AGP Executive Report

Higher Ed Leadership & Policy: The University of Maine System board begins a search for its next chancellor after Dannel Malloy’s contract extension runs out in 2028, setting up a major leadership transition for the state’s university network. K-12 Funding Pressure: Appoquinimink School District is seeking $47 million from Delaware to finish its Summit High School campus after state building-cost calculations leave a shortfall. School Closures: St. Pius X Catholic School closed permanently, citing years of enrollment decline and an annual operating deficit above $300,000. Teacher Support & Attendance: A Roswell district assistant superintendent laid out how curriculum and instruction teams are tackling chronic absenteeism, arguing attendance is shaped by instruction, relationships, and home factors. Student Well-Being: Sri Lanka’s health authorities flagged rising depression among schoolchildren, pointing to heavy syllabuses and calling for mental health education in schools. Digital Learning & AI: Philippines education leaders argued AI can help reform learning if proven models are scaled through DepEd, local government, and partners. Private School Fees: Qatar’s education ministry rolled out a new, more transparent tuition-fee framework for private schools and kindergartens, including advance notice for parents. Health Workforce Training: WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital plans a Center for Nursing Education to train future RNs starting fall 2027. Curriculum & Heritage: Haryana ordered Sikh Gurus and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur history added to Class 8, while West Bengal directed schools and colleges to observe Paschimbanga Divas with special learning activities.

Higher Education Leadership: Trent University installed Zabeen Hirji as chancellor-designate, highlighting equity and AI-era workforce leadership. Digital Learning Expansion: Malaysia launched its first AI-Powered Classroom at SMK Kuala Perlis, aiming to scale from 28 pilot schools to 800 over seven years with Google Malaysia. University Rankings Push: Malaysia’s Universiti Malaya set a goal to move into the world’s top 50 by next year, targeting research and innovation. Teacher Training Quality: UC Santa Barbara’s teacher education program earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality for scientifically based reading instruction. School Safety & Disruption: Storm damage led to class cancellations and closures in Winnipeg; in Manchester, a teacher was stabbed during a knife incident, with police taking over the investigation. Student Access & Support: Connecticut will fund free high school bus passes statewide starting July 1. Community & Campus Life: Cleveland’s Candy’s Creek Cherokee Elementary was named an Arbor Day Tree Campus for hands-on environmental learning. School Funding Pressure: University of Nebraska regents will consider a 4.25% tuition increase amid inflation and budget shifts.

School Safety & Infrastructure: Philippines educators’ group ACT is urging a nationwide audit and demolition of unsafe buildings after a 7.8 quake damaged classrooms across five regions, warning millions are still studying in risky conditions. Education Under Attack: Nigeria’s opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar says recent school attacks are increasingly aimed at crippling education and development, calling for an emergency security response. Higher Education Access: Philippines’ PUP Open University opened a new four-storey building (P185m) to expand flexible, affordable degrees and non-degree programs. Digital Learning & Equity: Ghana’s Education Minister says GH¢4bn is earmarked for Free SHS feeding, while Ghana’s GETFund uncapped support is improving food supply; in Kenya, Alpha Queen Collective backs girls and vulnerable learners with mentorship and learning resources. Policy & Funding: UK charter school results are reigniting debate over equity, attendance targets, and funding rules for Māori and Pacific students. Campus Climate & Free Speech: A UK survey finds privately educated students more fear “cancellation” for expressing views on campus than state-educated peers. Tech Credentials: Certiprof announced a university institutional adoption model to scale agile/scrum certifications across faculties.

School Safety & Violence: A 14-year-old girl was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after a knife attack at Manchester’s Co-op Academy left two pupils and a staff member injured; police say injuries weren’t believed serious and the school was locked down. Emergency Preparedness: Carlyle, Saskatchewan’s RCMP said an increased police presence at Gordon F. Kells High School was for a preplanned lockdown drill under the SAFE program. Attendance & Student Support: Southeast Cornerstone’s school division is tackling truancy with school-by-school monitoring of chronic absenteeism, noting post-COVID attendance patterns have shifted. Heat Disruptions: Philadelphia schools will dismiss early June 11 as extreme heat hits; 52 schools are on early dismissal and after-school activities are canceled. Higher Education Policy: The U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights probe into Colorado’s Cherry Creek School District over alleged race-based practices. University Restructuring: The University of Arizona is consolidating health sciences operations, cutting some administrative roles effective Aug. 7. Funding & Access: Gilroy Unified will ask voters for a $295m bond in a Nov. 3 election to fund critical facility upgrades and career-technical pathways. International Education: Mexico City suspended classes June 11 and urged remote work to ease traffic for the World Cup opener.

