Latest news with #K12
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
New K-12 school focuses on promoting American principles, eliminating 'woke ideology'
A new K-12 online school is focusing on promoting American principles and "eliminating woke ideology." The president of the American Virtual Academy, Damian Creamer, told Fox News Digital that he wanted to provide an alternative to parents who were fed up with liberal ideology being taught in the classroom. "We're really focused on giving families an opportunity to put their kids in a school that is going to respect their values and make sure that we're teaching American principles and providing a different option to families out there than what they typically run across," Creamer said. The online-only Kindergarten through 12th grade accredited school launched in April of this year. The private nonprofit school charges $5,000-$6,000 a year, depending on the grade. All 50 states have access to the K-12 online school because it's virtual. Eight states allow the use of vouchers and school choice scholarships to fund tuition: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming. American Virtual Academy currently has 600 students enrolled and hopes to grow to 10,000 within three years. Creamer added that American Virtual Academy also emphasizes the importance of reading, writing, and math. "They don't have to worry about what we're teaching in the school and how we're teaching things and that our values resonate with their values and, as the founder of the school, I had an opportunity to be really particular about how I was going to put this together, making sure that it took a lot of time to think about what is it exactly," he said. "What we can do to support families throughout the country, make sure that their students coming to American Virtual Academy are going to excel academically, and they're going to get a great education, but also just eliminating all the woke ideology and the DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), the CRT (critical race theory), the transgenderism, all of that stuff right there." "That's not anything that we teach," he concluded. There has been an uptick in parents choosing options outside their neighborhood school since 2020. Homeschool enrollment has increased since the coronavirus pandemic, indicating a growing trend of parents overlooking public schools. Several states have been responding to the trend of parents choosing alternatives to traditional public school settings by passing universal school choice legislation, allowing all children within the state an opportunity to access the school that fits their needs. Arizona became the first state to offer universal school choice for all families in 2022, launching an $800 million program that gives parents $7,000 to put toward their children's tuition. New Hampshire is the latest state to pass universal school choice, joining a trend of states with Republican trifectas expanding education options for children. New Hampshire is the first state that passed the legislation that went for Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024. The Trump administration instituted a federal tax credit scholarship, giving individuals all across the country an opportunity to support school choice programs within their state, circumventing anti-school choice measures. Corey DeAngelis of the American Culture Project told Fox News Digital that the growth of alternative education models is emblematic of a growing trend of parents being fed up with the traditional public school setting. "The teachers union made their anti-American agenda obvious at their annual convention this month by passing resolutions that had everything to do with politics and nothing to do with education. The NEA passed resolutions that read like a declaration of war on the Trump Administration. Parents wants their children to get an education, not left-wing indoctrination," DeAngelis said. "There are too many woke private schools that are just as bad – ideologically – as the government schools parents are fleeing. But the good news is that supply meets demand. New options like American Virtual Academy are sprouting up because most families want something else," he added.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Era of uncertainty has put focus for kids' education back on basics
Battle-weary mums and dads skidding into term 3 convinced it's time for operation damage control can take some comfort in knowing that they're not alone. Even Nova 96.9's famously laconic radio personality Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, father to Hewie, 16, and Lenny, 12, feels major social transformations like social media, AI and geopolitical tensions have disproportionately pulled focus. 'We've got a couple of wars … it is quite confusing at the moment,' Fitzy said. 'There's a lot of uncertainty out there.' But have these global forces distracted all the adults in the room from adequately monitoring Australian children's literacy development? That's a question worrying the majority of parents. Exclusive new research reveals 64 per cent of Australian school parents (K-12) fear kids' education is at risk of becoming collateral damage as societal stresses mount. Two in three parent respondents 'worry the education of this generation is being overlooked and damaged in the face of growing societal change and the pressures on families'. That concern peaks for children in junior primary, with 72 per cent of surveyed parents in agreement. The survey of 1307 Australians – conducted exclusively for Kids News as part of the June 2025 Lighthouse Consumer Tracker, by News Corp Australia's Growth Intelligence Centre (GIC) – comes as the free classroom news site's flagship literacy initiative, the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee, opens for its fifth year on Monday. After the competition's record 70,557 student registrations last year, leading social demographer Mark McCrindle said the PM's Spelling Bee's surging popularity nationwide was part of a 'corrective' movement 'back to the real world'. 