AGP Executive Report

Back-to-school support: The Philippines will provide school bags and supplies to 2 million K-3 learners nationwide through the “Bagong Bag sa Mag-aaral” program, aiming to cut family costs and help kids start ready. Exam scheduling: Kuwait’s Ministry of Education moved Grade 12 second-semester exams to June 21 to avoid holiday overlap, keeping end dates and results timelines unchanged. STEM engagement: Malaysia is rolling out a drone-based “STEM Room” model at SJKT Ladang Katoyang to make science and tech learning more hands-on. First aid training: St John Ambulance Salisbury and South Wiltshire is expanding public first aid courses, including a new “Community Lifesaver” program with CPR and defibrillator training. Education under pressure: The Arab League’s committee met to discuss how attacks and restrictions in occupied Arab territories are disrupting Palestinian schooling, including curriculum targeting. AI and integrity: A study on postgraduate plagiarism highlights gaps in students’ understanding of what counts as plagiarism, even with digital tools available. Policy and staffing: Bangladesh plans free uniforms for 450,000 primary students by July, while a cabinet decision in Bangladesh declined new music teacher posts in government primary schools.

Dropout Prevention in Delhi Govt Schools: The Education Directorate (via NIOS) has told Delhi government school heads to urgently identify Class IX students who failed twice or thrice, then counsel students and parents to keep them in school. Textbook Delays (CBSE Class 9): Some CBSE Class 9 students are still waiting for key subject textbooks as the new NEP/NCF-SE curriculum rolls out, with schools using PDFs and smartboard displays to bridge the gap. Primary School Supply Push (Philippines): The Marcos administration launched “Bagong Bag sa Mag-aaral,” promising school bags and supplies for 2 million K-3 learners across the school year. Higher Ed Support (Malaysia): PTPTN increased the PTPTN eKasih Children’s Scholarship to RM210 million for 10,000 students from low-income families. School Safety & Traffic Near Schools (Singapore/UK): A viral dashcam shows a red-light violation in a Singapore school zone, while UK road changes near a village primary school face enforcement and safety questions. Learning & Wellbeing Programs: Qatar Reads is starting a research study on early reading habits, and Heart of Worcestershire College will run GCSE Advice Cafés after results. Teaching & Recognition: An Oxford orthopaedic consultant was shortlisted for a learning award for inspiring medical students, and Ofsted gave a Chelmsford grammar school new “exceptional” ratings.

College Readiness Data: Texas districts continue to post alarming STAAR “not on track for college” shares, including Meridian ISD (91%), Culberson County-Allamoore ISD (91%), Electra ISD (87%), and Clint ISD (86%), renewing pressure on literacy and math supports. Violence Prevention: Nipissing and Parry Sound districts signed the ARTO Circle protocol, a multi-agency plan to identify, assess, and respond to school-related violence risks. Teacher Training & Reading: A new report says nearly half of educator prep programs fail to adequately train future teachers to teach reading, with Pennsylvania programs split between A’s and F’s. Career Pathways: Georgia approved a new Work-Based Learning Diploma option for high-demand jobs, while College Board is set to launch AP Career Kickstart courses. Student Safety & Privacy: A criminal investigation is underway after a University of Nottingham cyberattack exposed student passport numbers, bank details, and addresses. Learning Access: Philippines Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian backed a ₱19.5B textbook push toward a 1:1 ratio. Student Life: Waukesha’s district marked a graduation milestone after becoming debt-free, highlighting sustained programming and dual-enrollment gains.

Student Access & Fees: Mumbai Metro-3 expanded a 25% student fare concession to graduation-level students on the Aqua Line, using MMRC’s NCMC student trip passes. School Operations: Macon County approved a new fee schedule for community use of school facilities, keeping school-affiliated groups free unless kitchen use is involved. Student Safety & Accountability: A southern Utah bus driver was sentenced to federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material; in Arizona, a teacher facing child pornography charges was allowed limited travel by court order. Legal Rights in Education: India’s Bombay High Court ordered a Class 1 admission under the RTE quota after a residence-document technicality blocked a Scheduled Caste student. Career Pathways: Monroe County Community College launched a new electric and hybrid vehicles course with lab work and high-voltage safety training. STEM Pipeline: Texas Tech highlighted lab-based research opportunities for undergrads and high school students, aiming to strengthen the STEM pipeline. Campus/Community Learning: Dakota State University students built a website for the Hudson Fire Department as part of a real-world problem-solving course. Health & Learning: A study reported promising results for reducing egg allergies by introducing eggs to infants by 6 months.

