AGP Executive Report

Teacher Training & AI: The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is pushing teacher-prep programs to train future educators on using AI in classrooms ethically, including limits and practical classroom support. Teacher Pipeline in Arkansas: Arkansas will require all state-approved educator programs to add a yearlong supervised teaching residency, with minimum weekly classroom hours rising in the final year. US Federal Courts: A judge blocked a U.S. Education Department policy that would have canceled major teacher-training grants tied to DEI topics, calling the move unlawful. Early Childhood Screens (Policy): New Zealand’s National Party proposes ending screen and individual-device use in early childhood education, tightly limiting it in early primary years, and adding paper-based assessment writing. IT Accreditation Watch: Pakistan’s IT minister called for a mechanism to stop students enrolling in unaccredited computing programs and to align an IT skills test with international standards. Language & Learning: In Kashmir, educators warn that English-medium schooling is shrinking everyday space for Kashmiri at home. Local Education Infrastructure: Nigeria’s student body says campus road access is part of education infrastructure, linking safer mobility to attendance and student welfare.

AI in Teacher Prep: The American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education is urging universities to train teachers to use AI ethically, weighing benefits and risks as schools adopt new tools. Whole-child SEL: Riviera Ridge School is rolling the Yale RULER emotional intelligence framework into its ExSEL program for JK–8 classrooms after months of staff training. Literacy Push in Jamaica: WWKids Education Conference (Sept. 30–Oct. 2) targets K–11 reading gaps, with extra support for older struggling students, especially boys. Education Funding & Access: Malaysia’s MUIP is distributing RM22m in zakat-based aid to asnaf students, including RM2,000 initial support for top STPM performers. School Safety Rules: Karnataka’s collegiate education department tightens supervision of educational tours, banning student selfies/reels and requiring approvals and safety staffing. War’s School Disruption: In Gaza City, about 500,000 students rely on tent classrooms as damaged schools and ongoing strikes keep learning unstable. Policy & Governance: Westfall Local School District rescinded class and pay-to-participate fees for 2026–27, with refunds planned for already-paid charges.

AI in Teacher Prep: A new American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education framework pushes universities to train teachers on both the benefits and risks of AI, including ethics and classroom use. Budget Pressure in Higher Ed: The University of Maine is preparing for staff and faculty layoffs while closing a projected $19M gap, including cuts to vacant positions and course adjustments. School Safety & Accountability: Two former Forney ISD educators face federal indictment tied to an alleged scheme to hire a special education teacher under a different name despite a troubling history. Curriculum & Culture Clash: Australia’s opposition coalition outlines a national curriculum rewrite that would cut Indigenous history and sustainability units while emphasizing “pride” in Western culture and the flag. Funding & Access Moves: Nevada releases a draft five-year education roadmap targeting math gains and expanded pre-K, while Arkansas lawmakers approve $70M more for Educational Freedom Accounts. Learning in Action: El Salvador begins rolling out AI-supported tutoring and digital tools in public schools.

Cellphone policy shift: Challenge Success (Stanford-affiliated) released a free toolkit showing how three schools built student-centered phone rules with students—not just for them—plus research and a step-by-step change process. Afghan girls’ education crisis: UNICEF says more than 2.6 million Afghan girls have been denied secondary education since 2021, urging authorities to reopen schools to all girls. DEI grant fight in the US: A federal judge struck down the Education Department’s anti-DEI grant policy, saying it lacked clear criteria and failed to consider impacts on teacher-training pipelines. Data privacy in schools: BYU researchers found educational apps were selling student data, helping spur a new Utah law to strengthen student privacy. Workforce and teacher licensing: Nigeria’s TRCN backed the ATPP plan to license 250,000 unqualified teachers via a pathway to professional exams. Special education capacity in Wales: Cardiff approved a major expansion of specialist education places, adding hundreds of ALN spots across schools. Regional education cooperation: Qatar and Türkiye discussed expanding education cooperation, including expert exchanges and joint initiatives.

AI & Assessment: A new report warns that as weekly AI use by teachers doubles (26% to 52%), schools face a tougher question than “who used AI”—how to judge what students truly know without turning assessment into an intrusive tech arms race. Special Education Upgrade: Poway Unified unveiled a remodeled Extensive Supports Special Day Class at Meadowbrook Middle School, adding sensory, kitchen, and therapy spaces for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Higher Ed Under Pressure: At Penn, faculty are weighing how to respond to a U.S. Secretary of Education letter urging reforms in admissions, academics, free speech, and intellectual diversity. Teacher Training Boost (India): India’s education minister launched a six-month bridge course via NIOS to certify in-service B.Ed primary teachers for classes 1–5. Education Funding Tensions (US): Missouri school leaders say a foundation formula shortfall could ripple into classrooms after the state board kept more than $300M from being added. Global Access & Conflict: Myanmar’s education system collapse is pushing young people to flee, a bishop says, as war and displacement continue.

