Detroit Public Schools Community District reports progress in English language acquisition among students, with more than 65% of English learners meeting or exceeding growth targets on the ACCESS test, an improvement from before the pandemic. The district hired 58 multilingual academic interventionists and implemented curriculum changes to support the growing population of more than 7,400 English learners, who now comprise over 15% of the student body.

Maria Regina High School's Spanish IV students celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month by writing original fairy tales and fables in Spanish, which they shared with kindergarteners at Sacred Heart School in Hartsdale, N.Y. The project aimed to inspire young children to learn about the Spanish language and culture.

Book bans across the United States, particularly in states like Florida, are increasingly restricting access to children's books that reflect diverse perspectives and experiences. Kamye Hugley writes that these efforts, including the removal of DEI resources and the dissolution of diversity councils, make it more difficult for children to encounter stories that address questions of identity and difference. Hugley argues that such bans not only limit what children can learn but also send a harmful message by suppressing conversations that help children navigate and understand the complexities of society.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal challenging a decision that allows officials in Llano County, Texas, to remove 17 books from public libraries on the grounds that they are objectionable. The US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that patrons of public libraries do not have a First Amendment right to receive information, and the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case leaves that ruling in place.

In a blog post from the International Literacy Association, the limitations of fluency-based literacy assessments, such as the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, are explored, emphasizing the importance of comprehension in reading. Drawing on research by Louise Rosenblatt and others, the blog advocates for a balanced approach to assessment that pairs fluency with authentic comprehension tasks to reflect real-world reading better.

A recent study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, indicates that extreme temperatures can delay learning in children. This study aligns with earlier studies. A third of the world's children are affected by extreme heat, and climate change is expected to exacerbate extreme temperatures.

Educator Ryan Burns emphasizes the importance of effective professional learning for teachers, recounting experiences with ineffective professional development sessions that are often lecture-heavy and compliance-driven. Burns highlights the need for professional learning that is engaging, relevant and respectful of teachers' time and expertise, citing positive experiences with Edcamp and the Rhode Island Writing Project as examples of impactful professional learning.