'We do need to master English for our future and parents are pretty clear on that,' Mr McCrindle said. 'Can our children write? Can they construct sentences? That (GIC) survey picked that up … literacy and numeracy really are front of mind for parents, through that practical lens of what it means for their (children's) future.' Recent McCrindle research has itself found that while parents support wellbeing as a focus in schools, they also want to know that students are equipped 'with foundation learning blocks and therefore with the ability to thrive'. 'That's why we're starting to see an intense focus back on the basics,' Mr McCrindle said. 'There's a need for priority and a recognition that maybe we've eased off a bit too much on the foundation responsibility of schools, and that's to deliver on numeracy and literacy.' The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) CEO Stephen Gniel agreed that 'early intervention is the key to improving educational outcomes'. As the nation's main measure of kids' essential literacy skills and knowledge, Mr Gniel said the results of ACARA's NAPLAN assessments were an important tool for teachers and parents 'to identify if a student is at risk of falling behind'. Now established on the annual calendar for educators teaching across years 3-8, the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee is an additional tool, delivered in schools as a free, fun challenge that kids simply enjoy. 'Literacy is one of the foundational skills that underpins learning and life, so it is fantastic that the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee is highlighting this important issue,' Mr Gniel said. News Corp Australia community ambassador Penny Fowler said the fifth year of competition was cause for celebration. 'The Prime Minister's Spelling Bee has fantastic momentum, growing in popularity every year and bringing to the fore the critical role literacy plays in educating young Australians and positively impacting their path to adulthood,' Ms Fowler said. 'Amid concerns about children's social media exposure, it's inspiring to see so many embrace the written word to unlock a lifetime of learning, reflecting Kids News' belief that education is an investment in future generations.' Fitzy's Nova co-host and devoted father of three Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli said the PM's Spelling Bee 'rewards concentration, curiosity and persistence'. 'Every child deserves the chance to shine through effort, not algorithms,' Wippa said. 'A good old-fashioned spelling bee offers more than just a chance to memorise words – it helps kids to slow down and build confidence at a time when many are overwhelmed.' A big believer in cultivating resilience in kids, Fitzy said the Bee was 'an unbelievable confidence-building' initiative. 'We need to start learning and adapting, combining the latest technology with those basic skills of literacy, English, grammar that we grew up with,' he said, likening his own sons' development to 'getting into the gym':'You're not going to see results straightaway, but when you do start seeing results, it's really fulfilling.' Catch Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie from 6am at Nova 96.9 in Sydney and nationally on Nova Player. ABOUT THE BEE â—� The Prime Minister's Spelling Bee is a free, online competition for students in Years 3-8. â—� Students compete at their school in three levels: Green level for Years 3-4, Orange level for Years 5-6 and Red level for Years 7-8. â—� They get 30 randomly selected words from their competition level and have 25 seconds to type each answer. The students with the most correct words in the fastest time progress to finals. â—� Teachers can register their students from July 21 when the school round begins. â—� The school round ends on August 22. State and territory finals will be held September 1-5 and the national finals on September 10-11. â—� The national champion in each age group wins a trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, an iPad, HarperCollins book pack and a $1000 voucher for their school. FROM 'FUTURE STRESS TO CAN-DO KIDS Parents are worried children will pay the price for today's pressures and uncertainties – and kids are feeling it too. Research by online mental health service ReachOut found nearly half of 16-18 year olds (43 per cent) said 'future stress' was one of the issues concerning them most. ReachOut clinical governance lead Linda Williams said young Australians' worries included climate anxiety, world news and future jobs. While solid foundation literacy skills like spelling will always help young Aussies prosper, Ms Williams said ReachOut had some building blocks for parents to help children unburden themselves and embrace the future as can-do kids: Maintain open communication 'Regular check-ins about how they're going can be really helpful to understand what challenges they are dealing with, how these might change over time and how (difficulties) are impacting (them). Approaching conversations … with curiosity can help.' Try not to minimise or dismiss their feelings 'Trying to understand where they are coming from, what's causing them stress and how it's impacting them is a really important first step, which can come from conversations but also from observing their mood and any changes.' Identify options 'Once you understand more it can become more clear what kind of support and coping strategies could be helpful. That could include things like mental health support, scheduling in times for hobbies they love and screen breaks.' Practice self-care 'Parents are sometimes dealing with similar challenges themselves in real time too. (Having) the energy to support your young person when they need you is also vital,' Ms Williams said.
