AGP Executive Report

Teacher pay pressure: A new NEA report highlights how low starting salaries and extra duties are pushing Illinois educators toward burnout, with lawmakers floating minimum-salary hikes. AI in classrooms and teacher prep: The American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education released a framework urging teacher programs to train educators on both the benefits and risks of AI use. New teacher pipeline in Malaysia: Malaysia’s education ministry launched a national program to prepare and qualify new teachers with a mix of theory and school-based practice. Equity rule change in Malaysia: Malaysia removed the 30% Bumiputera equity requirement for private limited companies running private education institutions. Early childhood screen debate (NZ): Aotearoa Educators Collective warns that screen bans in early childhood may miss the real driver—home exposure—and calls for deeper research. Textbook logistics (Kyrgyzstan): Kyrgyz officials say 2.46M textbooks have been delivered, with monthly monitoring ordered as the country transitions to a 12-year system. Workforce training with grants (US): Crowder College won a Title III grant to expand flexible learning pathways, while a South Dakota NIH award will build a statewide clinical research network.

AI in teacher training: A new American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education framework urges universities to prepare teachers for both the benefits and risks of AI in K-12 classrooms, including ethical use and limits on where it should apply. Research funding squeeze: A federal judge blocked Education Department cuts to teacher-training grants tied to “divisive ideologies,” while advocates warn slower NSF/IES grant awards are leaving research behind as fiscal year-end nears. Assessment under pressure: University of Malaga reports 90% of student work shows AI use, pushing a new assessment framework to set clearer rules. School choice policy: Kentucky’s new scholarship tax credit is moving from law to implementation as groups seek approval to distribute funds for tuition and tutoring. Talent and partnerships: Ohio announced a $50M talent search grant to support 20,000 low-income and first-gen students annually; Kookmin University and German partners launch an automotive software talent program; Seoul and George Washington University sign a graduate credit-transfer deal. Local education governance: Kenya’s education reform bills enter a second week of public hearings across counties.

AI in Teacher Training: The American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education released a framework urging teacher-prep programs to teach future educators how to use AI ethically, weigh benefits and risks, and decide where classroom AI fits. Inclusive Education in Kuwait: Kuwait opened a Gulf forum on integrating students with disabilities, highlighting policy support and cross-border expertise with Kuwait University’s College of Education. School Safety and Student Support: Peshtigo’s board kept student safety on the agenda, while Abilene schools used a needs assessment to set 2026–27 priorities, including adding early-grade teachers and reading support. Financial Literacy Partnerships: Douglas County School District renamed its stadium for Canvas Credit Union as part of a broader effort to build students’ real-world financial skills. Adult Learning Funding: Muskegon Community College is set to receive up to $300,000 to expand adult learning pathways under Michigan’s Reconnect Enroll with Momentum grant. Higher-Ed and Jobs Pressure: University of Galway faces projected cuts that could affect more than 1,000 part-time teaching assistants and researchers, raising concerns for teaching capacity. STEM Recognition for Students: An 8th-grader, Sai Sri Valli Mogilineedi, reached the finals of a major U.S. STEM awards program after developing a controlled-release approach for GERD medicines. Policy and Rights in Schools: King George County Schools reversed a ban on middle-school non-curricular clubs after a settlement tied to LGBTQ+ student access. Early Childhood Screen Debate (NZ): New Zealand’s Set Up for Success policy proposes tighter screen limits for early learners, drawing mixed reactions from advocates and educators.

AI in teacher training: The American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education released a framework urging teacher-education programs to prepare future teachers to use AI ethically, understand limits, and decide where it fits in classrooms. Education accountability: Louisiana’s absenteeism crisis persists, with about 22% of students chronically absent and hotspots above 30% in East Baton Rouge and Orleans. School registration crackdown: In Gauteng, families say unregistered or unaccredited private schools left students missing weeks of learning, prompting renewed government action to verify institutions and staff records. Higher-ed and geopolitics: South Korea is rolling out a national university research-security system to curb technology leaks, while global commentary warns transnational education is now entangled with regulation and national security. IT education standards: Pakistan plans to improve IT education quality by tightening accreditation and using an IT skills assessment to steer students toward approved programs. Global funding for AI equity: The Gates Foundation pledges $1B over two years to bring AI to frontline health, farming, and education needs in developing regions. Infrastructure for learning: Uganda’s TotalEnergies and World Vision upgrade classrooms, sanitation, and teacher housing in Buliisa, alongside training to boost child retention.