Higher Ed Deals: The University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services finalized a 10-year agreement, with Fairview investing $1B in the medical center campus and $50M annually for the medical school, reshaping governance and renaming teaching hospitals. School Infrastructure: In the Philippines, President Marcos inspected two rebuilt San Francisco High School buildings in Quezon City—36 and 24 classrooms—completed in eight months with sprinkler systems. International Expansion: India approved three foreign universities to open campuses—Bristol and York in Mumbai, and UNSW in Bengaluru—under NEP 2020. Student Support & Access: Delhi schools are told to counsel Class 9 repeaters to prevent dropout, with a pathway to NIOS. Policy Pushback: California’s superintendent race spotlights disputes over transgender participation in girls sports and parent notification on LGBTQ+ issues. Learning Disruption & Safety: Kenya faces unrest affecting 200+ schools, prompting a cabinet briefing; meanwhile, an Eldorado High School electrical fire was quickly contained with no injuries. Budget Pressure: Thompson School District faces a $2.7M revenue hit from declining enrollment and proposes cuts to balance next year’s budget.

K-12 Safety & Access: Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is pushing a statewide “away for the day” ban on student cellphone use during K-12 school hours, citing lost learning time and teacher concerns. Student Support in Crisis: The Philippines’ DepEd is mobilizing disaster response for 267 Mindanao schools hit by a 7.8 earthquake, with emergency classrooms and learning packets while suspensions and reopenings are managed. Education Under Attack: Palestine’s education ministry reports 21,701 students and education staff killed since Oct. 7, 2023, alongside widespread school destruction in Gaza and raids in the West Bank. Funding & Accountability: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s order to cut $168 million from the public school funding formula could reduce district aid by about 5%, with one-time stipends proposed for some staff. School Governance & Compliance: Broward School Board unanimously approved bus cameras to ticket illegal passers, while Martha’s Vineyard’s school committee commissioned an independent audit after bus-driver payroll warrants bypassed required approvals. Learning Environments: Tucson’s ASDB is relocating its blind and visually impaired program to a new downtown site, and Valparaiso delayed its cellphone policy to fine-tune it ahead of a July 1 state law. Holocaust Education: The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation’s “Journey For The Living” fitness challenge raised $180,000+ to fund teacher and school Holocaust education grants.

Afghan Education Crisis: A UN official told the Security Council that Taliban restrictions have left about 3.8 million Afghan girls (ages 7–18) out of school, with hundreds of thousands more permanently pushed out of secondary pathways each year. Student Safety & Hate: Beverly, Massachusetts police are investigating antisemitic graffiti found in a middle school bathroom, as educators and unions call for stronger district safety measures. Mental Health Support: South Korea announced a major teen-suicide prevention plan that will place professional counselors in every school and allow principals to arrange counseling and treatment without parental consent. Device Rules in Schools: Denver Public Schools approved a bell-to-bell ban requiring students to keep personal electronic devices turned off and put away during the school day, while other places continue tightening phone policies. Education System Accountability: South Africa’s education committee reviewed an ELRC audit finding over 22,000 teacher payroll record mismatches and hundreds of thousands of undocumented learners, pushing provinces toward investigations. School Infrastructure: Canada’s Nanaimo-Ladysmith district announced a $9m addition to Wellington Secondary to add classrooms and accessibility ahead of 2026–27. Innovation Pathways: The University of New Haven launched “Connecticut Invents” with partners to help K–12 student inventors commercialize ideas through tuition-free study and IP/business support.

Disaster Response (Philippines): After a 7.8-magnitude earthquake, the Department of Education says 8,642 schools across six regions are affected, disrupting classes for about 4.09 million learners; DepEd has mobilized engineers and structural experts, with some classrooms reported as damaged or destroyed and suspensions in place while safety checks continue. School Safety & Accountability (France): A schoolgirl’s death in southwest France has sparked national outrage and scrutiny of how authorities handled prior abuse allegations, with thousands attending a silent march and critics calling for major justice-system reforms. Funding for Schools (Fiji/Australia): Australia will add AUD$16 million to Fiji’s social infrastructure program to build, upgrade, and climate-proof schools and health facilities through December 2028. Exam Integrity (West Africa): WAEC warns schools and supervisors against extorting WASSCE candidates, including illegal “cooperation” fees and charges tied to calculators already provided. Access & Costs (Qatar): Qatar’s education ministry added two categories of non-Qatari residents to exemptions from textbook and transportation fees in government schools. Higher Ed Pathways (U.S.): Oakland University appoints a new dean for its College of Arts and Sciences, while Wisconsin’s La Follette School of Public Affairs students help a district prepare for a statewide K-12 cell phone policy. Food Security (U.S.): Wood County Schools in West Virginia launches free summer meals June 15 at multiple sites for children under 18.

