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The Trump administration is moving to restrict access for undocumented students to federally funded early childhood, dual-enrollment, and postsecondary career and technical education programs. This initiative, led by the U.S. departments of Education and Health and Human Services, aims to classify these programs as similar to welfare, thereby excluding undocumented immigrants. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said: “The department will ensure that taxpayer funds are reserved for citizens and individuals who have entered our country through legal means.” Critics, including Julie Sugarman from the Migration Policy Institute, warn that these changes could create a chilling effect on families seeking educational opportunities. The new rules could significantly impact programs like Head Start, which has historically been open to all children meeting federal requirements. “This decision undermines the fundamental commitment that the country has made to children and disregards decades of evidence that Head Start is essential to our collective future,” commented the National Head Start Association in a Thursday statement. “Attempts to impose such a requirement threaten to create fear and confusion among all families who are focused on raising healthy children, ready to succeed in school and life.”  

 

USA Today

Education Week News

K-12 Dive

Los Angeles Times

Conroe ISD and Texans for Excellence in Education (TEE) hosted their second community forum on July 9 to gather public input for the superintendent search following the resignation of Superintendent Curtis Null on June 1. Acting Superintendent Ted Landry is currently overseeing the district. TEE President John Petree outlined the search timeline, which includes key dates such as the application deadline on July 18 and interviews in August. The preliminary candidate profile emphasizes qualities like a parent-first approach, responsiveness to constituents, and a focus on teacher quality. After the final forum on July 14, TEE will compile feedback into a report for the board of trustees, who will consider adjustments to the candidate profile.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

At a special meeting on July 10, the Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees appointed Erin Mitchell as the new principal of Evans Middle School, effective for the 2025-26 school year. Mitchell, who has been the assistant principal at Evans since 2020, has over a decade of experience within Lubbock ISD, including roles as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. Superintendent Dr. Kathy Rollo praised Mitchell, remarking: "Erin Mitchell has already had a tremendous impact on Evans, and we’re excited to see her leadership continue to grow in this new role."

 

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

In a reflective piece, Bruce Lear, a veteran educator with 38 years in public schools, discusses the challenges teachers face today compared to the past. He recalls moments of "classroom lightning," where discussions became spontaneous and engaging, but notes that such moments are increasingly rare. Lear highlights the impact of political decisions, such as the gutting of Iowa's public sector bargaining law and the regulation of classroom discussions, which have contributed to a decline in teacher morale and autonomy. He urges voters to hold politicians accountable and encourages parents to support teachers by being involved in their children's education. "If we don't, we'll have full classrooms, empty of qualified teachers," he warns, emphasizing the need for collaboration and trust in the teaching profession.

 

The Gazette Cedar Rapids Iowa

The recent tax and spending bill signed by President Donald Trump significantly reduces federal funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which experts warn will adversely affect schools and students. Lynn Nelson, president of the National Association of School Nurses, noted: “That's a huge funding cut for schools,” emphasizing the potential harm to children and families. The bill imposes work requirements that could lead to fewer parents qualifying for benefits, further limiting access to free school meals. As states bear more costs, they may restrict eligibility for SNAP, impacting the number of students who can receive free meals. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that federal funding for SNAP will decrease by $186bn by 2034, which could result in fewer children receiving essential food assistance and negatively affect their educational outcomes.

 

Education Week News

Diboll ISD has confirmed that H.G. Temple Elementary, H.G. Temple Intermediate, Diboll Junior High, and Diboll High Schools will continue the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) for the 2025-26 school year. This program allows qualifying schools to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students, eliminating the need for meal applications. This initiative aims to ease the burden on families and school administrators while ensuring that students receive nutritious meals.

 

Lufkin Daily News

In a piece for Education Week Ian Knox, principal of Hamagrael Elementary School in upstate New York, emphasizes the importance of trust in school leadership, describing it as "one of the most essential forms of capital a leader has." He cites research by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss published in the Harvard Business Review, titled: “Managing People: Begins with Trust," and outlines three actionable steps for school leaders to build trust: demonstrating empathy by valuing challenges, leading with authenticity by acknowledging limitations, and modeling logic through consistent judgment. By prioritizing these elements, school leaders can create a supportive environment that addresses the social and emotional needs of students, ultimately fostering a thriving school community.

 

Education Week News

A new bill introduced in the House aims to regulate college sports by providing limited antitrust protections for the NCAA and prohibiting schools from using student fees to fund athletic programs. Co-sponsored by seven Republicans and two Democrats, the SCORE Act seeks to establish national standards for name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments, which have gained prominence following a $2.78bn lawsuit settlement. The legislation also includes provisions to protect Olympic programs and mandates that schools with high-earning coaches offer at least 16 sports programs. The bill's restrictions on student fees could significantly impact funding strategies for athletic programs, as many schools are exploring ways to cover the costs associated with athlete compensation.

 

AP News

USA Today

According to a study reported by Inside Higher Ed, recommendation letters for Black, Hispanic, first-generation, and other marginalized student groups are often shorter and less detailed than those for their white and Asian counterparts. The analysis of over 600,000 letters revealed that private school students received letters that were, on average, 20% longer than those for public school students. Julie J. Park, an admissions researcher at the University of Maryland, emphasized the need to consider the context of opportunity when evaluating these letters. She said: “If you are going to keep letters, you need to be reading them with the context for opportunity in mind.” The findings raise questions about the necessity of recommendation letters in the college admissions process.

 

EdSource

In a significant move towards enhancing student safety, all new Canadian school buses will be required to implement perimeter visibility systems by November 1, 2027. Gatekeeper Systems Inc. has secured contracts worth approximately C$450,000 ($328,000) to equip school buses in Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia with advanced mobile data collectors and video technology under its Platform-as-a-Service model. Doug Dyment, Gatekeeper’s president and chief executive, expressed enthusiasm about the company's growing market share, stating, “Once our PaaS platform is installed on a school bus, it becomes easy to add new safety solutions in the future.” The new regulation from Transport Canada is expected to impact over 65,000 school buses and cost an estimated C$196m between 2024 and 2036. Gatekeeper is also expanding its financial capabilities to support this initiative and other large projects.

 

School Bus Fleet

The National Association of Secondary School Principals has honored Tony Cattani and Damon Lewis as the 2025-26 National Principals of the Year. Cattani, principal of Lenape High School in New Jersey, was recognized for his innovative peer observation system that enhances teacher collaboration and professional growth. He expressed his emotional reaction to the award, stating, "It made everything worthwhile." Lewis, principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy in Connecticut, aims to improve equity in education and increase access for marginalized students. He shared his motivation for switching to education, saying, "I thought to myself: How selfish is it of me to continue this business route?" The principals were selected from a group of six finalists for their focus on improving school culture and climate, battling absenteeism, and finding effective ways to help teachers grow in their jobs.

 

Education Week News