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:
Fight over phonics: Will California require the ‘science of reading’ in schools?
Cal matters
The latest state testing has shown that nearly 60% of third graders in California aren’t at grade level for reading. A new bill, AB1121, would mandate a phonics based reading curriculum in every K-12 school. This teaching approach is commonly known as the “science of reading”, which would require all teachers to receive additional training on the instruction of phonics. This bill faces many critics, citing that it is not suited for ESL students, and limits teachers flexibility. On the other hand, supporters believe that by teaching students to “decode” words it will improve their vocabulary.
K-12 schools must sign certification against DEI to receive federal money, administration says
AP News
A recent policy made by the Trump administration is now requiring all k-12 schools to sign a certification affirming compliance with all federal civil rights laws, and rejecting DEI from receiving federal funding. Schools have 10 days to return the signed multi-page legal document. This bill warns against policies that favor one race over another. Violations of this could result in a loss of federal funding, which is critical for title I schools. This policy could affect millions of students that go to schools that rely heavily on federal funding.
Why aren’t universities using their billion-dollar endowments to fight Trump?
Vox
Since taking office in January, President Trump has made it clear that one of his top priorities is to make changes to education in the United States of America, including defunding the Department of Education and freezing federal support for universities and colleges that engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This fight has made clear that many colleges and university endowments total over a billion dollars and are capable of filling in the gaps in federal funding sources. The largest endowments are at many Ivy League Universities, including Harvard University. These academic institutions attract talented students from all over the world and have the prestige, as well as name recognition, to make headlines. The reality, however, is that endowments are similar to financial markets and are made up of private donations from groups and individual donors. These endowments cannot be used at-will in place of federal funding and must be repurposed, which takes time and deliberations. It remains to be seen going forward if colleges and universities will all comply with President Trump’s executive orders, as well as the schools that decide to instead put up resistance.
‘Let’s shake it up’: Linda McMahon defends massive cuts at Education Department
Higher Ed Dive
Education Secretary Linda McMahon is defending the staffing cuts that have taken place at the Department of Education, asserting that the department was too overtly bureaucratic and not prioritizing the educational needs of students all throughout the country. In order to fully abolish the department, congressional approval will be needed and that is going to be a tough fight moving forward despite the Republican Party controlling all three branches of government. In addition to cutting out bureaucratic waste, the new changes will also impact the Nation’s Report Card, where student academic progress is tracked over time. These new reforms would ideally make the Nation’s Report Card more accurately tied to what is going on in classrooms and better research. These changes follow along with push-back against DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs that the Trump Administration argues are worsening education and undermining meritocracy, where students are able to succeed based on their talent and abilities.
Wisconsin audits find lack of tracking of DEI spending at university system and state agencies
AP News
Audit reports show that fifteen Wisconsin state agencies and the University of Wisconsin system have failed to track the millions they’ve spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The amount of DEI positions in the UW system has apparently been reduced over the past few years, but auditors noted that the system’s Board of Regents and administration didn’t require schools to define DEI, which led to the launching of individualized initiatives. Auditors estimated the system spent around $40 million during the 2023-2024 fiscal year on offices with duties connected to DEI. UW-Madison is also currently being investigated over both alleged racial discrimination related to DEI programs, and over accusations of failure to protect Jewish students during campus protests over the Gaza war last year. With the state agencies, Governor Tony Evers had signed an executive order in 2019 requiring each state agency to form and monitor equity and inclusion plans, and auditors estimated a dozen state agencies spent about $2.2 million on salaries for DEI-related jobs last fiscal year. Despite that, Evers’s administration didn’t consistently require agencies to ensure DEI plans were made and implemented properly, and the agencies didn’t consistently report when they corrected noncompliance.
What will the dramatic overhaul mean for schools on the ground?
EdWeek
In recent weeks, Education Week Opinion has compiled submissions from K-12 professionals reacting to the current state of education in the U.S., particularly regarding the Trump administration’s actions. With the federal government seemingly ready to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, Education Week Opinion sought permission from select authors to share excerpts of their essays, highlighting a range of perspectives. One notable contribution comes from Aron Boxer, founder and CEO of Diversified Education Services. He emphasizes that while many believe funding is essential for improving student outcomes, it doesn’t necessarily lead to better results. Boxer argues that the elimination or restructuring of the U.S. Department of Education won’t mean a loss of funding for students; rather, it could potentially increase classroom funding. He cites U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, who noted that nearly half of federal education dollars are spent on regulatory compliance rather than directly benefiting students.