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Science
- Fast Company
AI tools are killing students' critical thinking. It's time to fight back
The data, both empirical and intuitive, could not be more clear: Generic, direct-answer and productivity AI platforms, most notably OpenAI's ChatGPT, are dumbing down an entire generation of students, eroding critical thinking skills, and atrophying the muscle that is such a core component of what makes us human. And yet, universities and K-12 institutions are agreeing to substantial deals and partnerships with generic AI platforms, such as ChatGPT EDU, to bring these destructive tools into their classrooms, encouraging their use among the student body even as the correlation between usage of current AI tools and critical thinking shows devastating negative effects. Reading competencies are down for the fourth straight year and 50% of students admit to using ChatGPT for a quiz, test or essay. We've all had some version of the same conversation about COVID's effects on students. Many lost an entire year or more and were just passed through to the next grade level. It was a disastrous effect for students who were already behind the curve. In effect, direct answer generation AI tools are creating a 'COVID 2.0'' generation of students who won't lose just one year but a significant portion of their educational experience. Their development and personal agency is diminishing every day by using AI as a tool for shortcuts and cheating. It's Worse than you Think There's a reason we don't allow children to drive a car before a certain age. There's a level of responsibility society has determined is necessary to drive a powerful machine. AI is a powerful machine but we're handing our children the keys to a Mustang GPT with no training and no protections. Predictably, it's not going well. You may be wondering why a founder of an edtech AI platform is critical of AI in education. To be clear, I know that AI can have an immensely positive impact on education. I know that AI can act as a force-multiplier for teachers and it can open up a world of knowledge and inspiration for every student, everywhere. AI can do all of these things but not the way we're currently using it. Not with generic AI platforms like ChatGPT that simply give students the answers. AI makes things substantially easier, and that's amazing. I use AI, including ChatGPT, consistently every day and it makes me and my team 10x more productive. I've seen some amazing things, like a 6-year-old building a functioning app using AI, and so many others releasing a massive amount of creativity. But we cannot teach children that life is as easy as sticking in a prompt and waiting for an output, there will always be hard problems that require critical thinking and a lack of tools. As a recent student, I have seen the outsized role this technology plays in our day-to-day lives, the immense ramifications of irresponsible integration, and that the situation is far worse than even the media is portraying it right now. Let me repeat that: the situation is far worse than even the media is portraying it right now. Seemingly every headline regarding AI in education highlights the devastating impacts and, for maybe the first time in history, the media is actually downplaying the ramifications. A friend and recent graduate told me that he hasn't typed an assignment in two years; he's simply copied and pasted from ChatGPT every single time. He just graduated from a top-tier university and is wholly unprepared for the workforce. Have an issue? Oh ill just ChatGPT it, no how, no why. This is the norm now, it's not an outlier. As 96% of teachers acknowledge AI is the future of education, change must be made today or this and subsequent generations of students will continue to see their critical thinking, literacy, attention spans, and ability to contribute to the workforce severely degraded. This change must begin with an acknowledgement by the wider educational and technology communities: generic productivity AI platforms, like ChatGPT, are not a solution to integrating AI into classrooms. There is Hope, if We Act. Right. Now. Every school needs to make a simple declaration today: they will not use platforms that do not focus on ethical and responsible use of AI for studying and learning. This means tools like ChatGPT, which allow for direct answer generation, have no place in our educational system. The promotion of purpose-built AI learning platforms that don't give students the answer will provide schools and teachers, regardless of their bandwidth, with a foundation to take confident steps forward and create a better future for students. Tech Leaders and Educators Must Work Together to Establish Guidelines The education establishment is in a tough spot right now. They know they need to implement AI solutions into their classrooms to prepare students for the workforce of the future, but the leadership often doesn't see alternatives to generic tools like ChatGPT. Universities are eager to remain competitive and educators on every level want to give their students the best chance to succeed in the AI world. We have to start with a set of core principals that we all agree is in the best interests of our students and in the best interests of society: Responsible AI edtech companies must work hand-in-hand with educators at every level to develop and enhance AI platforms built for true learning. Generic direct answer generation AI tools, like ChatGPT, have no place in the classroom. AI must be used as a tool for learning, not shortcuts and cheating. AI will never replace teachers. AI is a tool to help teachers, to save them time and free them up to focus on their students. Any AI tool introduced to classrooms must be designed to promote responsible studying and true learning. This is a list that will grow and evolve over time, but we have to start somewhere. Tomorrow is Too Late We have an opportunity right now, today, to act. We're already seeing the devastating effects of ChatGPT on our students and the worst side effects won't even show up for years to come. We have a chance to change course and realize all of the amazing things AI can bring to our students but only if we act now. It's time to introduce responsible AI use to every student, everywhere, including productivity tips, prompt strategies, collaborative tutors, and true workforce prep for the AI world. AI can have such a positive impact on education. It can help us realize true equality of opportunity for every student who wants to succeed. The time to act is now. There are alternatives. There is a better way and a better future. If we don't act soon, we risk lobotomizing an entire generation and making them completely dependent on AI systems to do everything for them; but maybe that's what some want . . . Let's get to work.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Suad Merchant appointed chief marketing officer at GEMS Education
