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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

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

Eric Gustafson, a journalism teacher at Lowell High School in San Francisco, has filed a lawsuit against the district, claiming he was removed as a student newspaper adviser due to a controversial article. The article in question featured students alleging verbal harassment by teachers. Gustafson also asserts that a proposed story about artificial intelligence's role in education contributed to his reassignment. He argues that this action creates an "untenable — and unlawful — set of choices" for student journalists, limiting their ability to cover controversial topics. A district spokesperson said: "We take students’ freedom of expression very seriously," but did not comment on the lawsuit.

 

EdSource

Kelso High School in Washington state has reported a significant increase in homeless students this year, yet these students achieved an impressive 100% graduation rate. The 20 seniors graduated with an average GPA of 2.80, and all had post-graduation plans, including college and military service. Nancy Baldwin, Youth and Family Specialist, praised their resilience, commenting: “These kids are so strong; they get knocked down and keep popping right back up.” The Family and Community Resource Center has played a crucial role in supporting these students, providing essential resources and emotional support. While the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction reported a 69% graduation rate for homeless students statewide, Kelso's approach counts only those who experienced homelessness during their senior year. Baldwin noted that the increase in homeless students could be attributed to various personal circumstances, emphasizing the need for continued support.

 

The Columbian

The Waukegan Community Unit School District is assessing its performance ahead of the Illinois State Board of Education's annual report card, using insights from the 5Essentials Survey. This survey, which evaluates school wellness across five key areas, involved participation from students, teachers, and parents. Amanda Patti, the associate superintendent of strategy and accountability, emphasized that the survey results will guide improvements, adding: “Increasing our ratings on post-secondary preparation... are areas we will focus on.” The district's overall status is rated as “moderately organized,” with concerns raised about teacher participation, which stood at 70%. Board member Christine Lensing highlighted the importance of building trust and community within classrooms to enhance student preparation for post-secondary education.

 

Chicago Tribune

In a recent Education Week K-12 Essentials Forum, principals Terita Walker and Tony Cattani discussed effective strategies for boosting teacher morale. Cattani emphasized the importance of personal recognition, sharing, “I've called a [teacher's] mother who was 70 years old. She said, ‘I haven't had a principal call since she was 14.'” This personal touch helps teachers feel valued beyond the classroom. While teacher morale is improving, challenges like student mental health and low academic scores persist. Both principals noted that strong relationships with administrators significantly enhance job satisfaction. Christina Colangelo, a math teacher at Lenape High School, highlighted the importance of principals showing genuine interest in teachers' lives. To foster trust, Walker hosts informal gatherings and seeks to understand teachers' needs, stating, “It's important as school leaders to realize that people want to know that you know them.”

 

Education Week News

New research from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University reveals that incumbents in school board elections often run uncontested and win over 80% of the time. The study analyzed over 50,000 elections across 16 states from 2002 to 2017, highlighting that more than one-third of these races were uncontested. Vladimir Kogan, a political science professor at Ohio State University, noted that "half of the time you really don't have a choice at all," adding: “Instead, it's really decisions that candidates made about whether to run again, and that's the key mechanism through which we get changes of who's serving on school boards." The findings suggest that local democracy may not significantly influence school board composition, as many incumbents choose not to run again, leading to high turnover rates. Kogan emphasized that this turnover could disrupt student learning due to changes in policy and staffing decisions. Overall, the study raises questions about the effectiveness of school board elections in holding officials accountable for educational quality.

 

Education Week News

The New Jersey state Senate has unanimously approved legislation, S3858, aimed at enhancing safety for students with disabilities on school buses following several tragic incidents. The bill, which was passed on Monday, mandates that bus drivers and aides call 911 in emergencies, implement GPS tracking, and install interior cameras. Paul Aronsohn, the state's disability ombudsman, said:"Today's vote by the Senate is a big, important step forward." The legislation is a response to the death of Matthew Rossi, who died in 2023 after being found unresponsive on a bus. His mother, Anabela Rossi, emphasized the need for accountability, saying, “No parent should have to endure the loss of a child.” The bill must still pass the Assembly and receive Gov. Phil Murphy's signature to become law.

 

New Jersey Herald

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

South and southwest suburban school districts in Illinois are preparing to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into classrooms, recognizing the technology's growing presence. Districts like Orland High District 230, Bremen District 228, and Oak Lawn District 229 have established technology committees and guidelines to allow teachers to use AI while setting boundaries on its application. Marcus Wargin, assistant principal at Oak Lawn Community High School, commented: “We knew we didn't want to say no to AI, so we just wanted to put some guardrails in place.” Bremen District 228 plans to launch AI programs like DFFIT.me, which personalizes content for students, and Magic School, which aids in brainstorming. The districts are also focusing on training staff and educating students on ethical AI use. John Connolly, District 230 chief technology & operations officer, emphasized the need for research in AI applications, explaining: “The technology is moving so fast and there are so many things being introduced on the AI front, so that's why we're in an exploratory stage where we're seeing how all these technologies are coming along and how they can be used.”

 

Chicago Tribune

The rise of false information poses significant challenges for schools and districts, undermining public trust essential for effective learning and engagement. A January 2024 survey by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) revealed that 96% of school communications officials view misinformation as a pressing issue, a notable increase from 81% in 2020. Barbara Hunter, the executive director of NSPRA, emphasizes the need for a robust communication strategy to counter misinformation, commenting:  "Districts should 'inoculate' the public against misinformation." The article outlines six strategies for addressing misinformation, including distinguishing between misinformation and disinformation, responding promptly to rumors, and establishing the district as a trusted information source. By acknowledging community concerns and maintaining transparency, schools can effectively combat the spread of false information.

 

Education Week News

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