AGP Executive Report

Indigenous Health Research: Laurentian University and NOSM University will use a $1.354M Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant to co-develop culturally safe brain-and-heart care models for Anishinaabe Elders. School Funding & Accountability: Cache County School District in Utah approved a 37.1% property tax hike after a public hearing, with residents questioning spending and salaries. Student Support at School Start: Tallahassee’s Packs 4 Success back-to-school drive offers free backpacks, supplies, haircuts, and EKG heart screenings for students ages 10–25. Workforce Education: Rapides Parish Schools broke ground on a new Career and Technical Education building at Buckeye High School to expand HVAC and sheet metal pathways. Open/Distance Learning Partnerships: NAMCOL and Zimbabwe Open University signed an MoU to strengthen open and distance learning, including curriculum and quality assurance. Assessment Reform Debate (Ghana): A reflective piece challenges Ghanaian education’s reliance on ranking and urges clearer focus on what learning should measure. Nursing Education Grants (Texas): Gov. Abbott announced $5.6M for nursing innovation grants to expand prelicensure programs and clinical training. Safety & School Operations: Northwest ISD sued a gun range after bullets were found at a new middle school, securing a temporary restraining order. Screen-Time Policy: Fleming County Schools adopted tighter screen-time limits across grade bands while keeping technology for meaningful learning. Back-to-School Transparency: Pennsylvania launched a statewide dashboard letting families view school-level vaccination rates from 2025–26. Higher Ed Expansion: Howard Payne University added fall 2026 minors in data science, cybersecurity, and nutrition via a lower-cost online partnership model.

School Safety & Continuity: Thailand’s Nonthaburi school shooting killed at least seven, including the suspected student gunman, with 15 injured, while local authorities and schools pushed evacuations and investigations. Child Protection Policy: Sarawak, Malaysia began implementing the national Child Protection Policy, requiring everyone working with students to sign a Student Protection Policy Compliance pledge. Digital Transformation in Schools: Sri Lanka plans to connect all 10,000 schools online via fibre, 4G/5G, or satellite, alongside lab upgrades and laptop support to narrow the digital divide. Work-Ready Learning: Qatar’s Career Development Center wrapped up a major job-shadowing programme linking government, education, and industry to give students earlier access to careers. Skills, Training & Partnerships: Liberia dedicated its first purpose-built National Hospitality Training Center to train youth in real hotel and restaurant operations. Higher Education Reform: Zimbabwe’s minister warned universities against “degree factories,” urging innovation, commercialisation, and industry partnerships. STEM & Student Innovation: Chhattisgarh schoolgirls represented India at BRICS 2026 with a rainwater “sponge city” project. Policy & Governance: England’s Labour government review aims to make primary schools identify children at risk of becoming NEET by 16.

Education Funding & Support: Arizona Game and Fish is offering up to $3,000 Heritage K-12 Small Grants for wildlife education projects, with deadlines starting Sept. 1. School Meals: Miami-Dade schools are ending universal free breakfast and lunch as federal eligibility shifts, while experts warn millions of U.S. children could lose free meals this fall. Policy & Accountability: Ghana private schools plan a petition for an independent review of 2026 BECE results after complaints about unfair assessment. Higher Education Partnerships: Barzan University College in Qatar signed with the British Council to expand IELTS services and English learning pathways. Campus & Classroom Expansion: Southeastern Louisiana University Laboratory School will grow to full K-12 by adding one grade each year starting fall 2027. Safety & Student Welfare: Texas is urging drivers to slow down in school zones after school-zone crashes rose 12%; in Louisiana, a Ponchatoula High student was arrested over alleged shooting threats. Religious Charter Fight: A Jewish foundation sued to open Oklahoma’s first religious charter school, challenging a state ban on public funding for religious schools. Reading & Learning Initiatives: Lancaster School District launched “Together We Read” to boost K-2 literacy, and Louisiana named nominated titles for its 2027-2028 Readers’ Choice program.

AI in Education Partnerships: Google Malaysia and MARA are teaming up to roll out Google Workspace for Education Plus across MARA campuses, including 30,000 licences, AI training, and Google Career Certificates. Industry-Linked Curriculum: New Zealand will introduce nine industry-led secondary subjects (from next-gen manufacturing to tourism) for Years 12–13 starting in 2029. Back-to-School Tech Rules: California’s Phone-Free School Act is now in force, and Oakland Unified says students must keep phones locked away during the school day, with limited exceptions. School Safety & Transport: Tusculum, Kentucky-area police are restarting camera speed enforcement in school zones after a summer pause; MRVT is expanding bus options for preschool and school-age students. Funding for Educators: New York Gov. Hochul opened the Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship to reduce tuition costs for child welfare staff pursuing degrees. Results & Access: Punjab boards announced Matric results, with online and SMS checking; BISE Sahiwal also published Class 10 results with official portals and helplines. Hands-On Learning: A new guideline in China’s schools requires grades 4–9 to complete at least one scientific inquiry project each semester.