GEMS Education, the world's largest private K-12 school operator and a leader in providing quality education across the UAE and beyond, is pleased to announce the appointment of Suad Merchant as its new chief marketing officer (CMO). Merchant joins GEMS at a pivotal time in the dynamically evolving MENA region, where education's growing importance as a strategic contributor and shaper of tomorrow's leaders is undeniable. In her role, Merchant will lead the group's global marketing, brand strategy, and communications efforts, reinforcing GEMS' reputation as a trusted, family-run institution delivering world-class education with heart and vision. Beyond leading branding and communications, the role is strategically crafted to be a key enabler of business growth and impact and ensure GEMS continues to lead in a sector critical to regional and global development. With a career spanning over 20 years in leadership roles across industries including financial services, information technology, and transformation consulting, Suad brings a wealth of experience in driving business transformation, building iconic brands, purpose-driven global initiatives, and crafting human-centred storytelling at scale. Her track record includes leading marketing and communications for some of the region's most respected organisations, delivering measurable impact through innovative campaigns and meaningful engagement across stakeholders and communities. Her appointment reflects GEMS Education's commitment to strengthening its leadership team with visionary talent, as the organisation continues on its mission to nurture young minds, empower educators, and leverage the latest technologies including AI to deliver transformative learning experiences. Commenting on her appointment, Merchant said: "It's an honour to join GEMS Education, an organisation I've long admired for its scale, values, and deep commitment to shaping a brighter future for children around the world. Its technology, innovation, and purpose-driven strategies are redefining not just how their schools operate, but also how they inspire students to be pioneering, empathetic, and prepared to address global challenges with care and a One Team approach. This purpose-led approach resonates deeply with me." "I look forward to working with our talented teams to tell our story boldly, drive meaningful innovation, accelerate growth, and continue inspiring a world where every child has the opportunity to dream, learn, and thrive," she added. Jay Varkey, deputy CEO at GEMS Education, added: "We are delighted to welcome Suad to the GEMS family. Her passion for education, coupled with her proven expertise in strategic marketing and transformation, makes her the ideal leader to take our brand and communications efforts to the next level. As we accelerate our growth plans globally and align with the region's increasing focus on education as a driver of progress, Suad's leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our brand, scaling our impact, and delivering on our vision. We are confident she will play a key role in driving our ambitions forward." Merchant holds a master's degree in marketing management and strategy and has been recognised as a dynamic leader in brand and business transformation in the region.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
New charter school John Adams Academy sparks debate in Colorado's Sterling Ranch community
A fast-growing Colorado community will soon be home to two new schools that are set to open in the next two years. A tuition-free public K-12 charter school, John Adams Academy, has been approved to open in 2026 on 25 acres of land in Douglas County donated by Sterling Ranch LLC. The school will be located in Sterling Ranch, south of Waterton Road and adjacent to Ascent Village. John Adams Academy was approved by the Colorado Charter School Institute last month after being released to the state authorizer by the Douglas County School District. Some community members say that process didn't allow them to fully voice concerns over where their tax dollars were going. A DCSD public elementary school funded by a bond passed last year is set to open in Sterling Ranch in fall of 2027, to the relief of parents in the growing community who have been advocating for a neighborhood school. But now, John Adams Academy will open a year earlier in 2026, drawing strong opinions from community members. "This doesn't seem like it would align with our values as a family," said Tracy Meier, a mom of two in Solstice, a community next to Sterling Ranch that is a feeder to the incoming DCSD neighborhood school. "I think communities thrive with optionality," said Asa Dyer, Sterling Ranch father of a 17-month-old. John Adams Academy focuses on a classical "liberty-based" education, with a classical liberal arts curriculum. John Adams Academy has multiple campuses in California. "We definitely are very interested in that school," Dyer said. "I like the idea of having, really kind of classical fundamentals when it comes to education. I think it makes a lot of sense. And I think when you have little kids, you're really, focused on some of the basics and stuff like reading, writing, math." While Dyer is excited for the school to open near his home, some of his neighbors have concerns about the charter, which states its mission is "restoring America's heritage by developing servant leaders." "The concern really started based on their belief of restoring American heritage, which most people think America still has a heritage. They don't have to restore it," said Sterling Ranch resident Sheryl Pattek. While Pattek does not have young kids, she says education is an important part of the