Department of Education

New federal student loan rules are altering funding for graduate programs, with a federal judge temporarily blocking some limits on loans for professional degrees. William Brangham discussed the changes with Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of The Washington Post.

An English teacher at a Queens high school filed a federal lawsuit accusing school administrators and the Department of Education of altering an F grade in an advanced placement class and targeting the teacher after they exposed the scheme.

New Jersey lawmakers approved a plan to enhance school-based mental health services, including a $8 million pilot program called SPARK and $40 million for the NJ4S initiative. The legislation aims to connect schools with community behavioral health providers and eventually link them to a centralized psychiatrist team, with support from both chambers of the legislature.

A report by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) found liberal faculty members outnumber conservatives nearly 7-to-1 in U.S. higher education, a shift from a 2-to-1 ratio in 1969. The report highlights concerns over viewpoint diversity, with 40% of faculty admitting they would oppose hiring a Trump supporter and over 80% of Ph.D. students acknowledging discrimination against conservative candidates. The Trump administration has allocated $60 million in federal grants to promote civil discourse on campuses.

Hawaiʻi is investing $4.7 million in a Wahiawā egg-cracking facility to meet rising demand for liquid eggs in school meals, backed by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz and the Agribusiness Development Corp. Critics question the project's viability and whether it benefits local producers or private interests, while proponents argue it supports food security and infrastructure. The facility is part of a broader plan to create a regional food hub.

President Trump's tax and spending bill has introduced new federal student loan changes, including the elimination of the Biden-era SAVE payment plan and the implementation of income-based and tiered repayment options. Future students face stricter borrowing caps, with limits set for master's, professional, and Parent Plus loans. The Department of Education claims these changes will reduce excessive borrowing and pressure institutions to reassess costs.

The Trump administration's recent actions, including shifting special education oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and lowering barriers for institutionalizing people with disabilities, have drawn criticism from advocates. These moves are seen as a potential regression to institutionalizing individuals with disabilities, contradicting decades of progress toward community integration and inclusive education.

The Trump administration's recent actions, including shifting special education oversight to the Health and Human Services Department led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Department of Justice lowering barriers to institutionalizing people with disabilities, have raised concerns among advocates. Critics argue these moves signal a return to the 'medical model' of disability, which views disabilities as defects rather than differences requiring accommodation.

President Donald Trump's administration expanded the list of programs eligible for higher student-loan borrowing limits, including advanced nursing and clinical psychology. The update follows a court order blocking the department's narrowed 'professional' definition, which previously excluded some programs. The changes take effect July 1, alongside repayment plan adjustments.

Benjamin Pinckney, 46, dreamed of becoming a physician assistant after a hospital visit during his recovery from gunshot wounds. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree but faces financial barriers due to new federal student loan limits capping graduate borrowing at $20,500 annually.

The Department of Education's new student loan caps under the RISE rules allocate higher borrowing limits for chiropractic degrees ($50,000) compared to critical health care professions like nurse practitioners and physician assistants ($20,500). A lawsuit by the American Nurses Association and others highlights the policy's prioritization of chiropractic care over primary and rural health care needs.

Education Department officials denied bypassing Congress by transferring key functions to other agencies, stating these changes aim to improve services for students, including those with disabilities, and strengthen civil rights protections. Critics, including advocacy groups and lawmakers, have raised concerns about the lack of congressional approval and specific details on how the reorganization will benefit education.

Democrats initiated impeachment proceedings against Linda McMahon, the U.S. education secretary, alleging her willful intent to dismantle the Department of Education. The resolution cites a 40% staff reduction and cancellation of grants, as noted in a report by the department’s Inspector General. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici filed three articles of impeachment, while McMahon defended her actions as improving student outcomes.

A legal filing seeks to halt the forced transfer of millions of student-loan borrowers off the SAVE repayment plan, which the Trump administration plans to eliminate. Borrowers will receive a 90-day window starting July 1 to switch to a new plan, or they will be automatically moved to more expensive options. The lawsuit argues the transfer would harm borrowers who reached relief thresholds under SAVE.

The Trump administration implemented a requirement for government-issued ID to apply for federal student aid, claiming to prevent nearly $200 million in fraud within two months. The Department of Education integrated real-time identity screening into the FAFSA application process, targeting high-risk applicants and blocking AI-generated bots and 'ghost students.'

The Trump Administration moved oversight of special education and civil rights enforcement from the Department of Education to two separate agencies. Chalkbeat national editor Erica Meltzer provides an analysis of the changes.

FAFSA fraud involves 'ghost students' stealing financial aid for over a decade. The Department of Education and Congress are working to stop these schemes.

Federal student loan borrowers enrolled in automatic payments will receive a 1% interest rate reduction starting July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. Two new repayment plans—the income-driven Repayment Assistance Plan and Tiered Standard repayment plan—will also launch July 1, offering income-based payments and fixed-term options.