Workforce Pell Grant Rollout: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Iowa Central Community College to celebrate the first federally approved Workforce Pell Grant career programs, letting low-income students fund short, job-focused training for roles like EMTs. AI + Education Reform: Malaysia’s MOE school reform programme is moving into implementation after selecting high-performing primary and secondary schools, while the Philippines’ education and jobs council meeting pushed AI and digital upskilling alongside workforce plans. University Partnerships & Funding: The University of Minnesota won U.S. DOE Genesis Mission awards to develop AI-driven research workflows, and UC San Diego highlighted a push toward deeper, long-term industry partnerships. School Year Safety & Support: The American Red Cross urged families to review back-to-school travel safety, while local districts and community groups hosted staff and student return events. Legal/Policy Watch: New York State released preliminary 2026 grade-level assessment data, and a Kentucky report said some teachers lost stipends in low-performing CSI schools under state supervision. Early Learning & Community Grants: Marquette University High School announced a landmark $100M gift for scholarships, and multiple local initiatives backed early childhood and youth programs.

School Safety & Accountability: Cebu City officials urged parents and teachers to help identify suspects behind bomb and shooting hoaxes that hit at least seven public schools, with police tracing messages to fake social accounts and deploying officers to affected campuses. EU Education Policy: The European Commission launched a Call for Evidence to shape a new Education Package due in November, focusing on basic skills, teachers and trainers, and broader education priorities. Open Educational Resources: Qatar Precision Health Institute and Qatar National Library partnered to put Genome Heroes genetics learning materials (ages 6–14) on an open-access repository for students and educators worldwide. Higher Education Expansion: Uganda’s President Museveni is set to launch Aga Khan University in Kampala, aiming to close skills gaps in health, business, and technology. AI for Development: The World Bank said AI can accelerate progress in developing economies, but only if countries rapidly improve connectivity, skills, and institutions. School Funding & Planning: Mongolia held public input on the 2027 education sector budget, with calls for school lunches, psychological services, and equal learning opportunities. Local School Operations: East Williston’s elementary school will open on time after a crash damaged its library, while Brentwood charter schools delayed opening amid ongoing court challenges.

Special Education & Inclusion: Wyoming Superintendent Megan Degenfelder convened a state working group to strengthen special education guidance, focusing on IDEA requirements and how districts can staff services with proper monitoring. Higher Education & Literacy: Nebraska’s Buffett Early Childhood Institute won a $98,850 collaboration grant to coach teacher-child conversations in Head Start using LENA Grow data. School Safety Tech: Florida is piloting drones inside school buildings as a first-line defense, with deployments being finalized in multiple counties. Student Privacy in Reading Tech: Santa Fe and Los Alamos paused a state-required AI reading assessment tool over student voice-recording privacy concerns. School Nutrition Policy: U.S. lawmakers reintroduced the FORK Act to expand rural summer meal access via mobile delivery pilots. Immigration Enforcement in Academia: A University of Maryland, Baltimore pharmacy instructor detained by ICE after receiving a “teacher of the year” award. Community & Workforce Development: South Texas Vocational Institute received $115,000 to fund scholarships and upgraded equipment for in-demand career pathways. Education Funding Votes: Dorchester County, South Carolina, approved a referendum for a 1% education sales tax on the November ballot.

Higher Education Leadership: Brown University President Christina Paxson says she will step down at the end of the academic year after clashes over threats to cut federal funding, including a deal tied to a third-party campus climate review. K-12 Safety & Policing: South Africa’s Gauteng Education Department is running search-and-seizure operations at Carletonville and Orange Farm schools to target weapons, drugs, and gangsterism. School Health Staffing: BrightStar Care Milford/Framingham expands school-based medical staffing across Central Massachusetts to address nurse shortages, including one-to-one nursing and transportation coverage. Admissions & Access: India’s Telangana health varsity (KNRUHS) opens online MBBS/BDS Competent Authority Quota registration for 2026–27 with NEET cut-offs and a published schedule. Ethics Education: Ghana and Malta launch “Project Ethics” to strengthen ethics education from kindergarten through junior high via teacher training and digital learning tools. AI in Education Governance: An Illinois bill bars AI from teacher evaluations, arguing for human judgment and privacy protections. Student Housing: University of Newcastle appoints a contractor for a new 450-bed student accommodation project at Callaghan Campus.

