Updates about the U.S. Department of Education, Impact on Alabama

Updates about the U.S. Department of Education, Impact on Alabama

As we know, there is a lot happening at the federal level regarding the U.S. Department of Education. There has been extensive media coverage of the Trump Administration and recent decisions regarding education in our country. Changes are happening quickly, and there continues to be a lot of uncertainty about what these decisions regarding the U.S. Department of Education will look like long term, and how any shifts will impact Alabama’s schools, families, and students. A+ Education Partnership wanted to provide resources to track the ongoing updates and newest developments during this process. We have developed the following resources to keep track of changes at the federal level and their impacts on Alabama.

Acronyms –

For a comprehensive list of acronyms and their definitions click here.

October 19 – November 1, 2025

The government has been shutdown since October 1, and the Department of Educationcontinues to perform only essential functions. Below, we have compiled some resources to learn more about the USED, the shutdown, and impacts on Alabama students:

• For information about the USED’s functions since January 2025, read on below.
• For information on the shutdown’s impact on Alabama students, check out our Budget Watch: Federal Edition.
• This resource from the Bipartisan Policy Center explains Title I funds and what they support.
• Stateline’s article on special education talks about the recent changes in the Office of Special Education at the USED and how leaving special education supports up to states may affect students.
• A+ is currently reaching out to our Alabama delegation to let them know that we are supportive of a version of the federal budget that protects Title I and Special Education funding for our students. Click here to email your representatives, it only takes three minutes!

October 5 – October 18, 2025

The government has been shutdown since October 1, and the Department of Education is only performing essential functions. Essential functions include releasing funds that were approved last year for K-12 schools, releasing any grant funds that were approved this summer, and higher education student aid services.

• Paused programs include new grantmaking activities, civil rights investigations, and new rules and regulations.
• Impact Aid payments are paused, which affect some districts in Alabama. Head Start authorization is also paused, which means that any program that needs to be reauthorized will need to wait until the government shutdown ends.
• For more information about the government shutdown, check out our Federal Budget Watch.

On October 10, the USED laid off about 460 employees through a Reduction in Force (RIF).

• Lay-offs affected most departments within the USED, particularly the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Civil Rights. 
• As of Oct 15, a judge has issued a temporary halt to the firings in federal agencies during the shutdown.

National News

• PBS, Oct 13: Education Department layoffs hit offices that oversee special education and civil rights enforcement
• K-12 Dive, Oct 15: What to know about the Education Department’s latest round of RIFs
• The 74 Million, Oct 16: Court Blocks Shutdown Layoffs, But Experts Say Education Department Programs Still in Danger

September 21 – October 4, 2025

As of October 1, the government has shut down. Title I and IDEA funds for special education for the 2025-2026 school year have been released, though some other programs have been paused. 

• The USED’s plan for the shutdown is to maintain limited function with 330 employees, while furloughing 2,117 employees. 
• Forward-funded programs, which were approved last year for the 2025-2026 school year, will continue to receive funds.
• School breakfast and lunch programs are funded for at least 3 months.
• Some programs like Impact Aid and Head Start in Alabama may be impacted by the shutdown. To read more about these potential implications, check out our Budget Watch: Federal Edition.

On September 24 and 29, respectively, the USED announced the release of $500 million for Charter School Programs and $153 million for American History and Civics Seminars Grants for FY2025.

• These investments are for the current school year, going above what was originally set aside for these programs in the FY25 budget approved by Congress last year.
• This investment includes grants to K-12 programs focused on strengthening history and civics instruction.
• This announcement outlines the largest investment in charter school programs the USED has ever made. The $500 million will go towards all six Charter School Programs, including State Entity, Charter School Management Organization, Developer, State Facilities, Credit Enhancement, and Model Dissemination and Development grants.

Secretary McMahon is currently traveling to each state through the “Returning Education to the States” 50-State Tour. McMahon will hear from students, teachers, and school leaders about education models that are having positive impacts for students. In the last two weeks, McMahon visited Montana and Ohio. We will share any news regarding McMahon’s anticipated visit to Alabama when more information is available.

Over the last two weeks, regarding investigations, the USED initiated enforcement actions against Fairfax County schools in Virginia, and determined that Minnesota schools violated Title IX.

• The Fairfax County investigation centers around reports of school employees facilitating an abortion appointment for a student. The USED has initiated requirements for the district to investigate the issue and provide a written response. 
• The Minnesota investigation centers around Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, and a claim of allowing transgender females to compete in female sports. The USED found that the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League were in violation of these laws, and provided a list of requirements for resolution. 
• These investigations and others are likely on pause until the government shutdown ends.

On September 17, the USED announced its plans for America 250, a nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• The USED formed the America 250 Civics Coalition to organize school curriculum and nationwide celebrations. The coalition includes 40 national and state organizations. 
• The coalition will work to create patriotic civics content for schools, and the USED will be emphasizing patriotic education in upcoming grant competitions for schools.
• Secretary McMahon announced the USED’s new patriotic education supplemental priority for discretionary grants, to support the teaching of American history, values, and geography.
• Alabama’s American 250 celebration will be hosted by the American Village.

On September 17,the USED sent a Dear Colleague letter to chief state school officers on the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999. The Ed-Flex Act allows the Secretary of Education to allow states to waive certain educational requirements and regulations, and the letter encourages state superintendents to apply to become Ed-Flex States.

