Every week our newsroom monitors the news for the top stories in education from a variety of sources ranging from the mainstream media to blogs and other analysis, and compile them for you. Here’s the latest in education:
Education Secretary Linda McMahon: Layoffs are ‘first step’ to remove ‘bureaucratic bloat’
USA Today
Layoffs are underway at the Department of Education, where Education Secretary Linda McMahon has indicated that this is the first step on the road to fully shutting it down and sending control of education back to the state level. Abolishing the Department of Education will require action from Congress but President Trump can make bureaucratic changes from the Executive Branch. Trump and McMahon both believe that education is better left to local communities and parents to decide what is best for their children. At least 1,300 individuals have been laid off at the DOE and more are expected to come, especially if the department is fully abolished in the coming months.
The Education Department was created to ensure equal access. Who would do that in its absence?
AP News
As layoffs increase at the Department of Education, questions have arisen over how the mission of the department will carry forward and what will happen if the department is abolished altogether. Some have suggested that other agencies will take over duties, such as the Treasury Department handling student loan processing or the Justice Department handling civil rights responsibilities. Critics, however, have argued that cutting the department out of existence will hurt poor and needy students the most, as well as disabled students who may require more resources and services that could overwhelm local governments. President Trump has argued that the department has grown too large and bureaucratic, as well as left-wing biases pervading what should be a neutral educational space that prioritizes student learning and academic achievements. It remains to be seen if the DOE will be fully abolished but it will undoubtedly be a fight throughout President Trump’s second term as to what education should stand for and who should control it moving forward.
USDA cuts programs that gave schools funds to support local farmers for student meals
Scripps News
School nutritionists are warning that cuts to federal meal programs could harm schools and local farmers. The USDA recently ended two initiatives supporting schools’ ability to buy food from local farms, citing leftover pandemic-era funds. Critics argue the cuts undermine student nutrition and vital agricultural partnerships. Over 800 nutritionists lobbied lawmakers to protect funding for free school meals, fearing further cuts to support Trump’s proposed tax reductions. With 29.6 million students relying on school meals daily, experts stress that funding decisions in Congress will significantly impact schools nationwide, potentially limiting access to fresh, locally sourced food for students.
Department of Education cuts expected to face legal challenges
Fox 11
Legal challenges are arising in response to President Trump’s plans to increase layoffs at the Department of Education and proposals to eventually abolish the department altogether. Around 2,000 employees have already been laid off and more are expected to follow. Opposition groups, including Democrat representatives and teacher’s unions, are planning to legally fight back and take the cases into the courtroom if necessary, including up to the Supreme Court.
Elon Musk’s DOGE has taken over Trump’s Education Department
CNBC
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has taken control of the Department of Education, pushing top officials from their offices, rearranging spaces, and installing white-noise machines. DOGE staffers compete to implement drastic budget cuts, often making arbitrary decisions without clear political or policy goals. Employees describe a secretive and intimidating atmosphere, with shifting demands that create confusion and fear. DOGE has already canceled $881 million in contracts and slashed funding for key services like FAFSA. Trump’s administration supports these cuts as part of broader efforts to dismantle the department, despite legal constraints requiring congressional approval.
Angry Protests Erupt in Tennessee House Over Migrant School Bill
Newsweek
Protests erupted in the Tennessee House over a bill allowing public schools to deny education to undocumented migrant children. The legislation, introduced by Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth, passed a subcommittee vote despite opposition. Critics argue it violates the 1982 Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which guarantees public education regardless of immigration status. Advocates warn of discrimination against children who have known no home but Tennessee. Supporters claim it prevents “false hope” for undocumented students. The bill advances to the House Education Committee and could face legal challenges if enacted.
Here’s How Teachers Are Using AI to Save Time
Education Week
With the recent debate about the use of Ai in the classroom, many teachers have found it as an advantage. On average teachers spend 29 hours a week on non-teaching related tasks that cause stress and burnout. Teachers have found Ai a useful tool for their advantage. Some teachers have cited using it to help modify their lessons, create classroom resources, respond to parent emails, in addition to many other tasks. Additionally they use it to see if their students have used ai, or other services to plagiarism on their work.
