Education
Sweeping cuts hit recent federal hires as Trump administration slashes workforce
Employees across several agencies including the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy and the General Services Administration have all been affected this week, with many being given notice on Thursday.
Trump’s pick for secretary of education is Linda McMahon. Here’s what to know
McMahon's confirmation proceedings are likely to focus on how she would handle Donald Trump's plans to dissolve the U.S. Education Department.
A deep dive on U.S. reading and math scores, and what to do about them
New research drills down on poor student achievement, and notes some school districts that are beating the odds
Trump administration targets Education Department research arm in latest cuts
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is responsible for gathering data on a wide range of topics, including research-backed teaching practices and the state of U.S. student achievement.
Linda McMahon led WWE and the SBA. The U.S. Education Dept. may be next
McMahon has a limited background in education, and a long career as a business executive. She'd be stepping into an agency the president hopes to dissolve.
U.S. education policy is at a crossroads. This congressional hearing shows why
The House education committee is charged with forging consensus on the nation's education policy. But at a recent meeting, partisan differences were on full display.
A guide to what the U.S. Education Department does (and doesn’t) do
The department tracks student achievement, manages college financial aid and sends K-12 schools money to support students with disabilities and lower-income communities, among other things.
Trump is weighing big cuts to the U.S. Education Department
While only Congress can shutter the department, the president is reportedly considering executive action to severely scale back its responsibilities and staffing.
Navy SEAL was unqualified to lead Tufts lacrosse workout, report finds
The university will change its approval process for team trainings, among other recommended remedies, after the group workout that left lacrosse players hospitalized in September.
After fires, LA students yearn to get back to school, and a normal life
The historic fires in Los Angeles meant many students lost homes, schools, or both. Now, as some schools reopen, families are trying to find routine.
Trump orders Education, Labor and other departments to enhance school choice
The president directed several departments to submit plans for using federal funds to expand school choice.
New York becomes the first state to close schools for Lunar New Year
It's the first time New York students will have the day off for the Lunar New Year since a new state law was signed in 2023. In 2024, the holiday fell on a Saturday.
Nearly 5 years after schools closed, the nation gets a new report card
There's some good news in math, mostly bad news in reading and lots of questions about why students are still struggling.
National Science Foundation freezes grant review in response to Trump executive orders
The National Science Foundation has canceled all grant review panels this week. It's unclear how long the pause could last.
How districts are responding after Trump cleared the way for immigration arrests at schools
President Trump put an end to a policy that restricted federal agents from making immigration arrests at certain locations, including schools. It's already affecting school staff, kids and parents.
In a surprise, U.S. colleges saw higher enrollment last fall
The number of students in undergraduate and graduate programs rose above pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
Harvard agrees to adopt a broad definition of antisemitism to settle two lawsuits
Several other schools have recently settled similar lawsuits, and suits are pending against others, including the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University.
This Virginia program helps former foster youth get degrees, at any age
Great Expectations was designed to help people who grew up in foster care get their two-year degrees. And unlike many programs for former foster youth, there are no age limits.
More teens say they’re using ChatGPT for schoolwork, a new study finds
According to the survey, 26% of students ages 13-17 are using the artificial intelligence bot to help them with their assignments.
A California fifth grader interviews his firefighter father
Cian Lawlor's father was dispatched to the Palisades Fire just over a week ago and he's been working it ever since. The 11-year-old had some questions for his dad.
We asked experts to grade Biden’s job on education. They gave it a C average
We asked more than a dozen educators, researchers, advocates and experts how they would grade Biden's education legacy. He got two F's, no A's and lots of votes in the middle.
Lawsuit by college professors and students challenges Alabama’s anti-DEI law
The complaint asserts the new law violates the First Amendment by placing viewpoint-based restrictions on educators’ speech and classroom lessons.
More than half a million students were out of school because of LA fires this week
School districts in and around Los Angeles shut down because of the fires. That includes LAUSD, the second largest school district in the country.
Special ed students benefit from being integrated at school. It doesn’t always happen
Research shows including students with and without disabilities in the same classroom can benefit everyone. Two students with Down syndrome show what can be gained when that happens.
A looming ‘demographic cliff’: Fewer college students and ultimately fewer graduates
The long-predicted downturn in the number of 18-year-olds is almost here. And it isn't just a problem for higher education. It's a looming crisis for the economy.
Alabama lawmakers eye change to school funding formula
Lawmakers have no plans to increase taxes but are looking to revamp the formula that divvies out state funds.
Gunshots at Tuskegee University sent terrified students running for their lives
The shooting left one man dead and injured at least 16 other people early Sunday, a dozen of them by gunfire, authorities said. An arrest was announced hours later. Many of the injured were students.
Jill Biden and Lloyd Austin visit an Alabama base to tout expanded military benefits
Biden and Austin visited a pre-kindergarten program the first lady has championed that funds universal preschool for children aged 3 and 4. The administration plans to expand it beyond military facilities and into education systems nationwide.
Alabama anti-DEI law shuts Black Student Union office, queer resource center at flagship university
Under the bill signed by Gov. Kay Ivey in March, DEI is defined as classes, training, programs and events where attendance is based on a person’s race, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.
Community effort boosts reading scores at BCS
Results from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program released last month showed 81% of third graders in the district are now reading at or above grade level. This is up from just 53% on the previous year’s standardized test.
Pro-Palestinian demonstration draws counter-protest at University of Alabama
Students gathered demanding the school call for a permanent and immediate ceasefire and to push the school to sever ties with defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
‘A bad day to be a panther’: Students react to BSC’s closure
Birmingham-Southern College students learned about their school's closure while on Spring Break. When they returned to campus, their emotions ranged from frustrated to angry to sad.
