OREGON SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION

May 18 2026POLITICS

Reducing School Costs Through State‑Wide Health Coverage

School districts in Maine are facing a sharp rise in health insurance expenses. In one district with more than 600 staff members, premiums have climbed by over $1 million, pushing the total employer outlay to nearly $10 million. These figures only represent the portion paid by schools; employees the

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May 08 2026EDUCATION

Finding time for free play in school

Schools often focus on structured lessons, but a new study suggests something simple might help kids more: free play. Researchers looked at 125 elementary students in a high-poverty area. The kids were split into groups that got 12 weeks of 45-minute free play sessions either in fall or spring. The

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May 07 2026OPINION

Phones in schools: why a total ban misses the bigger picture

Schools today aren’t just teaching algebra or history—they’re preparing students for a world where phones are everywhere. A complete ban on these devices might seem like an easy fix for distractions, but it ignores a bigger issue: teaching responsible use instead of avoiding technology altogether. T

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May 03 2026OPINION

Teachers and nurses deserve real respect, not just online words

Schools used to be places where adults actually worked with kids, not battlegrounds. Teachers once had room to teach without constant fear of insults, threats, or budget cuts. Now many quit because the job has become harder than it needs to be. Some parents and politicians seem to think teaching is

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Apr 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

When student data leaks in the cloud

Schoolbook publisher McGraw Hill discovered a gap in its online defenses this April that let outsiders view 13. 5 million user files stored on Salesforce. The hole came from a simple setup mistake, not a hacker tunneling through complex code. Attackers calling themselves ShinyHunters grabbed the exp

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Apr 03 2026EDUCATION

How Can Schools Help Students Work Well With AI Tools?

Schools today face a new challenge: teaching students how to handle AI without losing important human skills. AI tools are everywhere now, from chatbots that explain homework to apps that grade essays. But just teaching students how to use these tools isn’t enough. The real goal should be helping th

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Mar 25 2026EDUCATION

Inclusive Schools Make Everyone Feel Better

Schools that welcome all kinds of students can help every teen feel happier and more confident. A new study shows that when high schools promote respect for LGBTQ teens, even those who are not part of the group feel more connected to their classmates and society. The researchers asked 287 straigh

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Feb 27 2026EDUCATION

Oregon Plans Quicker Attendance Reports to Curb Chronic Absences

Oregon is set to change how it shares school attendance data, moving from an annual update to quarterly releases. The state’s Department of Education will begin publishing the figures each quarter, a move that lawmakers say could help spot and fix attendance problems faster. The change follows th

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Feb 16 2026WEATHER

Oregon Braces for a Snowy Week Ahead

Oregon is preparing for a snowy week, with the Cascades and Coast Range expected to receive the brunt of the storm. This is not just any snowfall; it's a much-needed relief for a year that has seen the lowest snowpack since 1981. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for

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Feb 15 2026POLITICS

Tax Cuts for Oregon Workers, Not the Rich

Oregon lawmakers are pushing a bill that would lower taxes for more than 200, 000 families and give a $25 million credit to local businesses that create good jobs. The proposal aims to fix the state’s budget gap created by federal tax cuts that largely benefited billionaires. If the current fede

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