• The letter and press release highlight Ed-Flex as a way states can increase innovation in funding to support literacy and math. 11 states have Ed-Flex authority now, including Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Alabama does not.
• Ed-Flex States may waive requirements at the district level for spending in many categories, including Title I funding for low income students, migratory and at-risk youth, Supporting Effective Instruction (Title IIA) and Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (Title IVA).
• Ed-Flex States may not waive requirements related to accountability and assessments, maintenance of effort for special education funding, distribution of funds to LEAs, and other areas.

Over the last two weeks, the USED the USED concluded its investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia for alleged Title IX violations.

• The Loudon County investigation centers around Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, and a claim of the district retaliating against those bringing sexual harassment claims. The USED found that Loudon County was in violation of these laws, and provided a list of requirements for resolution.

Secretary McMahon is currently traveling to each state through the “Returning Education to the States” 50-State Tour. McMahon will hear from students, teachers, and school leaders about education models that are having positive impacts for students. In the last two weeks, McMahon visited Wyoming, Texas, and Michigan. We will share any news regarding McMahon’s anticipated visit to Alabama when more information is available.

National News

• Whiteboard Advisors, Sept 30: What Would a Government Shutdown Mean for K-12 Education?
• Alabama Daily News, Oct 2: How the Federal Shutdown will Impact K-12, Higher Education

September 7 – September 20, 2025

Over the last two weeks, the media has reported that the USED has cut existing grants for special education students. These grants were for the current fiscal year 2025 and affect the 2025-2026 school year. The funds were set to be released on October 1, and according to online sources they will not be released. Sources include a letter by US Senators Murray, DeLauro, and Baldwin, Education Week, Disability Scoop, Propublica, and the National Association of Pupil Services Administrators. 

• The cuts include 25 programs within Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and nine grants for disability-focused initiatives, totaling $18.3 million. These were grants that were already approved, some of which were in the middle of 5-year cycles.
• The programs supported community parent resource centers, special education programs, special education teacher training, Braille and interpreter training, education for deafblind students, and other initiatives.
• These programs were cut because they were not in the best interest of the federal government, or they focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Savannah Newhouse, USED press secretary, stated that the funding for these grants would be re-invested into other programs, but didn’t identify which programs would gain funding.

On September 10, the USED announced that funding for Minority Serving Institution (MSI) grants would be cut for the current fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

• The USED shared that these grants “discriminate by restricting eligibility to institutions that meet government-mandated racial quotas,” and are no longer aligned with the administration’s priorities.
• Affected grants include Strengthening Predominantly Black Institutions, Minority Science and Engineering Improvement, and Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions, among others. For more information on how this change will affect HBCUs, check out this article by the Magnolia Tribune.

On September 15, the USED announced that it will be making new investments in charter schools, American history and civics programs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities for FY2025.

• These investments are for the current school year. The American history and civics programs will receive $160 million, charters will receive $500 million, and universities will receive $495 million more in total than they were originally slated for FY2025. 
• These investments will be funded by repurposing funds previously slated for other programs that will no longer receive funding this year.  This comes on the heel of the news of the MSI cuts. We are unsure if the funding was shifted from MSI to these new investments.
• These changes were published after Secretary McMahon responded to the 2024 NAEP scores for 12th graders, which were released on September 9.

On September 17, the USED announced its plans for America 250, a nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• The USED formed the America 250 Civics Coalition to organize school curriculum and nationwide celebrations. The coalition includes 40 national and state organizations. 
• The coalition will work to create patriotic civics content for schools, and the USED will be emphasizing patriotic education in upcoming grant competitions for schools.
• Secretary McMahon announced the USED’s new patriotic education supplemental priority for discretionary grants, to support the teaching of American history, values, and geography.
• Alabama’s American 250 celebration will be hosted by the American Village.

On September 17,the USED sent a Dear Colleague letter to chief state school officers on the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999. The Ed-Flex Act allows the Secretary of Education to allow states to waive certain educational requirements and regulations, and the letter encourages state superintendents to apply to become Ed-Flex States.

• The letter and press release highlight Ed-Flex as a way states can increase innovation in funding to support literacy and math. 11 states have Ed-Flex authority now, including Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Alabama does not.
• Ed-Flex States may waive requirements at the district level for spending in many categories, including Title I funding for low income students, migratory and at-risk youth, Supporting Effective Instruction (Title IIA) and Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (Title IVA).
• Ed-Flex States may not waive requirements related to accountability and assessments, maintenance of effort for special education funding, distribution of funds to LEAs, and other areas.

Over the last two weeks, the USED the USED concluded its investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia for alleged Title IX violations.

• The Loudon County investigation centers around Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, and a claim of the district retaliating against those bringing sexual harassment claims. The USED found that Loudon County was in violation of these laws, and provided a list of requirements for resolution.

Secretary McMahon is currently traveling to each state through the “Returning Education to the States” 50-State Tour. McMahon will hear from students, teachers, and school leaders about education models that are having positive impacts for students. In the last two weeks, McMahon visited Wyoming, Texas, and Michigan. We will share any news regarding McMahon’s anticipated visit to Alabama when more information is available.

National News

• Education Week, Sept 16 – Trump Admin. Cancels Dozens More Grants, Hitting Civics, Arts, and Higher Ed.
• Education Week, Sept 17: Ed. Dept. Will Emphasize ‘Patriotic Education’ in Grant Competitions
• Alabama Reflector, Sept 18: US rolls toward a ‘terrible’ government shutdown, no exit ramp in sight
• Hechinger Report, Sept 18: Schools confront a new reality: They can’t count on federal money
• Urban Institute, September 19: How Would Proposed Changes to Federal K-12 Title Spending Affect Your School District?

