The Montana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed class-action lawsuit challenging a measure barring people from listing a gender on their birth certificate other than the one they were born with. Montana lawmakers passed Senate Bill 280 in 2021, which requires a court order to change gender on a birth certificate. A state court issued an injunction against the measure but now the state health department has put a total ban on changes to sex designations on birth certificates. .
By Faith Fistler for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. The first time Tyana Barton was singled out because of her hair was when she was told to straighten it before a dance recital. "That was like the first time in maybe 10 years I ve ever had to straighten my hair. " .
Parents and educators in Massachusetts are joining forces to end the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) high school graduation requirement. They re combining two ballot initiatives, which would require the state to replace the standardized exam with local certification of academic success to earn a degree. Lexington public high school parent Shelley Scruggs said it would also work retroactively to ensure those denied their diploma for failing the test can attain one. .
The new school year is approaching and schools in Oregon are using data to figure out what students need to feel like they belong. The organization YouthTruth conducts surveys of students to understand more about their experiences in school. With help from the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators, the group analyzed survey responses from more than 68,000 Oregon students from the last two school years. .
Attempts to ban books in libraries are increasing across the country, but a small group of residents in one Washington County are going even further. They want to completely close the local library. Voters in rural parts of the Columbia County Rural Library District will decide this November whether to close the Dayton Memorial Library. .