Higher Ed Policy Fight: Faculty at the University of California will review admissions rules, including whether to bring back SAT/ACT use and how well course requirements prepare students. Student Support & Access: Oklahoma City Community College won a national award for expanding TRIO-style mentoring, coaching, tutoring, and advising systems that boost retention and transfer for first-generation and low-income students. K-12 College Readiness Gaps: New Texas reporting highlights huge “not on track for college” shares in multiple districts, including Gonzales (86%), Medina Valley (80%), and Dayton ISD (88%) based on STAAR/TEA measures. AI in the Classroom: A Miami University faculty union is pushing back on contract talks and curriculum demands tied to AI, arguing learning should stay human-led. Local School Labor: Monticello teachers approved a tentative contract after nearly a year without a deal, with a board vote expected June 15. STEM & Real-World Learning: A Qatar student’s low-cost indoor air filter project earned an invitation to present at Indoor Air 2026 in Singapore.

Federal Student Aid Crackdown: The U.S. House passed a bipartisan bill targeting “ghost students” who steal identities to grab financial aid, sending it to the Senate. School Safety & Discipline: Victoria, Australia is expanding rules that let principals ban abusive parents from school grounds, including online harassment. Textbook Oversight: Indonesia’s president ordered a team to re-evaluate school textbooks and learning materials to keep pace with new developments and technology. Learning Access Disruption: A Melbourne Chinese community language school entered voluntary administration, suspending classes and leaving VCE Chinese students facing uncertainty while authorities arrange alternatives. Local School Planning: Solihull’s council is set to approve plans to expand a SEND school intake and replace an “end of life” learning space. Accountability in Leadership: Peoria Unified School District officials are accused of forcing an interim superintendent to resign amid a scandal involving alleged failures to report teacher misconduct. Student Outcomes: Texas released preliminary STAAR end-of-course results showing passing-rate gains in multiple districts, with highlights across Algebra I, Biology, English I/II, and U.S. History.

College Admissions Tests: UC’s admissions board says it may reinstate SAT/ACT after faculty warned students are severely behind in math, reigniting the national debate over standardized testing and readiness. District Rezoning: Alachua County Public Schools is mailing rezoning notices under its “Our Schools — Future Ready” plan, shifting about 3,200 students for 2026-27 as three elementary schools close. Student Support in Schools: Renfrewshire Council approved a contract to provide free counselling to all school pupils, aiming for early mental health support and fewer exclusions. Academic Tracking Concerns (Texas): Multiple Texas districts reported very high shares of students not on college track in 2024-25, including Sierra Blanca ISD (92%) and Chillicothe ISD (88%), based on STAAR/TEA measures. Higher-Ed Oversight (Philippines): CHED ordered an immediate, impartial review into the deaths of Ateneo student-athletes, with officials and coaches placed on leave during the inquiry. Learning Access (Philippines): President Marcos inspected San Juan City’s digital learning rollout, distributing tablets and supplies to about 13,000 K-12 students.

Education Access & Digital Learning: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited San Juan City to distribute tablets and learning supplies to 13 public schools, with 13,000 students receiving devices and additional bags for early learners, underscoring national-local coordination. School Quality & Accountability: Ofsted praised Bromet Primary School in Oxhey Road for strong attendance, behavior, inclusion, and early-years provision, while a UK league-table spotlight named Wade Deacon High School as a top performer in the Runcorn/Widnes area. Higher Ed Staffing Crunch: Sri Lanka’s state universities face a major lecturer shortage, with FUTA warning the system needs far more permanent academic staff than it currently has. International Students Under Pressure: Sweden’s stricter migration rules are driving anxiety among international students, who fear being forced out despite studying toward research and workforce goals. Policy & Curriculum Timing: Michigan lawmakers advanced new “science of reading” requirements with a push to make them take effect sooner, sparking debate over fairness to schools and teachers. Student Safety & Support: A UK school’s “Breakfast Boost” program is helping Year 11 students prepare for GCSEs with targeted revision and teacher support.

