New York City will do away with a high-stakes exam for four-year-olds to determine enrollment in gifted and talented programs after the exam is administered in April. Officials say they will spend the next year determining what type of programming to offer going forward that is more inclusive.

The surge in coronavirus cases nationwide prompted a spike in the number of school districts adopting remote instruction -- 21.2% in November, compared with 31.7% in December -- according to data from the Center on Reinventing Public Education. The findings come as President-elect Joe Biden pursues a return to in-person instruction for most K-8 schools during his first 100 days in office.

Making diverse language choices in lessons -- such as the singular "they" as a gender-neutral pronoun and capitalizing Black in relation to race -- is one way teachers can be more inclusive of all students' cultures and experiences, writes Randi Bender, the chief content officer at Reading Plus. Among Bender's other suggestions include ensuring texts and lessons mirror student identities and offer a window into the experiences of others.

The science behind engaging students via instructional videos is complicated, according to findings by researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Their findings show that when these visuals are used effectively, it can drive student engagement, but in some cases it could be distracting.

An economic relief plan announced Thursday by President-elect Joe Biden will steer $130 billion toward public K-12 schools. The funding is intended to help schools return to in-person learning, including by reducing class sizes, hiring more nurses and counselors, and providing protective gear.

Researchers examined sperm epigenetics in 26 men and found 805 different DNA methylation regions that could be biomarkers to identify those at risk of having children with autism spectrum disorder. The study in Clinical Epigenetics showed the biomarkers were 90% accurate, and a larger study is underway.

In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the US, SmartBrief on Special Education will not publish Monday, Jan. 18. Publication will resume Wednesday, Jan. 20.