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:
Trump’s Potential Picks for Education Secretary: What to Know
Education Week
President-elect Donald Trump is swiftly vetting candidates for key positions, including secretary of education, to drive his education agenda: reducing or dismantling the Department of Education, expanding school choice, cutting K-12 funding, and opposing diversity initiatives. Potential picks include Louisiana’s Cade Brumley, known for a “back to basics” approach; Oklahoma’s Ryan Walters, a vocal critic of federal influence in schools; former education secretary Betsy DeVos; and former governors like Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Doug Ducey of Arizona. Trump may use recess appointments to bypass Senate confirmation, aiming to accelerate significant changes in federal education policy.
USDA bans school lunch fees for low-income families beginning 2027-2028
Oregon Live
The United States Department of Agriculture announced that schools cannot charge processing fees for students who receive reduced lunch, starting in the 2027-2028 school year. Right now schools use a cashless method that can end up charging the students an extra processing fee. This processing fee can be between 4 and 5%. With laws that are currently in place students that received reduced lunch should be paying no more than $.50 per meal. This new program would heavily reduce the amount of money. Students are paying for their reduced lunch programs.
Trump wants to end ‘wokeness’ in education. He has vowed to use federal money as leverage
AP News
President-elect Donald Trump is vowing to end ‘wokeness’ in education in his new administration. This approach will target left-wing ideology in the classroom and push back against the power that the teacher unions have in public education in K-12, as well as the left-wing administrative offices of many colleges and universities. There is also a concerted effort from Mr. Trump to dismantle the rise of DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts that have run rampant throughout the country in recent years. In addition to these efforts, Trump is also seeking to cut funding and grants to schools that defy his plans as president, using executive orders in pursuit of his goals as needed. There are questions how much authority the president has to conduct such sweeping plans but Trump is going to use every legal method that is allowed under the U.S. Constitution.
How Students Are Dodging Cellphone Restrictions
EducationWeek
A flurry of schools have recently put in place restrictions or bans on student cell phones, a change from previous more open policies.Hiding cell phones in pockets, using burner phones, and accessing smartwatches. They are constantly using them, sneaking them out of their pockets and using them whenever they like. It is a constant battle to try to stop them. Furthermore, advocates say that restrictions on cellphones and other devices at school could create challenges for students with disabilities who use assistive technology.
Florida education officials report hundreds of books pulled from school libraries
AP News
In Florida, recent laws have enabled parents and residents to challenge books in school libraries, leading to the removal of numerous titles, including works by Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, and Stephen King. The Florida Department of Education’s list of restricted books has grown, often including titles with LGBTQ+ themes, depictions of sexuality, or diverse perspectives. Critics like PEN America argue that these removals restrict students’ access to valuable literature that fosters empathy and understanding. While some districts report few removals, others have banned hundreds of books, sparking legal challenges and public opposition from prominent authors and advocacy groups.
School canceled for Monday; School Committee bargaining tram addresses families
Marblehead Current
The interim Superintendent of Marblehead Public Schools, John Robidoux, canceled school on Monday, 11/18 because of a teachers strike. Both parties have been using a state mediator over the weekend to try to come to an agreement, but the general public showed up in the form of 500 people at a community rally over the weekend in support of teachers. The School Committee’s bargaining team sent an email to the families of the district’s students, explaining that despite more than 60 hours of negotiations, no contract agreement has been reached with the Marblehead Education Association. It also explains that their side of the proposal is fair and uses the limits of the town’s finances to guide their thought process. The school’s proposition includes raising the average teacher’s salary nearly 18%, with two out of every three teachers seeing that raise. The teachers union will address this letter at an upcoming press conference.
