The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools over a contract provision that protects teachers of color from "last-in, first-out" layoffs. The provision, added in 2022, aims to diversify the teaching staff but has faced legal challenges for alleged discrimination against white employees.

National Board Certified Teacher Kathleen Palmieri highlights the decline in students' interest in physical books, attributing it to the rise of technology and instant gratification from video games and apps. Palmieri emphasizes the unique sensory experience and better comprehension offered by physical books, urging educators to create engaging reading environments and promote book series like "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" and "The Last Kids on Earth" to rekindle the magic of reading.

Technology is a crucial tool for closing learning equity gaps, especially for students facing challenges such as dyslexia, limited English proficiency or socioeconomic barriers, writes Brandi Solis, a computer teacher at Anna Kirchgater Elementary School in Sacramento, Calif. Solis shares her personal experience with dyslexia and emphasizes the importance of integrating technology with traditional teaching methods to foster a growth mindset and motivate students. She highlights the benefits of game-based learning and AI tools such as Prodigy Education, Read Along and Brisk to engage students and address diverse learning challenges.

Summer school participation modestly increased math achievement but had no impact on reading, according to an NWEA analysis of data from 10 large school districts for 2022 and 2023. The math gains were equivalent to two to three weeks of learning during the school year, and NWEA recommends extending summer programs to at least five weeks with a minimum of 90 minutes of math and 120 minutes of reading daily to boost effectiveness.

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.