Teacher Recognition (US): Sun Prairie business educator Joel Coyne received a 2027 NEA Foundation Travelers Award for teaching excellence, joining 43 top K-12 teachers nationwide. Arts & Attendance (US): Rhode Island released a statistical review linking sustained arts participation to lower chronic absenteeism, with arts-involved high school seniors averaging about 19% lower absenteeism. Early Childhood Training (Malaysia): Sunway University’s School of Education launched three new early childhood education programmes, including options for special needs and open/distance learning. Equity in Access (Malaysia): Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education continued a targeted tour in Perak for Orang Asli communities, offering help with UPUOnline applications, study pathways, and TVET guidance. Music Education Funding (Canada): MusiCounts announced a record $1.4M investment to 96 schools to expand K–6 music programmes amid tight school budgets. Student Support & Records (US): Garrett County Public Schools made special education records available for students who graduated in 2019–2020, with a deadline to request files. Student Life & Governance (US): Indiana University Student Government released its fall 2026 candidate list for student congress seats and voting dates. Higher Education & AI Skills (ASEAN): Asean’s AI Ready programme will train 1.7M learners and educators across Southeast Asia through 2028, moving from awareness to applied AI use.

School Nutrition Leadership: White House Master Chef Marti Mongiello urged South Carolina school meal leaders to treat every tray as part of the education mission, stressing dignity and smart use of technology. Career & Technical Education: North Idaho opened a new Career and Technical Education Center, expanding hands-on pathways from nursing to IT and trades for students across the district. AI Rules in Schools: Florida’s Board of Education approved new guardrails for AI use, including parent opt-outs and limits on AI for graded work—especially for younger students. Curriculum Oversight Debate: New Zealand’s Labour proposed an Independent Council for Curriculum and Assessment to keep curriculum and assessment evidence-based and stable across political changes. Higher Ed & AI Strategy: University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors meets to discuss AI strategy, leadership searches, buildings, finances, and compliance. Education in Conflict Zones: Southern Lebanon’s schools face major damage and shelter use; officials are coordinating assessments and repair priorities with education bodies and MPs. Tech vs. Skills Policy: Nigeria’s House backed stronger technical and vocational education to reduce the mismatch between certificates and real job-ready skills. Local Education Governance: Charlottesville residents and city officials gave sharply different accounts after the Free Bridge homeless encampment was cleared and the shelter began operating.

Ghana School Placement Overhaul: Ghana’s Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu says every qualified student will get a Senior High School (SHS) place, with 527,000 of 604,000 already placed, and a technical committee set to review the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) after the current exercise. Ghana Language Policy Backlash: Ghana’s NPP demands action over claims that Arabic and Chinese language studies were pushed into schools, arguing the President and minister gave conflicting signals. Ghana Placement Transparency: The ministry says CSSPS placement is free and promises a comprehensive review to improve fairness, transparency, and accountability. Missouri Funding Standoff: Missouri’s State Board of Education won’t ask for a full $300m formula top-up next year, citing budget cuts and lawmakers’ likely refusal. Inclusive Scholarships in India: India’s PM-YASASVI scheme expands support for OBC, economically backward students, and DNT communities through scholarships and hostel infrastructure. Special Needs Uncertainty in US: Families in California’s Independent Living Skills (ILS) program fear changes to the program’s future as rumors swirl about relocation or restructuring. TVET Push in Guyana: Guyana launches a TVET fair to move students “from classroom to career,” with plans to expand practical training centres nationwide by end-2026. Education and Tech Under Taliban: Roya Mahboob highlights how technology and digital learning are helping girls access education despite Taliban restrictions. Corruption Probe in Zambia: Zambia’s ACC arrests former education officials over a $401.8m school supplies loan deal.