Policy & Testing: New York is moving away from requiring Regents exams for high school diplomas, with guidance counselors bracing for major course-planning work as the change rolls in for ninth graders starting fall 2027. Digital Safety & Student Privacy: Texas groups are asking the Supreme Court to block an app marketplace age-check law that would bar minors under 18 from downloading apps or making purchases without parental consent. Classroom Experience: Teachers are split on this year’s Leaving Cert higher-level French exam—some call it fair and current, others say it’s unusually challenging. Student Support & Outcomes: Grand Canyon University says its NCLEX Success Program helps nursing students pass the national licensure exam, pairing academic prep with coaching and support. Learning Models: Mt. Blue’s Alternative Learning Program is expanding relationship-based, project-driven learning for students who need a different path. Student Life & Community: A DREAM mentorship program is pairing Mt. Anthony Union High School students with younger kids at Bennington Elementary. STEM Access: A free peer-led computer camp in Palm Beach Gardens taught students to build computers and learn AI, with every participant taking a machine home. School Disruption: An Aberdeenshire school closed after flooding from hailstones and heavy rain, with online learning offered until reopening.

Federal Civil Rights Review: DOJ is investigating four Northern California districts over whether SOGI (sexual orientation and gender ideology) and sex-ed policies violate students’ rights, including whether parents can opt out. Rural School Closures: A debate over shutting Corpusty Primary School in England is framed as more than enrollment—locals say it would remove a key pillar of village life. Tech in Early Grades: Lower Merion (PA) plans to end device assignments for K-2 after parent pushback on screen time, while tightening tech-use rules. Budget Pressure & Lunch Costs: Augusta voters approved a school budget with $6.6M in cuts, and Duluth faces a gap after state free-lunch reimbursement drops. Student Support & Learning: A $10K grant expands library resources at a Sudbury special needs school; Magnolia’s foundation funds classroom tech and enrichment. STEM & Career Pathways: Elon names an inaugural dean for its new School of Engineering and Computing; UNOH hosts Rally Day with the American Rally Association. Safety & Operations: Central Valley (WA) adds secure entry vestibules at five schools; a school bus crash in Pasco sent patients to care. Health Research: A study reports microplastics in human brain tissue linked to dementia and cardiovascular risk.

Teacher Prep & Reading: A new National Council on Teacher Quality report finds slightly more than half of teacher preparation programs align with the science of reading, while many still teach outdated practices and too few adequately support English learners and students with disabilities. Classroom Tech & Integrity: Teachers say AI use in schools is more than content generation—supporting feedback, formative assessment, and engagement—while concerns remain about accuracy and academic integrity. College Readiness Gap: EdSource reports UC faculty are seeing students arrive unprepared for college math, with some STEM professors calling for standardized tests to better check readiness. On-Campus Rebuilds: Myrtle Grove Elementary in Pensacola stayed open during a major rebuild by using temporary portable buildings and careful construction sequencing to keep students on site. Student Support Models: Oklahoma City Community College received a national award for scaling TRIO Student Support Services strategies campus-wide to improve retention and workforce outcomes. Local Education Pressure: Nottingham plans to expand Denewood Academy to create more places for permanently excluded children, citing rising costs and limited capacity. Student Success Data (Texas): Multiple Texas districts report very high shares of students not on track for college in 2024-25, including Brazosport ISD (83%) and El Paso Leadership Academy (93%).

Mobile Phone Backlash: Sweden is set to ban mobile phones in schools starting this fall, citing falling reading and writing skills and a push for more books and less screen time. Local Tech Rules: Hamilton County School Board is weighing new limits on classroom technology for middle schoolers, aiming to shift from passive screen use to more active learning. Reading Instruction Pressure: A new review finds teacher-prep programs have improved in teaching reading with science-based methods, but many still rely on outdated practices and too few train teachers to support struggling readers and English learners. Special Education Outcomes: Michigan’s IDEA reporting shows improvements in special education indicators, including graduation rate gains for students with IEPs. Teacher Incentives in Conflict Zone: Israel plans grants up to NIS 72,000 for new teachers and psychologists willing to relocate to the Gaza border region through 2028. Student Support in Real Life: A financial simulation in Hudson High School helped students practice budgeting decisions tied to real-world careers and family expenses. Education Policy Watch: India’s CBSE three-language mandate faces a Supreme Court challenge over whether it’s supported by the right framework for meaningful language study.