Higher-Education Leadership: The University of Kentucky named four faculty as 2026-27 fellows in the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, with workshops planned at LSU and UK. Back-to-School Logistics: Greater Cincinnati districts published 2026-27 start dates, with many schools beginning mid-to-late August. Student Aid Shake-Up: Ontario capped OSAP grants at 25% and shifted more support to loans, while ending career-college grant funding and allowing tuition hikes after a long freeze. School Safety & Policy: Louisiana’s state superintendent urged leaders to keep classrooms calm and enforce anti-bullying rules. Campus Tech Rules: Arlington Public Schools rolled out a two-year iPad pilot that limits devices for younger grades. Local School Leadership: Laurel County Public Schools named Tyler Maynard principal of Hazel Green Elementary. Community Learning Support: Fortitude Re donated $200,000 to Jersey City’s Educational Arts Team to expand arts-based learning. Higher-Ed Oversight: The Trump administration sent a new open letter to universities urging reforms across major policy areas.

School Safety & Mental Health: Las Piñas National High School in the Philippines suspended face-to-face classes for five days after a fatal July 31 stabbing of a 13-year-old student, shifting junior and senior high to printed modules and online work while DepEd and police deploy trauma counseling and tighten campus security. Nutrition Support: Taipei will expand its weekly free milk/soy milk program to junior high students from Aug. 31, reaching about 66,000 more learners via a digital card and partner retailers. Education Reform & Discipline: Ghana’s Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced zero tolerance for indiscipline in Senior High Schools, urging firm action and a national conference to shape a policy framework. Digital Higher Education: India’s BRAOU and the Commonwealth of Learning will build an AI-enabled digital university to strengthen distance learning and faculty development. Climate Resilience in Schools: Bangladesh workshop highlights how floods and river erosion disrupt schooling, pushing for climate-smart education planning. Back-to-School Costs: In Arizona, rising school supply prices are prompting free haircuts and backpacks for families. Partnerships & Skills: Papua New Guinea and Australia launched a three-year secondary education program focused on safer schools, leadership, and stronger STEM teaching.

AI in Classrooms: Israel’s Education Ministry says all high school students will start learning English with personalized AI lessons next year, expanding “Project 720” from a 28-school trial to 180 schools, while keeping teachers central. University Digital Push: Qatar University is accelerating AI across academics and administration, rolling out an AI-powered academic advisor, an AI research and innovation center, and training programs. Back-to-School Support: Kirksville’s sales tax holiday runs Aug. 7–9 for qualifying school supplies, clothing, and tech; Crossing Church’s Back-to-School Fair provided backpacks plus physicals and vision screenings. School Safety & Disruption: Kerala ordered school closures in nine districts due to heavy rain; Spokane Public Schools said two schools were untouched by a nearby wildfire but will support evacuated families. Funding & Partnerships: Cala Homes (Thames) donated £1,500 to a UK primary school summer fair; Texas Wesleyan received a $400,000 state grant to expand trauma care training. Higher Ed & Policy: New Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled physician-patient privilege can block body-camera video in a newborn death case involving a doctor-patient conversation.

Orang Asli Leadership Support: Malaysia’s Johor, with JAKOA, is boosting Orang Asli community leadership via training and higher allowances for Tok Batin in Kampung Labong, aiming to strengthen local governance. Early Vision Care: In Kelantan, an eye screening drive by Universiti Sains Malaysia detected 300+ primary pupils with conditions like strabismus and amblyopia, stressing routine checks and early treatment. Disability Education Funding: Qatar’s endowment authority launched “Sponsoring a Student with Disabilities” to fund grants for students with disabilities through partner schools. College Admissions Access: Georgetown University in Qatar opens fall 2027 admissions using the Common App for the first time, expanding access for applicants. School Safety Shock: A 13-year-old was killed in Las Piñas after a stabbing at school over a small canteen dispute, with authorities investigating how a weapon entered despite security. Back-to-School Tech & Grants: Trafford Council supplied refurbished desktops to Stretford’s St Matthew’s CE Primary under Tech4All, while Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom offers educator grants up to $500 for classroom agriculture projects. Exam Security After NEET-UG Leak: India’s NTA announced a ₹7.5 crore security overhaul tender for offices handling exam materials. NCAA Eligibility Ruling: A federal judge granted a fifth year of NCAA eligibility to Class of 2022 athletes, with the NCAA planning to appeal. Student Mental Health Tech: India’s DIMPLE digital platform is rolling out to support students with anonymous access to mental health resources and counsellors.

