Latest Census data puts N.Y. at top of school spending list

At a cost of $21,206 per student, New York spends 86 percent more than the national average on its schools, according to the latest Census report from the 2014-2015 school year. When it comes to school employee pay and benefits, New York also spends more than twice the national average per-student, at $14,769 per pupil. Read more>>

Boston officials are trying to fix the stigma of summer school by re-envisioning it as something that high-need students won't want to skip. Starting this summer, city schools will engage more than 2,000 K8 students—and their teachers—in programs that combine summer learning with a wide array of enrichment opportunities, from science camp to sailing. Read more>>

Private schools in Wisconsin's voucher programs would be required to conduct background checks before hiring staff and would no longer need to meet some academic standards under a bill the Senate is taking up. The bill also strengthens financial accountability measures. Read more>>

New rules on the certification of school nurses are causing a stir. Last year, lawmakers passed a bill that tightens the requirements for who can work as a school nurse in New Hampshire. Among other things, it requires a bachelor’s degree and certification from the state Board of Education—just like a teacher. But some say the rules are too stringent. Read more>>

The Seattle Public Schools' board approved $2.3 million in transportation funding to implement several schedule changes for the district's students in order to add 20 minutes to the instructional day and one hour of teacher collaboration time per week. Read more>>

With a wide-ranging education bill now on his desk, Gov. Rick Scott faces intense pressure from both sides as he weighs whether to sign or veto the legislation. He has until June 27 to sign the 278-page bill, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. Read more>>

Arizona’s rural students are diverse, poor and many are trailing academically, and a new 50-state report finds that the schools they attend have the second highest needs of any state in the nation. The report from Rural School and Community Trust describes inequities in funding and opportunity that are leading to significant gaps in opportunity and achievement. Read more>>

Schools and other institutions should educate and assist parents, helping them teach their children to make good food choices. For their part, school districts should also carefully consider the changes allowed under the new federal rules. Officials should avoid excuses to scrap programs that bring fresh fruits and vegetables to schools. Read more>>

After years of cutting back on playtime to focus on test prep, school districts throughout the country are reassessing recess—with some bringing back the pastime or expanding it, citing academic and health benefits. Read more>>

As educators seek to further integrate coding lessons into their daily classrooms activities, they have to consider how they are handling the technology they use to facilitate the learning. LocknCharge announced the release of its SPRK+ Charging Case to store, secure and charge up to six Sphero SPRK+ robots. Read more>>

In a new stage of their collaboration, Oglala Lakota County School District will introduce the Discovery Education Science Techbook into all K8 classrooms and the Social Studies Techbook into grade 5-8 classrooms. Read more>>

The BrightLink Pro 1470Ui, BrightLink 710Ui and PowerLite 700U ultra short-throw laser displays and the latest ;Pro L-Series projectors leverage Epson’s proprietary 3LCD technology and integrated laser light source. The products offer images with precise detail, easy set-up, and up to 20,000 hours of laser light source. Read more>>

Alabama's Rainbow and Columbia Elementary schools are under construction, preparing to host more students with special needs. Currently, these students have to change schools every couple of years. The district is now trying to make the students’ education more consistent. Read more>>

A legislative report says Wyoming's state school construction funding shortfall could grow to more than $200 million by 2022. More than $2 billion worth of construction and maintenance in Wyoming has been funded over the years through coal lease bonus money. Read more>>