August 24 – September 6, 2025

The USED’s budget for FY26, which will impact the 2026-2027 school year, is being debated in Congress. It is in the bill called “Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Act.” This bill was introduced in the House and Senate, and committees in each made different changes. Once the House and Senate separately pass their versions, the bill will go to Conference Committee to compromise.

• The original bill is based on the Trump Administration’s budget request, which seeks to cut USED funding by 15%. This budget would combine many programs into one flexible state grant, while decreasing the overall funds going to states.
• The Senate Appropriations Committee released their version of the budget in July. They proposed maintaining or increasing the majority of the programs in Title I, and rejected the idea of closing the USED.
• The House Appropriations Committee released their version of the budget last week. They proposed similar total funding as the Trump Administration’s budget, but within the proposal there were cuts to Title I and other programs.
• Congress will need to compromise on a budget by October 1, or face a government shut down. More information on the federal budget and how it might affect Alabama students can be found on the Budget Watch: Federal Edition. Stay tuned for a way to engage Alabama’s federal delegation to encourage them to protect funding for Alabama students.

On August 29,the USED announced the end of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program through a Dear Colleague letter to Chief State School Officers.This program recognized both public and private schools that stood out for academic excellence and for closing achievement gaps.

• 134 Alabama schools have been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools over the past 40 years. 5 Alabama schools were recognized last year, and three were Title I. The recognized schools were EPIC Alternative Elementary in Birmingham City, East Elementary School in Cullman City, Carver School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Dothan City, Crestline Elementary School in Hartselle City, and Brookwood Forest Elementary in Mountain Brook.
• The announcement came as a surprise to Superintendent Mackey and the Alabama State Board of Education. For more information, check out this article from Alabama Daily News.

Over the last two weeks, the USED continued investigating districts for Title IX and parental rights violations. The USED escalated its investigation into Denver Public Schools, and initiated its investigation into Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts.

• Denver Public Schools were found to be in violation of Title IX for maintaining all-gender restrooms and for allowing students to use the facilities in accordance with their gender identity through the district’s “Denver Public Schools LGBTQ+ Toolkit”. This was the first case the USED opened in January, 2025. The district will need to comply with changes requested by the USED, or “risk imminent enforcement action.”
• Burlington Public Schools are being investigated for allegations of failing to comply with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, which allows parents the right to opt their students out of school surveys that ask about personal information. The district failed to comply with parents’ request to opt their children out of the district’s annual “Youth Risk Behavior Survey.”

National News

• Alabama Daily News, Aug 29: U.S. Department of Ed ends long-running National Blue Ribbon Schools program.
• K-12 Dive, Sept 2: House GOP eyes 27% cut to Title I
• Alabama Reflector, Sept 5: Trump campaigned on closing the Education Department. Reality is more difficult.

August 10 – August 23, 2025

Secretary McMahon is currently traveling to each state through the, “Returning Education to the States” 50-State Tour. McMahon will hear from students, teachers, and school leaders about education models that are having positive impacts for students.

• In the last two weeks, McMahon visited Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. We will share any news regarding McMahon’s anticipated visit to Alabama when more information is available.

On August 12, the US Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education released their workforce development strategy. This report outlines the vision and actions those departments will take to shift the federal government’s approach to workforce development. A summary of the strategy is here, and the full document is available here.

• The strategy asks the USED to align education with workforce needs, including shifting to workforce development models, focusing on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, increasing career and technical education programs, and expanding apprenticeship pathways. The USED will seek to expand access to career exploration for K-12 students beginning in 5th grade.
• In Alabama, students have the opportunity to pursue a high school diploma that follows the general education pathway, or a workforce diploma where a portion of credits are fulfilled with CTE courses. Starting in 2026, students must also earn a College and Career Readiness indicator. Some CCRs are based on workforce credentials, such as CTE courses or apprenticeships.

On August 21, Secretary McMahon and the USED sent a Dear Colleague letter to states and local school district leaders on how they can provide equitable services for students enrolled in private schools.

• The guidance shared that under the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), eligible private school students can receive Title IA funded services. These include tutoring, summer school, or other initiatives for students who are at risk of failing. Students must live in a district that is eligible for Title I funds.

In the last two weeks, the USED rescinded a Dear Colleague letter from 2015 that provided guidance on how schools should comply with their legal obligation to serve English language learners. This change was not announced publicly.

• Rescinding these guidelines does not change the law. Districts must support their ELL students based on federal laws that prohibit discrimination and require schools to educate all students. 
• When it was originally released, the letter was groundbreaking. It outlined case law, legal precedents, and federal requirements for schools regarding ELL students and provided examples of how students should be served.
• To read more about these changes, check out articles from EducationWeek and Chalkbeat.

Over the last two weeks, the USED escalated its investigation into five districts in Virginia, and opened an investigation into four school districts in Kansas. Both investigations center around Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination.

• Five Virginia school districts have been placed on high-risk status, which means that all federal funding must be obtained by reimbursement only. Typically, districts receive their funds at the beginning of the school year and can disperse them as needed. Now, these Virginia districts must front the funds and apply for reimbursement afterwards. The investigation found the districts in violation of Title IX for allowing students to use the facilities in accordance with their gender identity. Further, the USED is looking to suspend or terminate all federal funds to these districts.
• The Kansas school district investigations center around alleged Title IX and FERPA violations. FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, protects the rights of student education data and gives parents and students certain rights to that data. The investigation is about Kansas districts allowing transgender women to participate in women’s sports, use women’s facilities, and requiring consent to share student’s personal information with parents.

