School Safety & Disruption: Eastern Cape pupils and staff are reeling after vandals broke into Hankey Secondary School, stripping wiring and damaging bathrooms, kitchen areas and security fittings. School Closures & Access: The Eastern Cape education department plans to close 123 under-enrolled schools, with 300 more expected, pushing pupils to nearby campuses. Back-to-School Support: In the U.S., communities are mobilizing with supply drives and events, including a backpack giveaway at Olive Street Elementary (Aug. 11) and a free “School-a-Palooza” resource fair with backpacks and services for Waldo County students (Aug. 16). Food & Student Wellbeing: Miami-Dade students will again pay for lunches as a federal free-meal program ends, while a breakfast program at Mary Jane Shannon Elementary in Surrey supports up to 65 hungry children daily. Learning Readiness: A pediatrician in Pennsylvania outlines required back-to-school vaccinations and warns of measles risk. Policy & Equity: Alabama universities removed explicit LGBTQ+ language from non-discrimination policies, and a Wisconsin district dropped race-based hiring quota language after a federal complaint. Funding & Early Learning: Malaysia’s MOE school reform program selects high-performing schools for implementation support, while Naples Children Foundation backs an $8M push to expand early learning and readiness.