A federal judge in Seattle has ruled that the Trump administration must restore millions of dollars in school mental health grants to certain recipients in sixteen Democratic-led states. The judge found the administration's decision to withhold the funds, citing opposition to diversity-focused criteria, was arbitrary and capricious. The preliminary order restores funding to affected districts while the legal challenge continues.

US District Judge Jia Cobb on Friday heard arguments in a case concerning whether the deployment of 2,500 National Guard members in the District of Columbia can continue. D.C. is seeking to immediately halt the deployment, which it argues is an unlawful violation of the District's autonomy. Arguing for the Justice Department, Eric Hamilton called D.C. a "unique creature" that lacks sovereignty and has no "veto power" over such a deployment.

A federal judge has ordered the Department of Defense to return nearly 600 books about gender and race to school libraries on military bases in Kentucky, Virginia, Italy and Japan, after students, supported by the ACLU, claimed their First Amendment rights were violated when the books were removed under President Donald Trump's executive orders to eliminate materials promoting gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology.

Benjamin Barbour, a high-school social studies teacher and librarian in Pennsylvania, describes how he uses local ghost stories and urban legends during Halloween season to teach students about history, sociology and information literacy. Barbour says the stories reveal community values and fears, and tracing their origins through primary sources helps students develop research skills.

Kim Sixta, a social studies teacher at Ruskin High School in Missouri, has been named the state's Teacher of the Year for 2026. Sixta was recognized for her use of "immersive simulations and civic-focused instruction," as well as her leadership in programs like National Honor Society, Upward Bound and student council.

Teachers can enhance their practice by leveraging generative AI, particularly when providing written feedback, writes David Cutler, an independent school teacher David Cutler. "Generative AI doesn't replace my judgment, but it does help me return your work faster, which we all value for better learning and engagement," Cutler writes. "I promise, I read everything you write and carefully review what AI generates about your work."

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has introduced a three-year pilot fellowship program aimed at enhancing civic education in rural and remote schools. The initiative, expected to launch in 2026-27, seeks to address the limited access rural educators have to professional development opportunities, and aims to foster engagement and civil dialogue among both teachers and students through targeted training on constitutional topics.

Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas has introduced an online civics course, "The Power of Civics," aimed at boosting civic engagement beyond voting. The course covers topics such as the legislative process, community engagement and interacting with elected officials, with Thomas emphasizing that the initiative is about community involvement, not politics, addressing concerns about potential politicization of civic education.