National News

• K-12 Dive, Aug 15: Federal judge halts Education Department’s anti-DEI measures
• Reuters, Aug 15: Trump administration claims judge defied Supreme Court to bar Education Department firings
• K-12 Dive, Aug 18: 3 risk factors making states vulnerable to federal funding cuts
• The 74 Million, Aug 20: As Students Return to School, Educators Grapple With Chaos From Washington
• Education Policy Institute, Aug 21: U.S. investment in public education is at risk
• Alabama Reflector, Aug 21: Tommy Tuberville suggests putting students in vocational programs after 10th grade

July 27 – August 9, 2025

On July 29,the USED sent a Dear Colleague letter to all State Superintendents, inviting them to use their Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds flexibly and to submit waivers to avoid “burdensome statutory and regulatory provisions.”

• The ESEA provides foundational funding for schools, and includes all of the title programs we associate with funding for students living in poverty, requirements for special education, and teacher development.
• If Alabama Superintendent Dr. Mackey were to seek this path, this cwould mean more flexibility for federal funds.
• More information can be found in this article by K-12 Dive.

On August 8, Secretary McMahon announced that she would be visiting each state through the “Returning Education to the States” 50-State Tour.

• McMahon will hear from students, teachers, and school leaders about education models that are having positive impacts for students.
• The tour will begin with Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. We will share any news we hear about McMahon’s anticipated visit to Alabama.

Over the last two weeks, the USED opened an investigation into Baltimore City Public Schools. Investigations into various other districts and state boards of education have continued, but with no new findings at this time.

• The Baltimore City investigation centers around Title VI and alleged anti-semitic harassment. It is being investigated by the USED’s Office of Civil Rights.

National News

• USED, Aug 4: “Nicholas Kent Sworn in as 15th Under Secretary of Education”
• NPR, Aug 1: “Today is the last day for many Education Departments workers. Here’s what they did”
• K-12 Dive, Aug 6: “Education Department eyes special education in school choice expansion”

July 13 – July 26, 2025

Update on frozen funding: The Trump Administration had previously frozen $6 billion in funding for five state grant programs on June 30, of which Alabama was supposed to receive $68 million. After pushback from state and federal leaders as well as education stakeholders, the USED announced that they would release funding for 21st Century Programs, which fund summer and afterschool programs, on July 18. On July 25, the administration announced that all frozen education funds would be released. 

• Alabama Senator Katie Britt signed onto a letter from US Senators requesting that the funds be released. Alabama Representatives Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures also signed onto a letter from the House of Representatives. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville shared with Alabama Daily News that he believed the funds would be released, and that he was hoping to speak to Secretary McMahon and President Trump about the frozen funds.
• The programs that were frozen were grants for Migrant Education, Supporting Effective Instruction (educator professional development), English Language Acquisition, Student Support and Academic Enrichment (school conditions, technology, etc), and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (afterschool and summer programs). 
• The Trump Administration’s FY26 budget proposal for the Department of Education would eliminate these programs among others for the 2026-2027 school year. Read more about the proposal on our Budget Watch: Federal Edition.

Title IX Investigation: Over the last two weeks, the USED opened investigations into the Oregon Department of Education, and found five northern Virginia public school districts in violation of Title IX. 

• Both investigations center around Title IX, which prevents sex-based discrimination. Both Oregon and the districts in Virginia are under investigation for allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.

AI: The USED released guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in schools. The department is taking steps to add AI as a priority for the upcoming school year. 

In the news:

• Bellwether: Impact of Federal Changes on Children and K-12 Public Schools.
• Chalkbeat: “Billions in federal education funding unfrozen by Trump administration.”
• The School Superintendent’s Association: “AASA Survey: The Impact of the FY25 Funding Freeze on Students Across America”
• EdTrust: “What The Federal School Voucher Program Means for Students in Your State”
• Alabama Daily News: “How the federal funding freeze could impact Alabama”

June 15 – July 12, 2025

On July 14, the US Supreme Court ruled, or decided, that President Trump’s executive order to shut down the USED was constitutional, and that the employees who were fired during the RIF layoffs could be lawfully terminated. We will share more information soon on how this ruling might impact Alabama. For more information, check out the Supreme Court ruling, Secretary McMahon’s statement, and this article from the Alabama Daily News.

On July 3, the Big Beautiful Bill was passed by Congress. This new law affects the 2025-2026 school year in a few ways:

• It decreased the amount of people eligible for SNAP and Medicaid. These are two ways that students qualify for free and reduced lunches at school. This could affect Alabama’s students, and could impact the amount of funding provided by the federal government to Alabama school nutrition programs.
• It includes the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), which creates a federal tax credit for donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations that provide scholarships and vouchers for private schools, homeschools, and some related educational opportunities. Alabama already has an opportunity scholarship program through the Alabama Accountability Act, so this could benefit those scholarship granting organizations and create more scholarships for students.
• At the urging of Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), the Senate version of the bill expanded the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for all households with an annual income under $206,000 to make childcare more affordable.
• It expanded the use of 529 savings plans to allow expenditures up to $20,000 annually for qualified K-12 expenses. Previously this contribution was capped at $10,000 annually.
• For more reading, check out Educators for Excellence’s Teacher’s Guide to President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. To learn more about the USED’s proposed budget for FY26, which impacts the 2026-2027 school year, check out the Budget Watch: Federal Edition.

