JANUARY 1, 2026
- SNAP Restrictions on Junk Food: Starting January 1, 2026, five states implement bans on using SNAP (food stamp) benefits for sugary foods like soda and candy, aiming to promote healthier choices among recipients.
- Income Tax Cuts Take Effect: Multiple U.S. states roll out income tax reductions on January 1, providing relief to taxpayers amid ongoing economic pressures.
- Public Domain Entries: Works from 1930, including the original Betty Boop and early Nancy Drew books, enter the public domain on January 1, allowing free use and remakes.
- New Year's Celebrations and Weather: Revelers ring in 2026 with fireworks and events, while parts of the U.S. face lake-effect snow, rain, and cold temperatures.
- Potential Government Shutdown Looming: Congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, face funding deadlines expiring in late January, raising risks of a shutdown amid midterm preparations.
- Trump Administration Priorities: Focus on rural health funding with conditions, student loan wage garnishments resuming in January, and ongoing controversies involving key officials like AG Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.
- Federal Workforce Changes: Revival of "Schedule F" (now Schedule Career/Policy) to reclassify federal employees, alongside hiring limits and potential reductions.
- Ukraine Peace Talks Progress: Recent meetings between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy report advances on security guarantees, though thorny issues remain.
- Global New Year's Celebrations: Fireworks and events mark 2026's arrival worldwide, from Sydney to Paris and Dubai, highlighting unity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
- Ukraine-Russia Developments: Progress toward peace deals, including potential shared control over key sites and European coalition meetings in early January for contributions.
- Trade and Tariff Impacts: Delayed U.S. tariff increases on certain goods; ongoing U.S.-China tensions and global trade disruptions from 2025 policies spill into 2026.
- Regional Conflicts and Predictions: Continued focus on Middle East ceasefires, Venezuelan political forecasts, and international accountability efforts.
- Student Loan Repayments Resume: The Department of Education begins wage garnishments in January for delinquent borrowers, impacting millions.
- Higher Education Changes: Travel restrictions and visa bans affect international students (e.g., from Nigeria); debates over ideological shifts and accessibility persist.
- FAFSA Milestone: Over 5 million forms submitted for 2026-27 aid, a significant increase, aiding college access.
- Global Variations: Some regions see school holidays or device restrictions (e.g., smartphones in secondary schools), but no major U.S.-wide changes noted for January 1.
- Global Growth Forecasts: Moderate expansion expected at around 2.8%, with U.S. acceleration possible from tax cuts but risks from tariffs and inflation.
- Inflation and Costs: Predicted to cool slightly but remain elevated; K-shaped recovery affects wallets unevenly.
- U.S. Outlook: Mixed signals with potential job growth, higher unemployment risks, and tariff effects becoming more visible in 2026.
- Sector Surges: Semiconductor sales poised to hit $1 trillion, driven by AI demand.
- CES 2026 Preview: Major event in early January showcases AI robots, advanced TVs (brighter OLEDs and Micro RGB), humanoid bots, and new chips from Intel and Qualcomm.
- AI and Robotics Trends: Humanoid robots (e.g., from 1X and Tesla) advance; foldable phones and smart glasses gain traction; AI hardware investments surge.
- Chip and AI Developments: Nvidia ramps production for demand; potential bubbles and breakthroughs in local AI processing.
- Bans and Innovations: China bans mercury devices; ongoing AI model advancements and hardware collapses predicted.
- Insurance and Costs Shift: ACA premiums rise significantly without extended subsidies; Medicare sees negotiated drug prices kick in, capping out-of-pocket costs.
- SNAP Health Focus: Junk food restrictions tie into broader wellness efforts; rural health funding rolls out with conditions.
- Outbreaks and Risks: Ongoing measles cases threaten U.S. status; focus on vaccines, nutrition, and emerging therapies like cell treatments.
- Wellness Resolutions: Emphasis on simple habits, fiber, protein, and countering misinformation for 2026 goals.
- College Football Playoffs: Quarterfinal games on January 1 highlight the New Year's Day action.
- January Transfer Window Opens: Premier League and European clubs active from January 1, with key moves and plans for 2026.
