Hebrew-Immersion Public Charter Schools: Ken or Lo?

Ask any elementary-aged child what their favorite school subject is and many will either say recess or P.E. Children delight in the opportunity to run, play and compete with other students after sitting in math and language arts for most of their day. Unfortunately, that time in the school gym or on the playground isn't always the safest from a parent's perspective. We have a rundown on a number of lawsuits pending in school districts across the country, due to what has been perceived as unsafe conditions.

In this video, an attorney explains your options.

Tucson School Sued over Fight

A simple game of tag on a school playground during a physical education class landed one Tucson student in the hospital, according to a report at AZ Central. The student, a 10-year-old Cody Barber, claims that he was attacked by another student during a game of tag at his elementary school in the Tucson Unified School District. The attacker allegedly knocked Cody to the ground and then kicked him once. Barber's spleen was severely lacerated, which required surgery and six days at a nearby medical center to repair.

Barber's mother has accused the school district of negligence in the injury of her son because she said the alleged attacker had a known history of behavioral issues and had been placed "on restriction" by the school. This

While most children can work well within the public school system, kids with special needs require additional help to succeed academically. Unfortunately, not all school districts are equipped to handle students with a wide range of needs properly, and these kids often fall through the cracks without getting the specialized help they desperately need. Fortunately, parents of these kids have legal options when the school system fails.

Failure to Identify Needs

In Wisconsin, a class-action suit is underway to examine how Milwaukee Public Schools answers the call to students with special needs, according to a report in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. The lead plaintiff in this suit, Jamie Stokes, is a 16-year-old who reads at a second-grade level and writes at a third-grade level. The young girl has struggled in school since the age of five, but the district would not agree to test her until Stokes failed first grade for the third time. At that point, the district determined that Stokes suffered from developmental delays and required additional support.

Stokes's mother, Kina King, believes that if Stokes had received intervention services earlier, she might be on a more solid academic footing today. King told the Journal Sentinel, "If they gave her the help, she would have been better, not coloring books her sister in kindergarten is doing." Now, the MPS is facing the question of compensation for families with students who were not placed in special education in a timely manner.

The

Forget the days of "pigs-in-a-blanket" and pizza for lunch. Today's public schools continue to embrace healthier meal options, with fresh fruits and vegetables playing a larger role in school cafeterias than ever before. School salad bars, once considered an innovative idea, have become a familiar feature in many districts across the country.

One of the earliest national efforts to bring fresh produce into school cafeterias was the "Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools" initiative. The program was launched at Riverside Elementary School in Miami, Florida, making the school one of the first elementary schools in the nation to offer students regular access to a dedicated salad bar filled with fresh fruits and vegetables.

More than a decade later, the goals behind that initiative remain highly relevant. As schools continue to focus on student wellness, nutrition education, and healthier eating habits, salad bars remain an important tool for helping children make nutritious food choices.

The Choice of Riverside

Riverside Elementary was chosen as an early participant in the initiative because students had already begun growing their own garden, filled with tomatoes, eggplant, kale, and other produce. School leaders hoped the garden would eventually provide fresh ingredients that could be incorporated into lunches and snacks served through the salad bar.

The garden was grown in cement boxes because the school did not have additional land available for larger-scale planting. Even so, the project demonstrated how schools can incorporate hands-on nutrition education into everyday learning.

Many of the Riverside students were

Most educators and parents would agree that school needs to be a safe place if children are to successfully learn. However, what that safe place looks like has become a topic of controversy for one Michigan school district. On the one hand, a teacher is being applauded for standing up for homosexual students. On the other hand, that same teacher is being accused of bullying students who voiced their own views on anti-homosexuality based on their religion. Which stand is correct? The verdict is still out.

In 2026, debates surrounding student speech, religious expression, LGBTQ+ protections, and school safety policies continue to play out in school districts across the country. Public schools are still navigating how to balance student rights in public school with anti-bullying policies and inclusive learning environments.

The Howell Controversy

In a high school about 45 miles northwest of Detroit, a school teacher asked one of his economics students to remove a belt buckle that featured the Confederate flag. The teacher, Jay McDowell, explained that the symbol could be offensive to some of the students in the class. The student readily complied with the request, but the exchange sparked a discussion among other students and the teacher that resulted in two students being asked to leave the classroom.

The first student, 16-year-old Daniel Glowacki, asked McDowell to explain the difference between the Confederate flag and the rainbow flag that serves as a symbol of pride for the gay community. At the time, McDowell