The Trump Administration Education Secretary announced plans to shift special education functions to the Department of Health and Human Services and education-related civil rights functions to the Department of Justice. Senator Tim Kaine and others have raised concerns about these proposed changes.

The Trump administration is moving two high-profile functions out of the Department of Education. Progress is being made to contain a wildfire in the Los Angeles area, and British officials are investigating a report of a Russian warship firing warning shots at a UK-registered civilian yacht.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced changes to federal special education oversight, moving it to the Department of Health and Human Services and civil rights enforcement to the Department of Justice. Parents and advocates criticized the move, arguing it contradicts their concerns about an already fragmented system and could harm students with disabilities.

President Trump's administration is transferring key responsibilities of the Education Department to other agencies, including the Department of Justice for civil rights enforcement and the Department of Health and Human Services for special education oversight. Advocates warn the changes could disrupt services for at-risk students, including those with disabilities and from marginalized communities.

The Trump administration announced that special education and civil rights oversight will no longer be managed by the Department of Education. This decision shifts responsibilities away from the Education Department, though specific new oversight arrangements are not detailed in the provided text.

President Donald Trump’s administration is moving oversight of special education and civil rights out of the Department of Education. The Department of Justice will enforce civil rights in education, while the Department of Health will handle special education.

President Donald Trump's administration is transferring oversight of special education and civil rights enforcement from the Department of Education to the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services. The move, part of broader efforts to reduce the Education Department's role, has drawn criticism from a union representing department employees, who warn it could harm vulnerable students.

The article outlines the process of obtaining federal and private student loans, emphasizing the importance of the FAFSA form to determine financial aid eligibility. It highlights key loan types, including Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and explains how interest accrual differs between them.

President Trump's student-loan borrowing caps for advanced nursing programs take effect July 1, excluding them from a higher $200,000 cap. House Republicans advanced an amendment to include advanced nursing programs in the higher cap, while 25 Democratic-led states and other groups have sued the Department of Education, arguing the policy exacerbates healthcare worker shortages.

Biden-era Department of Education officials are accused of violating laws to protect gender identity rights, with the article claiming this does not safeguard women's privacy. The content argues that allowing trans individuals to use bathrooms and locker rooms is seen by many Americans as failing to protect women's privacy rights.

Business Insider, using data from the Department of Education's College Scorecard, identified the US colleges with the highest-earning graduates in each state. The analysis focuses on median annual earnings four years after graduation for federal aid recipients, highlighting institutions like Columbia University in New York and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

NYC Public Schools announced a 2027 Class Size Reduction Plan with a $1.5 billion investment in school expansions to meet state mandates requiring smaller class sizes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and School Chancellor Kamar Samuels emphasized partnerships with City Hall, the State, and Unions to address space constraints and reduce student-teacher ratios to no more than 25 students per class.

New York City plans to create new school spaces and hire additional teachers to comply with class size laws as student enrollment declines. A recent education department report avoids imposing enrollment caps at popular schools.

Student-loan borrowers on the SAVE plan will receive notices to transfer to a new repayment plan by July, with automatic placement into more expensive options if no action is taken. The Department of Education warns payments will likely increase under the new plans, while over 60 lawmakers urge borrowers to be placed in cheaper alternatives.

The U.S. House passed a bill requiring the Department of Education to implement an identity fraud detection system for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to combat 'ghost students' who fraudulently obtain federal aid using stolen identities. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Burgess Owens, aims to ensure aid is allocated to legitimate applicants and includes provisions for audits and reporting to Congress.

New York City's Department of Education's independent watchdog faces accusations of rigging an investigation into Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. The probe centers on a $180,000 no-bid contract he signed with an unapproved vendor during his tenure as a district superintendent.

The US House passed a bill requiring the Department of Education to implement an identity fraud detection system for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to prevent 'ghost students' from defrauding federal aid programs. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Burgess Owens, aims to protect taxpayer funds by verifying applicant identities and was supported by Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Department of Education is accused of stonewalling the City Council's audit of hundreds of agency contracts worth $12 billion.

Democratic lawmakers led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren urged the Education Department to provide student-debt relief to eligible borrowers and halt the transfer of defaulted accounts to the Treasury. They criticized Trump's student-loan changes, including the elimination of the SAVE plan and new repayment rules, which they argue could increase defaults. Over 7.7 million borrowers were in default by 2025, with lawmakers seeking to pause involuntary collections and clear backlogged applications.

NYC public schools will not face budget cuts next year, with funding remaining steady or potentially increasing despite a 10% enrollment drop over six years. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Chancellor Kamar Samuels emphasized maintaining or boosting financial support to ensure stability for students and educators.

New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels is under investigation for signing shady no-bid contracts. Probers are considering criminal charges against him if City Hall does not conceal the issue.

Private companies Pioneer Credit Recovery and Transworld Systems, previously penalized for misleading student-loan collection practices, may resume collecting defaulted loans under a Trump-era transfer to the Treasury Department. This move could increase collection fees and repayment challenges for over 10 million borrowers in default or delinquency, as concerns about predatory tactics resurface.