AGP Executive Report

School Safety & Accountability: A mother in the US says her middle schooler was attacked during recess and needed a CT scan; the district says video review found no weapon and launched an investigation. Policy & Access to Learning: Zambia’s president signed a free-education bill into law, aiming to protect millions’ right to schooling and expanding school feeding. Funding Continuity: The US Education Department began extending $46m for Hawai‘i’s Native Hawaiian Education Program for another year. Higher Education Expansion: The University of Liverpool received approval to open a Bengaluru campus as India-UK ties deepen. Student Support Over Summer: A US district starts a federally funded summer food service program, offering free meals at multiple sites. School Operations & Reform: In the Philippines’ Western Visayas, DepEd says all public schools are ready for a new three-term calendar with an “opening block” focused on diagnostics. Campus & Career Pathways: A hospital hosted “Future Heroes” for middle schoolers, including a Care Flight helicopter visit and facility tours. Accreditation: Trinity Health System’s medical laboratory science program earned maximum 10-year accreditation. School Discipline Implementation: Arkansas districts reviewed Act 565, setting steps for removing students after violent or abusive behavior.

State Policy Clash: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed two rules affecting high school students taking community college credits, warning reimbursement and “in-person only” requirements could discourage low-income learners. School Leadership Politics: California’s state schools superintendent race heads to a runoff between Sonja Shaw and Richard Barrera, with sharp differences on education priorities and parent involvement. Cellphone Crackdown: Pennsylvania’s House advanced a statewide requirement for school cellphone restrictions, while Pittsburgh already runs a bell-to-bell ban by requiring phones be turned in during the school day. Accountability & Safety: Aiken County documents detail alleged inappropriate texts tied to a district HR official’s paid leave and retirement; in Oregon, shots fired near Mills Addition prompted no school lockdown. Budget Pressure: South Portland’s board approved a one-time $12K payment for an assistant superintendent amid staff cuts, drawing teacher backlash. AI Guidance Gap: New York’s AI consortium urges districts to avoid hundreds of conflicting local AI rules by sharing practices while statewide guidance lags. Access to Career Training: EVIT offered $2M to cover half of transportation costs to keep students reaching career and technical programs. Higher Ed & Skills: Armenia opened an agricultural engineering center of excellence in agricultural robotics at the National Agrarian University, backed by World Bank-linked funding. Student Life & Learning: Madras High School reported a record 39 students earning Oregon’s Seal of Biliteracy; University of Madras planted 15,000 saplings for World Environment Day.

UK Higher Ed Immigration Rules: The Home Office says universities could lose their licence to recruit international students if visa refusals exceed 5% (up from a 10% threshold) or if enrolment/completion rates fall below 95%/90%, tightening compliance tied to asylum-linked study and other visa routes. School Budget Cuts: Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland adopted a $3.72B FY27 budget that eliminates hundreds of positions, aiming to protect classroom instruction despite a $36M gap. School Safety Funding: Arizona approved $82M for its three-year School Safety Program, backing campus roles like SROs, counselors, and safety officers. Summer Meals Access: Howard County plans no-cost summer meals via the Summer Food Service Program at schools and community sites. Higher Ed Research on Legal Pathways: LSAC and AALS launched “Before the JD II” to study how undergrads decide on legal and other graduate education and workforce routes. University Governance Probe: Australia’s University of Wollongong chancellor stepped aside amid an anti-corruption investigation into contracts and conflicts of interest. Student Support & Learning: A UK school improvement report praised behaviour and pastoral care but flagged inconsistent writing support. Community Milestones: Central Union High School District celebrated nearly 1,000 graduates across multiple programs.

School Safety & Violence: A shooting after a California high school graduation ceremony left one teen dead and three others wounded, with police investigating and no threat reported. School Closures & Unrest: St George’s Girls Secondary School in Nairobi will close early amid anxiety over disturbances at nearby schools, with parents picking up students. Student Stories & Access: A Tennessee student earned a full Harvard scholarship after helping on the family farm through her father’s cancer; in the U.S., a Lincoln High senior who arrived from Afghanistan two years ago without speaking English is graduating with a 3.5 GPA. Learning Conditions: Research highlights how extreme heat in classrooms can harm concentration and health, especially where ventilation and water access are limited. Funding & Policy: Washington state legislators face criticism after cutting about $90M in K-12 funding, while Philadelphia’s budget deal leaves out a proposed rideshare tax but adds $48M for schools. Higher Education Leadership: Mary Baldwin University named Gary Daynes interim president starting July 1 amid recent controversy over academic and faculty cuts. School Meals: School nutrition advocates urged more support for meal programs as Congress marks the National School Lunch Act’s 80th anniversary.

