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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

Keller ISD is set to have a budget surplus of $150,000 for the 2025-26 school year, as revealed in district documents. The board of trustees approved a budget totaling $413.4m during a special meeting on June 26. Chief operations officer John Allison announced that payroll and benefits will account for over 84% of the budget. He mentioned that some reductions in the general fund were "misleading" due to fund reallocations. The district has ended its dual credit program at Tarrant County College because of unexpected fees and low enrollment, and it has established a new agreement with Tarleton State University that does not require passing the Texas Success Initiative assessment. Public information officer Bryce Nieman said that "budget efficiencies” and the administration team's efforts helped balance the budget. Teachers and staff will see salary increases ranging from 3% to $5,000 based on experience, effective July 1.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Midland ISD Board of Trustees approved a budget of over $500m for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which includes $7.89m in deficit spending. The announcement follows a $530m budget for the previous year, which had a deficit of about $42.5m due to the expiration of the Formula Transition Grant. The budget allocates approximately $386.1m to the general fund and anticipates a recapture of about $64.81m. The district has implemented strategies to reduce costs by around $35m without compromising student opportunities. Additionally, House Bill 2 provides an $8.5bn boost to public education, including salary increases for teachers. The district aims for a balanced budget by the 2026-27 fiscal year.

 

Star-Telegram

Katy ISD's Raines Academy will introduce a water operations certificate in collaboration with Inframark for the 2025-26 school year. The program aims to equip students in grades 9-12 with skills for careers in water treatment and management, addressing growing demand, with Texas' population expected to reach 52m over the coming years. Principal Richard Merriman emphasized the program's project-based learning environment, which allows students to gain hands-on experience. The program includes classroom instruction in the fall and field experience in the spring, with the district covering costs for the state licensing exam at the end.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Austin ISD school board has approved controversial turnaround plans for Burnet, Dobie, and Webb middle schools to improve their academic performance. Superintendent Matias Segura expressed confidence, noting: "We can absolutely do this." The district plans to invest $1.7m in each school, focusing on staff stipends and instructional materials, while implementing daily math and reading courses. With 29% of Dobie, 59% of Burnet, and 50% of Webb staff returning, the district aims to avoid a fifth consecutive "F" rating by the end of the 2025-26 school year. Board President Lynn Boswell made the case for community support, calling the situation "existential." If improvements are insufficient, the district may consider transferring management to a charter operator under an 1882 partnership.

 

Austin American-Statesman

Conroe ISD is organizing five community forums to gather input on the search for a new superintendent following the resignation of Curtis Null, effective June 1. Ted Landry is currently serving as the acting superintendent. The forums, approved during the June 17 board meeting, will take place at various locations, including College Park High School on July 8 and Grand Oaks High School on July 14. The goal is to understand community expectations for the new superintendent, as stated in the district's announcement.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

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

Waco High School is undergoing a transformation with new murals that celebrate its rich heritage. Artists Will Suarez and Vincent Thomas are leading the project, which includes a striking 32-foot mural at the entrance featuring the mascots of the three schools that consolidated in 1986 to form Waco High. The murals aim to connect current students with their school's history, showcasing elements like the original school buildings and mascots.

 

Star-Telegram

Starting July 21, Garrett Carr will become the principal of Boerne Middle School North, having served as the assistant principal since 2023. Carr previously worked as a CTE Health Science teacher at Champion High School and as a substitute assistant principal at Voss Middle School. He is recognized as a Center for Model Schools instructional rounds leader and holds various certifications, including from Capturing Kids Hearts. Superintendent Kristin Craft expressed confidence in Carr's leadership, commenting: “BMSN has a proud legacy to uphold, and Mr. Carr is the right leader to guide the campus into the future.”

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Texas House Bill 2, an $8.5bn education funding package, will provide a financial boost to many local school districts, particularly in Central Texas, following years of budget cuts and staff layoffs. But while the funding brings much-needed relief, many districts, such as Austin, Eanes, and Bastrop, still face budget shortfalls and unmet needs despite the new resources. Finalized figures later this year will give districts a clearer picture of the long-term impact on their finances.

 

Austin American-Statesman

The State Board of Education (SBOE) has rejected the Unidos Soccer Leadership Academy's proposal to open a bilingual charter school in San Antonio, marking a significant decision in the current application cycle. The SBOE voted 9-5 against the academy, which aimed to provide a dual-language curriculum tailored for student athletes. Concerns were raised about the school's narrow focus on soccer and its admissions policy favoring families with financial means. The SBOE also vetoed another charter application while approving several others, highlighting ongoing debates about educational equity and access in Texas.

 

Star-Telegram

The U.S. Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a $4b 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