Deep Dive

How will the 'grand and beautiful' school choice plan affect public schools?

Over the past three years, state-level private school choice programs have expanded rapidly, and with the addition of new federal tax incentive policies, public school advocates have expressed concerns about the traditional public school model. Supporters, however, view it as an opportunity to expand educational options. This article outlines the policy background, positions of various parties, implementation details, and the impact on public school funding and enrollment.

How Will Trump's FY2026 Budget Plan Reshape Special Education?

The White House's FY2026 budget proposal aims to consolidate multiple special education grant programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), sparking controversy. Critics worry that specific programs may lose funding guarantees, while supporters argue consolidation could enhance funding flexibility. The proposal maintains IDEA's total funding at $15.5 billion unchanged but merges preschool grants ($677.6 million) into the school-age Part B program, while also proposing a 67% budget cut to the Institute of Education Sciences.

Head Start turns 60: Alumni reflect on lifelong impact of early learning

Multiple U.S. States and Lawmakers Oppose Education Department's 'Sudden and Chaotic' Reversal of Pandemic Funding Extension Policy

Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress have sent a letter to the Education Department demanding the immediate rescission of the cancellation of the extension for spending billions of dollars in pandemic emergency relief funds. On March 28, the Education Department abruptly moved the extended spending deadline for the American Rescue Plan to that same day, triggering strong backlash from states and school districts. New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, and others have stated they will take legal action or face funding losses, while Kansas has already suspended related programs. The Education Department says it will review appeals on a case-by-case basis, but states worry that budget gaps will be difficult to fill.

U.S. Department of Education's Civil Rights Enforcement Approach Shifts: Faster Investigations and Funding Pressure Become the New Norm

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has advanced civil rights investigations at a faster pace and with tougher measures, including initiating investigations directly, mandating corrective actions with deadlines, and threatening to cut off federal funding. The Maine transgender athlete policy case has become a landmark example, sparking widespread debate in the education sector over the fairness of enforcement and procedural due process.

5 years later: COVID’s impact lingers in school culture

Massive Layoffs in the Education Department: What Impact on Special Education Rights Protection?

The U.S. Department of Education has cut more than half of its staff in the past two months and plans to dissolve the agency, with special education oversight potentially transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services. Parents, advocates, and Democrats worry that protections for students with disabilities may be undermined, while supporters argue this could reduce bureaucracy and expand school choice. This article synthesizes multiple viewpoints to analyze potential impacts.

NCES Layoff Storm: What Lies Ahead for the National Assessment of Educational Progress in the United States?

The Trump administration has drastically reduced staff at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) under the U.S. Department of Education, leaving only a few employees, raising concerns about the quality of key assessment data such as NAEP. Former employees warn of institutional knowledge loss, while the Department of Education claims related research is completed through contracts and plans to reorganize IES.

Immigration enforcement policy adjustments trigger ripple effects on campuses: declining attendance and spreading anxiety

After immigration enforcement policy adjustments, multiple U.S. states and school districts issued response guidelines, but teachers and advocacy groups point to declining student attendance and rising fear among families, with new rules in some states sparking legal disputes.

Five Major Trends in Education Policy for 2025

In 2025, U.S. education policy is set to undergo dramatic changes. Trump's second term has already begun overturning multiple policies from the Biden era, while several key Supreme Court rulings could reshape the educational landscape. Based on interviews with experts from AASA and the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, this article analyzes five major policy trends: persistent policy swings, judicial impacts after the overturning of the Chevron doctrine, constitutional challenges to the E-rate funding mechanism, curriculum opt-out lawsuits, and the future direction of the Department of Education.