Tracy O’Connell Novick
@tracynovick.bsky.social
Yes, that Tracy Novick
she/her/hers
Education policy and finance
I speak here only for me/ nullius in verba
from the Heart of the Commonwealth
Sometimes random photos of the cat
linktr.ee/TracyNovick
she/her/hers
Education policy and finance
I speak here only for me/ nullius in verba
from the Heart of the Commonwealth
Sometimes random photos of the cat
linktr.ee/TracyNovick
ugh
As New Hampshire school voucher program expands, legislative oversight committee has not met in a year
newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/12/08/a...
newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/12/08/a...
As state's school voucher program expands, legislative oversight committee has not met in a year • New Hampshire Bulletin
As New Hampshire’s education freedom account program swells past 10,000 student participants, legislative oversight has faltered.
newhampshirebulletin.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:53 AM
ugh
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
Love to see the Sedgwick County Zoo putting out a good explainer on why GenAI slop videos of animals are a problem & how to identify them! It’s succinct, easy to read, and doesn’t shame people for not knowing better. A+ useful link to share with family and friends.
scz.org/blog/the-rea...
scz.org/blog/the-rea...
The Reality of AI Animal Content – Sedgwick County Zoo
If you spend any time on social media, you’ve probably seen them – bears bouncing on trampolines, apes caught on doorbell cameras, or “rescued” wild animals acting in ways that seem too good to be…
scz.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Love to see the Sedgwick County Zoo putting out a good explainer on why GenAI slop videos of animals are a problem & how to identify them! It’s succinct, easy to read, and doesn’t shame people for not knowing better. A+ useful link to share with family and friends.
scz.org/blog/the-rea...
scz.org/blog/the-rea...
As always, I appreciate Mike's write up of the Council agenda. wstr.substack.com/p/7712d952-3...
I am BOGGLED at how poorly the city understands the OML. It's frankly petrifying that the clerk's office thought they could just...amend minutes? Minutes are the official record of the meeting!
I am BOGGLED at how poorly the city understands the OML. It's frankly petrifying that the clerk's office thought they could just...amend minutes? Minutes are the official record of the meeting!
December 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM
As always, I appreciate Mike's write up of the Council agenda. wstr.substack.com/p/7712d952-3...
I am BOGGLED at how poorly the city understands the OML. It's frankly petrifying that the clerk's office thought they could just...amend minutes? Minutes are the official record of the meeting!
I am BOGGLED at how poorly the city understands the OML. It's frankly petrifying that the clerk's office thought they could just...amend minutes? Minutes are the official record of the meeting!
Hoping to see a looooot more written about this in the coming days because this is BAD.
Ah, remember when folks were telling us Mahmoud v. Taylor wasn't that bad, limited to a few curricular opt-outs, would be contained...
The Supreme Court just set aside a 2nd Circuit decision upholding New York's requirement that all school students, public and private, obtain certain vaccinations, without any religious exemptions. It orders the 2nd Circuit to reconsider the ruling in light of SCOTUS' LGBTQ school books decision.
December 9, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Hoping to see a looooot more written about this in the coming days because this is BAD.
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
A federal judge in Boston on Monday ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to restore Turkish national Rümeysa Öztürk's record in a critical online database used to clear student visa holders for work in the US.
Federal judge reinstates Öztürk’s online record so she can resume work at Tufts University
A federal judge in Boston on Monday ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to restore Turkish national Rümeysa Öztürk's record in a critical online database used to clear student visa holder...
www.wbur.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:12 AM
A federal judge in Boston on Monday ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to restore Turkish national Rümeysa Öztürk's record in a critical online database used to clear student visa holders for work in the US.
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
Time for folks to learn about The Equal Access Act, among other education laws.
Happening now: Texas leaders announcing a rollout of a statewide program to put TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges across the state. Gov. Abbott adds that schools that stand in the way should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
December 8, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Time for folks to learn about The Equal Access Act, among other education laws.
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
Teach the environmental harms of AI and its infrastructure.
More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US datacenters
Exclusive: Congress urged to act against energy-hungry facilities blamed for increasing bills and worsening climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Teach the environmental harms of AI and its infrastructure.
