Freedom in Education: Bi-Weekly Policy Brief

July 29, 2025/

Freedom in Education: Bi-Weekly Policy Brief

Issued by: The Freedom in Education Media Team 

Coverage Dates: July 14–July 25, 2025

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE) NEWS

⚖️ Supreme Court Backs Administration on DOE Staff Dismissals

On July 14, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to dismiss hundreds of employees from the Department of Education (DOE) as part of its efforts to dismantle federal bureaucracy. 

Key Notes:

    • The Court was ideologically divided in its decision:
      • The three liberal justices expressed concern about the sanctity of the separation of powers, while the conservative majority did not elaborate on its choice.
    • This motion overturns a lower court’s ruling delivered in May that ordered the reinstatement of laid-off employees.
      • Touching on the administration’s goals toward “efficiency” and “accountability,” the Massachusetts judge wrote that the evidence overwhelmingly suggests an intention “to effectively dismantle the Department without an authorizing statute.”
    • In a statement posted to the DOE’s website, Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the Court for “affirming the obvious”: that the President, as head of the Executive Branch, can make staffing decisions at federal agencies.
      • She also wrote of “returning education to the states.”
  • Interestingly, when the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was signed into law, it created “new federal student loan repayment plans” and expanded the use of Pell Grants, among other initiatives.
  • An article from USA Today highlights how these tasks, to be carried out by Secretary McMahon, would make it “harder to close” the DOE.

? DOE Issues Guidance on AI in Education

In a press release issued Tuesday, July 22, the DOE sent a “Dear Colleague Letter,” or DCL, to grant recipients and prospective applicants with guidance on how to use allocated funds to “improve education outcomes through Artificial Intelligence (AI).” According to the DOE website, integrations of AI include:

  • AI-based high-quality instructional materials.
  • AI-enhanced high-impact tutoring. 
  • AI for college and career pathway exploration, advising, and navigation.

Additionally, the guidance includes attention to “principles for the responsible adoption of AI” and calls attention to “engaging” stakeholders and parents.

LEGAL BATTLES OVER FEDERAL FUNDING 

? States and Districts Sue Administration Over Billions in Frozen Education Funds

Twenty-four Democratic states, along with the District of Columbia (D.C.), united to sue the Trump administration over $6.8 billion in federal funding on Monday, July 14. According to the New York Times, the lawsuit cites the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which stipulates that a president “cannot unilaterally refuse to spend money that Congress has appropriated.” The Trump administration believes this act is unconstitutional. 

What to Know:

  • UPDATE: The Trump administration has released the remaining approximately $5.5 billion.
  • In a stunning move 18 days following the initial freeze, the Trump administration “unfroze” approximately $1 billion for critical after-school and summer programs, according to ABC. The rest of the money remains in limbo as of the time of writing.
  • The national-scale filing is not the only legal case regarding the funding freeze — several school districts across the country, along with advocacy groups, have banded together to file a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. 

STUDENTS’ RIGHTS

? Spotlight on Georgia

  • On June 26, a Student Bill of Rights was launched by Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods.
  • It outlines 12 fundamental rights that all students are entitled to when receiving a public education in Georgia. It is not a codified bill, but rather a set of visionary statements for how schools can move forward.
    • Some of those statements include:
    • “Students have the right to a quality education.”
    • “Students have the right to learn in safe schools with small class sizes.”
    • “Students have the right to be taught and supported by well-trained, well-respected, and well-paid teachers, leaders, and support staff.”

Simultaneously, Georgia is experiencing a significant teacher shortage, with its teacher retention rate dropping below 90 percent.

      • Although employers have been more apt to increase salaries to offset difficult working conditions and insufficient support, overall teacher pay is still not competitive enough, especially with the heightened impact of inflation.
      • The shortage has led to increased class sizes and lower course offerings, as well as less support for special education programs.

? Assembly Bill 84: What to Know

California Assembly Member Muratsuchi (D) introduced Assembly Bill 84, or AB 84, which focuses on accountability and funding sources for charter schools. It also applies to home schools by more closely monitoring records and instruction, as well as requiring parents to file with the state. The bill has attracted national attention by representing a potential threat to school choice.

  • Supporters champion the accountability aspect, while opponents worry about the regulations and restrictions, particularly one that calls for “classroom-based instruction.”

? Disparities in Discipline: New Data on Students with Disabilities Shows the Pitfalls of Public School

The 74, an education-focused news organization, published a data analysis last month documenting “disciplinary rates among students with disabilities” per state. We’ve listed some key takeaways below.

Takeaways:

Geography is a significant factor: 

      • South Carolina leads the nation in removing students with disabilities from school for 10 days or fewer — one of the evaluation criteria for the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) data. SC also tops the list in preschool suspensions. 
      • North Carolina, Delaware, and Nebraska also have high suspension numbers. 
      • Geographic factors may also result from structural attitudes in public schools toward suspensions and limited capacity to handle cases equitably. 
      • Race and gender also comprise disproportionate suspension rates; Black students and male students are more likely in both categories to be suspended.
      • More elements contributing to disproportionality include: 
        • Discrimination
        • Teacher and school counselor shortages
        • A lack of training in positive behavior management
        • Administrators not understanding or enforcing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or the law
        • Parents not knowing their kids’ rights
        • A return to “zero tolerance” disciplinary policies

RESOURCE ANALYSES

☀️ What is the What Works Clearinghouse?

The What Works Clearinghouse, or WWC, is a project of the research arm of the DOE, the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), which is independent and non-partisan.

  • The WWC website can act as a trusted librarian for education research: it contains practice guides, research on specific interventions, WWC reviews of individual studies, and more.
  • The WWC also filters out high-quality research versus less-reliable sources.
  • It makes a plethora of important literature available to interested teachers, decision makers, and the general public.

Recently, research contracts throughout the DOE were canceled, affecting grants for the IES amounting to nearly $900 million.

? Contact Us: press@freedomined.org 

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