- Winter Sports Events: Ski jumping, freestyle skiing World Cups, and NHL Winter Classic kick off the month.
- Preview for Big Year: Anticipation builds for Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and major tennis Grand Slams later in 2026.
Mitzi: This Year, We Lost a Beautiful Soul https://dianeravitch.net/2025/12/31/mitzi-this-year-we-lost-a-beautiful-soul/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Diane Ravitch reflects on the life and loss of her dog Mitzi, who passed away on August 1, 2025, after a battle with cancer.
- Mitzi was a rescue dog, a mix of multiple breeds, known for her gentle and loving nature.
- She was terrified of firecrackers and thunder, and Diane found ways to comfort her during those times.
- Mitzi underwent several surgeries for benign and malignant tumors, eventually succumbing to an inoperable tumor in 2025.
- Diane emphasizes the unconditional love and joy that pets bring to their owners, describing Mitzi as a "beautiful soul."
Bernie Sanders: The World We Need and Deserve https://dianeravitch.net/2025/12/31/bernie-sanders-the-world-we-need-and-deserve/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Bernie Sanders shares his year-end reflections, expressing concern over the negative impacts of Trump's second term on various aspects of society, including the environment, healthcare, and education.
- Sanders criticizes the influence of billionaires on politics, media, and the economy, which he believes limits societal imagination and expectations.
- He highlights the growing income inequality in the U.S., where the wealthiest 1% hold more wealth than the bottom 93%, and calls out the unjust tax system.
- Sanders advocates for universal healthcare, improved education, affordable housing, and fair use of technology like AI and robotics for societal benefit.
- He stresses the importance of addressing income inequality and ensuring that corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share of taxes.
- Sanders calls for bold, fearless action to tackle societal crises and protect democracy, the planet, and humanity's future.
Please Watch These Videos for Tips for 2026 https://dianeravitch.net/2025/12/31/please-watch-this-video-for-pointers-about-2026/ via @dianeravitch
Diane Ravitch's blog post highlights various topics related to education, democracy, and personal reflections for the upcoming year. It includes discussions on bullying, tips for reducing pet hair, and videos that bring joy. The blog also explores issues like faith-based charter schools, privatization, and educational equity, alongside notable posts and themes from past years.
### Key Points
- Diane Ravitch discusses bullying and shares videos that provide tips for 2026, as well as personal recommendations for reducing pet hair.
- Mention of SUNY granting charters to faith-based schools despite constitutional bans, highlighting accountability concerns.
- The blog archives extensive posts on education reform, privatization, racial isolation, and other related topics spanning years.
- Recent posts include reflections on Bernie Sanders, honoring lost lives, and questioning political decisions.
- Diane Ravitch's blog offers diverse topics, including teacher evaluations, standardized testing, and funding issues in education.
Teaching Students to Navigate Social Media and A.I. (Tiffany Hsu) https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2025/12/31/teaching-students-to-navigate-social-media-and-a-i-tiffany-hsu/ via @CubanLarry
### Key Points
- California educators are proactively teaching students digital literacy and A.I. awareness, despite the lack of formal standards.
- Teachers use hands-on methods, such as fact-checking social media posts and identifying fake content, to help students navigate disinformation and deepfakes.
- The rapid development of A.I. technology makes it challenging for educators to stay ahead and teach effective strategies.
- Policymakers and organizations are encouraging media literacy initiatives, but many efforts are slow to implement and lack enforcement.
- Students are learning to critically assess online content, but a growing sense of distrust towards all information online is a concern for educators.
Teacher collaboration boosts cognitively activating teaching practices Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/
### Key Points
- Teacher collaboration enhances cognitively activating teaching practices, especially in innovative school climates.
- Cannabis use among teens, even infrequent, negatively impacts emotional health and academic performance, with higher THC levels worsening effects.
- Familiar video games like Super Mario Bros. reduce burnout risk and boost happiness by evoking childlike wonder.
- Sustainable school meal programs can improve nutrition, reduce environmental impact, and foster systemic food transformation.
- Teacher noticing varies across cultures, requiring locally adapted frameworks for effective teaching.
