Recent limits on teaching LGBTQ topics and student activities fly in the face of years of growing inclusion and affirmation by educators, schools, and yes, even state lawmakers.
President's budget request includes $1 billion in funding for school counselors and mental health professionals. The administration proposed similar funding in 2022 but it was cut from the final spending package.
The Biden Administration—calling teacher shortages one of education's most "critical challenges"—is urging district leaders, higher education and states to collaborate to move more student-teachers into classrooms to speed K-12's recovery from the pandemic.
As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden proposed eliminating federal funding to support for-profit charter schools, and the proposed new rules go a long way to fulfilling that vow.
The omnibus appropriations package includes $76.4 billion in funding for Education Department discretionary programs, an increase of $2.9 billion over the enacted FY 2021 appropriations amount
"Let's take on mental health," he said during the State of the Union address, "especially among our children, whose lives and education have been turned upside down."
The president beseeching citizens to pitch in at schools is an unusual move, but reflects the tumult of the last few years, as the pandemic drove school staffing shortages and students fell behind academically.
The White House slammed two states that recently advanced anti-LGBTQ bills, after being largely silent as an increasing number of states have considered legislation targeting transgender student-athletes and limiting classroom discussions.