School Safety & Accountability: Kenya’s Utumishi Girls School fire case moves forward as a court remands nine students for 21 days while investigators probe how the dormitory blaze killed 16 children. Misinformation Watch: A Dutch “AI video” claim about mosque prayer requirements was debunked as fake and based on a 2014 field-trip photo. Student Wellbeing Policy: Coventry’s WMG Academy bans phones for most students, allowing only basic call/text devices for commuting safety. Health & Equity in School Meals: Indonesia’s free school-feeding push for 80 million children is hit by corruption arrests and a wave of food-poisoning cases. Education Access Support: Iloilo City will distribute free school kits to 74,000 learners, funded through the Special Education Fund, to ease rising costs for parents. Higher-Ed Pathways: A global look at how students transition to university highlights very different admission models, from exam-heavy systems to approaches that reduce competitive selection.

Adult Learning & Credentials: Chattahoochee Valley Community College held its 2026 Adult Education Graduation, with 44 students earning diplomas and a course scholarship for continued study. Inclusive Classroom Design: Russell County Middle School opened a new sensory indoor-and-outdoor classroom, backed by Wiregrass RC&D and the Alabama Power Foundation. School Food Costs: Barrow County is set to raise lunch prices for 2026-27 (with free/reduced lunch still protected), as boards weigh rising nutrition costs. Education Policy & Federal Pressure: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore criticized the Trump administration for “holding back” schools, while leaving open whether the state will opt into a federal voucher-style program. Teacher Pipeline: The Philippines’ CHED and TEC launched a ₱103M teacher education scholarship pilot to address shortages in key specializations starting 2026-27. College Access Debate: UC professors say incoming students lack core math/science preparation and are urging a return to college-entrance exams. Special Needs Staffing: Ireland’s education minister promised no school will lose more than one Special Needs Assistant per year, alongside a new workforce development plan. University Leadership: Tufts provost Caroline Genco was named UB’s next president, making her the first woman to lead the university.

AI & Higher Education Policy: WISE and partners at HBKU and Northwestern Qatar convened a research policy dialogue on “AI, Disinformation, and Higher Education,” urging universities to strengthen information literacy and address language-model blind spots. US–Qatar Academic Mobility: Qatar Foundation signed new study-abroad agreements with Hampton, Xavier (Louisiana), and Prairie View A&M to expand cross-cultural exchange for students from HBCUs. STEM Research Funding: Oxford University secured funding to use AI and the DAWN supercomputer to develop personalized cancer vaccines. Education Equity & Access: A report from UWA and Carers WA says many young carers in Western Australia go unidentified and unsupported in schools, calling for consistent identification and peer support. School Safety & Disruption: A school bus crash in Minnesota sent three children to hospital after hitting a Hamline University science building; investigations continue. School Governance & Accountability: New Mexico Highlands University president Neil Woolf sued after alleging board pressure to redirect state funds to a contractor friend of the regents chair. Local School Change: Gadsden Elementary District unveiled a new name for Southwest Junior High as Southwest Early College Academy. Education Infrastructure: Lagos SUBEB set bidding guidelines for 75 school projects, including classrooms, sanitation, and solar boreholes.

Philippines Education Reform Push: Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda led a June 2 hearing on education reforms, including rationalizing Schools Division Offices, modernizing Adopt-a-School, and creating a national K-to-3 literacy framework plus a coordinating council to align policies and budgets. School Safety and Literacy Drive: President Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara inspected Brigada Eskwela preparations, spotlighting CCTV upgrades to curb bullying and vandalism and a “Reading Nook” for K-3 foundational literacy. US Campus Culture and Discipline: A British university student says conservative voices face hostility on campus, while the University of Manchester is considering barring medical students from graduating over alleged peer sexual harassment. Classroom Tech Rules: Illinois lawmakers advanced a statewide “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban for public and charter schools, with exceptions for health and special education needs. School Funding and Facilities Strain: In Bukidnon, a large Philippine elementary school still faces chronic classroom shortages and flooding, relying on volunteer repairs ahead of the school year. Security Threats to Education: Nigerian teachers protested kidnappings and attacks on schools in Oyo and Borno, calling education “under siege.” Higher Ed and Research Partnerships: Uttarakhand’s SBS University and UCB signed an MOU to expand biotechnology education, faculty/student exchange, and joint research.