- School leadership is crucial in addressing digital equity, focusing on technology use and social justice.
- Brief, light-intensity exercises enhance executive function and mood in children, improving learning efficiency.
A Look Back at the Year in K-12 Education in Pennsylvania From Bucks County Beacon PETER GREENE https://curmudgucation.substack.com/p/a-look-back-at-the-year-in-k-12-education
A Look Back at the Year in K-12 Education in Pennsylvania
### Key Points
- Pennsylvania’s legislature addressed the long-standing issue of cyber charter school funding, which had been based on inconsistent and excessive rates calculated as if they were brick-and-mortar schools.
- Reports highlighted that cyber charters misused excess funds from taxpayers, spending on non-essential expenses and maintaining fund balances beyond public school limits.
- Despite past reform attempts failing, including those by former Governor Tom Wolf, growing pressure from school boards across the political spectrum pushed for change.
- Cyber charters resisted reform, refusing to acknowledge flaws in the funding system or participate in discussions, even rejecting a proposed flat tuition rate.
- Ultimately, the legislature, including GOP members, bypassed the cyber charter industry’s resistance and moved forward with reforms as part of budget negotiations.
Teacher Tom: May Your Wishes Be Granted http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/may-your-wishes-be-granted.html
### Key Points
- The author shares a perspective on optimism and pessimism, suggesting that life is a mix of highs and lows, and both attitudes have their place.
- Optimism is often associated with hope for the future, especially when working with children, but it must be balanced with realism.
- The article critiques the overemphasis on positive thinking, highlighting Barbara Ehrenreich's views on the dangers of blind optimism.
- Realistic optimism, grounded in knowledge and experience, is preferred over blind positivity to navigate life's uncertainties.
- Children do not inherently think in terms of optimism or pessimism, but rather live in the moment, which adults can learn from.
- Reflecting on 2025, the author acknowledges both the blessings and challenges of living in "interesting times" and resolves to approach the future with a balanced mindset.
- The author concludes with a reflection on embracing both success and failure and offers a wish for readers to have their wishes fulfilled.
Charter School Flimflam Documented | tultican https://tultican.com/2025/12/31/charter-school-flimflam-documented/
### Key Points
- Charter schools were initially designed to be small, teacher-led, innovative institutions within public school districts but were quickly taken over by profit-driven entities.
- Attempts to implement legislation and oversight for charter schools have largely been blocked by powerful lobbying groups like the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) and the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA).
- Founders and board members of major charter school organizations include wealthy individuals and political figures, raising concerns about their motivations and interests.
- The federal Charter Schools Program (CSP), which began in 1995, has been plagued with waste, fraud, and mismanagement, with many CSP-funded schools failing to open or expand.
- Charter school enrollment growth has stagnated, with only a 0.1% increase from 2020 to 2023, and many schools closing due to low enrollment.
- For-profit charter management companies often engage in questionable practices, such as self-dealing and inflated rents through affiliated real estate entities.
- Reports estimate nearly $1 billion in taxpayer money has been lost due to corruption, fraud, and mismanagement in the charter school industry.
- The article advocates for democratic governance of charter schools by elected school district boards to combat profiteering and improve accountability.
glen brown: Experts warn the internet could crash hard, and you’d better be ready https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/12/experts-warn-internet-could-crash-hard.html
### Key Points
- Experts warn that a large-scale internet outage is increasingly likely due to the growing complexity and centralization of the global network.
- The internet's infrastructure is aging, with many physical chokepoints and outdated systems making it vulnerable to failures.
- Centralization of services under major providers like Cloudflare has created significant single points of failure.
- Potential causes of internet outages include cyberattacks, environmental disasters, human errors, and infrastructure failures.
- A prolonged internet outage could lead to widespread chaos, affecting banking, logistics, healthcare, and communication, with uneven impacts across regions.
- Emergency planners and "preppers" emphasize the need for offline backups of critical information and resources, as well as low-tech alternatives like radios and printed documents.
- Governments and corporations need to invest in infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity, and systemic resilience to mitigate risks.
- The article concludes by encouraging individuals to treat the internet as a fallible utility and prepare accordingly.
