Education news covering schools, universities, policy, student outcomes, and the institutions that shape learning.
The Trump administration's Education Department is reframing racial equity efforts as discriminatory, opening investigations into teacher diversity programs in Rhode Island and Iowa. It withheld $20 million from Chicago Public Schools over its Black Student Success Program and prompted LAUSD to modify its Black Student Achievement Plan after a conservative complaint.
CBSE stated students do not need accounts with SBI, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, or Indian Bank to pay the re-evaluation fee on its portal. The portal faced a major cyberattack on Tuesday with 1.5 million hits in two minutes, but remained functional. As of Wednesday noon, 43,980 applications were accepted.
The authors argue that universities' compliance with anti-DEI laws extends beyond legal requirements, suppressing activities not explicitly prohibited. Based on a study of Texas's Senate Bill 17 at UT Austin, they describe 'suppressive compliance' where risk-averse governance leads to closures and layoffs, suggesting this pattern may recur in other states.
Ontario's four major teaching unions served bargaining notice to the Ford government, initiating contract talks for over 255,000 educators. The Ministry of Education must begin bargaining within 15 days. Unions cited issues including student needs, violence, special education supports, class sizes, and staffing.
Philadelphia teachers and advocates are urging City Council to reverse classroom budget cuts ahead of Thursday's preliminary budget vote. Mayor Parker's proposed $1-per-trip rideshare tax to raise $50 million faces skepticism. The district could lose 340 school-based roles, with Science Leadership Academy at Beeber facing elimination of art and PE.
The author argues that the Los Angeles Unified School District's high per-pupil spending has not led to adequate academic outcomes, and proposes giving families direct control over education funds through scholarship accounts and savings plans. The piece contends that this approach would improve educational quality and build family wealth.
This commentary argues that teachers face occupational precarity due to factors like pandemic impacts, inadequate funding, and school violence, but a neglected issue is how school infrastructures isolate teachers and constrain collegial practices. Drawing on the author's doctoral research in Manitoba, it contends that teachers need better opportunities for dialogue and collaboration to fulfill their expanding professional and social justice responsibilities.
Westminster University in Utah faces potential closure due to serious financial shortfalls, according to a Forbes list. The private university reported a negative net income of $12.5 million in its latest financial statement.
Proposed regulations would deny federal loans to students in fields like cosmetology, theology, and performing arts. Higher education groups are lobbying for revisions. The rules could affect 89% of master's students in religion programs.
The author argues that despite evidence showing educational technology hinders learning, US schools continue to issue devices to students. She contends that replacing personal phones with school-provided tech does not improve outcomes and may harm students' well-being, calling for a reduction of screens in K-12 education.