Federal policy and reform
The Trump administration is seeking to withhold Maine’s federal K-12 education money over its policies for trans student athletes.
The U.S. Department of Education says the decision follows a Title IX investigation into the state’s policy about transgender athletes.
However, Commissioner Susana Córdova said she will sign a new assurance that the state is in compliance with Title VI, which bans discrimination on the basis of race.
Newark educators and labor unions gathered on Tuesday to protest looming federal funding cuts and warn about their impacts on education, research, and health.
The Trump administration closed 5 out of 10 Head Start regional offices, including one in Chicago. A group of U.S. senators from the Midwest want to know what’s next for child care providers and families.
The Trump administration has given states 10 days to certify that their schools do not engage in practices that promote DEI — or lose their federal funding.
Linda McMahon said schools must not withhold children’s gender plans from parents. But LGBTQ advocates say trans youth should have some control over that information.
Multiple laws say the Education Department is responsible for overseeing funding and services for children with disabilities. Shifting that to another agency would require an act of Congress, several experts said.
Federal officials have said services and funding for these students won’t be affected. But advocates for kids learning English don’t buy it.
Legally, only Congress has the power to eliminate the department. But the Trump administration recently laid off nearly half its staff.
Republican lawmakers say scaling back free school meals would ensure only the students with the greatest needs get them. Critics worry about unfair burdens on schools and families.
The Trump administration has said it’s cutting waste in education research. Families and schools have a different take.
The district has required the class since 2005. But that mandate, and other district policies, could attract scrutiny from Trump administration officials.
After clearing the Senate education committee on a party-line vote, Linda McMahon will face a full Senate vote to become President Trump’s education secretary.
Democratic senators wanted details about Trump’s intentions toward K-12 schools. McMahon deflected many questions — including whether schools might risk their federal funding by teaching standalone African American history courses.
One canceled contract tasked researchers with finding ways to help students struggling in math due to pandemic learning disruptions.
The Trump administration said it will enforce Title IX regulations adopted in 2020 in a way that matches an executive order signed by the president Jan. 20.
The federal government is barred from dictating curriculum to schools. But a new Trump executive order concerning how racism and gender identity are talked about in schools sends a signal about how he wants to influence classrooms.
The freeze has sparked widespread confusion about the extent to which various programs will be affected.
“Denver is prepared to take the administration to court and do everything within our legal authority to keep them safe,” a mayoral spokesperson said.