readers to explore the full articles linked above for complete context.