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Grandparents play a growing role in kids’ screen habits—sometimes causing family friction.
Nation’s Report Card will stay on track for 2026, even amid Education Department layoffs.
Louisville’s career-focused high schools blend academics with real-world skills for every student.
Research & Practice
Science Daily: Adolescents who sleep longer perform better at cognitive tasks
A study of U.S. adolescents found that those who slept longer and went to bed earlier had better brain function and performed better on cognitive tests. Researchers used data from over 3,200 participants aged 11–12, tracking sleep patterns with FitBits and analyzing brain scans and cognitive scores. The study identified three sleep groups, with the earliest sleepers showing the highest brain volume and best test performance. Although the sleep differences were small—about 15 minutes—they still impacted brain health. Despite these findings, none of the groups met the recommended 8–10 hours of sleep for their age. Researchers also noted that lower heart rates during sleep, seen in the best-performing group, indicated better sleep quality. The study underscores how even slight variations in sleep can influence brain development during adolescence and calls for deeper investigation into factors affecting youth sleep habits, such as screen time and body clock changes.
Journal of Children and Media: Grandparents and children’s media use in the USA: Screen time, mediation practices, and relationship outcomes
This study explores how American grandparents manage their grandchildren’s media use and how these practices affect family dynamics. Surveying 350 grandparents of children aged 2–10, researchers found that screen time accounted for 49% of the time children spent under their grandparents’ care. Digital skills were the strongest predictor of how actively grandparents mediated media use. The study also found that negative attitudes toward media predicted greater disagreement with adult children, which was linked to lower relationship satisfaction. These findings emphasize the need for better media literacy support for grandparents and highlight the growing caregiving role of both grandmothers and grandfathers. The study calls for further research on family negotiations over children’s media use, especially as intergenerational tensions around screen time can strain parent-grandparent relationships.
Policy
AP News: Head Start funding lags by nearly $1 billion this year, causing some preschool closures
Head Start centers across the U.S. have received nearly $1 billion less in federal funding compared to last year, forcing some preschool classrooms for low-income children to close. From January to mid-April, only $1.6 billion was distributed versus $2.55 billion the year before. In Washington state, Inspire Development Centers shut down classrooms serving over 400 children, laying off more than 70 staff. The closures disrupt vital services like free preschool, health checks, and support for children with disabilities. Senator Patty Murray from Washington criticized the cuts for the impact on working families nationwide. Advocates warn the impacts were predictable, highlighting how dependent Head Start is on timely federal support. Additionally, the program now faces challenges in the FY26 budgeting process, including proposals to eliminate it entirely.
K-12 Dive: Despite layoffs, NAEP to continue as planned in 2026
Despite major layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, officials confirmed that the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), or Nation’s Report Card, will proceed as planned in 2026. Reading and math assessments for 4th and 8th grades, along with U.S. history and civics for 8th graders, are scheduled for early 2026, with results released in 2027. While experts had feared data quality would decline due to staffing cuts, the department said most work is contracted and remains unaffected. The NAEP’s modernization efforts, including pilot assessments and updated testing frameworks, will continue, though plans for remote and device-agnostic testing are uncertain. The announcement comes amid broader efforts to downsize the Education Department. Secretary Linda McMahon reaffirmed NAEP’s role in guiding educational improvement, even as the department restructures to align with its downsizing mandate.
Around the Nation
The New York Times: After the Wildfires, This High School Needed a Campus. It Found a Sears.
After a wildfire destroyed much of Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles, students and staff have moved into a temporary campus in a repurposed Sears building in Santa Monica, dubbed “Pali South.” The $10 million transformation—funded through insurance, donations, and school funds—created 90 classrooms and communal spaces in just one month. Though the setup lacks classroom doors and whiteboards, and uses portable bathrooms, students are grateful to be back in person after months of remote learning. Teachers and architects aimed to make the space feel like home, despite the challenges. The school may remain there into next year, depending on recovery progress at the original site. The move not only marks a return to learning but also symbolizes rebuilding a fire-stricken community.
The Hechinger Report: Schools are pushing career ed classes ‘for all,’ even kids heading to college
Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY, has implemented the “Academies of Louisville,” a districtwide initiative integrating career and technical education (CTE) into high school curricula. Since its 2017 pilot, all 15 main high schools now offer students a choice of industry-aligned pathways, combining core academics with real-world skills. Students explore career options in 9th grade and begin specialized courses in 10th. Hands-on experiences—such as working in a student-run credit union—enhance learning and engagement. The model aims to better prepare students for college or careers, boosting graduation and readiness rates significantly. Despite its success and local support, the program’s expansion has faced challenges in other districts, like Anchorage, where parents raised concerns over implementation. Louisville continues to refine and promote its model, backed by partnerships with local employers and higher education. Leaders credit the initiative with transforming student engagement and shaping a workforce-ready generation.
K-12 Dive: ELA proficiency rebounds for Chicago elementary school students
A new Kids First Chicago report shows that elementary English language arts (ELA) proficiency in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, rising 11 percentage points from 2022 to 2024. However, high school SAT scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, particularly in math. Despite gains, racial and demographic disparities persist—ELA proficiency is 60% for White students but only 23% and 26% for Black and Latino students, respectively. The report also highlights increases in Algebra 1 completion, graduation rates, and 9th-grade on-track rates. Still, student social-emotional well-being and engagement have declined since 2018. Experts credit pandemic-era interventions like tutoring and academic support for recent literacy gains but warn that sustainability is at risk as COVID-19 relief funding ends. CPS now faces the challenge of maintaining progress without ongoing federal support.
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