Workforce & clean-energy training: SUNY Canton received $440,000 from New York Power Authority funding to train 450+ learners via credit-bearing micro-credentials in heat pumps, drone operations, and mapping/logistics. Back-to-school support: Harris County (Texas) expanded its birth-certificate event to all 10 clerk annexes on a Saturday, helping families complete enrollment paperwork; in Virginia, “Cuts with Cops” offered free haircuts, vaccines, and school supplies. Student opportunity programs: Oswego City Schools used Shineman Foundation grants for hands-on science/field experiences; Sonoma Valley Unified will loan band instruments to every fifth grader starting 2026-27. Campus learning models: Nelson County’s Old Kentucky Home Middle School launched IMPACT, a civics-focused microschool blending social studies and English. Higher-ed & policy: NCAA eligibility rulings granted a fifth season to class of 2022 athletes after a preliminary injunction, reshaping college sports planning. Digital access: New Mexico connected multiple districts to the Statewide Education Network to boost secure high-speed internet and student supports.

Admissions & Exams: Andhra Pradesh’s Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences released the NEET UG 2026 rank-wise qualified list for MBBS/BDS, stressing it’s not the final merit list and counselling will follow after online applications. University Access: Sri Lanka’s UGC published university admission cut-off Z-scores for 2025 A/L after re-scrutiny. Higher Education Governance: Nigeria’s NUC approved Omega University in Kaduna to start academic sessions with 10 undergraduate programmes, with Kaduna State University as mentor. AI in Schools: New Delhi’s NDMC inaugurated an AI/AR/VR experiential lab at Navyug School for Classes 6–10, while Bhadrak (India) plans AI innovation and skilling hubs in selected government schools. Phone Rules: California’s Turlock TK–8 students will face a phone-free campus policy under the new Phone-Free School Act. School Safety: Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative funding is under review to speed releases to security agencies; in General Santos City, police are tracing an online shooting threat aimed at two schools. Student Wellbeing & Discipline: Kerala’s menstrual leave plan is delayed due to missing official orders, and a Las Piñas National High School stabbing left a student dead after an argument. Funding & Grants: Virginia awarded $2.4M via Virginia Catalyst to life-science startups; Virginia Catalyst’s non-dilutive grants target university-to-market biomedical innovation. Sports Eligibility: NCAA eligibility rules are in flux after court injunctions granting a fifth season to certain college athletes.

School Safety & Accountability: Pangasinan police say online bomb and shooting threats across 7 schools (July 18–26) involved mostly minors, with some cases filed and others turned over for welfare action. Education Access & Funding: DepEd launched a new digital platform for its Adopt-A-School Program to speed private donations and improve tracking and tax-incentive access. International Pressure on Girls’ Schooling: The EU again urged Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls above the sixth grade, citing long-term harm to the country’s future. Higher Ed Quality Signals: University of Regina earned AACSB business accreditation, while Illinois State University named its new engineering site “Campus East.” Learning for the Future (AI): A survey finds teens feel schools build AI skills, but they want clearer guidance on using AI for real job outcomes; meanwhile, a Central High School yearbook controversy reignited debate over AI-generated student images. Grants & Programs: A $30,000 grant helps advance Wisconsin’s Jenni Nichols Outdoor Learning Center; URI researchers received a $1.5M grant for cerebral amyloid angiopathy research. Digital Connectivity Risk: The FCC’s E-Rate review could cut internet discounts for districts, raising costs for schools.

School Safety Alerts: Police in General Santos City tightened security at Buayan National High School and General Santos City SPED Integrated School after separate online threats targeting students and teachers. Remote Education Policy: The Philippines’ DepEd is finalizing rules for the Last Mile and GIDA Schools Act, aimed at improving access to quality education in far-flung communities starting Aug. 12. Higher Education Expansion: Greece approved seven foreign universities to open international branch campuses for 2026–27, including U.S. and U.K. institutions, after years of debate and student protests. US Education Department Fight: A Senate committee moved to block parts of a plan to outsource key Education Department offices, protecting special education and other core programs. Admissions Updates (India): Delhi University released UG law spot round schedules and minimum cut-offs for PG spot rounds, with tight deadlines for seat acceptance. School Nutrition Rules (India): Maharashtra’s FDA ordered schools to ban unhealthy foods and restrict HFSS items near campuses. Back-to-School Support: Community groups and health centers in the U.S. and elsewhere are running free holiday clubs and back-to-school events with supplies, meals, and screenings. Teacher Pipeline: Scholarships and new programs are boosting teacher recruitment, including Indiana’s Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship and a new teacher academy in Florida.