community, and she wants to ensure it is "fair and unbiased." "It talks a lot about, you know, the classical education. And getting back to the founding of America, and the love for America, things like that. It doesn't explicitly talk about, you know, religion and things like that, but there were kind of some underlying words that led me to believe that it was more based off of faith," said Meier. "John Adams Academy teaches history through original source documents and a classical liberal arts framework that emphasizes critical thinking, civic virtue, and the study of enduring ideas. While we celebrate the founding principles of the United States, our goal is to cultivate thoughtful, informed citizens, not to promote a political ideology," Kim Gilmartin, founding board member of John Adams Academy Douglas County, told CBS Colorado in a statement. Meier and Pattek would rather see the land and public school funding go to a different school. Meier worries the school may not be inclusive and would cater education plans to specific groups. "As a public charter school, JAA Douglas County will provide all required special education and support services in compliance with federal and state laws. We are committed to serving all students, including those with disabilities, English language learners, and academically diverse learners, through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports and a dedicated special education team," Gilmartin told CBS Colorado. Meier and Pattek say they are some of several community members who felt there was not enough transparency or community input in the approval process. "I do feel like there should have been public input from, all the people that have a ton of kids in the community," said Meier. Gilmartin said that during the approval process for the Douglas County campus, "the community had multiple opportunities to participate, including written feedback, public comment at several CSI board meetings, and a public community meeting on May 19." When CBS Colorado reached out, a DCSD spokesperson referred any questions about John Adams Academy to CSI. CSI did not respond to a request for comment. According to U.S. News & World Report, the John Adams Academy in Roseville, California, has a math proficiency score of 42% and reading proficiency score of 56%. That same report shows the Douglas County School District has a math proficiency score of 51% and reading proficiency score of 61%. Pattek questions "Why would you invest in a school that's not demonstrating the success of their curriculum?" Gilmartin says, "John Adams Academy's California schools consistently meet their academic growth targets and have earned the highest rating possible among charter schools in California." "Community schools kind of make the communities run. And with charter schools, I'm not against all charter schools, just this one in particular. It takes money from the public schools," said Meier. Because the school was released from DCSD and approved by the state authorizer, no district funding will go to John Adams Academy, but it will use state and federal tax dollars. Gilmartin says the school will be funded "primarily through public tax dollars. This includes state per-pupil revenue and mill levy equalization funds." They say the school will also get some federal funds and are applying for a federal Charter School Program grant. Sterling Ranch Development Company President Brock Smethills told CBS Colorado that, "Sterling Ranch Development Company supports school choice and strives to offer a variety of school options within our community. We trust parents to decide what is best for their children's education." According to Smethills, DCSD estimates Sterling Ranch will eventually need three elementary schools, one middle and one high school. But the district's 10-year capital plan only identifies the one elementary school already planned for Sterling Ranch, and a middle and high school campus. Smethills said "With the above understanding that it is unlikely that DSCD will have the resources to build additional elementary schools, we have decided to partner with qualified charters to offer school choice within the area." Regarding concern that the land donated to John Adams Academy was reserved for a DCSD school, Smethills said: "Sterling Ranch Development Company staff has discussed a variety of potential school sites throughout the master plan over the past ten-plus years with multiple DSCD superintendents and staff members. While this is one of the sites that could have been a future DCSD school, this land was never reserved nor donated to Douglas County for a DCSD school. Additionally, Sterling Ranch LLC has voluntarily paid DCSD approximately $5.5 million in voluntary Capital Mitigation Fees since 2015, which is far greater than the fair market value of all five of the school sites that Sterling Ranch would be required to donate to DCSD. Despite that, we have every intention of donating the land to DCSD for the Middle School & High School campus when DCSD has the appropriate resources to construct it." Dyer is excited for the education options the charter brings. "We want to be able to have the option based on what our kids' interests are and what their education style is and what best suits them," said Dyer. "Whether it's public or charter, I just think it's so awesome to live in a community that has both, like, that's a huge deal and huge value proposition for us to be here." Still, some families are disappointed that John Adams will be the first school to open in their neighborhood. "In general, we prefer to have public schools rather than a charter school that has a bias inherent in it," said Pattek. "John Adams Academy seems to be putting John Adams Academy at the center of everything they do, and not the kids or the community," said Meier. Once the charter contract for John Adams Academy is finalized, construction on the school is expected to begin in September. Right now the school is collecting expressions of interest from families. When the official application opens, which is expected to happen in October, families who have expressed interest will be notified. In February 2026, John Adams Academy will conduct a blind, random lottery if demand exceeds available seats, and the school plans to open to students in August of next year.
