AI & Research Funding: The University of Minnesota won U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission awards to integrate AI with scientific discovery, with Phase I funding supporting AI-assisted research workflows across energy, technology, and national security. Student Learning Data: New York State Education Department released preliminary 2026 Grade 3–8 ELA and math results plus Grade 5 and 8 science scores, meant to guide district review and 2026–27 learning plans. Instructional Materials & Teacher Support: A new push toward high-quality instructional materials and better tech adoption highlights that content and tools aren’t enough without strong teacher implementation and clear instructional purpose. School Safety & Accountability: Ghana’s education ministry ordered an investigation after violent disturbances at Obuasi Senior High Technical School injured the headteacher, disrupting classes. Special Education Health Crisis: A lawsuit alleges NYC DOE placed a nonverbal autistic child in an untested lead-poisoned District 75 classroom, raising questions about inspection and placement practices. Workforce & Skills: World Bank urged developing countries to adopt lower-cost AI tools to improve services like education and governance, warning against falling behind. Teacher Workforce Benefits: California’s 2026–27 budget includes major new supports for PreK–12 educators, including paid pregnancy leave.