On July 1, the USED froze five state grant programs for review. Typically, each state superintendent receives emails on July 1 from the USED outlining the amount of money their state will receive for the upcoming school year through each grant program. Nationwide, the programs are funded at $6.2 billion. Alabama anticipated receiving $68 million for K-12 education through the frozen grant programs.

• The programs that are being reviewed include grants for Migrant Education, Supporting Effective Instruction (educator professional development), English Language Acquisition, Student Support and Academic Enrichment (school conditions, technology, etc), and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (afterschool and summer programs).
• Alabama may still receive these funds, but the timeline is unknown. Check out Watershed Advisor’s state level breakdown of each program’s funding level, and this article from the Learning Policy Institute to learn more.

National News

• Educators for Excellence, July 10: Video – Not One Step Back: An Education Town Hall for Families and Communities
• AL.com, July 10: How will Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ affect Medicaid, SNAP in Alabama? What you need to know
• USED, July 8: “US Department of Education Launches Title VI Investigation into Connetquot Central School District Over Native American Logo Ban”
• New America, July 7: A District-by-District Accounting of the $6.2 Billion the US Department of Education Has Held Back from Schools
• EducationWeek, July 7: Who Will Bear the Brunt of Trump’s Hold on $6.8 Billion in School Funds?

June 1-14, 2025

In early June, a summary of the administration’s recommended education budget was published. Secretary McMahon testified on behalf of the budget request in the House and Senate. The biggest changes are highlighted below, and more information about the funds that Alabama received in each category is available on our Special Edition of the Budget Watch.

• The new Simplified Funding Program combines 18 individual programs into one state grant. In 2024, these 18 programs cost $4.5 billion overall. The budget proposal allocates only $2 billion for SFP.
• Some Title I funds, which fund economically disadvantaged students, will be funded at the 2024 level. Other programs will be combined into a state grant.
• Some Special Education funds will be funded at the 2024 level, while some programs will be combined into a state grant.
• Charter school funding has increased by $60 million.
• Outside of the categories above, 9 programs have been eliminated. For the full list, check out our Budget Watch: Federal Edition.

On June 6, USED employees who were terminated through the March RIFs were sent an email saying that their jobs were reinstated.

• The state of New York sued Secretary McMahon and the Department of Education in March, stating that the USED could not fulfill its obligations required by Congress with a reduced staff.
• New York won the court case, and the USED was told it would have to rehire the employees. Secretary McMahon appealed to the Supreme Court of New York, but in the meantime the USED must rehire the terminated employees.

Over the last two weeks, the USED highlighted June as Title IX month and elevated its existing investigations into Minnesota’s Title IX violations.

• The Minnisota investigation centers around their Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League for allowing a transgender woman to play on the Champlin Park High School girls’ softball team.
• The investigation was opened in February, and now moves to the Title IX Special Investigations Team.

National News

• The Hechinger Report, June 1: “Trump cuts could expose student data to cyber threats”
• K-12 Dive, June 2: “Education Department eyes program cuts, consolidations in FY26 budget plan.”
• NPR, June 6: “Trump admin asks SCOTUS to intervene and allow Ed Dept cuts”
• EducationWeek, June 9: “The Trump Budget for K-12 Schools: 5 Key Takeaways”
• The Hechinger Report, June 9: “A week of breaking news in education research”

May 25-31, 2025

On May 27, in response to a May 22 court order, the USED began to reverse its reduction in force from earlier this year in order to carry out its statutory functions, which are those required by Congress through laws that have previously been passed.

• A judge called for this temporary reversal of the RIF last week through the case State of New York v. McMahon.
• The case itself is about the delay and withholding of federal funds to public school districts, in part due to the RIF. With fewer people staffing the USED, essential functions of the USED, such as the distribution of Title I funds, are taking longer.

This week, the USED launched one new investigation and announced its findings in another. The USED launched an investigation into Wisconsin’s Green Bay Area Public School District, and the USED found New York’s Massapequa High School in violation of Title IV.

• Both investigations center around Title IV, which is about discrimination and civil rights.
• The Wisconsin investigation focuses on claims of discrimination against an elementary school student with dyslexia on the basis of the student’s race being white. The complaint that led to the investigation states that the district prioritizes special education services based on racial priority groups.
• The New York decision comes as a result of an investigation into the school’s ban on using Native American mascots and logos. In 2023, NY banned the use of Native American mascots due to concerns about cultural appropriation and stereotyping. The USED ruled that this ban violates federal civil rights laws. To learn more about this issue, check out these articles by Native News Online and EducationWeek.

National News

• CNBC, May 27: “Court order challenges Trump’s plan to move federal student loans to Small Business Administration.”
• K-12 Dive, May 29: “Lawmakers, judge push back on Education Department’s gutting, citing inefficiency.”
• USED, May 30: “US Department of Education Welcomes Dr. Amber Northern as Senior Advisor.”
• Washington Examiner, May 31: “Trump administration threatens to pull funding from New York schools over Native American mascot ban.”

May 18-24, 2025

On May 22, a federal judge blocked President Trump’s executive order to shut down the USED, and ordered that employees that were fired in mass layoffs be reinstated.

• The decision centers on the idea that there are federal laws that require the USED to carry out its responsibilities, which include supporting special education programs and distributing financial aid. To change these responsibilities requires congressional approval – this would require an amendment to previous legislation or entirely new legislation.

On May 22, the Supreme Court voted 4-4 on the case St. Isidore v. Drummond, and determined that religious charter schools can be excluded from public funds based on their religious status.

• The court case was about a religious charter school in Oklahoma. The court determined that a publicly funded Catholic charter school is unconstitutional.
• St. Isidore can continue to serve as a school for students, but will not be classified as a charter school or receive state funding.

