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The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has advanced the nomination of Linda McMahon to be Education Secretary by a party-line vote of 12-11, sending her confirmation to the full Senate for a full vote in the near future. “If confirmed Ms. McMahon has the tall task of reforming a Department of Education that has lost its purpose," Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said, before Thursday's vote. "For the last four years, the department focused on everything but student learning with bureaucracy and red tape standing in the way of student success. We need a strong leader at the department who will get our education system back on track." Ranking member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), said of the Education Department: “Is it a perfect entity? No. Is it bureaucratic? Yes. Can we reform it? Yes. Should we abolish it? No", before adding: “It doesn’t really matter who the Secretary will be, because he or she will not have the power."

 

Roll Call

The Hill

K-12 Dive

Politico

School Leadership’s Guide to Career and Technical Education

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The U.S. Department of Education has announced that states will now be responsible for federal COVID-19 emergency payments, before seeking reimbursement from the federal agency. The change is being made, it said, to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of federal funds. Previously, states could ”draw down on existing awards to pay for approved services without proof that the funds were used for authorized purposes.” A total of $4.4 billion remains across the three allocations provided by Congress to aid K-12 schools and colleges in their efforts to recover from pandemic-related setbacks. 

 

K-12 Dive

California lawmakers have introduced a bill to prohibit the sale of new or refurbished disposable electronic cigarettes, aiming to reduce plastic pollution. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin stated, “We must transition away from these harmful single-use devices, and AB 762 will do just that.” The proposed ban, effective January 1st 2026, would impose fines for violations, starting at $500. Critics, including Arkan Somo of the Neighborhood Market Association, argue that the ban could harm small businesses and lead to increased tobacco smuggling. The bill is part of California's broader efforts to regulate vaping products, which have been linked to environmental and public health concerns. Tony Hackett from Californians Against Waste emphasized the need to address the pollution caused by disposable vapes, stating, “While these products pollute our planet, they're also targeting our most vulnerable among us — our children.”

 

ABC News

Governor J.B. Pritzker's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 includes significant increases in education funding, with a $350m boost for K-12 schools and an $85m increase for early childhood education programs. Pritzker's $53.9bn spending plan aims to support low-income families and expand access to education despite concerns over federal funding cuts under the Trump administration. “No matter what happens at the federal level,” said Lt. Gov. Julia Statton, “we're certainly going to try to do everything that we can to make sure that Illinoisans and students in Illinois get access to the education that they deserve.” However, some programs, like the Early Childhood Block Grant, will see flat funding, disappointing advocates. The budget process is set to conclude by the end of May, with negotiations ongoing.

 

Chalkbeat

The past seven days have seen numerous directives issued by the Trump administration, including an ultimatum from the Education Department for schools and universities to eliminate diversity initiatives, or risk losing federal money. The department has also cut $600 million in grants for organizations that train teachers, arguing that they promote "divisive" concepts such as critical race theory, and social justice activism. However, even as districts nationwide are working to evaluate programs for their exposure to risk, education advocacy groups have urged them to proceed with caution. The School Superintendents Association has issued a statement, noting that the guidance is not legally binding, and that schools should not preemptively cut programs. “We’re not certain a district should do anything beyond reading the guidance, talking to their legal counsel” and gauging community interest in keeping existing initiative, commented director of advocacy Sasha Pudelski. Additionally, Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, has argued that the vague language of the guidance is intended at this stage to have a chilling effect, pressuring schools to eliminate anything touching on the topic of race even if it may be defensible in court. 

 

AP News

On Wednesday, Alabama lawmakers voted against a bill that would have imposed criminal penalties on parents whose unsecured firearms were brought to school by their children. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, aimed to enhance school safety rather than serve as a gun control measure. It proposed penalties of up to one year in jail for parents who failed to secure firearms properly. Despite acknowledging the bill's intent, Republicans opposed it, arguing it unfairly placed responsibility on parents for their children's actions. Rep. Ginny Shaver stated, "My basic opposition to this particular bill is that it applies a criminal offence to someone based on another person's actions." The bill gained attention following a recent incident where a second grader brought a gun to school in Huntsville. Drummond expressed her hope that "none of our children die because of this" after the bill's failure.

