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Democrat efforts to challenge President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education mounted Thursday, as 11 senators asked the agency’s acting inspector general, René Rocque, to investigate the push. The group, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), wrote: “Decimating the Department of Education’s abilities to administer financial aid, investigate civil rights violations, conduct research on educational outcomes, and oversee the use of federal education grants threatens to have disastrous consequences for American students, teachers and families.” Rocque, who joined the Education Department’s Office of Inspector General as deputy inspector general in December 2023, became acting director in January. Meanwhile, Republicans in some states have taken the opportunity to ask the administration for more leeway in their education spending. On March 25, for example, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters sent a letter to the Education Department requesting a waiver to receive a block grant for all funds allocated to his state under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Such a consolidated block grant would “significantly enhance local flexibility” so “schools will be able to address their unique needs and priorities,” Walters wrote.

 

K-12 Dive

School Leadership’s Guide to Career and Technical Education

Economic impacts are changing the employment landscape. Now more than ever it's critical to prepare students for careers in current and emerging professions through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Having developed 200+ award-winning digital courses, FlexPoint knows that CTE offerings look different for every school, based on location and student population. School and district leaders can learn how to enhance their CTE programs through the free FlexPoint guide.

In the guide, you’ll have access to:

• An overview of nationally recognized Career Clusters and Programs of Study
  
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Download CTE Guide

 

The Trump Administration has initiated an investigation into the California Department of Education, claiming that Assembly Bill 1955 violates federal privacy protections. This law prevents schools from requiring staff to inform parents if their child wishes to use a different name or pronoun than assigned at birth. The U.S. Department of Education's Student Privacy Policy Office argues that this practice may infringe upon the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants parents access to their children's educational data. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said “Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors... That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one.” The investigation aims to uphold parental rights and address concerns regarding the impact of transgender policies on families.

 

EdSource

Colorado's House Bill 1278, which aims to reform the school accountability system, has undergone significant amendments following recommendations from a task force. The bill introduces a "pathway plan" for schools with five years of low ratings, allowing them to design their own improvement strategies instead of facing closure. Additionally, it mandates that state tests be translated for English language learners and requires all students to take tests on computers, with exceptions for those with special needs. Rep. Tammy Story raised concerns about the fairness of standardized tests, stating, “We are setting students up for failure on tests that they won't be able to overcome.” The bill, which is projected to cost nearly $18m over three years, was approved by the House Education Committee with a 12-1 vote and will proceed to the House Appropriations Committee.

 

Chalkbeat

Florida House Speaker Danny Perez has proposed a sales tax cut from 6% to 5.25%, aiming to make the state more affordable. “Our greatest priority of the House is to make sure that Florida becomes more affordable,” Perez stated. This reduction could save taxpayers $5bn, despite the current higher rates in some counties. Perez emphasized that the budget proposal includes the highest funding for K-12 education in Florida's history, with increased funding per student and for veteran teachers. While competing with Gov. Ron DeSantis's property tax relief proposal, Perez noted that any changes to property taxes must be made at the local level. The legislative session is ongoing, and the sales tax cut will be reviewed in the Senate, with the new budget set to take effect on July 1.

 

NBC Miami

The City of Cedar Rapids has received a $50,000 grant for the first phase of a project aimed at enhancing school yards with greenery. Marcy Fratzke from Indian Creek Nature Center emphasizes the importance of nature in children's development, stating, “Young people need access to outdoor settings in nature that are safe but also provide complexity and interest.” The initiative, part of the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community program by the Children & Nature Network, will involve a core committee assessing the needs of school yards in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. Chris Gates, the district's buildings and grounds manager, noted that many playgrounds are outdated and lack sustainable features. The project aims to create diverse play options and improve access to nature for students, particularly those from urban backgrounds.

 

The Gazette Cedar Rapids Iowa

A study published in the British Medical Journal warns that bans on children having smartphones, or accessing social media, represent "stop-gap solutions" that "do little to support children's longer-term healthy engagement with digital spaces across school, home, and other contexts, and their successful transition into adolescence and adulthood in a technology-filled world." The study calls for more work to be done on age-appropriate design for devices and on education around the use of technology to ensure children are ready to participate in a digital world.

 

Phys.org

While concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) harming student writing and tutoring continue, ed tech expert Michael Feldstein has spent the past year quietly leading an open-source project to develop the AI Learning Design Assistant (ALDA), a chatbot designed to guide educators step-by-step through the course design process. Aimed at making instructional design more accessible beyond elite institutions, ALDA helps teachers clarify learning goals, identify student misconceptions, and create assessments. When launched, ALDA will be free. It draws on the expertise of about 70 educators, including skeptics and AI enthusiasts, to build a tool that mimics the role of a human instructional designer—without replacing them.

 

The 74 (Online)

The Newark Board of Education has approved a $1.57bn budget for the 2025-26 school year, reflecting a slight increase from last year's $1.51bn. This budget includes significant allocations for salaries, school renovations, and charter school payments, while also being conservative due to potential federal funding changes. Superintendent Roger León emphasized the need to adapt to federal uncertainties, stating, “We are being conservative here because we know that there are a number of things happening at the federal level.” The budget also anticipates a record-high state aid contribution of $1.3bn, despite the district's ongoing struggle with underfunding. Additionally, charter school payments will rise to $416m, even as enrollment remains stagnant. The budget aims to support growing student needs and includes plans for new teaching positions and school expansions.

