News•Mar 11, 2026
AllHere Set Meeting With LAUSD Leaders Months Before Landing $6.2M Chatbot Deal
In January 2023 LAUSD leaders met with AllHere CEO and consultant Debra Kerr, a close associate of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, months before the district approved a $6.2 million AI‑chatbot contract. The deal later became the focus of FBI raids, an investigation into Carvalho’s role, and the bankruptcy and criminal charges against AllHere founder Joanna Smith‑Griffin. Public‑record requests reveal scant documentation of the procurement process, while the district’s task force and inspector‑general reports have yet to disclose findings. The controversy raises serious questions about conflict‑of‑interest safeguards and oversight of large ed‑tech purchases.
By The 74
News•Mar 10, 2026
Parents Are Feeding Their Babies Sticks of Butter
A wave of parents and social‑media influencers are giving infants aged six months to two years sticks of butter, touting benefits such as deeper sleep and accelerated development. The practice has spread through short video clips and anecdotal testimonials rather...
By The 74
News•Mar 10, 2026
The State of Youth Apprenticeships: Policy, Practice and Pathways to Scale
On Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, The 74 and the Progressive Policy Institute will host a Zoom conversation titled “The State of Youth Apprenticeships: Policy, Practice and Pathways to Scale.” The panel features California’s apprenticeship chief Adele Burns, ApprenticeshipNC director Chris Harrington,...
By The 74
News•Mar 10, 2026
Opinion: Making Afterschool & Summer Programs More Affordable for Millions of Families
A new America After 3PM study shows that while parents of nearly 30 million children desire after‑school or summer programs, only about 7 million are actually enrolled. Cost remains the primary obstacle, with almost 60 % of families unable to afford participation and...
By The 74
News•Mar 9, 2026
Worry for Teacher Pensions Prompts Criticism of Oklahoma Ed Funding Plan
Oklahoma Senate leaders unveiled a plan to redirect $254 million from the Teachers’ Retirement System’s apportionment subsidy toward a $2,500 teacher pay raise, additional school funding, and expanded private‑school tax credits. The proposal does not cut current retiree benefits but would...
By The 74
News•Mar 8, 2026
A Record Share of U.S. Workers Now Have Access to Paid Leave
A record 32 percent of U.S. private‑sector workers—about 46 million people—now have access to paid family and medical leave through state‑run programs, the highest share ever recorded. Fourteen state laws, ten enacted in the past decade, cover workers in 13 blue...
By The 74
News•Mar 3, 2026
Two New Reports Urge ‘Human-Centered’ School AI Adoption
Two new education‑focused reports warn that careless AI adoption could lock schools into a tech‑driven future that sidelines human judgment. They outline three scenarios—a retreat from AI, an all‑in automated model, and a human‑centered redesign—showing how each path impacts student...
By The 74
News•Mar 1, 2026
Modern Parenting Means Apps for Sports, School and More. Where Is the Data Going?
California Assemblymember Dawn Addis is championing AB 1159, a bill that would tighten privacy protections for K‑12 and college students by closing loopholes in the state’s 2014 education data law and restricting AI companies’ use of student information. The proposal...
By The 74
News•Feb 18, 2026
NYC Parents Want Career Aptitude Assessments for All High Schoolers
NYC parents, through the Citywide Council on High Schools, have passed a resolution urging the Education Department to implement career aptitude assessments for all ninth‑ and eleventh‑grade students. The proposal argues that standardized, research‑based tools can help students—especially those from...
By The 74