This week, there were some developments in the federal USED budget for the next fiscal year. The budget moves like a bill through Congress. On May 21, Secretary McMahon testified in front of the US House Committee on Appropriations’ education subcommittee to defend her budget request for the Department of Education.

• Secretary McMahon’s budget request is $12 billion (15.3%) less than last year’s request. She emphasized that Title IA and IDEA funds will not be cut, and that the USED will follow the law. For McMahon’s written opening testimony click here, and for her oral testimony click here.
• Related to the budget, the USED released Secretary McMahon’s Supplemental Grant Priorities which emphasizes literacy, school choice, and returning education to the states. These priorities will be used for the USED’s funded grant competitions.
• In hearings like these, the committee members ask questions about the secretary’s proposed budget, which is not law until Congress votes. Generally, Republicans on the subcommittee supported the proposal and praised the funding request for charter schools, while Democrats on the subcommittee opposed the proposals and feared undermining student success.

On May 22, the USED launched an investigation into Virginia’s Fairfax County public school district for Title VI violations.

• The USED’s investigation focuses on Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions policy, which was updated in 2020 to increase the admission of students from underrepresented backgrounds.
• The investigation letter states that the policy is in violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

National News

• Urban Institute, May 20: “Changes to SNAP Could Reduce Student Access to Free School Meals”
• Education Council, May 20: “EducationCouncil alert for May 19, 2025”
• K-12 Dive, May 21: “3 things to know from Linda McMahon’s FY 2026 testimony”
• Alabama Reflector, May 22: “SCOTUS tie ends Oklahoma plan to open nation’s first publicly funded Catholic charter school”
• USA Today, May 23: “Public schools that refuse to follow Trump’s DEI directive are now in the crosshairs”
• K-12 Dive, May 22: “‘A shell of itself’ Federal judge pauses efforts to wind down Education Department”

May 11-17, 2025

On May 16, the USED created a grant program and invited schools to apply to the Charter Schools Program (CSP) Model Development and Dissemination (MDD) grant program. The USED published a press release on the changes.

• This program offers competitive grants to eligible organizations to develop and broadly disseminate information about high-quality charter school models. The overall CSP is funded at $500 million.
• Six grant programs are available for organizations to apply to. A webinar for the program will be held through the USED on June 4.

This week in Congress, there was an emphasis on the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) of 2025. This bill, currently in the US House of Representatives, would create a federal voucher program through the federal tax code for nonpublic schools.

• The bill would create a tax credit for those who make charitable contributions to scholarship-granting organizations, which would be used to fund scholarships for students to attend private, public, or charter schools. To be eligible, a family’s income must be lower than 300% of the median gross income in their region, meaning that eligibility would vary based on where a student lives and their family’s income relative to other families in the area.
• The House Ways and Means Committee voted to include the bill in the broader reconciliation bill. This bill, paired with the budget proposal, would allow the federal government to spend $5 billion per year on nonpublic schools.

Federal and National News

• New America, May 12: “Federal Early Education Update: May 2025”
• USED, May 12: “US Department of Education Calls for Nominations to Serve on Negotiated Rulemaking Committee”
• Hechinger, May 12: “Three-fourths of NSF funding cuts hit education“
• NPR, May 14: “What to know about a federal proposal to help families pay for private school.”
• Hechinger, May 14: “Trump’s cuts to teacher training leave rural school districts, aspiring educators in the lurch”
• Stateline, May 15: “Some states reexamine school discipline as Trump order paves go-ahead”

May 4-10, 2025

On May 9, a fourth round of budget cuts hit the National Science Foundation (NSF).

• 73 additional grants were cut, bringing the total eliminated projects over 1,400. Many of these projects focused on education research. A full list of projects can be found here.
• The NSF’s Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM team was eliminated. 70 full time employees and 300 temporary employees were terminated.

On May 7, the USED shared guidance for states on the Unsafe School Choice Option.

• The Unsafe School Choice Option is a provision in federal law that requires states to have a policy that gives students in persistently dangerous schools an opportunity to attend a safe public elementary or secondary school, including a public charter school.
• In Alabama, this is called a Transfer Option School (TOS), defined by a 1% (or 5 student) expulsion rate for violent crimes on school property for three consecutive years. Students who are victims to violent crimes on school property are also eligible, regardless of school status as a TOS. Eligible students can transfer to a “safe school” within the same LEA.

On May 6, the USED launched an investigation into New York’s Saratoga Springs City school district for Title IX violations.

• Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) filed a report with the USED in April, sharing that Saratoga Springs’ policy titled “Affirming Our Support for Every Student” violates Title IX by allowing students to use the facilities “consistent with their gender identity.”
• The investigation letter from the USED to Saratoga Springs asks for more information about the policy and district definitions.
• There are no new updates on the investigations in Maine, Washington, and Illinois (Chicago and Evanston-Skokie).

