On April 4, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) rescinded the liquidation of hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency pandemic funds that were previously approved for extensions for the spending. The unexpected decision notified state education leaders in a letter that said they are responsible for laying out…
Despite an overall increase in school shootings in recent years, a school shooting database funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is the latest target of President Donald Trump’s attempts to downsize the government. The research was part of the now-cancelled Terrorism and Targeted Violence Database, which tracked domestic…
On March 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) released a statement regarding a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) sent on the same day by Education Secretary Linda McMahon to education leaders claiming that states and school districts are violating privacy laws by “hiding critical information, such as a child’s…
On March 21, 2025, President Trump announced that federal special education operations, currently spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), will move to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He also said he would move federal student loan and school nutrition program oversight from the USDE…
A new report, How Medicaid Cuts Will Harm Students & Schools, presents the findings of a nationwide survey of over 1,400 school district leaders, including superintendents, school business officials and school health coordinators, on the impact Medicaid cuts would have on school health services, student resources and district funding. The executive…
Misinformation erodes trust, which in turn impacts communication between parents and teachers, students and teachers, and parents and administrators. In fact, a 2004 NSPRA survey found that 96% of respondents said the spread of false information is an issue for school districts today and 78% said their school system had…
On March 5, 2025, the nation’s largest educator union filed suit to challenge the U.S. Department of Education’s(USDE) directive to cease diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The lawsuit is in response to a strict Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter (DCL) that educators and education policy experts worried would severely curb student…
Measles infections in several states have school and health officials concerned as fears grow of possible widespread outbreaks. The potentially fatal disease had been declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Sadly, vaccine skeptics, fed by misinformation by conspiracy theorists, have caused vaccination rates to decline, causing complacency and raising…
On Monday, March 3, 2025. Linda McMahon was confirmed as the new U.S. Secretary of Education. Her first order of business will be the downsizing and possible elimination of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). McMahon's confirmation was on the same date that USDE workers were given an opportunity to…
On February 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a frequently asked questions document to answer anticipated questions that may be raised in response to the Dear Colleague Letter: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in Light of Students for Fair Admissions…