AI in Teacher Prep: The American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education released a framework urging universities to train future teachers on using AI ethically, including limits by grade level and how to handle AI’s risks and benefits. Higher Ed Policy Clash: University leaders, including AAU chair Ronald Daniels, weighed in on the U.S. Department of Education’s new higher-education framework, while critics say it still reflects political pressure on campuses. Curriculum + Skills Push: India’s NEP-focused Education Conclave backed a “degree plus skills” workforce model, stressing industry links and multidisciplinary training. NEP Funding for the North East: Nagaland’s Northeast Education Conclave called for a dedicated prime minister’s package to fund NEP 2020 rollout, from labs and hostels to teacher training and skill hubs. Classroom Strain in India: A “Shame on CBSE” backlash spread after a teacher alleged delayed NCERT books and fast syllabus changes are pressuring Class 9 students. Community Learning in Practice: UH Maui College launched free biocultural garden workshops and regenerative farming courses, blending indigenous knowledge with hands-on learning. Sports as Development: Guyana joined the Concacaf Bigger Game Academy, training coaches and running clinics for children, with safeguarding emphasized.

AI in teacher prep: A new American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education framework urges universities to train teachers to use AI ethically, understand limits, and decide where it fits in classrooms. Curriculum fights over identity: Australia’s Coalition education plan would add “Western values” and cut cross-curriculum priorities tied to Indigenous history, sparking backlash. Digitalization vs reading: Basque lawmakers debate PISA results, arguing digitalization has stalled and reading comprehension needs urgent focus. Teacher jobs under pressure: Ireland’s University of Galway forecasts a near €10M deficit, warning part-time/contract teaching roles may be at risk. Access and affordability: Uganda plans to make lower-level TVET free, aiming to widen hands-on skills pathways. Equity and language in early learning: A critique warns an English-only Head Start shift could harm young children’s development. Climate disruption to schooling: UNICEF reports 171M students worldwide faced climate-related education disruptions in 2025, with Colombia affected by drought. STEM and workforce pipelines: Kerala’s KITE rolls out “Tharapadham” to unify school digital systems and add AI-enabled tools. Student support models: Portland’s Bridges Middle School highlights asset-based learning for neurodivergent students.

AI in Teacher Prep: A new American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education framework urges universities to train future teachers to use AI ethically, understand risks, and decide where AI belongs in classrooms. Math Relevance Debate: Education advocate Ted Dintersmith argues U.S. math is stuck in the past while AI makes real problem-solving faster—pushing schools to teach what adults actually use. Higher-Ed AI Guardrails: Kansas Board of Regents is drafting responsible AI principles for student teaching, research, and administration, aiming to avoid “blind spots” as tools vary by campus. Local Curriculum Updates: Newtown-Harris board approved an updated continuous improvement plan plus Algebra I and special education compliance updates, alongside new anti-harassment and accessibility policies. School Discipline & AI Policy Moves: Rhode Island experts warn AI risks can’t be ignored as education ministries consider integrating AI into local curricula. Funding Access: Michigan reported $672.5M in state aid reaching 166,000+ students, a sharp post-pandemic jump. Workforce Pipeline: TECHnista’s $15.1M Danville expansion links K-12 curriculum with defense and advanced manufacturing jobs. Teacher Recognition & Training: South Dakota named Christian Berger Teacher of the Year; Menifee educators completed Freedom Writers Institute training to boost student voice and literacy. Research for Learning & Care: Studies highlight hospice care disparities tied to setting, communication, caregiver burden, and relationship-based care.

School Infrastructure & Access: Qatar’s MoEHE says it’s adding schools based on population studies, opening five for 2026-27, including new primary and secondary sites. Digital Learning Needs: Ukraine’s education ministry and UNESCO plan continued support for laptops and computers; officials say demand remains huge even after 50,000 Chromebooks and thousands of student devices were delivered. Health & Safety in Early Childhood: Tbilisi suspended classes in seven kindergartens after children showed fever and nausea/vomiting linked to intoxication reports, while 183 others continue. AI in Education Governance: Estonia’s AI Leap program faces a new ethics-focused risk analysis, warning that challenges go beyond tech to include learning goals, assessment reliability, language/culture, and data protection. Higher Ed & Leadership Training: Harvard executive education is set to launch in Hyderabad from December 2026 as Telangana pushes a “global knowledge hub.” Teaching & Learning Innovation: SCETV will roll out “Zoo Minutes,” using short videos plus interactive and 360-degree habitat content to teach conservation. Management Education & AI: India’s chief economic adviser warns B-schools to teach “judgement,” arguing AI may remove the apprenticeship-like work that builds it. Professional Recognition: Kentucky unemployment held at 4.7% in August, while Nebraska named two educators as Freda Battey Distinguished Educator Award recipients.

