School Sports & Civil Rights: Public schools in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference asked a federal court to dismiss a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by Bishop McCort Academy, arguing the school was targeted for removal and that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association was part of a conspiracy. Student Learning & Community Programs: Youngstown’s Tyler History Center hosted the start of a Youngstown Freedom School modeled on Freedom Summer, pairing civil rights history with mentoring, writing, and nonviolence lessons for grades 4–8. Higher Ed Access & Cost: Harrisburg University cut its graduate Executive Session campus travel to one on-campus weekend per semester starting Fall 2026, aiming to reduce time and expense for working and international students. Workforce & Training Reality Check: In California’s “Lithium Valley,” Imperial Valley College students are earning lithium operator certificates even as promised jobs still lag, highlighting the gap between training and hiring. Native History & Research: A report says expansions of NAGPRA are making it harder for researchers and students to study Native history and archaeology, raising concerns about how artifacts are handled. Campus Protests & Divestment: Smith College rejected pro-Palestinian divestment demands, saying the endowment shouldn’t be used for global political issues outside the school’s core mission. Funding & Financial Oversight: The University of Arizona plans to transfer $70M in endowment payouts to itself to boost “cash on hand,” drawing questions about donor intent and compliance with state requirements. Education Rankings: Washington state slipped in a national Kids Count education ranking, with math and reading proficiency concerns still driving the overall drop.