Alabama News

• Alabama Reflector, May 10: “As Trump slashes AmeriCorps, states lose a federal partner in community service”

Federal and National News

• USED, May 9: “US Department of Education Celebrates President Trump’s Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education”
• USA Today, May 9: “National Science Foundation eliminates equity division, cancels dozens more grants”
• AEI, May 7: “What’s Next for Federal Education Policy? A Conversation with Chairman Tim Walberg”
• NEA, May 7: “Four Ways Trump’s Budget Proposal Slashes Public School Funding”
• Brookings, May 6: “Trump administration weighs future of special education oversight and funding”
• Bellwether, May 6: Video – “Will the Supreme Court Allow Religious Charter Schools?”
• Ed Source, May 6: “Trump’s budget would abolish funding for English learners, adult ed, teacher recruitment”
• ABC News, May 6: “On Teacher Appreciation Day, Trump cuts affecting profession in ‘huge way’”
• K-12 Dive, May 5: “$1B to support student mental health is gone. Schools fear what’s next.”
• Hechinger Report, May 5: “Education researchers sue Trump administration, testing executive power.”
• Inside Higher Ed, May 5: “NSF Halts New Funding and Caps Indirect Rate Costs”
• Ed Surge, May 5: “Hundreds of STEM Grants Have Been Terminated. K-12 Math Educators Will Lose Out.”

April 27- May 3, 2025

On May 2, the Trump Administration released their 2026 discretionary budget, which is for programs that are funded annually and not required by law (like Medicare or Social Security). This is a proposal for Congress to consider, it is not a law or regulation by itself. A memo with the budget was sent to Congress, and Secretary McMahon published a statement on the recommendations.

• The Administration published memos, including “Revitalizing Federalism” and “Cuts to Woke Programs”, in addition to the budget. Highlights related to education include:
  • Preschool Development Grants: Decreased by $315 million, eliminating the program
  • Teacher Quality Partnerships: Decreased by $70 million, eliminating the program
  • General Research and Education at the National Science Foundation: Decreased by $3.5 billion
• The budget request cuts the USED’s overall budget by 15.3% as compared to last year’s budget. Highlights for the USED’s budget include the following:
  • Charter schools: Increase of $60 million, for $500 million total
  • Title I funding: No change from last year
  • Special Education funding: No change from last year; seven funding streams within IDEA will be consolidated to give states flexibility
  • K-12 Grant Programs: Decrease of $4.5 billion, 18 programs rolled into one flexible $2 billion fund
  • English language learner grants: Decrease of $890 million, eliminating the program
  • TRIO and Gear Up: Decrease of $1.6 billion, eliminating TRIO and reducing Gear Up which are programs that connect low income students to higher education opportunities
  • Migrant Education and Special Education for Migrant Students: Decrease of $428 million, eliminating the programs
  • Administrative budget: Decrease of $127 million, or 30%
  • Office for Civil Rights (OCR): Decrease of $49 million, or 35%

On April 30, the US Supreme Court heard the case St. Isidore v. Drummond, which is a case from Oklahoma that will determine whether states can exclude religious charter schools from public funding based on their religious status. It challenges the current interpretation of the First Amendment, and asks whether state funds can be used for religious schools.

• Charter schools are public schools, and are subject to the same kinds of requirements as traditional public schools. They are free, open to all, and have to comply with proficiency standards or states can shut them down.
• In 2023, Oklahoma’s charter school board approved an application to establish St. Isidore, a virtual Catholic charter school. The Oklahoma Supreme Court determined that the public charter school would violate students’ First Amendment rights by requiring them to practice Catholicism.
• St. Isidore appealed to the US Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court is hearing and debating the case. Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself, meaning she will not hear debate or vote, so there are eight justices voting. If the votes are tied, the case will defer to the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling. The vote will likely be in July, 2025.

On April 30, the media shared that the Trump Administration is moving to cancel $1 billion in school mental health grants.

• Grant recipients were notified that funding will not continue after this year.
• The grant programs were put in place to help schools hire more psychologists, counselors, and other mental health workers.

This week’s news on USED investigations included a settlement in Maine, and new investigations into Washington’s Office of the Superintendent and Illinois’ Chicago Public Schools for Title IX and Civil Rights violations.

• The Maine investigation over Title IX resulted in frozen funds from the USDA for the school nutrition program. This case has been settled, and Maine will continue to receive funding from the USDA. The USED investigation is ongoing.
• The Washington investigation is looking into reports that local school districts are required to allow males to participate in female sports and use female intimate facilities, as well as requiring districts to not notify parents of changes in their children’s gender identity.
• The Illinois investigation is looking into a report filed by Defending Education against the Chicago Public Schools for their academic achievement initiative, the “Black Students Success Plan,” for racial discrimination.

Federal and National News

• Axios, May 2: “Five ways Trump’s budget request could affect the average American.”
• Axios, May 2: “Where K-12 schools get the most federal revenue”
• American Enterprise Institute video panel, April 30: “Grading Trump’s First 100 Days on Education”
• SCOTUS blog, April 30: “Supreme Court divided over approving first religious charter school”
• USA Today, April 30: “Recap: Supreme Court has heated exchange in blockbuster religious charter school case”
• NBC News, April 30: “Supreme Court’s conservatives lean towards allowing country’s first religious public charter school”
• POLITICO, April 30: “Education Department cuts about $1B in federal school mental health grants”
• APNews, April 30: “Trump administration cuts $1 billion in school mental health grants, citing conflict of priorities”
• Edunomics webinar and slides, April 29: “30-Min Webinar: Federal and other financial risks for K12 in the months ahead”
• Education Next, April 29: “What Would Religious Charter Schools Mean for Education Choice?”
• Wall Street Journal, April 29: “Supreme Court Could Crush Charter Schools”
• ABC7, April 29: “US Department of Education investigating Chicago Public Schools for ‘Black Students Success Plan’”
• K-12 Dive, April 28: “19 states sue Education Department over anti-DEI efforts”
• The Center Square, April 28: “Education Department: Trump has handed education back to states as promised”
• Bellwether LinkedIn Video, April 28: “Advancing AI Education – Navigating Trump’s Executive Order”

April 20-26, 2025

Last week, President Trump signed multiple executive orders relating to education.

