Federal

11 states are now rejecting Trump’s DEI in schools order

Education leaders in several states are vowing not to eliminate DEI programs despite President Donald Trump's order threatening federal funding.

Feds launch new team to investigate transgender athletes

Launch of the "Title IX Special Investigations Team" comes one day after the Trump administration threatened to withhold Title I funding over DEI programs.

Schools must now prove anti-discrimination compliance to preserve funding

As of this week, K12 school districts must certify their adherence to Title VI or risk a loss of federal assistance, according to the Department of Education.

New Dear Colleague Letter warns districts on parents rights

The directive comes as the Department of Education launches investigations into state laws that prohibit school personnel from disclosing a child’s gender identity to parents.

Plans to close Education Department face a new challenge

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren is rallying Congressional leaders to investigate the Trump Administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. 

Department of Education lawsuits: 2 coalitions challenge Trump’s plans

Two coalitions of K12 and higher ed advocates filed separate lawsuits this week, hoping to derail President Donald Trump's executive order to close the Department of Education.

This is how the Education Department will close

Secretary Linda McMahon said funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will likely be moved to the Department of Health of Human Services.

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.