And, among many other things, pretty guarantees that any colleges that produce lots of teachers rank “low”
ED just posted data on colleges (serving about 2% of all students) that have median earnings of graduates below the typical high school graduate. This is both a traditional conservative accountability metric and brings back memories of the federal college ratings debate of the early 2010s.
U.S. Department of Education Launches New Earnings Indicator to Support Students and Families in Making Informed College Decisions
The Department launched a new earnings indicator to complement the FAFSA process. Drawn from existing ED data, the indicator provides students and their families with clear, easy-to-understand informa...
www.ed.gov
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
And, among many other things, pretty guarantees that any colleges that produce lots of teachers rank “low”
BTW, we perhaps temporarily have a bunch of the Office for Civil Rights back www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Education Dept. asks hundreds of fired employees to temporarily return
The federal Education Department is asking hundreds of staffers in the Office for Civil Rights to temporarily return to help clear a backlog of cases.
www.usatoday.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
BTW, we perhaps temporarily have a bunch of the Office for Civil Rights back www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
some significant part of this is just catch-all fear for “this is not the child I ordered” I think
Oh, here's a big surprise. The transphobes don't believe in ADHD either.
then, the transphobes , feeling victorious at how many people they have made unhappy and despairing in the previous week, move on to anything else that has a spectrum and the possibility of more colours than they can conceive - such hateful people - they cannot understand anything that is not THEM
December 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM
some significant part of this is just catch-all fear for “this is not the child I ordered” I think
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
Justice Jackson to Solicitor General Sauer (just now, in Trump v. Slaughter arguments):
December 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Justice Jackson to Solicitor General Sauer (just now, in Trump v. Slaughter arguments):
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
On the other hand: Jesus Christ could be making these arguments against the Trump administration and we'd still lose in front of this court.
December 8, 2025 at 4:43 PM
On the other hand: Jesus Christ could be making these arguments against the Trump administration and we'd still lose in front of this court.
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
The Supreme Court just set aside a 2nd Circuit decision upholding New York's requirement that all school students, public and private, obtain certain vaccinations, without any religious exemptions. It orders the 2nd Circuit to reconsider the ruling in light of SCOTUS' LGBTQ school books decision.
December 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Supreme Court just set aside a 2nd Circuit decision upholding New York's requirement that all school students, public and private, obtain certain vaccinations, without any religious exemptions. It orders the 2nd Circuit to reconsider the ruling in light of SCOTUS' LGBTQ school books decision.
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
The person driving had previously received 40 TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS but somehow still had a license & a car
And as @dariaphoebe.com points out, our media reports this as a “pedestrian crash” as if the victim was at least 50% at fault
And as @dariaphoebe.com points out, our media reports this as a “pedestrian crash” as if the victim was at least 50% at fault
UPDATE: The man killed in a pedestrian crash in Rhode Island over the weekend was a well-known local musician who received a Grammy nomination back in the '80s. on.nbcboston.com/SFDIWm4
Well-known RI musician fatally struck by car while walking his dogs; driver arrested
A well-known local musician was walking his dogs Saturday morning when he was hit and killed by an SUV on Route 138 in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and the driver involved — who has a lengthy criminal history — has been arrested.
on.nbcboston.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The person driving had previously received 40 TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS but somehow still had a license & a car
And as @dariaphoebe.com points out, our media reports this as a “pedestrian crash” as if the victim was at least 50% at fault
And as @dariaphoebe.com points out, our media reports this as a “pedestrian crash” as if the victim was at least 50% at fault
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
“State law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks whether or not they have a walk light,” but cops somehow found their fellow cop was not at fault when he ran over the old lady in the crosswalk
“The family of a #Brookline woman who died after she was struck by a state trooper while walking in a crosswalk on Route 9 has sued the #Massachusetts State Police, alleging negligence and wrongful death.”
Family sues State Police over death of 'matriarch' struck by state trooper in Route 9 crosswalk - Brookline.News
An investigation by the Norfolk District Attorney's office found the trooper to be not at fault.
brookline.news
December 8, 2025 at 2:30 PM
“State law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks whether or not they have a walk light,” but cops somehow found their fellow cop was not at fault when he ran over the old lady in the crosswalk
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
I wish a notice like this wasn't necessary.