On April 24, a federal judge paused the USED’s ability to enforce their statement to withhold funding from school systems that have diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

• Multiple entities, including the National Education Association (NEA), the NEA of New Hampshire, the ACLU, and the Center for Black Educator Development filed lawsuits against the USED to challenge the USED’s Dear Colleague Letter from Feb 14. The letter stated that federal funds would be cut for education institutions that engage in DEI efforts.
• The lawsuits state that the USED has overstepped its legal authority by imposing restrictions that violate the First Amendment, limit academic freedom, and dictate what educators can teach and what students can learn.

On April 23, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.”

• The EO establishes an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force and creates the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge to highlight student and educator achievements in AI.
• The USED will promote AI literacy by encouraging the integration of AI into education for students and AI training for educators.

On April 23, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.”

• The EO creates a Comprehensive Worker Investment and Development Strategy for the Trump Administration, tasking the Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Education to review and report on federal workforce development programs.
• The EO emphasizes apprenticeships and asks Secretary McMahon to report on effective and ineffective federal workforce development and education programs.

On April 23, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy.”

• This deals with disparate-impact liability, which is when an organization has a policy that has negative impacts on a specific group of people, regardless of intent. It is used to identify unlawful discriminatory practices and policies. To learn more, the Learning Policy Institute has research on this topic.
• The EO calls for repealing disparate-impact regulations in Title VI, the Civil Rights Act, deprioritizing new enforcement of disparate-impact cases, and identifying laws at the federal and state levels that are about disparate impact. This could impact how schools implement and consider civil rights protections. Disparate impact exploration looks at data that breaks down outcomes into different groups, and then explores why the groups have those different outcomes.

On April 23, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline.”

• Multiple entities, including the National Education Association (NEA), the NEA of New Hampshire, the ACLU, and the Center for Black Educator Development filed lawsuits against the USED to challenge the USED’s Dear Colleague Letter from Feb 14. The letter stated that federal funds would be cut for education institutions that engage in DEI efforts.
• The lawsuits state that the USED has overstepped its legal authority by imposing restrictions that violate the First Amendment, limit academic freedom, and dictate what educators can teach and what students can learn.

Federal and National News

• The Hill, April 26: “Trump is right about the Department of Education but wrong about Head Start”
• NPR, April 26: “Why judges blocked the Trump admin’s school DEI crackdown”
• New York Times, April 24: “Courts Block Trump from Withholding School Funds over DEI, for Now”
• Reuters, April 24: “US judge limits Trump’s ability to withhold school funds over DEI”
• USED, April 23: “Secretary of Education Statements on President Trump’s Education Executive Orders”
• NYSBA, April 22: “The History of the United States Department of Education Explained”
• NEA, April 22: “The Final Mission of the US Department of Education: Three Truths Every Educator Must Embrace”
• US News & World Report, April 22: “Trump to Resume Collection of Defaulted Student Loans: What to Know”
• Hechinger Report, April 21: “A treasure trove of education reports and studies is under threat”

April 13-19, 2025

On April 15, the Trump Administration announced appointees to the USED. The full list of appointees can be found here.

On April 12, the media shared that the Trump Administration’s FY26 budget proposal would completely defund Head Start.

• Head Start provides childcare and preschool education to low-income families. Since its creation in the 1960s, the program has helped about 40 million families.
• The White House declined to address this in the media, and the FY26 budget is not public. Multiple news sources have published information about the proposed budget: USA Today, NJ Spotlight, Axios
• The Administration’s budget is always only a suggestion. Only an act of Congress can allocate or defund federal programs.

Alabama News

• Axios, April 17: “White House plan would eliminate Head Start, make sweeping health cuts”
• Alabama Reflector, April 17: “Federal education cuts and Trump DEI demands leave states, teachers in limbo”
• American Enterprise Institute, April 16: “Federal Education Research Has Been ‘Shredded.’ What’s Driving This?”
• AL.com, April 14: “Feds pull $9 million for tornado-stricken Alabama school district, reading program: ‘Panic’”
• Al.com, April 14: “Alabama weighs Trump request to end ‘illegal’ DEI practices in K-12 schools”

Federal and National News

• USED, April 17: “US Department of Education Releases Statement on 2026 NAEP schedule”
• Fordham Institute, April 16: “Podcast #965: Understanding ESSA Waivers, with Anne Hyslop”
• Ed Trust, April 14: “The Next Threat to Education: Congress’ Budget Reconciliation”
• K-12 Dive, April 14: “Bills in Congress detail path to closing the Education Department”
• Fox News, April 14: “Randi Weingarten: Trump’s decision to gut the Education Department is not only illegal, it’s wrong”
• Washington Post, April 14: “College financial aid hit with glitches, delays due to federal staffing cuts”

April 6-12, 2025

On April 12, the USED initiated a federal funding termination process for Maine K-12 schools, including formula and discretionary grants that fund Title I and IDEA in Maine.

• The press release highlights Maine’s Title IX noncompliance, focusing on their violation of antidiscrimination law by “allowing males to compete in female sports and occupy women-only intimate spaces.”
• Maine’s Department of Education refused to comply with the USED’s proposed Resolution Agreement. In a letter to the USED, Maine stated that there is no Title IX regulation that blocks schools from “allowing transgender girls and women to participate on girls’ and women’s sports teams.”
• K-12 funding is appropriated by Congress, and should require an act of Congress to freeze or take away. This situation will likely need to be settled by the federal court system.