Northeast Christian High School in Kirksville, Mo., has achieved accreditation as a private school, making it eligible for the Missouri Scholars Program, which covers tuition for students transferring from public schools. This accomplishment allows the school to offer more programs and aims to increase enrollment.

The Opportunity Training Center in Presque Isle, Maine, has been recognized as a School of Excellence by the National Association of Special Education Teachers, the only school in the state to receive the honor this year. The center, which serves students with moderate to severe disabilities, integrates therapy services and offers extracurricular activities, and is one of eight programs operated by the Central Aroostook Association.

Ulster BOCES is transforming a former IBM campus in Kingston, N.Y., into the Ulster BOCES Career Pathways Academies at iPark 87, a hub for career and technical education and community engagement. Slated to open in the fall, the facility will offer internships, mentorships and workforce housing, as well as serve as a model for integrating education with industry and community needs.

A proposal to expand private school vouchers nationwide has been blocked by the Senate parliamentarian for violating procedural rules, posing a significant setback for the party's education agenda. The plan aimed to create a federal tax credit for scholarships to private schools, but Democrats argue that the bill will hurt public education and violate Senate rules.

A study by Brigette Whaley, an associate professor at West Texas A&M University, examines a yearlong "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban at a Texas high school, finding that it improved student engagement and reduced classroom management issues. Teachers reported that students were less anxious and more focused, although consistent enforcement was challenging.

Jake Holzer, a former student of Saint Joseph Regional School, recently returned to the school to teach students about the importance of clean water through a partnership with the nonprofit Wine to Water. Holzer, who has raised more than $4,500 for the organization, guided students in assembling water filters that will provide clean water to underserved communities.

Teachers are increasingly using online survey tools such as Google Forms to gather student perspectives, which can reveal valuable insights and challenge assumptions, says Damian Bebell of Boston College. By leveraging this feedback, teachers can better understand students' experiences and improve their teaching methods, Bebell says.