Funding Gaps in South Africa: Gauteng’s education department is reported to owe nearly R1bn to schools for maintenance, municipal services and basics like textbooks, raising fresh alarms about learning conditions. Labour and Higher Ed: Tufts University facilities workers reached a tentative bargaining deal with 32BJ after strike authorization votes, with talks focused on wages, paid time off and protections for leave tied to immigration issues. AI and Learning Policy: A new debate is heating up over how AI should be handled in education and higher education, with officials and educators pushing for clearer rules as AI use spreads in classrooms and assessments. School Choice in Arkansas: A state panel endorsed releasing $70m in reserve funds for the Educational Freedom Account school-choice program, which is expanding to all K-12 students. STEM Outreach Across Borders: In Kenya’s Kibera, students join free STEM lessons via Zoom with siblings in the U.S., showing how cross-continental partnerships can keep learning accessible. Tech in Schools, Not Just Bans: One school district argues that restricting devices without teaching digital responsibility leaves students unprepared for the future. Education as National Priority (PNG): Papua New Guinea’s PM announced K11bn for education over the next decade, stressing vocational and distance learning alongside school and teacher investment.

Education Funding & Access: Kansas State Treasurer highlights how 529 plans (Quest529) can cover more than four-year college—trade schools, apprenticeships, K-12 expenses, and even student loan repayment, with a possible Roth IRA rollover for unused funds. Learning Recovery: Philippines’ DepEd says PISA 2025 gains are real but urges lawmakers to restore funding for its ARAL academic recovery program after it got zero allocation for 2027. School Safety: KwaZulu-Natal condemns the shooting death of a Grade 10 learner on school grounds in Pinetown, with police opening a murder case and promising psychosocial support. Policy & Accountability: Missouri’s State Board of Education is set to vote on an A-F grading framework, including penalties tied to assessment participation. Teacher Wellbeing: New Canada research links rising classroom complexity and lack of support to stress and teacher burnout. Skills & Jobs: Ghana TVET Service and DTI sign an MoU to expand industry-linked vocational training and improve youth employability. Community Expansion: St. Petersburg nonprofit Sanderlin breaks ground on a larger education and social services center to nearly double capacity. Higher Ed & Costs: Tuition and fees updates show wide variation across U.S. counties, underscoring affordability pressures.

AI & Privacy in Schools: New York and Los Angeles pause student-facing AI use while Microsoft rolls out AI privacy “guardrails” for schools, reigniting the debate over whether AI belongs in classrooms and who should set the rules. Higher Ed, Tech & Humanities: A university launches a formal Program in Digital Humanities and AI, turning a growing certificate into a structured program with a dedicated faculty director. Education Innovation Support: The University of Iowa’s Education Innovation Hub will partner with districts to test new teaching and learning solutions, with research “as a service” built around educator-identified problems. School Infrastructure & Early Years: North Vancouver opens Cloverley Elementary, a $64M school designed to ease overcrowding, while England’s Murdishaw West Primary opens a grant-funded on-site nursery with funded 15- and 30-hour places. Policy & Access: Venezuela targets strict 200 days of classes for 2026-27, citing attendance gains and ongoing recovery from disruptions. Funding & Planning: Kansas College Savings Month spotlights 529 flexibility, including Quest529’s support for trade, apprenticeships, and other eligible education paths. Civic Learning: Local libraries host voter registration education tables ahead of November elections, blending community outreach with learning.

Education Access & Health Services: Philippines’ DepEd turned 91 public school campuses into primary healthcare hubs, reaching 47,000 teachers, students, parents and staff through a multi-agency “Handog ng Pangulo” drive with PhilHealth. Policy & Reform Planning: Sri Lanka’s education leadership says 2027 reforms are in motion, with Grade 2 and 6 materials ready, teacher training underway, new subjects planned for O-level, and a national preschool policy moving toward preschool registration and curriculum rollout. Teacher Contracts & Special Education: Seattle Public Schools’ educators are close to finalizing a new three-year deal, including about 10% wage increases and an 18-month special education partnership plus added elementary social workers/counselors, nurses and psychologists. Adult Learning & Family Literacy: Texas marks Adult Education and Family Literacy Week with free programs aimed at literacy, skills and credentials, positioning adult education as a workforce pipeline. STEM & Workforce Events: North Carolina’s Center for Energy Education will host EnergyFEST 2026, spotlighting clean energy innovation and student projects. Student Support & Inclusion: Ukraine’s education ministry urges schools to pre-plan multiple learning scenarios (in-person, blended, distance) based on security conditions. Funding & Planning Tools: Kansas and Pennsylvania treasurers promoted 529 planning webinars and guidance for families choosing multiple education pathways. Community Learning: Libraries in Kansas are running voter registration education tables, using trusted local spaces to help residents prepare for elections.