AI in Schools (Maryland): Maryland’s new A.I. Ready Schools Act took effect June 1, requiring state-issued K-12 A.I. guidelines, A.I. literacy in workforce and computer science standards, educator professional development, and an A.I. coordinator in each district. School Access Amid Conflict (Bahrain): U.S. military schools in Bahrain won’t reopen for the 2026-27 year, leaving families facing uncertainty about where students will study. Higher-Ed Accountability (Australia): Australia’s ICAC will investigate University of Wollongong executives, probing recruitment influence, consultancy work, and conflict-of-interest management. School Staffing Disruption (UK): Staff at Aylesford School in Warwick plan strikes starting June 4 over planned redundancies tied to a restructure. STEM for Tribal Learners (India): India’s Tribal Affairs Ministry and BPCL set up 75 “Space Labs” in Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 18 states to expand hands-on space/STEM learning for 50,000+ students. Local School Policy (U.S.): A chamber survey seeks employer input on a proposal to shift Ohio County Schools’ start and end times by 30 minutes.

University Housing Push: Sri Lanka’s Higher Education Division says it will roll out 55 new hostel projects for 16,000 students across state universities, in three phases, with bids/tenders already underway at Eastern University and University of Jaffna. School Safety & Threats: A man who sent threatening emails to three all-girl schools in Merseyside was tracked down, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 28 months, with restraining orders issued. Student Wellbeing Policy: Kirkwood School District is weighing “excused mental health days,” but concerns remain about requiring professional documentation. Funding & Access: A New Mexico lawmaker questioned whether Navajo students get a fair share of Indian education funds, despite Navajo students making up about 70% of tribal-nation students in the state’s public schools. Local Leadership: Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland named interim leader Shawn Joseph as permanent superintendent. Accountability in Schools: An ex-private school teacher in East Sussex was sentenced to 26 years for sexually abusing 14 pupils, exploiting his role running a photography club. Transportation Staffing: Tuscaloosa City Schools will hold a June 8 hiring fair for bus drivers, offering a $2,000 bonus and paid training.

School Security & Calendar Reform (Philippines): The Philippine National Police will deploy 55,507 personnel to secure School Year 2026–2027 opening on June 8, including police assistance desks and mobile patrols, with extra visibility in high-footfall shopping areas as parents buy supplies ahead of the new three-term schedule. School Readiness via Community Work (Philippines): DepEd launched Brigada Eskwela 2026, a P2-billion cash-for-work effort under the TUPAD program to hire 240,000 workers for school cleanups and minor repairs until June 5. Education Funding Support (Philippines): Iloilo City will distribute free school supplies to more than 74,000 learners in early June, funded through the Special Education Fund and a supplemental budget. Safety & Disruption (India): A fire broke out on the second floor of Delhi’s Ministry of Education office at the School of Planning and Architecture campus; eight fire tenders responded and no casualties were reported. Education Costs Politics (India): Rahul Gandhi criticized CBSE’s on-screen marking re-evaluation process, alleging students are charged for correcting board errors. Teacher Safety Crisis (Nigeria): Oyo State’s teachers’ union ordered an indefinite strike starting June 1 after the continued captivity of abducted teachers and pupils. Local School Access (UK): Residents in All Cannings, near a primary school, protested after a housing association sold garages and parking spaces used for school drop-offs, raising safety concerns. Student Wellbeing & Prevention (UK): Hampshire’s Pol-Ed program will give schools structured lessons on risk, law, consequences, and healthy relationships, funded by the police and crime commissioner. School Infrastructure (UK): Dove House Academy in Sutton Road applied to demolish three unsafe modular buildings to expand playground and parking, including EV chargers and safer drop-off access. Arts & Higher Education Giving (US): Retired WVU School of Medicine faculty donated $100,000 to support the university art museum’s greatest needs.

School Safety & Security: Nigeria’s Oyo State school abductions triggered a high-powered Tinubu delegation to Ogbomoso to coordinate rescue and security; separate coverage also reflects on how the tragedy echoes Chibok and what it means for national learning on school safety. Education Funding & Workforce: Ontario’s “Fight Ford” protests spotlight education “crisis” claims, with educators warning about cuts to counselling, mental health supports, and transportation. Learning Conditions: A U.S. court fight over Arizona’s school funding system centers on long-standing facility problems like roof leaks and extreme classroom heat that disrupt learning. Student Wellbeing & Access: Philippines’ Edcom 2 links absenteeism and lower engagement to overcrowding and bullying, while small-group ARAL summer tutorials are credited with safer, more supportive learning. Digital & AI in Classrooms: The U.S. teachers’ union AFT pushes for bans on AI in elementary classrooms and tighter limits on student screen use, arguing early learning should stay human-led. School Meals & Support: Kershaw County (SC) and Rapid City Area Schools (SD) launch summer meal programs to keep children fed during breaks. Campus Incidents: Bangladesh reports a fire at Pankhaiya Para High School; Kuwait’s Indian School of Excellence holds its 2026–27 investiture ceremony. Policy/Admissions: South Africa’s “mature age exemption” offers a legal route into university for applicants who miss standard matric requirements.