 

US News and World Report

An Ohio bill, Senate Bill 107, proposed by Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, aims to add political party affiliations next to school board candidates' names on ballots. Brenner argues that this change would enhance transparency for voters, stating, "I think people need to know who they're voting for and their backgrounds." However, opponents worry that it may further politicize education and restrict the candidate pool. The bill allows candidates to choose whether to identify as Republican, Democrat, or nonpartisan. This proposal follows a trend of increasing political activism in school board meetings, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics, including a spokesperson for the Ohio School Boards Association, argue that it could limit local participation and exclude certain candidates.

 

The Columbus Dispatch

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has introduced the Black Student Success Plan, a five-year initiative aimed at improving educational outcomes for Black students, who represent about one-third of the student body. Released during Black History Month, the plan seeks to address disparities in graduation rates and discipline. Elizabeth Todd-Breland, a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, emphasized, “Now is not the time for anticipatory obedience and preemptive acquiescence.” The plan includes goals such as doubling the number of Black male teachers and reducing out-of-school suspensions for Black students by 40%. Despite potential challenges from federal policies targeting diversity initiatives, CPS leaders express optimism about the plan's community engagement and commitment to equity. Dominique McKoy from the University of Chicago noted, “This plan is about responding to the data,” highlighting the need for targeted support for Black students.

 

Chalkbeat

In a recent audit, Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor highlighted the need for a significant overhaul of cyber charter school funding. The audit revealed that from 2020 to 2023, these schools increased their revenues by $425 million and reserves by 141%. DeFoor stated, “the cyber charter funding formula needs to change to reflect what is actually being spent to educate students.” He proposed forming a task force to address these issues. The audit covered five of the state's 13 cyber charter schools, which collectively saw their revenue rise from $473 million to $898 million between 2019-20 and 2022-23. Critics, including Susan Spicka of Education Voters of PA, called the audit “a clarion call for reform,” while proponents argue that cyber charters require their reserves to manage funding fluctuations. Prior reform efforts have stalled in the politically divided General Assembly.

 

Chalkbeat

The School Bus of the Future pilot program, launched by Together for Safer Roads (TSR), NYCSBUS, and VisionTrack, aims to enhance safety for school buses in urban areas. The initiative will implement advanced technologies such as surround cameras and AI analysis to address issues like speeding and harsh driving. Peter Goldwasser, executive director of TSR, emphasized that “advanced technology and cross-sector collaboration can make roads safer for fleet drivers and vulnerable road users.” The pilot builds on the success of TSR’s previous Truck of the Future program, which focused on improving visibility for commercial trucks. Matt Berlin, chief executive of NYCSBUS, noted that the pilot could set new standards for school bus safety nationwide. The program also includes surveys to gather feedback from drivers and managers on the technology's effectiveness and potential distractions.

 

School Bus Fleet

First Student has introduced HALO, a new technology platform designed to enhance student transportation management. The system integrates various operational aspects, including recruiting, training, routing, and vehicle maintenance, into a unified platform. Key features include dynamic routing, advanced analytics for safety and efficiency, and real-time vehicle tracking for parents and districts. The platform also supports driver training, predictive maintenance, and optimized electric vehicle charging, aiming to improve the overall transportation experience for students and stakeholders alike.

 

School Bus Fleet

The teaching profession is facing significant challenges, with a decline in new educators entering the field. Janet Renee Damon, a history teacher at DELTA High School, expressed concern over the loss of experienced teachers during the pandemic, stating, "I worried about the collective wisdom that was walking out of the door." Educators like Mikaela Saelua and Ashlie Crosson highlighted the impact of technology and the need for teachers to adapt to new tools like artificial intelligence. They emphasized the importance of preparing students for a globalized society while managing classroom stress. Crosson noted, "It's time to put your big-girl or big-boy boots on, because it is a challenging profession." The educators called for better support from school administrators, urging them to listen to teachers' insights to improve the educational environment.

 

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