School Safety & Disasters: Philippines’ school year opening on June 8 coincided with a 7.8 quake in Mindanao, triggering evacuations and class suspensions in parts of Agusan del Sur as authorities inspect damaged buildings. Learning Continuity: DepEd Region 6 says classroom and teacher gaps won’t halt instruction for nearly a million learners in Western Visayas, with temporary spaces and multi-shift arrangements. Mental Health After Tragedy: In Kenya’s Kiambu County, parents and students affected by school tragedies are receiving free counselling, highlighting the emotional toll and the need for accessible support. School Unrest & Security: Kenya’s National Security Advisory Committee is set to meet over rising secondary school unrest, with police ordered to monitor cases and advise on possible closures. International Higher Education: Five Kenyan universities are joining a new EU-linked Kenya–Romania education corridor with Danubius International University, aiming at EU-recognised pathways and dual qualifications. Higher Ed Partnerships: Bahrain’s University of Bahrain and RCSI Medical University of Bahrain sign an MoU to expand teaching, research and faculty development. Student Wellbeing in Schools: Pennsylvania’s House approved a statewide school cellphone ban, leaving sanctions to local boards. Funding & Access: Papua New Guinea’s PM reports millions benefiting from the Free Education Programme subsidy, alongside a higher-education loan scheme. School Infrastructure Fundraising: Kokoda Primary School in Papua New Guinea launches a K2 million walkathon to fund halls, fencing, renovations, e-library and Wi-Fi.

School Safety & Community Impact: A fatal crash in Spartanburg County killed 27-year-old teacher Anna Maureen LeCoq, a resource teacher at West View Elementary, prompting district condolences. School Governance & Facilities: Vermont voters in Peacham approved transferring the town’s elementary school building to the select board for $1 to keep it as a community asset if district mergers happen. Higher Education Accountability: A Ghana probe into Bolgatanga Technical University procurement breaches recommends removing the vice-chancellor after alleged sole-sourcing and inflated costs tied to a GH¢19.5m loss. Nursing Workforce & Training: Northwest nursing schools are expanding simulation and virtual practice; Whitworth announced a new bachelor’s program starting fall 2027. Education Access & Equity (Enrollment Snapshots): New York school demographics show sharp shifts in representation at individual campuses, including very low Black enrollment at Walton High (0.8%) and Achieve Alternative High School reporting 0% white students. STEM/Tech for Learning: IEEE award winner Karen Panetta highlights AI literacy and STEM access, with her work spanning simulation and computer vision. Back-to-School Security: The Philippines mobilized 55,507 police personnel for school opening, setting up thousands of assistance desks and patrols. Learning Environment Upgrades: ABA Bank helped renovate 11 classrooms at Samdech Ov High School in Sihanoukville, aiming to improve student focus and comfort.

School Security Rollout (Philippines): The Philippine National Police says it’s deploying 55,000+ personnel under Oplan Balik-Eskwela to secure the Monday return of millions of students, including campus patrols, traffic management, and police assistance desks. School Costs (Philippines): The Department of Trade and Industry reports school-supply prices are broadly stable, with more items seeing cuts than increases ahead of the new term. Higher-Education Policy (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka’s education ministry has opened public consultation for a National Higher Education Policy Framework, using an online survey to broaden input. University Governance Debate (US): NYU and Columbia law professors argue many American universities operate without meaningful student say in how they’re run, calling for “university democracy.” Education Protests (India): The Cockroach Janata Party says it will keep pressuring the Union Education Minister to resign over alleged exam and recruitment irregularities. Access & Equity (India/UK): Delhi teachers urge removing barriers that block NIOS students from science and commerce streams in government schools; in London, parents are furious after a closed primary was sold to a fee-charging prep school. PE Mandate (India): India’s Tamil Nadu education department calls for compulsory physical education for classes 6–12. International Education Links (Nigeria/China): Nigeria and China highlight deeper ties through a Chinese proficiency competition, reinforcing Mandarin education as a bridge.

Philippines Education Reform: E-Net Philippines says DepEd’s new three-term 2026-27 calendar and grading changes won’t help if support doesn’t reach out-of-school youth, last-mile learners, and overworked teachers as classes start June 8. Irish-Medium Pathway Gap: In Mayo, the Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Eo campaign welcomed Minister Dara Calleary’s push for more Irish-medium secondary places, warning families face no local Gaelcholáiste beyond primary. Education Access & Inclusion: New York enrollment snapshots show shifting representation—George Junior Republic School reports 0% American Indian/Alaska Native students in 2025-26; several districts track multiracial and Hispanic changes across middle and elementary schools. Student Safety: Towson University student Nasir Majied was killed in an off-campus shooting; police continue to search for the suspect. Higher Ed & Talent Links: Japan’s Yamagata Shimbun highlights Nitte University’s India-Japan pathways, citing 300+ graduates hired in Japan since 2020. Teacher Innovation Funding (Canada): Saskatchewan backs 33 teacher-led projects with about $1.5m through its Teacher Innovation and Support Fund.

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.