Civic Learning Push: Former U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers brought Constitution Day lessons to Spokane schools, using her nonprofit to make civics feel local and real for students. Higher-Ed Innovation: UNESCO and partners launched the Higher Education Learning Innovation Lab (HEILAB) to help universities “learn together through practice,” not just trade best practices. Sustainable Development Guidance: UNESCO released new tools to help Education for Sustainable Development take root across education systems. AI in Schools: Abu Dhabi’s ADEK is rolling out AI Literacy across 170+ private schools from KG to Grade 12 with wellbeing guardrails and a shift from using AI to designing it. Teacher Pipeline: A U.S. program at Allen Community College is training future teachers through classroom observation and hands-on instructional practice. Accountability & Safety: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights secured a resolution agreement with Virginia Beach City Public Schools to restore protections after Title IX violations. TVET for Jobs: Ghana’s TVET Service and DTI signed a partnership to strengthen training relevance and youth employment links. Policy Tension: Senate Democrats escalated calls to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon over efforts to dismantle the department.

Accreditation Shake-Up: A new U.S. Education Department push on accreditation rules is drawing alarm from higher-ed leaders, who warn it could blur the line between oversight of process and control over substance. Quantum Access for Research: IQM will deliver its first quantum computer to Brazil’s Eldorado Research Institute in 2027, giving Brazilian researchers direct hardware access plus remote cloud use. AI and Learning in Practice: South Korea’s KEG plans to roll out VIROO immersive 3D tech across its education ecosystem, aiming to expand digital and vocational training. School Safety and Wellbeing: Bangladesh’s safeguarding summit highlights stronger child-safety systems and student mental and social wellbeing as core school responsibilities. Residential School Closure: New Zealand’s education minister moves to close Auckland’s Westbridge Residential School after serious concerns, including assault and performance issues. Literacy After COVID: A Cape Town teacher’s research on how prolonged closures hurt Grade 7 reading comprehension earns international recognition. Curriculum Governance Fight (NZ): Labour proposes an independent council to oversee New Zealand curriculum and assessment, pausing some current changes if elected. Teacher Supply and Prestige: China’s major cities are increasingly hiring PhD-level graduates into secondary teaching roles, reflecting intense competition for academic jobs. Tech Talent in Universities: De La Salle University and GCash launch a fintech engineering elective with cloud-based labs and real-world capstone projects. Foundational Reading Challenge: South Africa reports 15% of Grade 3 learners can’t read a single word, putting pressure on how AI tools should support early literacy.

AI & Education Policy: A U.S. push for routine civic recitation and stronger civics literacy hit the spotlight as the Department of Education urged schools to strengthen civic learning around Constitution Day. School Choice & Schooling Rights: Nebraska lawmakers face a potentially far-reaching lawsuit arguing compulsory public schooling without taxpayer-funded choice violates parents’ free speech. AI in Classrooms: San Francisco parents are demanding limits on AI-based literacy tools, citing privacy and overreliance concerns. Higher Ed Acceleration: Texas named a working group to build a statewide framework for three-year bachelor’s degree pathways aimed at cutting time and cost. International Education & Skills: Illinois State’s international student teaching program won a national innovation award, while Jamaica’s Universal Service Fund awarded $3M in ICT grants to 12 students. Research & Health Education: Rutgers expanded addiction prevention and recovery efforts through a partnership, and Rutgers cancer researchers reported cellular therapy results where tumors shrank or disappeared. Learning Design Recognition: OneSchool Global received an international design award for its “Learning to Learn” framework.

Higher Ed Funding Pressure: Ghana’s UTAG gave the government a one-week ultimatum to pay the 2026 Book and Research Allowance, warning of renewed industrial action if lecturers’ funding delays continue. AI in Schools: A debate is reigniting over whether major U.S. districts should restrict AI tools in classrooms, even as other systems keep integrating AI into teaching. Teacher Workload Reform: Singapore’s Education Ministry is studying a plan to let teachers focus on two of three non-classroom duties, aiming to reduce switching and free up time for instruction and student interaction. Education Policy Rollouts: Kerala moved ahead with central higher-education reforms under PM-SHRI/PM-USHA, including four-year degrees and the Academic Bank of Credits, with ₹500 crore allocated to universities. Student Research Spotlight: Penn’s 25th annual Fall Research Expo drew 382 undergrads across disciplines, showing how mentorship programs are feeding early research careers. STEM Learning by Design: Shizuoka City launched a Mini 4WD-based STEAM project, using sensors and data to teach engineering and problem-solving in high schools. AI Ethics Partnerships: Saudi-based ICAIRE signed MoUs to advance AI research, ethics, and education with King Abdulaziz University. Global Education Cooperation: Kyrgyzstan and China agreed to expand university links and push digital technologies to improve teaching and learning.