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
Important notice: AI-generated archival references
www.icrc.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
glad to find in @joshgondelman.bsky.social a fellow "stop negging socks as a gift" advocate
GOOD socks are a GOOD gift.
GOOD socks are a GOOD gift.
December 8, 2025 at 1:27 PM
glad to find in @joshgondelman.bsky.social a fellow "stop negging socks as a gift" advocate
GOOD socks are a GOOD gift.
GOOD socks are a GOOD gift.
"Local leaders appear to agree that the funds should be used locally for their original, intended purpose, despite the state’s budget woes. "
commonwealthbeacon.org/gambling/it-...
commonwealthbeacon.org/gambling/it-...
‘It couldn’t come at a worse time’: Legislature strips casino mitigation funds amid municipal budget woes - CommonWealth Beacon
The move falls in line with the Legislature’s penny-pinching efforts to alleviate state budget pressures amid a host of federal funding claw backs nearly a year into the second Trump administration. G...
commonwealthbeacon.org
December 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
"Local leaders appear to agree that the funds should be used locally for their original, intended purpose, despite the state’s budget woes. "
commonwealthbeacon.org/gambling/it-...
commonwealthbeacon.org/gambling/it-...
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
1. In a Sunday Night surprise, the trans healthcare coverage ban has been removed from the military NDAA.
Congressional leaders released the negotiated bill this evening, and though the House AND Senate contained the provision, it is not in the final bill!
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Congressional leaders released the negotiated bill this evening, and though the House AND Senate contained the provision, it is not in the final bill!
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Trans Healthcare Coverage Ban Stripped From Negotiated Military NDAA Bill In Sunday Night Surprise
Anti-DEI and sports ban provisions for the military still exist in the bill, but the removal of a health care provision is a major victory for transgender people in congressional legislation.
www.erininthemorning.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:02 AM
1. In a Sunday Night surprise, the trans healthcare coverage ban has been removed from the military NDAA.
Congressional leaders released the negotiated bill this evening, and though the House AND Senate contained the provision, it is not in the final bill!
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Congressional leaders released the negotiated bill this evening, and though the House AND Senate contained the provision, it is not in the final bill!
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
I Honestly think that you are doing a rotten job of running this website. I have seen more VICTIMS being suspended or banned than I have perpetrators.
One needs only read the replies to the quoted thread to see quite a number of legit concerns to which T&S are taking the wrong approach.
One needs only read the replies to the quoted thread to see quite a number of legit concerns to which T&S are taking the wrong approach.
December 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I Honestly think that you are doing a rotten job of running this website. I have seen more VICTIMS being suspended or banned than I have perpetrators.
One needs only read the replies to the quoted thread to see quite a number of legit concerns to which T&S are taking the wrong approach.
One needs only read the replies to the quoted thread to see quite a number of legit concerns to which T&S are taking the wrong approach.
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
For the first time this century, the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday is projected to rise, according to a new study published by the Gates Foundation.
Child deaths under 5 believed to be rising for first time in decades
Cuts to development aid from several countries is a key factor, researchers said.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
For the first time this century, the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday is projected to rise, according to a new study published by the Gates Foundation.
Hey, Lexington, MA!
Don’t forget to vote for your new high school project today!
Here’s a recent graduate telling you why:
lexobserver.org/2025/11/26/l...
Don’t forget to vote for your new high school project today!
Here’s a recent graduate telling you why:
lexobserver.org/2025/11/26/l...
Letter to the editor: A recent grad with a physical disability urges a Yes vote on the new high school building
"The layout of LHS is not friendly to students with disabilities."
lexobserver.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Hey, Lexington, MA!
Don’t forget to vote for your new high school project today!
Here’s a recent graduate telling you why:
lexobserver.org/2025/11/26/l...
Don’t forget to vote for your new high school project today!
Here’s a recent graduate telling you why:
lexobserver.org/2025/11/26/l...
Reposted by Tracy O’Connell Novick
Yet more traffic violence today.
3-year-old dies after being struck by vehicle on Cape Cod trib.al/WXPBQb2
3-year-old dies after being struck by vehicle on Cape Cod
The toddler, who was not identified, died at a local hospital. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement.
trib.al
December 8, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Yet more traffic violence today.