Department of Education

The article questions whether massive spending within large school systems guarantees better student outcomes, citing data from New York City and Chicago that show low literacy and math proficiency rates despite substantial investments. It argues that policymakers should prioritize empowering parents with educational options over simply increasing system funding. Louisiana is offered as a counter-example of academic progress achieved by expanding parental choice through programs like LA GATOR.

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened a federal investigation into Florida State University over 32 scholarships, which are accused of discriminating against students based on race or sex. The DOE inquiry investigates potential violations of Title VI and Title IX, stemming from a complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project. FSU disputed the allegations in a statement, asserting that all enrolled students are eligible to apply for and receive the scholarships, regardless of donor preferences.

Student-loan borrowers are navigating confusion stemming from repayment changes that took effect on July 1, resulting from an overhaul. Borrowers have reported encountering inaccurate bills and payment glitches, while the transition away from the SAVE plan has complicated budgeting efforts due to confusing notification processes. Furthermore, the Department of Education confirmed instances where borrowers received incorrect payments or were wrongly notified of past-due statuses.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer its special education programs and civil rights enforcement responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department, respectively. Advocates and former officials expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on students with disabilities and civil rights protections.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies, a move part of President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the department. The transfers include moving special education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services and civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department, with Democrats arguing the Education Department is better equipped to handle these responsibilities.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies, calling it part of President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the department. Critics argue the Health and Human Services and Justice Departments lack expertise to manage these responsibilities, risking harm to students with disabilities and civil rights protections.

A $23 billion class-action settlement with the Department of Education may forgive debt for 450,000 student loan borrowers. The lawsuit, led by an advocacy group in 2019, alleged that schools misled students with false promises about education outcomes. The Trump administration delayed the settlement, but a federal appeals court recently denied its request to postpone borrower applications.

A $23 billion class-action settlement with the Department of Education could result in debt forgiveness for 450,000 student loan borrowers due to institutional misconduct by schools. A federal appeals court denied the Trump administration's request to delay the settlement, potentially expanding eligibility. The settlement applies to borrowers who applied for relief by November 15, 2022.

A $23 billion class-action settlement with the Department of Education could forgive debt for 450,000 student loan borrowers. The lawsuit, initiated in 2019 by an advocacy group, accused dozens of now-closed schools of institutional misconduct, including misleading students about career outcomes and credit transferability. A federal appeals court denied a Trump administration request to delay the settlement, potentially allowing 200,000 more borrowers to qualify if they applied by Nov. 15, 2022.

Tennessee lawmakers are reviewing legislation to address teacher misconduct after a Metro Nashville teacher was fired for using AI to alter student images into inappropriate videos. A Department of Education survey found over 11% of students experience sexual misconduct from staff, with recent cases in Montgomery and Sumner counties. Proposals aim to increase transparency to prevent misconduct-prone teachers from being rehired in other districts.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee approved a bill to block interagency agreements transferring education programs from the Department of Education to other federal departments. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine with co-sponsors Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, aims to preserve programs related to special education, elementary and secondary education, and others at the Education Department.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee approved a bill to block the Department of Education from transferring programs related to special education, elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, and Native American education to other federal agencies. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the measure 13-9, with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski as sponsors.

Sumner County Schools has restored its network following an unauthorized access incident that delayed the start of the school year. Classes will begin on Aug. 10 as scheduled, with no further delays. The district confirmed that major systems like Skyward and student devices were unaffected, and a forensic audit involving FBI, TBI, and DHS is underway to investigate the breach.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee approved a bill to block the Department of Education from transferring specific programs to other agencies. The bill, sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine with co-sponsors Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, targets interagency agreements affecting special education and other programs. The 13-9 vote included bipartisan support but faced GOP opposition led by committee chair Bill Cassidy.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee advanced a bill to block interagency agreements transferring education programs from the Department of Education to other agencies. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine with co-sponsors Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, aims to prevent the outsourcing of special education and other programs to departments like Health and Human Services as part of efforts to dismantle the Education Department.

The federal Department of Education has demanded that Washington state revise its student policies related to privacy and transgender rights. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal criticized the request as a 'lengthy fishing expedition on the taxpayer’s dime.'

Two Democratic candidates, Marcye Scott and Everton Blair, advanced to a runoff election to fill the Georgia 13th Congressional District seat left by the late Rep. David Scott. Neither candidate secured 51% of the vote, forcing a runoff on August 25. A third Republican candidate, Caesar Gonzales, did not advance, receiving 8.7% of the vote.

Defending Education, a conservative-aligned group, filed a complaint with the Department of Education and the Justice Department regarding trans dolls with removable genitalia that will soon be introduced in Minnesota classrooms.

Federal loan caps for graduate students, enacted in 2025, aim to reduce student debt and pressure schools to lower tuition but may force healthcare students to rely on private lenders with higher interest rates. Experts warn this could limit career options, exacerbate healthcare provider shortages, and reduce workforce diversity.