 

Chalkbeat

The Supreme Court is set to hear three significant religion cases this spring, marking the end of a nearly three-year hiatus on such matters. The cases include a Catholic charity in Wisconsin seeking a tax exemption, the constitutionality of a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma, and whether parents can withdraw their children from LGBTQ+ themed discussions in Maryland public schools.

 

Bradenton.com

First Student has partnered with Ampcontrol to enhance its electric school bus operations through advanced EV charging technology. With plans to deploy 30,000 electric buses by 2035, this collaboration aims to provide sustainable transportation for 2.7m students. Joachim Lohse, chief executive of Ampcontrol, stated, “Together, we’re not just electrifying school buses—we’re redefining how we think about energy, mobility, and environmental responsibility.” The partnership will utilize Ampcontrol’s cloud software, AmpEdge, to optimize energy management and fleet operations, ultimately reducing costs and improving reliability. Jen Harp, vice president of EV programs at First Student, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in achieving their mission of safe and sustainable transportation solutions.

 

School Bus Fleet

Georgia lawmakers have decided against establishing a statewide database to track students who may pose a violence risk, despite advancing other aspects of a school safety bill. This decision follows concerns that such a database could unfairly stigmatize students, as noted by Sen. Bill Cowsert, who explained:, “The reason it wasn't going to fly was pushback from all points of the political spectrum.” The revised House Bill 268 will still require police to report threats to schools but does not mandate that these reports become part of a student's educational record. The bill also includes provisions for quicker record transfers, mental health coordination, and an anonymous reporting system. Additionally, it mandates panic buttons for school employees and annual electronic campus maps for safety agencies.

 

ABC News

Teacher burnout has become a pressing issue, affecting educators, students, and schools alike. Despite its frequent mention, there is no clear consensus on its causes. Many educators attribute burnout to external factors, particularly staffing shortages, which exacerbate their workload. Elizabeth Suto, a former teacher and podcast host, emphasizes that “the lack of staff is really leading teachers to burn out more quickly.” The EdWeek Research Center's survey highlights that increased staffing support is crucial for improving teacher satisfaction. Alexandra Robbins, author of "The Teachers: A Year Inside America's Most Vulnerable, Important Profession," argues that the focus should shift from teachers' burnout levels to the systemic failures that contribute to it. As staffing shortages persist, teachers are finding ways to cope, often by setting boundaries to protect their personal time. Many are prioritizing self-care and mental health, recognizing that teaching may no longer be sustainable for them.

 

Education Week News

Dohn Community High School in Cincinnati will close today due to "insurmountable financial challenges stemming from the previous school year," as stated by the Board of Directors. The charter school primarily served Black students facing behavioral issues or expulsion from other schools. Despite efforts to stabilize finances and maintain educational quality, Interim Superintendent Bill Geraghty noted, “Despite our best efforts to overcome financial challenges, we have exhausted all viable options to keep the school open.” The school leadership is now focused on assisting students and families with transitions to new schools, especially for seniors set to graduate this spring. Founded in 2001 by Kate Bower, Dohn was a vital resource for the community, serving various student populations.

 

Cincinnati Enquirer

Maine school officials have announced their refusal to comply with a proposed agreement from President Donald Trump's administration that seeks to bar transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicated that the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Principals' Association are in violation of Title IX due to the inclusion of transgender athletes. In a letter to the community, the district stated, “We will continue to follow state law and the Maine Human Rights Act.” Gov. Janet Mills has expressed her willingness to challenge the federal order in court, stating, “We'll see you in court.” The U.S. Education Department has determined that Maine's actions may lead to prosecution under Title IX.

 

NBC Boston

UCLA has indefinitely banned the organization Students for Justice in Palestine and suspended its graduate counterpart for four years following a protest that resulted in vandalism at the home of UC Regent Jay Sures. The university stated, “UCLA is committed to fostering an environment where all students can live and learn freely and peacefully.” While the groups can still protest on campus, they are prohibited from registering for events or receiving student activity funds. This decision aligns with actions taken by other UC campuses against similar organizations amid rising tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian activism, particularly after the recent conflict in Gaza. The university is also under investigation by the Trump administration for its handling of these protests.

 

Los Angeles Times

France's Department of Education has launched a national campaign to increase awareness among students about the dangers of cybercrime, by sending them a fake phishing email. According to the government, young people aged 11-18 are particularly susceptible to exposure to digital risks, and often show "an excess of confidence in their digital uses." Operation Cactus saw more than 2.5m students in more than 4,700 middle and high schools receive an email on their digital workspaces, encouraging them to click on a link that would lead them to a website where they could download pirated video games and cheats for free. More than 210,000 students clicked on the malicious link. Instead of pirated software, they got to see a video educating them on the risks of illegal actions on the internet. The Commission Nationale de l’ Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), France’s data protection authority said in a statement that the authorities are committed to protecting students from engaging in cybercriminal activities by organizing awareness sessions in classes.

 

Cybernews

After 44 years of parent-teacher conferences for her three children, author Alina Adams shares why they still matter. Her key advice: listen first, ask for data, and know when to trust—or challenge—teachers and your child. She recalls times when teachers saw issues she missed, and others when she had to push back on misjudgments. Despite a sharp drop in attendance since the pandemic, Adams says conferences remain vital—not just for tracking academic progress, but for holding schools accountable and showing kids someone’s paying attention. Her final conference wasn’t about grades—it was to thank the teachers who made a difference. Conferences, she writes, offer “a chance to see your child through fresh eyes... and thank the people who helped them grow.”

 

The 74 (Online)