Mississippi has launched an Adolescent Literacy Pilot program in three school districts to address a literacy gap in middle grades. The program, for grades 4-8, brings trainers into schools to demonstrate evidence-based reading practices. The program is not a new curriculum but rather trains teachers in literacy strategies that can be integrated into English language arts, science and social studies. The Mississippi Department of Education hopes to secure funding for a statewide rollout in August 2026.

A poll by The Century Foundation shows strong interest in bilingual education among Latino families in California, with respondents rating their interest at 7.9 out of 10 for bilingual education. The poll also reveals concerns about schools' ability to support bilingualism and misconceptions about bilingual programs hindering English acquisition.

Brooklyn organizations, such as the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Book Bodega, and Read 718, are tackling youth literacy challenges by providing access to books and academic support. As the National Center for Education Statistics notes a decline in youth literacy rates, with only 29% of eighth graders nationwide proficient in reading, these efforts are particularly crucial. Read 718 offers affordable tutoring, while the Brooklyn Book Bodega distributes books to underserved areas.

The Memphis Grizzlies have relaunched their Read to Achieve program with a Tip-Off Challenge at FedExForum, aiming to foster literacy among local youth. This initiative includes weekly challenges throughout the school year, featuring a theme of "Dream, Read, Achieve." The program is designed to motivate students to read regularly and rewards top-performing schools with special incentives.

Murray Lake Elementary School recently hosted Joel Fritsma, chief meteorologist for Michigan Storm Chasers, to complement a new reading unit about storm chasers. Fritsma discussed his career, storm safety and weather phenomena as part of the school's first year using the Open Court Reading curriculum, which integrates narratives and nonfiction to enhance literacy and critical thinking.

Laurance Ginsberg, an international teacher, describes how the concrete-pictorial-abstract method helps upper elementary students build deeper comprehension of math concepts by moving gradually from hands-on materials to visual models to symbolic notation. The approach, rooted in decades of research, has improved students' confidence and understanding, particularly with topics such as decimals, he writes.

The Education Department has begun transferring major grant programs to other federal agencies as part of President Donald Trump's plan to dismantle the department. The Department of Labor will now oversee Title I funding for schools in low-income areas and other programs, while the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Interior will take over other education-related grants, but student loans and civil rights enforcement will stay with the department for now.

Pennsylvania schools will be required to use evidence-based reading curriculum by the 2027-28 school year under a recently signed law, which includes a $10 million allocation for literacy initiatives. The law also requires teachers to undergo new literacy instruction training and mandates schools to screen students for reading competency. The move aims to address low reading proficiency, as only one-third of fourth-graders are proficient in reading. Still, the Philadelphia School District's implementation of a similar curriculum led to a decline in reading scores.