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:
5 Ways You Didn’t Know the Election Will Affect K-12 Schools
Ed-Week
Education is a hot button issue with the election around the corner. Not only is education a hot issue on the federal level, but also for the states. In Florida Amendment one would make school board elections partisan, so the candidate’s political affiliation would be listed with their candidacy. In Massachusetts, the education system is pushing to get rid of standardized testing requirements for high school students. This wouldn’t require students to take a final exam upon completing high school, or even dropping out. Lastly, in Rhode Island voters will be asked if a constitutional convention should be held, even though yes hasn’t been voted in 40 years. Although the U.S. Constitution doesn’t protect the right to education, the convention could still be beneficial for protecting students’ educational rights.
How Is Title II, Part A Funding Professional Development in Schools?
Ed Tech
Teachers throughout the United States feel that they could benefit from more professional development training. As schools invest in new technology and programs teachers feel like they are being left behind. Many schools struggle to implement PD because of a lack of data and even more prominently a lack of funding. If the Title II-A funding bill is passed funding would go towards improving student achievements by implementing PD for the teachers. This bill would embed training into the teachers day-to-day so they don’t have to go over their contract hours. (DG)
Trump’s win could spell the end of Biden’s higher education policies
USA Today
One of the biggest changes coming out of Tuesday, November 5’s presidential election is education reform. President-elect Trump has floated sweeping changes to education in the United States of America, including abolishing the Department of Education and Title IX reform to protect students and expand educational opportunities. These have been long-standing Republican priorities in past administrations and the upcoming 47th president could carry out this agenda, especially with a Republican house and senate to go along with the executive branch. Amplifying this even more is the fact that Trump won large numbers of non-college voters and is not beholden to university and college presidents like with Democratic presidents in past administrations. All things considered, however, it will not be easy to pass sweeping education policy changes without consensus and executive orders may not stand up to legal scrutiny.
What Trump’s win could mean for student loan forgiveness
NBC New York
With Donald Trump’s election win, the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness efforts are likely to be halted. Trump has criticized these plans as illegal and pledged to stop defending them in court, jeopardizing relief for around 40 million Americans. Experts anticipate that Trump will withdraw support for current forgiveness programs, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness initiative. Critics, such as Vice President-elect JD Vance, argue that forgiveness primarily benefits wealthy college graduates. However, proponents claim that rising education costs force many working-class families to borrow for college, disproportionately affecting women and people of color.
Disabled kids are being left behind in school shooter drills
The Washington Post
Helena Donato-Sapp, a high school student with learning disabilities, was left alone during an active shooter drill, unaware it was a drill. She hid in fear, believing her life was in danger. Her experience highlights the shortcomings of emergency protocols for disabled students, which can leave them feeling neglected and unsafe. Disability rights advocates stress that such plans often fail to consider individual needs, from mobility challenges to sensory sensitivities. Families are urged to incorporate specific safety measures in IEPs. Advocates like Lori Scott and Isabel Mavrides-Calderón emphasize the need for systemic change to ensure disabled students’ safety and dignity.
Albany teachers “ready to strike” following mediation with school district
Katu ABC20
Teachers and supporters got together in front of the Albany Public School District Office to campaign for student support and fair contracts. Attendees and speakers included a neighboring Teacher Union member from Salem as well as someone from the Oregon Nurse’s Association. According to a spokesperson, the only topic that the Greater Albany Education Association (GAEA) has had with the District is regarding class sizes. This is the main subject of these strikes, as teachers want smaller classrooms and more quality and individualized resources for unique and specific students’ behavioral needs. Taking place after nine months of negotiations with the district, the rally will follow a 10-day notice delivered last week that teachers with GAEA voted to go through with.