Student Access & Funding: South Africa’s skills gap debate is back, with a World Bank digital-skills warning pushing calls for a post-school system that better matches workplace demand. School Operations: South African principals say delayed operating payments are forcing them into personal credit-card debt just to keep schools running. Learning Disruption & Safety: Two Kauai schools stayed closed after Hurricane Lowell, with reopening plans tied to power restoration and revised bus routes. Higher Education Under Pressure: Sri Lanka’s state universities face a deepening crisis marked by brain drain and unrest, threatening the promise of free higher education. Policy & Admissions: Kuwait’s Ministry of Education approved 2,991 students for high-school pathways via its Masar platform ahead of classes. Equity & AI: A watchdog warns universities are embedding DEI concepts like “algorithmic bias” and “equity” into AI programs, raising concerns about how AI is shaped in education. Infrastructure Quality: A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa survey found only 45% of government schools have fully satisfactory walls and roofs. International Mobility: Tufts students face uncertainty after new U.S. F-1 visa rules tighten admission and internship pathways.

AI in Classrooms: The American Federation of Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers struck legally enforceable safeguards with Microsoft, including rules that student/teacher data won’t be used to train AI and won’t be monetized. Language Rights in Schools: Kurdish-language education protests in Syria’s Rojava continue as students reject new limits that reduce Kurdish to three hours a week. Teacher Safety: South Africa’s education department says it lacks a stand-alone educator-safety strategy, pointing instead to broader school-safety frameworks as unions warn of rising threats and violence. Funding & Access: Kansas’ 529 plan guidance highlights flexible use for trade, apprenticeships, K-12 expenses, and even potential Roth IRA rollovers for unused funds. Local School Updates: Miami-Dade’s incoming superintendent starts with a $7.4B budget focused on classrooms, staff, student services, and safety. Learning Support: Ghana’s Ashanti region launches a public campaign to boost early use of free primary healthcare through school and community outreach.

School Security Funding (Virginia): Virginia’s Department of Education awarded $12M in security equipment grants to 91 school divisions, targeting high-need campuses after recent incidents and funding upgrades like security vestibules and camera systems. Vocational Education Boost (Odisha, India): Odisha’s OSEPA and OUAT launched a dual-mode vocational education initiative in 26 secondary schools, bringing hands-on, field-based agriculture and allied skills into classrooms. AI in Education (India): Punjab’s education leadership urged universities to build human-centered, ethical AI education beyond engineering, including bridge courses, reskilling, and AI labs across disciplines. Teacher Training Support (Ukraine/Estonia): Estonia’s FM opened EDUHUB in Zhytomyr, a renovated teacher center with training and technology-focused methods for preschool educators. Education in Emergencies (Nepal/Disaster Response): Coverage highlights why education must restart quickly after floods—protecting children (especially girls) from abuse while supporting recovery and basic learning. Higher Ed Access (Sri Lanka/US): EducationUSA’s free University Fair 2026 opens doors for Sri Lankan students with admissions, scholarships, visa guidance, and counseling. Policy Fight (West Bengal, India): Professors protested a proposed inter-university teacher transfer bill, warning it could undermine university autonomy and academic quality. Student Safety (Jamaica): Jamaica’s education minister visited children injured by a boulder en route to school, with one still in intensive care. Early Learning Cooperation (BRICS): BRICS education leaders backed shared work on early childhood care and foundational literacy/numeracy, plus safe, ethical use of emerging tech like AI. Community Learning (US): Detroit’s Educators Night offers free access to museum and library resources for classroom learning, field trips, and professional development.

Education Funding Boost: Alberta announced a record $10.8B for 2026-27, aiming to hire more teachers, reduce class sizes, and expand in-class supports, including “complexity teams” for students with diverse needs. Digital Access for Learning: Nigeria’s NCC launched a zero-rated initiative giving eligible learners up to 100MB of free daily data to access approved education platforms, targeting affordability and inequality gaps. Regional Education Politics: Nepal’s Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel abruptly left a Siraha event after protests and heckling, while he pushed back on claims of misinformation. Teacher and Student Support: Rochester’s Special Education Resource Fair returned to School No. 33 with 80+ vendors for families of students from pre-K to post-secondary. School Governance: Bulloch County, Georgia, moved to update board member compensation for the first time since 1999. Global Policy Push: BRICS leaders endorsed sharing education best practices using human-centred AI and discussed a BRICS university ranking system. Health & School Policy: Florida proposed removing four school vaccine requirements and expanding religious exemptions, reigniting debate over public health rules.