Federal

Trump orders elimination of Department of Education; shifts ‘core functions’

Title I, services for students with disabilities, Pell Grants and other programs will be "preserved in full" to be administered by other agencies, the president said Thursday.

21 states challenge mass layoffs at Department of Education

Coalition of Democratic attorneys general warn in a new lawsuit that the Trump Administration's plan to close the Department of Education is 'reckless and illegal.'

Here are the latest changes to this loan forgiveness program

President Donald Trump issued an executive order that limits which nonprofit organizations qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness based on whether they participate in "illegal" or "harmful" activities.

Here’s what K12 can expect from its new education secretary

Linda McMahon's confirmation is a "last chance" effort to restore American values that made education great. Here's how she plans to do it.

Teachers mount a challenge with DEI deadline looming

The American Federation of Teachers has sued the Trump administration over its efforts to drive diversity, equity and inclusion programs out of schools.

Here are 4 big ways McMahon sees Education Department changing

Linda McMahon, President Trump's pick for the Department of Education, hinted at several ways she plans to lead the agency during her confirmation hearing last week.

Don’t worry, most funding won’t vanish with education department

District leaders shouldn't worry about big cuts to school funding, experts say. Here's what you should expect instead.

More districts detail how to deal with immigration enforcement

Many districts leaders are recommitting to providing safe spaces for students in the wake of the Trump administration's decision to allow law enforcement to search for undocumented students or staff in school buildings.

Navigating new school choice: Federal directives and state expansions

Even the best-laid plans for school choice can’t compete with strong and supportive relationships between your team and families. So, stay flexible and stay informed.

Reports: Trump now ready to dismantle Department of Education

Multiple reports warn that President Donald Trump is preparing an executive order to impose severe cutbacks on the U.S. Department of Education and eventually shut the agency down.

Trump moves to expand school choice, root out ‘indoctrination’

In a pair of executive orders, President Donald Trump launched an effort to reshape K12 education.

Book bans: New Department of Ed is axing complaints

Amidst a record-breaking surge in bans, the Trump administration's Office of Civil Rights calls the complaints a "hoax"

Office of Civil Rights was very busy under Biden

The Department of Education received a record number of civil rights complaints three years in a row under former president Joe Biden's administration.

Republican bill to end the Department of Education introduced

The bill aims to end the Department of Education, and redistribute federal programs to other existing departments. But the biggest change would be allocating K12 education money directly to the states via block grants.

Massachusetts student’s punishment for AI use can stand, U.S. judge rules

U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Levenson in Boston on Wednesday ruled, opens new tab that officials at Hingham High School reasonably concluded that the use of the AI tool by Jennifer and Dale Harris' son to complete a class project violated academic integrity rules.

Trump likely to expand ‘school choice,’ a longstanding conservative goal

Experts say Trump stands a good chance of winning a tax break for programs that help pay for private tuition. That approach would not steer federal dollars directly to private schools but would still amount to a significant development in a decades-long fight over education.

Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments

A new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public classrooms is “unconstitutional on its face,” a federal judge ruled, ordering state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision.

Chicago Is running out of money. Its teachers union wants 9% raises anyway

At the end of the last school year, with the teacher contract expiring, the union released an extensive list of demands, asking for even more staffing and a minimum of 9% annual raises for the next four years. But over the last few months, the budget reality has started to hit home.

Could Massachusetts AI cheating case push schools to refocus on learning?

A Massachusetts family is awaiting a judge’s ruling in a federal lawsuit that could determine their son’s future. To a few observers, it could also push educators to limit the use of generative artificial intelligence in school. To others, it’s simply a case of helicopter parents gone wild.

Misinformation is pervasive—not invincible. Teachers are helping students learn to adapt.

There is no precise accounting of media literacy classes. But they appear to be growing more common as teachers feel compelled to help students distinguish fact from fiction. Students’ ability to do so can shape their everyday actions and relationships. But this year’s presidential election, which has generated a seemingly endless stream of doctored images and out-of-context video clips, has given these lessons more urgency

Supreme Court rejects case about DOJ investigating parents who protest at school boards

The Supreme Court refused on Monday to hear a case from parents in Virginia and Michigan who argued the Justice Department targeted them for...

NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks to resign

Chancellor David Banks announced plans to step down from leading New York City's vast public school system, weeks after federal investigators seized his phones as part of a sprawling probe that has rocked Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.

Bixby superintendent files defamation lawsuit against Oklahoma state leader

Bixby schools chief Rob Miller filed the lawsuit against state Superintendent Ryan Walters, who called Miller a “liar,” a “clown” and a “true embarrassment.” The state superintendent also claimed the Bixby district has “all kinds of financial problems.”

Supreme Court maintains block on entirety of Biden administration’s new Title IX rule

The Supreme Court declined to let the Biden administration enforce portions of a new rule that includes protections from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX while legal proceedings continue.

Why are free school lunches becoming a campaign issue?

When Vice President Kamala Harris picked Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate this month, the issue of “universal school meals” entered the spotlight because last year, Mr. Walz signed a bill that allowed public schools to provide all students with free breakfast and lunch.

Voters become more polarized when presidential candidates take positions on issues in K-12 education

There is one key exception. When a president endorses a policy that is traditionally more popular with members of the other party, partisan polarization on that issue tends to lessen slightly. Also, public opinion as a whole tends to shift in the direction of the president’s position.

Reimagining Tutoring: Evidence-Backed Strategies to Boost Student Learning, School Culture & Educator Satisfaction

Date & Time: Thursday, August 29th at 1 pm ET

In this webinar, education leaders will hear first-hand accounts of successful high-impact tutoring models from a district's chief academic officer. Also, field research experts from institutions, including Stanford University, and professionals who collaborate directly with district decision-makers will present case studies and stats on how to sustain high-impact tutoring to make a lasting effect on student learning, school culture, and educator job satisfaction.

Insights from Around the Nation: The New Normal for McKinney-Vento Student Support

Date & Time: Wednesday, August 21st at 2 pm ET

In this webinar, discover how to better support students experiencing homelessness from the second annual Nationwide McKinney-Vento Study's year-over-year trends, data-based perspectives, and new insights. Also, learn how your peers across the country are navigating the complexities of identifying and supporting at-risk students.

School desegregation is hard to tackle at the federal level. Advocates say states can still do a lot.

A report issued Thursday by Brown’s Promise, a group that advocates for school integration, offers a roadmap for officials and advocates to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

From Title I to teacher pay: What you should know about Kamala Harris on education

Harris has backed Title I and Head Start funding increases, could reenergize school desegregation efforts and would bring civil rights experience to Title IX.

Seeking an appropriate education, Vermont families battle lawyers, the Legislature and a lack of staff

“The whole system is designed to not educate a certain subset of the population,” said one parent of a child with autism.

The GOP education platform might feel familiar. Project 2025 takes its ideas to the next level

Cut federal funding for schools “pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on our children.” That’s among the top 20 promises in the Republican Party’s 2024 platform.

The Supreme Court curbed federal oversight of schools. It’s a big deal.

Eight current and former staffers at the U.S. Education Department expressed dismay over a recent Supreme Court decision they fear will blunt major regulations affecting K-12 schools and colleges.

Rural schools at risk of losing key funding

Counties with large areas of public land get federal funding that many rural schools rely on. The most recent round of payments in May will be the last unless Congress votes to extend the program.

Why U.S. schools are facing their biggest budget crunch in years

Districts across the country must make tough decisions about cuts that will affect millions of families as soon as the next school year. The cuts, which many districts put off during the pandemic, could interrupt the recovery of U.S. students.