Two men were slashed at William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx on July 27, leaving one with a left arm injury and another with a minor hand laceration. A teenage male suspect, described as wearing black clothing and a backpack, remains at large. The Department of Education condemned the incident and confirmed additional support for the school.

6,000 student-loan borrowers were notified to reapply for income-driven repayment plans after a glitch caused incorrect payment amounts. The error affected those who manually updated their family size, as the system could not recalculate payments using on-file tax information.

Physician assistant groups, including PAEA and AAPA, celebrated a court ruling blocking the Education Department's loan caps for PA programs. The decision preserves access to federal loans for PA students, addressing concerns about healthcare workforce shortages in rural and underserved areas.

The Department of Education has narrowed its civil rights enforcement by removing the 'disparate impact' rule, now requiring proof of intent for school policies causing unequal outcomes to be considered discriminatory.

Thousands of student-loan borrowers defrauded by their schools are receiving debt cancellation through a $23 billion settlement. A federal court denied the Department of Education's request to delay relief, leading to automatic discharge for an additional 170,000 borrowers under the Sweet vs. McMahon settlement.

Sumner County Schools in Tennessee delayed the first day of school from August 4th to August 10th due to a cyber attack on July 20th. The district is investigating the breach with forensic specialists and law enforcement, while new student registration has been rescheduled. Parents are advised to contact NewsChannel5 for concerns.

Sumner County Schools delayed the start of the school year and new student registration due to a data breach in its computer network. The district notified law enforcement, the Department of Education, and third-party forensic specialists to address the unauthorized access. Parents expressed concerns about potential exposure of personal data during the breach.

A federal report shows a 25% increase in students with disabilities spending most of their school days in mainstream classrooms between 2012 and 2024. However, concerns arise over the potential loss of progress as oversight of special education shifts from the Department of Education to Health and Human Services, with lawmakers warning about expertise gaps in the new agency.

The Education Department under the Trump administration faces a massive backlog of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests due to staff cuts. A FOIA group within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education had all eight employees eliminated, contributing to only 3% of 4,900 requests being processed since February 2025. Responsibilities have been offloaded to other agencies, complicating access to records.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Dick Durbin reintroduced the Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act to hold colleges accountable for unmanageable student debt. The bill requires evaluating repayment outcomes and debt levels relative to earnings, responding to state and federal fraud investigations, and increasing transparency in accreditation decisions.

Keith Sonderling, acting U.S. secretary of Labor, defended the agency's role in transferring programs from the Education Department as part of the Trump administration's plan to dismantle it. Senate Democrats, including Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., criticized the move, questioning why the Labor Department is overseeing education programs.

Keith Sonderling, acting U.S. secretary of Labor, defended the agency’s role in transferring programs from the Education Department as part of the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle it. Senate Democrats criticized the move, arguing it is illogical for the Labor Department to manage education programs. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will vote on Sonderling’s nomination to serve as Labor secretary.

The U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce approved a legislative package to transfer the Department of Education's functions to other departments, aligning with President Trump's vision to reduce federal oversight in education. The bills aim to shift responsibilities to the Departments of Labor, Treasury, State, and Health and Human Services, though the legislation faces uncertain prospects in the Senate.

The U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce approved a legislative package to transfer the Department of Education's functions to other federal departments, aligning with President Donald Trump's plan to reduce federal education oversight. The bills aim to shift responsibilities like student aid and international education to agencies such as the Treasury, Labor, and State Departments, though the Senate's narrow GOP majority makes passage uncertain.

The US House Committee on Education and Workforce approved a legislative package to transfer several Department of Education functions to other federal agencies, aligning with efforts to reduce the federal role in education. The proposal includes shifting responsibilities to the Departments of Labor, Treasury, State, and Health and Human Services, though its passage in the full House and Senate remains uncertain.

A legislative package aimed at reducing the U.S. Department of Education's responsibilities advanced out of a House committee, transferring functions to other federal agencies. The effort aligns with President Trump's plan to return education oversight to states, though the measure faces uncertainty in the Senate due to narrow GOP control.

The U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce advanced a legislative package to transfer the Department of Education's functions to other federal agencies, aligning with President Donald Trump's plan to reduce the department's role. The proposal faces uncertainty in the Senate due to the narrow Republican majority.

New York City's specialized high schools offered 4,000 admissions this year, with only 3.5% (140) going to Black students, highlighting racial disparities in the SHSAT-based admissions process. Critics argue the standardized test disproportionately disadvantages students of color, and efforts like the Discovery program fail to address systemic inequities in public education.

Virginia leaders are working to strengthen and depoliticize public college governing boards through a state commission. Retired Major General Cedric Wins, former VMI superintendent, highlights poor board governance and political influence as key issues, while federal investigations at the University of Virginia and George Mason University underscore concerns over partisan conflicts.

Washington Middle School Principal Mike Harano is seeking to regain his position after being placed on department-directed leave following a Department of Education audit. The future of the school's signature recording studio remains uncertain.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is resisting an audit of nearly $13 billion in no-bid New York City education contracts. The City Council set a deadline for the Department of Education to provide documents by Wednesday or face a subpoena, citing delays and lack of transparency.