T.H.E. News Update :: February 11, 2009 -- THE Journal

News & Issues

Senate, House Look To Reconcile Stimulus Packages; School Modernization up in the Air
The United States Senate passed its version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Tuesday, 61-37. The Senate version of the stimulus package differs from the original House version in some significant ways that impact K-12 education--in particular in the area of school construction. Now Senators will work with members of the House to arrive at a compromise plan. More
Report: Late Graduation Pays Off
Although on-time graduation is the most desirable outcome for high school students, late graduation is significantly, quantifiably better than no graduation at all, according to a new study released this week by the Center for Public Education. The report found that "the extra work late graduates and their schools put in toward earning a high school diploma pays off in every aspect of life." More
Foundations Focus Youth Efforts on Digital Media
The Adobe Foundation, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, and the Black Eyed Peas's Peapod Foundation have joined forces to launch new programs focused on bringing digital media to kids in underserved areas. This includes the expansion of the Adobe Youth Voices program and the launch of new music and multimedia academies. More
AEC Releases New U.S. History Course
American Education Corp. has introduced a new year-long, high school-level United States History course for its A+nywhere Learning System program. More

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Meta Introduces Stand-Alone AI App

Meta Platforms has launched a stand-alone artificial intelligence app built on its proprietary Llama 4 model, intensifying the competitive race in generative AI alongside OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI.
Studyfetch AI Tool Generates Video Explanations Based on Course Materials

AI-powered studying and learning platform Studyfetch has introduced Imagine Explainers, a new video creator that utilizes artificial intelligence to generate 10- to 60-minute explainer videos for any topic.
CoSN: School Staffing Is the Top Hurdle to K-12 Innovation

Hiring and keeping educators and IT staff remains the top challenge for K-12 education in 2025, according to the latest Driving K-12 Innovation Report from the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
Report: 85% of Organizations Are Leveraging AI

Eighty-five percent of organizations today are utilizing some form of AI, according to the latest State of AI in the Cloud 2025 report from Wiz. While AI's role in innovation and disruption continues to expand, security vulnerabilities and governance challenges remain pressing concerns.