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Attorneys general from 17 Democratic-leaning states have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy requiring colleges and universities to submit detailed admissions data, including applicants’ race, gender, test scores, and grade point averages. The administration says the requirement is intended to ensure institutions comply with the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling restricting race-conscious admissions. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has argued the data collection will increase transparency and help determine whether universities are still using racial preferences in admissions decisions. However, the states claim the mandate was implemented too quickly and imposes a significant administrative burden on colleges, requiring them to compile seven years of admissions data, much of which institutions may not have readily available. The lawsuit also argues the policy could politicize the National Center for Education Statistics, a traditionally nonpartisan agency, by turning it into a tool for enforcing political objectives. Critics say schools are being forced to spend significant time and resources gathering data that may ultimately have limited practical value, while the administration maintains that taxpayers deserve greater transparency about how universities handle admissions following the Supreme Court decision.

 

ABC News

New York Times

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Lawmakers, union representatives, and education advocates said Wednesday that workforce reductions at the U.S. Department of Education have weakened services rather than improved efficiency. At a Capitol Hill press conference, critics of the group said the reductions disrupted key programmes, citing cases where staff abruptly lost system access and were unable to transfer ongoing work, including hundreds of student loan assistance cases. Opponents also argued that staffing reductions have led to operational problems, including reduced oversight of student loan servicers, and growing backlogs in civil rights complaints. While the department has rehired some staff, including hundreds in the Office for Civil Rights, and Congress largely rejected proposed funding cuts for fiscal 2026, critics say ongoing efforts to shift programmes to other federal agencies could further weaken oversight and support for students. “Know that by getting into these interagency agreements and shoving these programs to departments that do not have the experience or wherewithal to run these programs, [President Trump] is setting these programs that our kids rely on up for failure,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HA), who organized the press conference. 

 

Government Executive

Los Angeles USD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho issued a statement on Wednesday denying any wrongdoing and asking the district board to reinstate him after being placed on paid leave during an ongoing federal investigation. The FBI executed search warrants at Carvalho’s home and the district’s headquarters in February, though authorities have not disclosed details of the investigation or accused him of any crimes. The probe is thought to relate to the district’s $3m contract with education technology company AllHere, which later collapsed and whose founder has been charged with fraud. Carvalho said he is confident the investigation will show he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students. The district, which serves more than 500,000 students, appointed an acting superintendent while the inquiry continues.

 

AP News

The Oconto Falls School Board is facing a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging a 15-year pattern of sexual abuse by teachers and staff, violating victims' Title IX rights. Filed by Disparti Law Group on March 11, the lawsuit claims the district fostered a climate that allowed grooming and abuse to persist. Lead counsel Cass Casper stated: "This kind of conduct must stop in our school systems." The complaint identifies three victims and alleges that at least nine perpetrators were involved, with the board failing to take meaningful action despite prior complaints. The victims seek compensatory damages and demand the board implement policies to prevent future abuse. This lawsuit coincides with recent legislative efforts in Wisconsin to address sexual grooming in schools, including a new law making grooming a felony. Superintendent Stuart Russ expressed confidence in the district's past actions to ensure student safety.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

A Kentucky House committee has advanced House Bill 643, which would introduce wearable panic alert devices for teachers and school staff to improve emergency response in schools. Known as Alyssa’s Law, the measure is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a student killed in the 2018 Parkland, Florida school shooting, and aims to allow staff to instantly notify law enforcement and administrators during crises. Lawmakers said the technology would complement, not replace, school resource officers. The proposal would rely on shared funding between the state and school districts, potentially requiring $8 million–$10 million in state contributions matched by participating schools. About 14–15 public school districts in Kentucky already use similar technology, and supporters say the bill could expand its use statewide. The legislation passed the committee 16–0 and now heads to the full House for consideration.

 

The Lexington Times

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon will allow a major school finance bill that includes statewide teacher pay raises to become law without his signature, citing both its benefits and its shortcomings. The bill raises teacher salaries and revises how student enrollment is calculated for funding purposes, but it also includes an “instructional silo” provision that limits how districts can use certain classroom funds. Gordon warned that this restriction could prevent districts from using money for other essential needs, such as transportation, safety, nutrition, or facility repairs, and could disproportionately affect small rural districts. He also argued that the provision undermines local control by limiting the authority of local school boards to manage their budgets and respond to unexpected challenges. The legislation was developed throughout 2025 by a legislative committee and consultants, and faced a difficult path in the legislature. It initially failed to gain enough support in the House, where the Wyoming Education Association opposed several provisions, but was later revised and passed after Senate amendments that increased teacher pay and adjusted enrollment calculations.

 

Wyoming Public Media

Schools are increasingly concerned about potential funding disruptions despite Congress's recent approval of a federal budget without major education cuts. The Trump administration is revising grant rules to limit prioritization of racial equity and support for undocumented immigrants, which may complicate access to federal funds. Catherine Pozniak, a school finance consultant, remarked: "The theme here for me is: [The Trump administration] got stopped in one way, and this is another way they're trying to do it." The administration's past actions have already disrupted over $12bn in federal education funds, leading to delays and cancellations of grants. As the administration continues to implement its political priorities through grantmaking, many school districts are left uncertain about their funding future and are preparing for potential financial shortfalls.

 

Education Week News

A $314m Michigan school mental-health funding program is now being distributed after months of legal delays, but many public school districts, particularly in the Lansing area, have declined to participate because accepting the funds requires waiving certain legal privileges and agreeing to investigations after any mass-casualty event. More than 30 districts and education groups, including the Association of School Business Officials International, challenged the requirement, introduced after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting, in court arguing it was unconstitutional, but a Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled the condition valid. As a result, funds are now being released, with more than 500 schools, mostly private and charter, opting in, while over 300 districts have opted out, including several Lansing-area districts such as Holt, Mason, and Grand Ledge. The program ncludes per-pupil mental health funding and about $100m in competitive grants that schools can use for measures such as school resource officers, security dogs or additional student support staff.