Gifted Education Rules in Kuwait: Kuwait’s Ministry of Education published regulations for a new gifted-school system, including how students are identified, taught, assessed, and supported as the first Grades 6–9 cohort prepares to start in West Abdullah Al-Mubarak. Civic Engagement in Schools: Lehigh Valley educators argue that voter education and participation belong in classrooms, especially in midterm years when turnout is typically lower. Tech in the Classroom, Court Fight: Lower Merion School District asked a federal judge to block parents’ bid to opt children out of school-assigned computers, calling it fearmongering and an abuse of process. AI and Speechwriting Scrutiny (Netherlands): Dutch media reported traces of generative AI in politicians’ communications; the Education Ministry says AI may be used to make messages more accessible, while humans determine wording. Literacy Push in South Africa: Isuzu’s three-year partnership with READ Educational Trust targets foundational reading, supporting 1,390 learners and addressing the scale of Grade 4 reading-for-meaning gaps. Teacher Effectiveness Leadership (US): Ascension Parish Schools Superintendent Edith Walker was named to a national educator advisory board focused on improving teacher effectiveness. Exam Quality Concerns (Bangladesh): Education Minister Milon acknowledged major SSC evaluation shortcomings after a surge in top grades following re-evaluation, calling for accountability and stronger monitoring. School Safety Incident (Jamaica): A student was arrested after a loaded firearm was found in a backpack during security screening at Queens School for Career Development.

Trauma-Informed Campus Care: England and Wales’ higher-education student ombudsman says universities should treat sexual-harassment complaints with a trauma-informed approach, prioritizing student well-being over rigid process steps. Early Learning Support: Malaysia’s education ministry is urging parents to use early screening for learning difficulties like autism and ADHD, with specialist assessments and therapies available. AI Governance Push: UN rights chief Volker Türk warns AI decisions are reaching a “critical turning point,” urging governments to regulate now to prevent discrimination, surveillance and disinformation harms. AI and Jobs in Africa: Tanzania’s universities are set to debate how AI will reshape learning and work at a major African higher-ed meeting in Dar es Salaam. Curriculum and Classroom Safety: New Zealand released the final Years 0–10 curriculum areas, adding explicit online safety and a consistent sexuality-education approach; Ghana expanded its Safe Schools Programme to secondary level. Access and Skills Pipelines: Kenya launched 1,000 ICT internship spots for digital-literacy work in schools, while China pilots reassigning primary teachers to middle schools to handle demographic shifts.

Teacher Workforce & Policy: Iowa rolled out two streamlined pathways to become a licensed or authorized substitute teacher, aiming to keep instruction steady when contracted staff are away. Educator Recognition: Arkansas named three River Valley teachers to the Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, with stipends and statewide professional development. Early Childhood Access: Maryland expanded Dorchester County’s Judy Center Early Learning Hub to Choptank Elementary-area families, supporting kids from prenatal through age 5. Higher Ed Research & Teaching Practice: Ohio University launched a hybrid faculty certification track, “From Scholarly Teaching to Research,” guiding educators from teaching questions to research methods and conference/article drafts. AI & Governance: A new interview with internet pioneer Vint Cerf highlights concerns about AI agents and trust, while CEOs from major AI firms renewed calls for slowing AI development. Curriculum & Culture: Türkiye added a “Turkic World” elective with new textbooks, and Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan pushed for stronger heritage research and digital documentation. Tech for Education Systems: Thoriva acquired Fiserv’s education platform to expand AI-enabled loan servicing for government programs. Campus Safety & Prevention: UMaine will screen “4000 Days” during National Hazing Awareness Week, tying research to the Stop Campus Hazing Act. STEM & Community Learning: Northeastern State University announced its Fall 2026 Science & Technology Seminar Series.

Teacher Workforce & Pay: Michigan’s “Operation Education” spotlights a statewide poll showing 56% of teachers are at least somewhat considering leaving within five years, with low pay the top driver. Admissions & Access: Nigeria’s JAMB sets 150 as the 2026 university admission cut-off and exempts Education and certain agriculture non-engineering applicants from UTME, while still requiring JAMB registration for screening. Teacher Training & Capacity Building: Qatar’s MoEHE kicks off its annual training season for school staff, with licensing programmes for teachers and courses spanning science, math, AI and communication. Higher Ed Under Pressure: US faculty and teacher unions fire back at the Education Department, accusing it of weaponizing research funding and demanding answers before pushing “reforms.” Learning Measurement Debate: A US higher-ed commentary argues colleges must show “tangible” proof of learning gains, while warning against accreditation-style assessment that turns into busywork. Student Support & Wellbeing: Liberia launches a national quizzing meet to build youth intellectual capacity, while Malaysia’s PEMADAM develops a school-based drug prevention module to replace one-off programmes with ongoing district schedules. Infrastructure for Schools: Moldova’s school modernization plan wins tax incentives for imported project goods and aims to upgrade 15 institutions for about 12,800 students and 800 teachers.