Issued by: The Freedom in Education Media Team 

Coverage Dates: June 23–27, 2025

?? SCOTUS Rules in Mahmoud v. Jefferson County Board of Education

In a landmark 5–4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Mahmoud family, holding that public schools may not penalize students or parents for opting out of curricula that violate their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.

The Court found that Jefferson County’s refusal to offer alternative assignments after repeated parental objections to “identity-based content” in health and social studies classes amounted to a violation of First Amendment rights.

?️ Chief Justice Gorsuch, writing for the majority:

“The First Amendment does not end at the schoolhouse gate—especially for parents guiding the moral development of their children.”

FIE’s Take:

This decision is a major victory for parental rights in education and strengthens the foundation of education freedom. It sets a new precedent for families seeking more say in their child’s curriculum, particularly in values-charged subjects.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE)

✏️ DOE Issues Guidance on School Choice / Underperforming Schools 

The DOE Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) sent a letter on Thursday to chief state school officers providing guidance on how to use federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).

Key Notes:

• The guidance has two key objectives: to “expand education choice” and “turn around failing schools.”
• The schools identified fall under a few different categories:
  • Comprehensive support and improvement (CSI)
  • Targeted support and improvement due to consistently underperforming subgroups (TSI)
  • Additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI)

Quotes:

• • The Acting Assistant Secretary for the DOE’s OESE, Hayley Sanon, said the administration’s goal is to “turn around underperforming schools and improve student outcomes” while also “giving students in those underperforming schools better options.”
• Dr. Cade Brumley, the Louisiana Superintendent of Education, attributed the state’s “historic education progress” to “strategic actions such as expanding school choice.”

?️ FIE’s Perspective: Educational Freedom

FIE considers “Educational Freedom” or school choice, to be an effective educational policy with myriad benefits. Children have unique needs that cannot be fully addressed through a single system alone, and FIE advocates for diverse options, including private, parochial, charter, home, hybrid, or pod schooling, among others. 

9️⃣ DOE Finds Two California Institutions in Violation of Title IX

After mounting public tension between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the Trump administration, the DOE’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has concluded that the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) are both in “clear violation” of Title IX.  According to the press release, this is due to the state’s allowing of “males in girls’ sports and intimate spaces.”

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: CENTRAL STATES EDITION

? IN Governor Mike Braun Signs Sweeping Legislation Package

Notable bills include:

• HB 1002: Strips outdated education laws
• HB 1348: Mandates equal recognition of homeschool/nonaccredited diplomas by schools 
• HB 1515: Blocks municipalities from zoning out private or charter schools
• SB 1: Mandates operational funding sharing with charters starting in 2028
• SB 143: Limits school interference in parental rights
• SB 146: Raises minimum teacher salary by $5,000

? North Dakota Faces Teacher Pay Concerns

Similarly to Indiana’s SB 146, according to a report from the National Education Association ranking all 50 states on highest teacher pay, North Dakota ranks at #40. State educators are concerned because not only do overall teacher salaries lag behind national growth, there has also been a “critical shortage” declared in teachers across all subjects for the 2025-2026 academic year.

? What to Watch: Ohio Adopts a Classroom Cell Phone Policy

State law mandates that by July 1st of this year, Ohio must implement a student phone use policy that includes the following stipulations:

• • Students are not permitted to use their cell phones at any time during school hours on campus
  • The only exceptions are for:

• IEP or 504 Plan needs
• • Health monitoring purposes
• A strict disciplinary progression is outlined in the legislation

Student cell phone use has recently garnered more attention following recent legislative actions in Texas and Massachusetts, with additional states expected to follow suit.

IN THE NEWS

? NPR and the Pew Research Center both reported this week on varying support for the presence of Christian beliefs in schools.

• In Louisiana, a federal appeals court struck down a state law that required the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom.
• Inspired by recent policy decisions, such as the upheld ban on a religious charter school in Oklahoma, Pew’s research finds that 52% of U.S. adults favor allowing public school educators to lead a classroom in prayer, while 46% are opposed.

WESTERN U.S. POLICY PROPOSALS

? Archimedes Math Standards 

• Archimedes could replace Common Core by prioritizing:
  • Math concepts
  • Clear and concise instruction from teachers
  • The implementation of practical skills that can be used in real-world settings

? Good Book Drive 

• Increased access to books through the Good Book Drive promotes familiarity with regular reading and, by extension, enhanced literacy/language skills
  • The Good Book Drive promotes good books: age-appropriate with vetted content

RESOURCES & LINKS

• ? DOE Press Releases
• ? FIE on Educational Freedom
• ? FIE Title IX Guide
• ? NEA Pay Report
• ? More on Archimedes
• ? Good Book Drive
• ? State Bill Tracking Portal

? Contact Us: press@freedomined.org