— In Illinois, the Appellate Court of Illinois ruled that a school policy to deny in-person enrollment to children “residing in a nonprofit shelter… violated their statutory right under (Illinois law) to attend public school.” The ruling, which reversed the lower court, arose when three “minors in the legal custody of DCFS who were housed in a nonprofit shelter” were notified by the school district … “that it intended to offer online learning only for shelter residents with safety concerns.” The school officials were notified that “the shelter was not yet set up for online school… and (that shelter officials) would be enrolling those students in the District’s public schools.” Despite this, “(educators) responded the same day, restating its prior objection … to providing minor residents of the shelter with in-person education.” In the lawsuit, the DCFS made a demand for “immediate enrollment in District schools.” The appellate court ruled that “the trial court erred in denying (the DCFS) motions” because the minors had a “right to attend public school as expressly granted in (state law).” In reversing the lower court, the appellate court declared that “the Education for Homeless Children Act gives the minors the statutory right to attend public school. Section 1-20 of the Act states: “If the parents or guardians of a homeless child or youth choose to enroll the child in a school other than the school of origin, that school immediately shall enroll the homeless child or youth.”” In addition, the court held that the school district was “tasked with providing educational opportunities for local students. That duty may not be deferred indefinitely.” The appellate court concluded that the “minors were likely to succeed on merits of their claim that it was in their best interests to enroll in public school in town where they resided, supporting (a court order preventing the school district from denying their enrollment.)” M.D. v. Momence Community Unified School District 1
— In North Carolina, “the Wake County school board unanimously approved funding for repairs at three elementary schools after district officials said structural issues have made the buildings unsafe for students and staff until repairs are completed. All three buildings were built in the early 1990s.”
— In Missouri, new school safety legislation allows schools “to hire volunteer or paid guards called “Missouri Rangers” who could carry a gun on school grounds.” “A ranger could be paid full time, part time or serve as a volunteer. If authorized by the hiring school district, a ranger could carry a firearm or other weapon capable of lethal use inside schools, on school buses and on district property.”
— In North Carolina, a new law “requires every North Carolina public school to establish a cardiac emergency response plan and provides $4 million to help ensure automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are accessible on school campuses.”