Federal policy and reform
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.
The issue could divide the GOP — and the public — on the scope of enforcement measures.
Building leaders are directed to gather information from agents including asking for a warrant, and then they must call district legal teams.
Trump campaigned on mass deportations and more severe immigration enforcement. Several urban districts have moved to shield their students from such moves.
Many schools used federal COVID aid on longstanding, costly needs like new curriculum materials and buildings, a federal report says.
The president-elect will reportedly rescind a policy that has long limited immigration enforcement at or near schools.
About 6,000 students in Jeffco lost Medicaid, which had automatically qualified them as at-risk students.
McMahon is the co-chair of Trump’s transition team and was reportedly passed over for the job of commerce secretary. She has little experience in education.