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President Donald Trump said on Friday that federal special education operations, currently spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Education, will move to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also said he is aiming to move federal student loan and school nutrition program oversight from the Education Department to the Small Business Administration. “It’s going to be a great situation. I guarantee that in a few years from now… I think that you’re going to have tremendous results,” said Trump, while seated in the Oval Office of the White House. Relatedly, Education Secretary Linda McMahon wrote in a piece for Fox News that abolishing the department “will not happen tomorrow,” but that she plans to pave the way for Congress to take action. “We will systematically unwind unnecessary regulations and prepare to reassign the department’s other functions to the states or other agencies,” she added. Democrats on the House Education and Workforce Committee have introduced a resolution calling for transparency and information on plans for the Education Department. 

 

The Hill

Connecticut Post

K-12 Dive

K-12 Dive

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The Redlands USD board recently held a workshop discussing potential policies on removing sexually explicit books from libraries, a flag ban, and a parent notification policy. The meeting saw many community members opposing the proposals, questioning the board's transparency. Board President Michele Rendler emphasized the need for guidelines on sexually explicit content, asserting: "My concern is that sexually graphic material should not be anywhere in our schools." However, board members Melissa Ayala-Quintero and Patty Holohan opposed the policy, arguing it restricts access to important educational materials. The board ultimately reached no consensus, leaving the issue unresolved.

 

Redlands Daily Facts

Authorities in San Leandro are investigating incidents of "racist vandalism" found at Washington Elementary School and nearby locations. Mayor Juan Gonzalez condemned the acts, commenting: "I strongly condemn these acts of vandalism and criminal activity that target the cultural diversity that San Leandro holds dear." Police Chief Angela Averiett also expressed her sadness over the "act of racial hatred." While the specific content of the graffiti and its targets have not been disclosed, the police are actively investigating the matter, with no arrests made as of Saturday.

 

Merced Sun Star

The Sacramento Bee

Pasadena USD (PUSD) has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) seeking compensation for damages caused by the Eaton fire, which severely impacted several schools, including Franklin Elementary and Aveson School of Leaders. PUSD joins other public entities, including the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre, in legal action against SCE. The lawsuit references SCE’s regulatory filings that indicate electrical system anomalies coinciding with the fire's ignition.

 

SGV Tribune

Porterville, California, is considering a new ordinance that would require public schools to inform parents if their child wishes to identify as a gender different from their biological sex. Proposed by Vice Mayor Ed McKervey, the "Safeguarding Parental Rights in Education and Child Upbringing" ordinance also mandates notification for name or pronoun changes and access to gender-specific facilities. The ordinance would apply to all public and charter schools in Porterville.

 

The Fresno Bee

A new bill in California aims to phase out ultra-processed foods from public schools, with the goal of completely removing them by 2032. Assembly Bill 1264, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, seeks to protect children's health by eliminating harmful ingredients often found in packaged foods. Gabriel stated: "Our schools should not be serving students ultra-processed food products that can harm their physical or mental health." The bill will have the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment define which foods are most harmful based on their fat, sugar, and salt content. While some experts support the initiative, concerns have been raised about potential health disparities and consumer confusion. If passed, this law could lead to healthier meals for students across California.

 

TTown Media

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed parental involvement in education, as many parents, like Esti Iturralde, realized the shortcomings of traditional schooling. Iturralde noted, “It really wasn’t until the school closures that I began to understand what she was missing.” This awakening led parents to question educational practices and advocate for change, particularly regarding reading instruction. Scott Moore, head of Kidango, emphasized that prolonged school closures broke the social compact of education, leaving parents feeling abandoned. Advocates like Lakisha Young and Megan Potente have highlighted systemic failures, especially for low-income children of color, urging parents to take control of their children's education. Young stated, “We’re freeing our families from the system.” The pandemic has thus catalyzed a movement of parental empowerment, pushing for reforms in public education.

 

EdSource

UNICEF in Afghanistan has announced that it is in the process of constructing 165 schools across the country, benefiting more than 33,000 children, half of them girls. The schools are equipped with solar power systems to light the classrooms, and include separate latrine blocks and drilled water wells to provide students with safe water and hygienic handwashing spaces in their learning environment. High boundary walls mean the schools are a safe haven for education. Currently, less than half of the country’s public schools have boundary walls, an important factor for girls’ attendance in particular. Enclosed schools are considered safe by parents, which improves girls’ attendance. The schools are being built with support from the the Government of Japan, and in partnership with the United Nations Development Program.

 

UNICEF

Italy's education ministry has mandated a ban on gender-neutral symbols in schools, citing their lack of clarity and violation of Italian grammar rules. The ministry said: "The use of non-compliant graphic signs... is contrary to linguistic norms." The decision may heighten tensions between the right-wing government, which emphasizes traditional values, and advocates for LGBTQ and women's rights. The Accademia della Crusca, the authority on the Italian language, has also advised against the use of gender-neutral symbols in official documents.

 

US News and World Report