Back-to-School = Education in the Spotlight

As the 2025–26 school year kicks off, schools are reopening under growing pressure on all fronts, from tighter budgets and teacher shortages to rising concerns around school safety and public funding. Student voices are gaining traction, new policies are reshaping federal aid, and the school choice debate is heating up. For education companies and communicators, it’s a moment to tune into what’s shifting, spotlight meaningful impact, and align with the issues driving decisions on the ground.

The Ed5: The Stories, Stats, and Shifts Shaping Education Now

Federal Crosscurrents: What’s Funded, What’s at Risk: Two major fiscal developments are reshaping the education landscape. The administration’s proposed FY2026 budget aims to decrease federal education funding by 15%, targeting K-12 programs, after-school initiatives, and early childhood grants. Meanwhile, a newly enacted higher education law tightens borrowing limits and ties federal aid to program outcomes — requiring colleges to demonstrate value or risk losing funding.

0to5 Insight: With funding on the line, schools and colleges must clearly show their impact. Strong messaging backed by outcomes and real success stories will cut through the noise.
Student Voices at the Table – Students are taking a more active role in shaping their educational experiences – leading initiatives, advocating for change, and wanting input on how schools communicate. Recent research from NSPRA and SchoolStatus shows over half of districts (52%) already share student stories in their own words. Districts are increasingly using student voices to tackle challenges like chronic absenteeism and engagement. From edtech pilots to message design, paying attention to student voices is becoming essential.

0to5 Insight: Schools and companies that invite student input early and often will be better positioned to build trust, relevance, and impact.
Vouchers and the Public School Challenge – School vouchers are front and center this fall, as states like Texas and Tennessee expand programs that shift public funds to private education. A new federal tax-credit voucher initiative could extend this shift nationwide if states opt in. While advocates promote greater choice, concerns about public school stability are sparking pushback. In Tennessee and Georgia, the new Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund is backing pro-public school candidates; Arizona districts are navigating enrollment and funding challenges; and Texas voters have signaled resistance in recent school board elections.

0to5 Insight: As school choice gains momentum, public education leaders need to clearly and consistently communicate their value by spotlighting student success, community impact, and what makes their schools indispensable. Stronger family communication and visible commitments to school safety can also build parent trust and support.
School Safety Is Front and Center – As students head back to classrooms this fall, keeping students safe is a growing priority for educators, administrators, and policymakers. Legislation like Alyssa’s Law continues to gain traction nationwide, requiring districts to implement silent panic alert systems. A newly released report on school safety trends reflects rising vigilance among school leaders, with greater focus on readiness, rapid response, and prevention.

0to5 Insight: With safety concerns continuing to make headlines on campuses nationwide, there’s an opportunity to spotlight what’s working – from new policies to tech adoption. Reporters want stories that move beyond fear and focus on solutions.
Innovation Meets Burnout in the Educator Workforce – Staffing remains a top concern this school year, with many districts entering the fall with critical teacher and support staff shortages. While the challenge remains urgent, districts are innovating to address the issue by exploring new retention strategies, ranging from four-day school weeks to better wellness benefits.

0to5 Insight: PR efforts that highlight how schools are supporting teachers, rethinking retention, or piloting new staffing models can drive positive coverage and signal progress in a space that urgently needs solutions.

Research and Data

From STEM gender disparities to the rise of AI in K–12 education, research continues to fuel narratives.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released new scores for 8th grade science and 12th grade mathematics and reading this week, revealing declining scores for students entering and exiting high school and underscoring the ongoing challenges in helping students recover academically.
New research from NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, reveals that COVID-19 disruptions reopened gender achievement gaps in middle school STEM, with girls losing more ground than boys in math and science, erasing over a decade of progress in just four years.
New research, “Teaching for Tomorrow,” from the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup explores AI use in K-12 education. It found that 60% of teachers used AI in 2024–25, saving nearly six hours a week. While many report better instruction, adoption and support remain uneven.
A new survey from Stanford University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that financial hardships – like struggles with housing, food, or healthcare – put young children's well-being at risk, potentially leading to issues like emotional distress and developmental delays.

Inside the Beat: A Conversation with Christina Samuels, Deputy Managing Editor at The Hechinger Report

Inside the Beat: What’s Shaping the 2025–26 Education Beat

As we kick off a new academic year, we asked education journalists: What big stories will you be watching this year? Here’s what’s top of mind in newsrooms and what education communicators should be ready to weigh in on.

Elizabeth Heubeck, Education Week
“Effects of federal budget cuts to education; chronic absenteeism; political polarization and its effects in the classroom; flagging reading and math scores and how to elevate them; college and career readiness and the evolution of high school toward more experiential learning.”

Christina Samuels, The Hechinger Report
“An issue we'll be trying to follow is any potential efforts to support preschool and child care at the state level. It seems likely that there will be few if any federal efforts – preschool development grants are on the chopping block, even Head Start is potentially under threat – so will states step in to try to build or expand programs for young children? If so, where will the money come from? That's something I'll be watching closely over the next several months.”

Kara Arundel, K-12 Dive
“The K-12 education field, after experiencing a demanding first half of the year, faces several significant developments in the coming months. States and school districts must adapt to substantial federal funding restructuring as the U.S. Department of Education implements fiscal and policy changes. At the same time, other federal policy adjustments, including those related to tariffs and Medicaid, will have cascading effects on school operations and budgetary planning.

The use of artificial intelligence in schools will accelerate with new federal guidance encouraging educator-led implementation of curricula improvements. Schools will also explore AI opportunities in college and career planning and administrative paperwork.

Schools will continue to face intensifying staffing challenges and will have to navigate these shortages all while working to close learning gaps.

Finally, increased competition from the expansion of private school choice programs will cause public schools and their districts to create distinctive learning opportunities and other offerings that attract students, families and staff."

#EdWatch: What Reporters Are Sharing

What’s driving the education conversation as the new school year begins? In this edition of #EdWatch, we’re highlighting timely posts and story threads from reporters across the education, tech, and policy beats.

Inside Higher Ed’s Sara Weissman reports on a new AEI and Burning Glass Institute analysis of 23K+ nondegree programs. Some lead to significant wage gains and advancement, while others offer no boost at all—even in high-paying fields. Read more here.
Sara Randazzo, education reporter at The Wall Street Journal, uncovers what’s still on students’ required reading lists – and what isn’t. A new NCTE report reveals that classics like works from Shakespeare, “The Great Gatsby,” and “Of Mice and Men” continue to dominate U.S. classrooms. Read more here.
Lauren Wagner, education reporter for The 74, reports that with the dismantling of the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights, families seeking special education services fear a tougher path ahead, with fewer federal protections and more state-level hurdles. Read more here.

Spotlight: Coverage That Made an Impact

Here are a few top education placements secured by 0to5 this past quarter — plus a look behind the scenes at how the stories came together.