Policy & Civil Rights: The Trump administration’s move to dissolve the US Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition raises alarms for millions of English learners, warning that federal expertise and protections for multilingual students are being weakened. Public Health & School Safety: In Congo’s Ebola-affected east, officials say schools will not be closed; the focus is on prevention measures to avoid “punishing children twice.” Tech in Classrooms: Malaysia’s Melaka is launching a Todak Academy to give ages 7–17 early exposure to AI, robotics, coding and game-based learning as part of TVET expansion. Education Under Threat: Nigeria’s school kidnapping attacks remain a crisis even as global leaders meet on education reform in London, with children and teachers still unaccounted for. Accountability: Washington’s state auditor flagged problems in Hockinson School District’s use of federal special education funds, citing documentation and timing issues. Community Learning: A Holocaust survivor event brought students and community members together in Idaho to hear firsthand testimony. Local Learning & Support: Ocean View Police will run CPR/Stop the Bleed and K-9 interaction programs at Lord Baltimore Elementary.

Teacher Global Mobility: The Philippines’ DepEd is pushing a “Teach Beyond Borders” fair to help public school teachers find international scholarships and exchange programs via a one-stop platform, framing global exposure as a direct investment in classroom improvement. School Funding & Staffing: Milwaukee Public Schools’ board approved a $1.6B 2026-27 budget aimed at lowering class sizes, adding 159 teaching roles, boosting paraprofessional hours, and raising educator pay while closing a $46M deficit. Higher Ed Job Cuts (UK): Aberdeen University backed a £10M cuts plan that could eliminate up to 111 jobs, while the University of Sussex faces union backlash over threats to cut 200 jobs amid a £35M program. School Safety & Violence (Scotland): Classroom assistants in Glasgow rallied for action on rising school violence, citing staffing and funding gaps despite a 2024 behavior plan. Kenya School Tragedy: Parents in central Kenya are demanding answers after an arson attack at Utumishi Girls School killed 16 pupils; DNA testing is underway to identify victims. Student Support Over Summer: Volusia County Schools will run USDA-backed summer meals at select sites, with ordering rules for off-campus families. Admissions Deadline (India): GGSIPU extended and then set a May 30 closing for 2026-27 applications, requiring document uploads for test-and-merit based entry.

Higher Education Debt Crunch: South Africa’s universities are withholding qualification certificates over unpaid student debt, with Parliament hearing figures of 165,000 to 188,209 certificates blocked as the higher-education debt crisis climbs to R59 billion. Public Health in Schools: Sri Lanka’s Education ministry issued guidance to prevent Enterovirus Meningitis after cases were confirmed in multiple districts, flagging children and people with weakened immune systems as most at risk. University Governance: The University of Maine System extended the contract of University of Maine at Augusta President Jenifer Cushman through 2027, days after a faculty no-confidence vote, reigniting shared-governance tensions. School Safety & Accountability: A Rowan-Salisbury School System teacher in North Carolina was arrested on felony sex-offense warrants tied to allegations involving a former student; in Utah, a special education teacher pleaded no contest to abusing a child with a disability. Student Access & Testing: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reported disruptions during online end-of-grade testing, affecting some students’ ability to complete exams. STEM & Skills Pathways: UNDP Tanzania signed pacts with nine universities to boost youth employability and practical skills, while a new STEM and Education Centre opened in Kemptville, Canada, for hands-on robotics and coding. Policy & Funding: Florida lawmakers passed a late budget including education capital and pay increases, and Delaware delayed its decision on a partner for its first four-year medical school until next week.

School Safety Push (Philippines): Ahead of the June 8 start of School Year 2026–2027, the Philippine National Police is ramping up visible patrols, traffic control, and police help desks near schools as part of DepEd’s Oplan Balik Eskwela, with coordination across local officials and agencies. Dormitory Fire (Kenya): Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru is reeling after an overnight dorm fire killed at least 16 schoolgirls and injured 79, as investigators examine whether safety procedures and emergency exits were followed. School Readiness (Philippines): DepEd’s OBE runs June 1–11 to check classroom readiness, logistics, and enrollment, and to keep teachers focused on classroom prep rather than office duties. Higher Ed Access (India/UK): Mumbai University is expanding distance learning with a new Palghar centre, while Finland faces renewed debate over introducing master’s tuition fees to shore up strained university budgets. Student Health & Safety (US): A Safe Routes to School plan in Madison targets safer walking and biking with infrastructure upgrades, and Virginia’s Rockbridge clinics offer back-to-school physicals and vaccinations.