Welcome back. Pulse K-12 is officially one year in, and we are so grateful for your continued support. This week’s stories feel like a good reminder of why we started. We’re here to make sense of the shifts school leaders are tracking across learning, student support, technology, and policy.
1️⃣ Reading Scores Decline Nationally Despite Math Recovery
Students across the U.S. remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic reading scores, with researchers documenting a "reading recession" that began years before COVID-19 disrupted schools. Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth scholars analyzed test data from over 5,000 districts in 38 states and found only five states plus D.C. showed meaningful reading growth from 2022 to 2025, while almost every state saw math improvements during the same period. The split suggests schools may need different strategies for reading than the ones helping students recover in math.
2️⃣ Summer Math Loss Outpaces Reading Decline
Students experience significant math learning losses during summer break while reading skills show much smaller declines, according to new data from NWEA. The organization's analysis reveals math summer slide substantially exceeds reading loss across grade levels, with the gap particularly pronounced in elementary and middle school years. Districts investing in targeted summer math programming may see greater returns than broad-based literacy interventions during break periods.
3️⃣ School Districts Open Parking Lots for Homeless Families
San Diego school district officials partnered with the city and nonprofits to convert district parking lots into temporary shelters for homeless students and their families, providing RV trailers with basic amenities while families work with caseworkers to find permanent housing. The initiative emerged as family homelessness hit record highs in 2024, with rising inflation and housing costs pushing more families with school-age children into unstable living situations. The model is spreading beyond California to other states as districts grapple with how to address the basic needs of students who can't focus on learning without stable housing.
4️⃣ Canvas Owner Likely Paid Ransomware Demand After Breach
Instructure, the company behind the Canvas learning management system used by millions of students, reached an "agreement" with cybercriminals following a data breach that exposed sensitive information. Cybersecurity experts interpret the company's carefully worded statement as evidence of a ransomware payment, a practice the FBI strongly discourages as it fuels further attacks. The incident highlights the vulnerability of educational technology platforms that store vast amounts of student and educator data, potentially setting a concerning precedent for how ed-tech companies respond to cyber threats.
5️⃣ Cellphone Ban Shows Gains and Tradeoffs
A Florida district's cellphone restrictions led to measurable gains in student learning and attendance during the first year of implementation, according to a new Education Next analysis. The policy produced academic improvements across student populations, though suspension rates spiked significantly, with Black students experiencing disproportionate increases in disciplinary actions. The mixed outcomes highlight the complex tradeoffs districts face as they weigh the instructional benefits of device restrictions against potential equity concerns in enforcement.
📤 Found Pulse K-12 helpful? Share it with a colleague so they can keep a pulse on education too.