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On Monday afternoon, the Trump administration announced that it is delaying the release of nearly $6.9bn in federal K-12 education funding scheduled for July 1, affecting programs including Title I-C Migrant Education ($375m), Title II-A Supporting Effective Instruction Grants ($2.2bn), Title III English Language Acquisition Grants ($890m), Title IV-A for academic enrichment ($1.3bn), and Title IV-B 21st Century Community Learning Centers ($1.4bn). It later added that it is also withholding Grant Award Notifications for adult basic and literacy education ($72m). The funds being withheld from the affected programs represent at least 10% of the federal K-12 education spending in 33 states and territories, according to estimates by the Learning Policy Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit think tank. “The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the Department of Education said in written communications to states about its plans. Although federal law prohibits the executive branch from withholding congressionally appropriated funds unless it gives federal lawmakers an opportunity to approve or reject the move within 45 days, Russell Vought, who Trump appointed to lead the Office of Management and Budget, has said he believes restrictions on impoundment are unconstitutional. It is currently unclear how long the funding delay might last, or when the federal funds might be distributed.

 

Learning Policy Institute

Education Week News

Los Angeles Times

Politico

School districts across the U.S. are facing significant cuts to mental health staffing due to the Trump administration's cancellation of federal grants. Hennessey Lustica, project director of the Wellness Workforce Collaborative, warned that: “Cutting this funding is just going to devastate kids,” highlighting the impact on over 20,000 students in her district alone. The $1bn in grants, part of a gun violence bill signed by President Joe Biden in 2022, aimed to enhance mental health support in schools, particularly in rural areas. However, the Trump administration criticized aspects of the program related to race. The cancellation affects numerous districts, including West Contra Costa USD in California, which will lose nearly $4m, and Birmingham City Schools in Alabama, which will not receive the remainder of a $15m grant. As mental health needs rise, experts warn that these cuts will exacerbate existing challenges for students.

 

U.S. News

Over 130 new laws will take effect in Florida today, significantly impacting the education sector. Key changes include relaxed school start times, restrictions on cellphone use, and expanded charter school options. Notably, high schools are now prohibited from starting before 8:30 a.m., a move aimed at enhancing "academic scores and mental well-being," according to former House Speaker Paul Renner. Additionally, a new law bans elementary and middle school students from using wireless devices during school hours. Other regulations address school safety, sports participation, and support for students with special needs. The changes also streamline processes for charter and private schools, allowing for easier conversions from public schools. These legislative updates aim to improve educational outcomes and provide better support for students across Florida.

 

The Florida Times-Union

The education landscape in Florida is evolving rapidly, with over half of the state's 3.5m K-12 students attending schools outside their zoned areas in the 2023-24 school year. This figure includes 500,000 students benefiting from education choice scholarships and nearly 400,000 enrolled in charter schools. The collaboration between Step Up For Students and Charter Schools USA aims to enhance access to charter school services for scholarship families. Florida's new education savings account (ESA) program offers families flexibility in spending education funds, while the Personalized Education Program (PEP) has expanded from funding 20,000 students to 60,000 in its second year. Keith Jacobs, M.Ed., said this partnership prioritizes serving students, noting: "We are united in serving families in multiple ways." This model may inspire other states to adopt similar approaches.

 

Florida Politics

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review two significant cases related to political speech in public schools. One case, MacRae v. Mattos, involved a teacher in Hanover who was dismissed for her TikTok posts expressing controversial views. Justice Clarence Thomas, in his statement regarding the denial of review, said he agreed with the court that the teacher's appeal had not squarely challenged the 1st Circuit’s Pickering-Garcetti framework. The other case, B.W. v. Austin Independent School District, involved a Texas student who claimed harassment after wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat. The court's refusal to hear these cases leaves unresolved questions about the balance between free speech and workplace harmony in educational settings.

 

Education Week News

U.S. News

In Florida, hundreds of men abused as children at two state reform schools are set to receive checks exceeding $21,000 as part of a $20m reparations program approved by lawmakers. The initiative compensates individuals who attended the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School between 1940 and 1975, enduring various forms of abuse. Jeremy Redfern, spokesman for Attorney General James Uthmeier, confirmed that the state is processing initial payments to 926 approved applicants. Sen. Darryl Rouson emphasized the importance of providing closure to these men, saying: "No amount of money can erase pain, but it can bring closure."