 

Lansing State Journal

A new analysis by edtech company Instructure and nonprofit InnovateEDU found that most digital tools used in K–12 classrooms lack strong evidence demonstrating their impact on student learning. The study examined 150 commonly-used classroom technologies, using anonymized usage data from LearnPlatform between August and December 2025. Researchers evaluated the tools against evidence standards outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which requires federally funded educational interventions to be supported by research. The study found that 60% of purpose-built education technology tools and 98% of general consumer technologies used in classrooms do not meet ESSA evidence standards. Among the tools analyzed, only 2% met the highest Tier I evidence level, which requires strong, well-designed studies showing positive results. Another 5% met Tier II, 14% met Tier III, and 19% met Tier IV, the lowest tier that only requires a research plan rather than proven outcomes. Overall, just 21% of the tools demonstrated clear positive results beyond the lowest evidence tier. The report also found differences in compliance with technology standards. About 33% of ed-tech tools met at least one data privacy certification, and 30% met interoperability standards, compared with fewer than 6% of consumer tools. Accessibility standards were more widely met, with 70% of classroom tools aligned with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, compared with 50% of consumer technologies. Researchers say the findings highlight the need for schools to more carefully evaluate digital tools as technology—including AI—becomes more integrated into classrooms. The report encourages districts to prioritize evidence of learning impact, student privacy protections, accessibility, and interoperability when selecting educational technology.

 

Government Technology

According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, middle and high school students spend over two hours of their school day on smartphones, checking their devices an average of 64 times. Lead researcher Eva Telzer, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said: "Smartphones are no longer something students use occasionally during school, they're present during every hour of the day." The study found that frequent phone checking is linked to diminished attention and impulse control, which are essential for academic success. Senior researcher Kaitlyn Burnell noted that social media and entertainment account for over 70% of students' screen time during school hours. The findings suggest that implementing policies to limit smartphone access during instructional time may enhance students' focus and engagement.

 

U.S. News

Michigan lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill that would require all K-5 teachers to complete intensive literacy training by the 2029–2030 school year to address persistently low reading scores. The proposed training focuses on the “science of reading,” including phonics and how the brain learns to read, and is similar to the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) program already used in some districts. About 6,300 teachers have completed the training and 5,600 more are currently enrolled, but officials estimate around 44,000 additional teachers still need it. The state has already invested $44m in training, while Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed $50m more over five years. Supporters say the measure is critical to improving literacy and broader academic outcomes, though some lawmakers and educators worry about the time commitment and added burden on teachers.

 

Bridge Michigan

Iowa schools are addressing the shortage of qualified Spanish teachers through the Exchange Visiting Teachers from Spain program, which has successfully helped rural communities hire bilingual educators. Heather Doe, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Education, stated: "The program has been very successful in helping schools, especially in rural communities, hire highly qualified Spanish teachers." Currently, Iowa has nearly1,200 world language teachers, with many facing challenges in obtaining U.S. teaching credentials. The program not only enriches language education but also fosters cultural exchange, as teachers like Antton Zuazu Hernández engage students with their unique cultural perspectives. However, the program's limitation of three-year visas poses challenges for long-term staffing needs.

 

Des Moines Register

Between May and August 2025, the number of F-1 student visas issued worldwide decreased by 36%, resulting in 97,000 fewer visas. A preliminary survey indicated a 17% drop in new international student enrollment. Indian students faced a significant decline of over 60%, with only 22,000 visas issued that summer. Countries like Nigeria and Ghana also saw notable decreases. This decline is attributed to a month-long freeze by the State Department on scheduling visa interviews and possibly a reduced interest in studying in the U.S. A State Department spokesperson stated: "Entry to the United States is a privilege—not a right—and that the safety of the American people comes first." Fanta Aw, the executive director of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, warned: "If the United States signals that they are not welcome, they will simply go elsewhere," highlighting the potential economic consequences.

 

EdSource

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised alarms regarding the lack of oversight by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) over federal student loan servicers. According to the GAO report, FSA ceased reviewing the accuracy of servicers' records and monitoring borrower calls in February 2025, which could lead to borrowers being "placed in the wrong loan repayment status, billed for incorrect amounts, or not have a refund processed in time." The investigation was prompted by concerns from Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Sanders criticized the Trump administration for complicating the repayment process for millions of borrowers. The report highlights that FSA's staffing cuts—reducing personnel from 1,433 to 777—have hindered oversight capabilities. Melissa Emrey-Arras, who led the GAO study, emphasized that the current approach to oversight is inadequate, stating: "While reviewing those satisfaction surveys may be helpful, they don't directly assess the quality of the information given to borrowers." The report warns that without proper oversight, borrowers may face significant challenges in managing their loans.

 

NPR / National Public Radio

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara) has apologized after a technical glitch disrupted the first day of the 2026 Naplan tests for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, preventing a “significant number” of students from logging into the online writing assessment platform. The outage last around two hours, according to technology provider Education Services Australia. While some schools resumed testing, others postponed assessments to the following day, raising concerns about fairness. Experts warned the situation could be perceived as inequitable if some students completed the test while others were delayed, with critics also questioning whether the disruption could affect the reliability of this year’s Naplan dataset. About 1.4m students are expected to complete this year’s Naplan tests, which transitioned to fully online in 2022 after trials away from paper began in 2016.

 

ABC News (Australia)

The Canberra Times

The Guardian