Education Stories to Watch in 2026 Will school privatization efforts reach a tipping point in the new year? ANDY SPEARS https://theeducationreport.substack.com/p/education-stories-to-watch-in-2026
### Key Points
- The Trump administration’s efforts to privatize public education through federal school vouchers and dismantling the Department of Education pose significant threats to state and local education systems.
- A Tennessee nonprofit with GOP ties is pushing for full privatization of the state’s schools within five years.
- The rise of AI in classrooms, replacing certified teachers with bots, raises concerns about the quality of education and human interaction.
- The Trump administration is promoting a “patriotic education” curriculum aligned with MAGA ideologies, supported by organizations like PragerU and Moms for Liberty.
- Tennessee ranks last in the Southeast for public school funding, with no improvement expected in 2026 under Gov. Bill Lee.
- School vouchers are causing negative budget impacts in states, with Tennessee and Texas likely to face similar challenges.
- Tennessee Republicans previously supported diversity in hiring educators but now oppose DEI initiatives.
- Gov. Bill Lee’s decision on accepting federal funds for summer food assistance in 2026 remains uncertain.
The RFK Jr. Epidemic A country that once eliminated measles is now watching it return. MICHAEL KLONSKY https://klonsky.substack.com/p/the-rfk-jr-epidemic
### Key Points
- The U.S. has recorded over 2,000 measles cases in 2025, the highest in over 30 years, due to declining vaccination rates.
- RFK Jr. has been a key figure in spreading anti-vaccine propaganda, leading to widespread vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
- Measles, a highly contagious and dangerous disease, has re-emerged despite being previously eliminated in the U.S.
- RFK Jr., now serving as Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, is blamed for the resurgence of measles due to his anti-vaccine stance.
- Historically, vaccines like the Salk polio vaccine were widely embraced, highlighting a shift in public health attitudes over time.
Shutting Down The Site - Change The LAUSD https://www.changethelausd.com/shutting_down_the_site
- Carl Petersen reflects on his 2015 campaign for the LAUSD School Board, highlighting its achievements, including the lowest cost per vote and helping to unseat the incumbent, despite not winning.
- Over the past decade, Carl has continued his advocacy for change within LAUSD, facing challenges but achieving some successes in pushing back against bureaucracy.
- Due to his relocation to Washington, Carl will not run for office in 2028 and has decided to shut down his current website.
- Carl plans to continue his advocacy and writing on issues related to LAUSD through a new platform and social media channels.
Artificial Intelligence Information regarding the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in California Public Schools. Guidance for the Safe and Effective Use of Artificial Intelligence in California Public Schools (CA Dept of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/pl/aiincalifornia.asp
### Key Points
- Guidance for safe and effective use of AI in California Public Schools, focusing on learning about and with AI.
- AI tools like adaptive learning platforms, intelligent tutoring systems, grading assistants, and immersive simulations are transforming TK–12 education.
- Importance of addressing equity, bias, and access concerns in integrating AI into education.
- Emphasis on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and ethical use of AI among students and educators.
- Types of AI in education: Generative AI, Agentic AI, and hypothetical General AI, along with their current and potential uses.
- Ethical issues in AI such as bias, dark patterns, and inaccuracies require attention for effective implementation.
- Future developments in AI, such as personalized learning experiences and AI-powered assessments, to support student growth.
In 2025 They Tried to Ban the Truth We Taught It Louder My new Truthout essay demonstrates how more educators came to understand that education has never been neutral it either liberates or subjugates & many are joining the freedom struggle JESSE HAGOPIAN https://jessehagopian.substack.com/p/in-2025-they-tried-to-ban-the-truthwe
### Key Points
- In 2025, laws were enacted to censor Black history, gender, and sexuality education, sparking resistance from educators, students, and families.
- Jesse Hagopian’s book tour for "Teach Truth" highlighted the growing struggle for antiracist education across the U.S.
- Resistance included protests, underground study groups, and demands for inclusive education.
- The audiobook for "Teach Truth," narrated by Amir Abdullah, will be released in January 2026.
- Hagopian envisions an uprising in 2026 connecting local educational resistance to a national campaign for justice.
