Carlos Changemaker
Interesting developments in the realm of American politics recently, don’t you think?
With Joe Biden stepping down and Kamala Harris stepping up, the Democrats’ sudden pick for presidential nominee will once again need to confront her contentious track record in addressing student absences – a significant problem that has escalated nationwide post-pandemic – as she gears up to compete with Donald Trump leading up to November.
Initially serving as the district attorney in San Francisco and later as California’s attorney general, Harris is now emphasizing her tough-on-crime credentials on the campaign trail as a counterbalance to Trump, who has a criminal record. However, just five years ago, her primary focus on education as California’s chief law enforcer was considered a liability.
By framing enforcement against student truancy as a preventative measure against future criminal activities, Harris advocated for a California truancy law that initiated a parent-accountability strategy involving fines and jail time for repetitive absences that are frequently caused by obstacles like health issues and homelessness.
Consequently, parents found themselves incarcerated. Harris, during her unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2019, characterized this outcome as an “unintended consequence.”
For more insights on Harris’s campaign against truancy, refer to EdSource.
A Crucial Moment for Big Tech’s Responsibility Towards Child Safety? Senate Democrats have reintroduced significant legislative measures this week aimed at regulating the tech industry extensively in several decades. The objective is to institutionalize fresh online privacy safeguards for children prior to their August recess. Two proposed bills collectively seek to prohibit companies from delivering content and targeted ads to teenagers through algorithms and hold tech corporations accountable for ensuring their products don’t jeopardize children’s well-being. | The Associated Press
In response to congressional inaction, the White House has issued new guidelines, with a task force established by the Biden administration outlining strategies for parents to safeguard their children’s online activities. | Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force
Transitioning from AllHere to What’s Next? Upon the collapse of a company responsible for creating its $6 million AI chatbot, the Los Angeles superintendent plans to establish a task force to investigate the circumstances and determine a path forward. Allegations have surfaced regarding the company’s misuse of student data in L.A. prior to its financial demise. These allegations were initially reported by this publication. | Los Angeles Times
New regulations in New York mandate that educators must notify parents at least a week in advance of any lockdown drills, ensuring these safety exercises are conducted “in a trauma-informed, developmentally and age-appropriate manner.” | Chalkbeat
Ending the Requirement for ‘Forced Disclosure’: A new California law prohibits school districts from enforcing rules that necessitate teachers to inform parents about a student’s change in gender identity. | Los Angeles Times
An ongoing Justice Department lawsuit accuses employees of Southwest Key, the largest operator of shelters for unaccompanied migrant children, of subjecting minors under their care to repeated sexual abuse and harassment. | The New York Times
No Immunity for Excessive Force: Federal judges have ruled that three Honolulu police officers may be sued for using excessive force in a 2020 incident where they handcuffed and arrested a 10-year-old girl at her elementary school. The judges determined that the force used was unnecessary and violated the rights of the student. | Honolulu Civil Beat
A ransomware attack on the Pueblo, Colorado, school district resulted in a significant data breach exposing students’ sensitive information spanning 15 years. | KKTV
The Steep Cost of Cybersecurity Breaches: According to a recent report by cybersecurity firm Sophos, approximately two-thirds of K-12 schools experienced ransomware attacks over the past year. While this marks a notable decrease from 2023, when 80% of schools were targeted, the expenses related to recovery have escalated sharply from $1.6 million to over $3.75 million. | Sophos
We’re excited to announce that Mika has joined our School (in)Security team following an extensive search across the nation. Alongside The 74’s new editor-in-chief, Nicole Ridgway, Mika brings invaluable expertise and keen news-sensing abilities to deliver unmatched leads.
(Share a news tip with Mika)
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