School Opening & Calendar Shift: In Iloilo, thousands of students marked the start of SY 2026–2027, as the Philippines rolls out a new three-term academic calendar aimed at longer teaching stretches and learning recovery. Curriculum Overhaul (Bangladesh): Bangladesh says a new primary-to-secondary curriculum will arrive in 2028, with Sports and Culture added in Grade IV and Technical & Vocational Education plus “Learning with Happiness” made mandatory in Grade VI. Student Support Pilot (Bangladesh): A pilot program will start July–August to give free uniforms, shoes, and bags to 350,000 government primary students, with expansion planned next year. STEM Workforce Push (Connecticut): Connecticut is backing robotics programs with $6M+ since 2024 to feed the state’s manufacturing workforce pipeline. Flexible Learning (Louisiana): Assumption Parish Schools is expanding a Virtual Academy so students can complete coursework 100% online while staying in the public system. Classroom Reality Check (Philippines): Teachers report paying out of pocket for Brigada Eskwela, with many saying they never receive paint or allowances. College Pathways: Haverford and Bryn Mawr keep deepening their cross-registration deal, letting students take classes—and even choose majors—across campuses. Safety & Policy: Commerce City Schools in Georgia plans earlier-than-state cell phone restrictions, aiming to cut cyberbullying and distractions.

Philippines School Opening: DepEd kicked off the 2026–2027 school year for about 26–28 million learners, rolling out reforms that include a new three-term calendar, updated lesson and assessment standards, and a learning continuity framework for emergencies, with schools like Iloilo National High School using Brigada Eskwela to prep classrooms. Student Support & Accountability: A report on Penn highlights ongoing concerns about student safety and mental health support, while a separate look at USAC resolutions says councils passed many student-focused resolutions but left too few public updates, raising follow-through questions. Exam Pressure Worldwide: China’s gaokao opened with about 12.9 million candidates, alongside new university majors aimed at strategic priorities; in Iowa, a new law would require U.S. history and government courses for public university graduation. Learning Design & AI: Morocco’s education debate turns from “whether” to use AI toward how to use it to fix gaps in personalization and real-world alignment. Local School News: A UK school proposal would add learning days via a longer school day, while a U.S. district in New York kept a high school closed after a fire due to air-quality concerns. Teacher Recognition: India’s Best Teachers’ Awards 2026 opened for nominations for educators teaching classes IX–XII.

High-Stakes Testing: China’s gaokao kicked off with about 12.9 million registered students, as parents and teachers rallied outside exam halls ahead of results later this month. Health & Schools: A USC-led study links vaping to altered gene activity in thousands of genes, with flavored e-cigarettes and “mods” tied to bigger changes—raising fresh concerns for student health. Admissions & Tech Chaos: India’s CUET 2026 wrapped after 19 days, but thousands of students were forced to retake parts due to technical glitches and earlier exam disruptions. Learning Outcomes in Focus (Texas): Multiple Texas districts reported very high shares of students not on track for college readiness in 2024-25, including Anton (97%), Waelder (93%), Cleveland (95%), and others. Policy & Curriculum Fight (Texas): Texas education leaders are set to vote on proposals that would expand Christianity’s presence in social studies standards and required reading lists. District Budget Pressure: El Paso ISD cut 94 jobs after declaring financial exigency, with leaders saying student ratios won’t be affected. Teacher Support Reform (Philippines): DepEd says AI can be used as a support tool under new lesson-planning reforms, stressing teacher judgment and accountability. Student Safety & Access: Malabon and Valenzuela boosted back-to-school readiness through Brigada Eskwela community efforts, aiming for safer, better-prepared classrooms.

School Supply Costs: The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry reports most school supply prices stayed steady, with more items cut than raised ahead of class openings. Exam Security & Policy: India’s NTA dismissed NEET paper-leak rumors ahead of the June 21 re-exam, warning against fraudsters. School Readiness: DepEd launched “Project Handa” to track public school opening readiness nationwide using school-level data on facilities, learner support, and instruction. Student Support Gaps: A Philippines education reform group urged stronger help for out-of-school youth, last-mile learners, and teachers as the 2026-2027 school year starts. Access & Equity: Maharashtra extended OBC-like educational benefits to Maratha students via new state orders and schemes. Learning Under Pressure: China’s gaokao begins with large-scale logistics and AI anti-cheating measures for about 12.9 million candidates. Wellbeing in Schools: An Oxford private school introduced a therapy dog program to reduce anxiety and support student wellbeing. Safety & Discipline: A UK case highlights delays in autism support planning, while India faces fresh ragging allegations at a medical college. Higher Ed & AI: UC Berkeley reports a spike in failing grades in CS classes tied to increased AI use and academic dishonesty.