TOP NEWS Detroit Free Press Few could dispute the importance of literacy. But children have no fundamental right to learn to read and write, according to a federal judge. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs sought to hold state officials accountable for systemic failures that allegedly deprived Detroit children of their right to literacy. Read more>> Sponsored Sponsored by Renaissance Digital literacy is a trending topic. What skills do students need to learn to be truly “digitally literate”? How can today’s education leaders support digital literacy in every building and at every grade level? Join this free live webinar to get expert advice and practical strategies for digital literacy. Read more>> NHPR The findings of the school safety task force include 59 recommendations that range from gun laws to school building design. The state report asks lawmakers to study whether the state should change its policy on background checks for gun purchases. Other findings call for increasing social and emotional learning programs and mental health resources. Read more>> CNN Money Schools are reassessing security measures, according to new research. The education sector of the security market grew to $2.7 billion last year, up from $2.5 billion in 2015. The proportion of schools using video surveillance grew to 70 percent in 2013, up from 20 percent in 1999. Read more>> From DA Magazine Steven Blackburn Robert Runcie, superintendent of Broward County Public Schools in Florida, has enacted new districtwide safety measures. Read more>> Arkansas Democrat-Gazette In addition to information and recommendations on safety officers, Arkansas School Safety Commission's preliminary report also includes proposals and information on school safety audits, emergency operation plans, mental health services, threat assessments, communications systems and more. Read more>> New Castle News Fallout from a Commonwealth Court ruling that changed how public school districts calculate tuition payments to charter schools is causing problems for both the charter schools and about 80 percent of Pennsylvania’s public school districts. Read more>> PIX 11 Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city will provide paid leave for all 120,000 members of the United Federation of Teachers starting in September, when classes resume. Teachers can take up to six weeks off, covering births, adoptions and the placement of foster children under 6 years old. Read more>> OPINION Lockport Union-Sun & Journal It’s not surprising that those with trade certificates earn just as much as many of those with college diplomas. The opportunity is there. Teens and young adults who develop vocational skills see immediate rewards, long-term gain and stability because they are marketable, in demand and in relatively low supply. We should encourage our kids to do just that. Read more>> Moultrie News We all can agree that respecting the dignity of others around us is central to pluralistic life—and students must learn this. And we must help them to learn it. However, a focus on consequences misses important questions: what resources should teachers clamor for? What do teachers need that will support all students, given the challenges of growing up in the 21st century? Read more>> The Repository Simply enrolling a student in an e-school should not entitle the school to a year’s worth of state funding for that student. But counting only the time that a student is actively using the computer isn’t necessarily fair, either. Ohio needs a valid and fair way to pay for public online education, to keep this important option available without enabling opportunists to rip off taxpayers. Read more>> INDUSTRY NEWS Frontline Education Districts can request Frontline Education's District Flash Briefings, from data hosted on Amazon Web Services, Inc., through their Alexa-enabled device. Instantly, Alexa provides real-time updates on key performance indicators from teacher fill rates and application status to professional development and evaluation management data. Read more>> Apple The new Schoolwork iPad app enables teachers to create and send announcements and assignments with almost any type of content—from web links to PDFs and documents—and even specific activities in apps. Students can use Schoolwork to stay organized and keep track of the work they need to complete. Read more>> PowerSchool Group LLC/Code.org With OpenID single sign-on fully implemented, teachers and students from a PowerSchool student information system district can sign into Code.org through their PowerSchool accounts, eliminating the need to maintain additional accounts. Read more>> ✭ Visit the District Administration's PR Portal ✭ PEOPLE WATCH WRBL Roger D. Couch will lead the Georgia school district as superintendent. He was the principal of Harris County High School from 2001 through 2015, but recently came out of retirement to serve as the interim superintendent in May. Read more>> The San Diego Union-Tribune Julie Vitale has been appointed the next superintendent of the Oceanside USD, replacing retiring Superintendent Duane Coleman. Vitale comes to the district from the Romoland School District. Read more>> The Milford Daily News The veteran school administrator was tapped to succeed retiring Superintendent Maureen Greulich. Michael Bergeron was previously assistant superintendent of finance and operations. Read more>> WPBN Nicholas Ceglarek was appointed the new superintendent of the Traverse Bay Area ISD. He formerly served as superintendent of Hudsonville Public School for nine years. Ceglarek is replacing Jann Jencka, who was the interim superintendent after Mike Hill retired in December 2017. Read more>> | 