Money for school mental health, Bible in Texas schools, and why EI beats AI
Digest Newsletter
·
Jun 30, 2026
Money for school mental health, Bible in Texas schools, and why EI beats AI
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Big moves on how minds and classrooms get tended: states are pouring cash into student mental health while curriculum fights and AI tools are reshaping what counts as essential learning. Expect more attention on nervous-system–aware care in schools, culture-clash curricula, and emotional skills becoming the workplace's secret sauce.
Mental Health
States, courts and tech shake up who gets care and how
Maryland is investing a $96 million to expand school-based counseling for over 200,000 students, a concrete push to meet rising youth needs (report). [P]At the same time, courts are ordering competency and forensic evaluations in criminal cases like the University of Washington murder probe—underscoring how legal settings shape access to psychiatric care (UW case). From the APA's warning about chatbot therapy (AI risks) to nanosensor advances separating autism biomarkers (nanosensor), the story is: clinical judgement, equity, and biology are all demanding attention now.
Education
Bible added to Texas curriculum, AI tools land in classrooms
Texas' State Board of Education approved required Bible reading for more than 5 million students, a move that escalates debates over secular curriculum and civic identity (decision). [P]Meanwhile, ed-tech is sprinting: Microsoft 365 added AI features like Unit Plans and Smart Assignments that promise to lighten teacher load but also raise questions about pedagogy and teacher training (Microsoft AI). The Department of Education is also pushing back on confusion around outsourcing special education services, reminding districts that federal protections must remain intact (special ed guidance).
Parenting
Grandparents, grants and a reality-check on curated parenting
Research shows intergenerational co-parenting with grandparents measurably benefits children and family stability, a practical reminder that healing networks are multigenerational (study). [P]Colleges are stepping in too: Central Texas College won a $250,000 grant to support students who are parents, easing the juggling act between coursework and caregiving (grant). And in the social-media age, writers like Alexandra Madison are pushing for honesty over curated perfection—because real parenting is messy, not a highlight reel (pushback).
Emotional intelligence
EI becomes the career moat AI can't cross
As AI automates tasks, executives and HR leaders say emotional intelligence—critical thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills—is the differentiator that keeps humans relevant on the job (analysis). [P]Companies are even using AI to train EI on the job: Regal Rexnord rolled out tools to help 4,000 leaders build emotional skills in everyday work, blending tech with the soft skills tech can't replace (Regal Rexnord program). The upshot: cultivate relational muscle — it's the nervous-system-friendly skillset that survives automation.