The Bright Ideas solar energy project at West Virginia University's STEAM Technical Assistance Center has helped middle-school students from underserved communities feel a sense of belonging, writes educator Angela McDaniel. The project, originally intended as an engineering immersion, allows students to work as engineers to solve real-world problems with solar energy, and emphasizes hands-on learning and collaboration.

More than half of teachers say their district or school has implemented one or more equitable grading policy, such as unlimited retakes or no late penalties, according to a report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. However, many teachers believe these policies lower academic standards and harm student engagement, writes David Griffith, the organization's national research director.

AI chatbots are unreliable and potentially harmful when used by teenagers for mental health support, according to a report by Stanford University's Brain Science Lab and Common Sense Media. The study found that bots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT-5 and Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash often fail to recognize serious mental health issues, instead acting as overly supportive listeners without directing users to professional help.

Denver Public Schools is partnering with rapper Dr. Dre and recording executive Jimmy Iovine to establish Iovine and Young Centers for Innovation at two Denver schools. The centers will offer classes in technology, design, business and the arts starting with ninth-graders and middle-schoolers in fall 2026, aiming to empower students, particularly those from underrepresented communities.

The Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology has launched a professional development webinar series for educators to utilize digital museum resources in celebration of the US' 250th anniversary. The series, "Cultivating Learning: Celebrating America at 250," includes sessions from various Smithsonian institutions, focusing on inquiry-based learning and historical case studies.

School leader Rachel Edoho-Eket shares the transformative power of gratitude in leadership, recounting how reading old thank-you notes helped her feel grounded during a stressful day. She suggests leaders take gratitude walks to focus on positive aspects of their environment, celebrate progress over perfection and practice self-gratitude to maintain emotional endurance.