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

A shared staffing agreement between Madison County and Jefferson County schools has been officially rescinded. During a special meeting, the Madison County school board unanimously voted to void the deal due to concerns over last-minute amendments to job descriptions, particularly for the exceptional student education (ESE) director role. District 5 School Board Member Devin Thompson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to revisit the agreement, stating: “The biggest concern that I got as far as phone calls was the ESE department that is very critical as far as the services that the students received.” Community members, including Jennifer Fulmer, voiced their concerns about potential conflicts of interest in sharing key positions. Jefferson Superintendent Jackie Pons expressed disappointment but appreciated the chance to propose an innovative solution.

 

Tallahassee News

The Duval County School Board is set to vote today on a facilities plan, which links school closures and construction to projected minimal enrollment growth through 2034. Jim Culbert, the district's chief information officer, stated, “We have built some pretty amazing schools and we're about to open up two more.” Notable projects include the new Jean Ribault High School, opening in August with a budget of $120.5m, and Southside Estates Elementary, costing $60.7m. The plan also outlines future projects, including a $131.2m replacement for William M. Raines High School, now scheduled for 2027. The report anticipates a slight increase in enrollment, from 103,286 students in 2024-25 to 104,626 by 2033-34, despite a previous decline of 8% since 2018-19. The report emphasizes that consolidating underutilized schools can help redirect costs to educational programs and teacher support.

 

The Florida Times-Union

The U.S. Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a $4bn plan to expand private school vouchers violates procedural rules, advising against its inclusion in President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill. The proposal aimed to create a federal tax credit for scholarships to private schools, allowing donors to receive tax benefits. While supporters argue it would provide alternatives to underperforming public schools, opponents, including Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), warn it could lead to fraud and divert funds from public education. Merkley said: “We have been successful in removing parts of this bill that hurt families and workers, but the process is not over.” The future of the voucher plan remains uncertain as Senate Republicans consider their next steps.

 

EdSource

The Trump administration's investigation into Harvard University revealed violations of the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli students. The Department of Health and Human Services reported that these students experienced “severe, pervasive and objectively offensive harassment” following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The investigation identified a “pattern of unlawful and unchecked discrimination” at Harvard, concluding that the university's response was “deliberate indifference.” Paula Stannard, the director of the civil rights office, said: “Harvard's public pledges to improve its disciplinary framework for harassment and misconduct are inadequate to meaningfully address these serious findings.” The administration has frozen over $2bn in federal grants to Harvard and warned that failure to comply could lead to a referral to the Department of Justice for a federal civil suit. Harvard maintains it has taken significant steps to combat antisemitism and disagrees with the findings.

 

CNBC	Los Angeles Times

CBC News reports on how teacher shortages have become an issue in nearly every Canadian province and territory. While the overall number of educators in K-12 public schools rose around 3%  from 401,286 in 2018-2019 to 413,667 in 2022-2023, according to Statistics Canada, the number of teacher vacancies varies from region to region. Limited housing and a higher cost of living have perennially kept more teachers from certain regions, including remote and rural areas, explained Clint Johnston, president designate of the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF), the national group representing the unions of more than 365,000 K-12 teachers and education workers. "There's a lot of certified individuals in most of our provinces and territories, but … they're not sticking with it," he said. "There's not enough support workers. There's not enough teachers … everyone's workload has gone up and become untenable." Measures to address the shortages include new recruitment campaigns in New Brunswick and Alberta, and funding for rural and remote teacher candidates to train in their home communities in British Columbia and Alberta. Ontario and New Brunswick are allowing teachers' colleges to accept more students, while several regions have also floated the idea of accelerating or condensing teacher training. Commenting on the matter Ontario science teacher Jason Bradshaw said: "If [governments] want to show teachers that they are valued and respected and give people a reason to come into … and stay in this profession, we have to know that they're going to invest in us long term."

 

CBC News

Initial efforts to move responsibility for career and technical education CTE from the U.S. Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Labor have been questioned by CTE advocates and Democratic lawmakers. The planned transfer of CTE responsibilities out of the Education Department is being made to “promote innovation and process improvements in pursuit of better employment and earnings outcomes for program participants,” the agencies argue. However, in a joint statement, Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education, a CTE advocacy organization, said the move would have “far-reaching negative impacts on CTE programs and learners across the country," because it “directly circumvents existing statutory requirements." Additionally,  a June 18 letter from Democratic leaders of congressional appropriations and education committees to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the  interagency agreement would likely lead to K-12 school systems and colleges having to work with two federal agencies, which would lead “to delays in agency decision-making and grant administration,” as well as increased inefficiencies. 

 

K-12 Dive