PulseK12.com got a big upgrade this week. The site now runs as an AI-powered news hub that surfaces the most important education stories throughout the day. AI scans and organizes reporting from across the industry, while human editors with experience in education help filter and guide what rises to the top.

For major stories, you can see how many outlets are covering the issue and choose which source you want to read.

The site is new and will keep improving. If you check it out, we’d love your feedback and are excited to have you in on the ground floor.

Nearly 8 in 10 educators say high school students in their districts now receive lessons on what AI is and how to use it responsibly. The instruction drops off in earlier grades, with far fewer elementary students getting any exposure. Many districts are still figuring out how AI literacy should develop across grade levels rather than appearing only in high school.

An Indiana district launched a public microschool to retain families considering homeschooling, enrolling 64 students across grades K–12 with just three licensed teachers and support staff. Demand quickly exceeded available seats, and the district now plans to expand the model. It reflects a growing trend of districts experimenting with smaller, specialized learning environments to address enrollment pressure and family expectations.

Tutoring leaders working with elementary students say post-pandemic recovery often starts with rebuilding attention, confidence, and stamina before academic gains can happen. Some programs now combine small-group instruction with AI-generated reading passages matched to student interests and skill levels. The approach reflects how engagement and relevance continue to shape how quickly students rebuild literacy skills.

Schools now face a $4 billion marketplace of social-emotional learning programs, yet many offerings lack strong research backing. Experts warn that districts should look beyond vendor claims and evaluate whether programs actually build measurable student skills. Strong SEL instruction can improve academics and attendance, but only when programs are implemented with clear evidence and accountability.

A national survey of nearly 200,000 students found that feeling heard by educators is one of the strongest predictors of whether students feel safe at school. While many districts invest heavily in physical security measures, the data suggests relational trust plays an equally important role. Systems that show students their concerns matter may be just as critical as cameras or drills.

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