Eighth-grade math scores in the United States have been declining since 2013, following a period of improvement, and have now reached their lowest point since the early 2000s, according to the Nation's Report Card. A new report by the Center on Reinventing Public Education offers several recommendations to address the math crisis, including blending traditional and progressive teaching methods, moving away from high-stakes student tracking and leveraging real-time data to guide interventions. The report also urges states and districts to set bold goals, make substantial investments and improve public transparency about student achievement.

When your boss or team doesn't seem to understand you, see it as an opportunity to uncover new knowledge and share your perspective instead of as an obstacle, write Karin Hurt and David Dye from Let's Grow Leaders. Whether it's with your team, your immediate boss or higher leadership, Hurt and Dye offer several ways to start the conversation.

Recent National Assessment of Educational Progress scores show a decline in academic proficiency among high-school seniors, with only 22% proficient in math and 35% in reading. Experts, including Harvard's Martin West and psychologist Jean Twenge, suggest that digital devices and social media are major distractions contributing to this decline, but some researchers, such as Daniel Willingham and Marilyn Campbell, question the strength of the evidence linking phone use to poor academic performance, noting potential unintended consequences of such bans.

As generative AI becomes more capable of coding, students are questioning the value of learning to code. However, experts like Philip Colligan of the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Hadi Partovi of Code.org emphasize the importance of foundational computer science skills for navigating an AI-powered world.

The Education Department will redirect federal grant money toward charter schools, civic education, HBCUs and tribal colleges, including $160 million for the American History and Civics Education program. Supporters say the move strengthens civic instruction, while critics say it politicizes history and diverts resources from other essential education programs.

Delaware has allocated $8 million to an emergency literacy fund for literacy coaches, instructional materials and teacher grants amid flat statewide assessment scores. The initiative, driven by Gov. Matt Mayer's declaration of a literacy emergency, aims to boost early literacy by supporting teachers and providing high-quality classroom materials.

By prioritizing relationship-building and authentic connection, educators can move beyond compliance to create engaged learning communities. The September 2025 issue of Educational Leadership explores how educators can foster belonging in learning through culturally responsive teaching, asset-based practices, and durable-skills development that deepens learning.

Download your FREE topic pack to address the needs of educators and students. This collection brings together key recent articles from ISTE+ASCD on how educators can build students’ career-readiness skills in a time of economic and technological transformation. Download this free collection of Educational Leadership articles today!

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the implementation of new social studies standards advocated by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that include more material from the Bible and Judeo-Christian teachings. The court decision came after 33 teachers, parents and faith leaders filed a challenge arguing the standards violate the First Amendment's separation of church and state, and the court's order prevents the State Department of Education from spending money to enforce the standards while the case is considered.