The 74

The article discusses how the child welfare system, through Child Protective Services, falsely accused Pete Buttigieg of violent crimes based on an anonymous tip, leading to his children being temporarily separated. It highlights systemic issues where low-income and marginalized families face disproportionate targeting by CPS, often due to anonymous reports and lack of resources to defend themselves.

The 2023-24 school year saw K-12 public education in the U.S. receive $1 trillion in revenue, with 22% more inflation-adjusted funding than a decade prior despite a 1.1% decline in student numbers. Per-student spending varied widely, from over $30,000 in New York and D.C. to around $11,000-$12,000 in states like Idaho and Utah, while teacher salaries increased nominally but not in inflation-adjusted terms.

Texas schools face $600 million in federal funding cuts, threatening mental health programs initiated after the pandemic and Uvalde school shooting. Key programs like the Texas Center for Student Supports and Stronger Connections Grant Program, which rely on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, risk losing funding as their allocated resources expire earlier than expected.

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.

Families with young children in America are facing severe financial strain due to rising costs of essentials like housing, groceries, healthcare, and childcare. Surveys indicate that economic conditions are worsening, with inflation forcing parents to cancel summer plans and cut back on activities. The National Parents Union attributes the crisis to tariffs, the Iran conflict, and the rollback of social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

The EPA is proposing to weaken the Risk Management Program (RMP), established after the 1984 Bhopal disaster to prevent chemical accidents. The RMP currently regulates only 140 chemicals in large quantities, excluding hazardous substances like MMA and ammonium nitrate, which have caused recent disasters near schools, putting millions of children at risk.

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.

Hawaii has the nation’s worst childcare shortage, with 96% of children living in childcare deserts—communities where three kids compete for one licensed seat. State subsidies for preschool are delayed, and educator shortages have reduced capacity, with private childcare seats declining by 950 since 2022.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained over 650 children in California during President Donald Trump's second term, with a 90% increase in interior detentions compared to the prior year under the Biden administration. Over 100 detained children were age 5 or under, and detentions occurred in communities rather than at the border, affecting minors who resided and attended school in California.

The article compares screen bans in schools to Dry January, suggesting intentional tech breaks could reset education. States like Utah, Tennessee, and Iowa have implemented K-5 screen-time limits, while Virginia and Maine are exploring similar policies. The author argues overcorrection in education policy, such as screen bans, may be necessary to reevaluate technology's role in learning.

Princess Moss, incoming president of the National Education Association (NEA), aims to shift union organizing to local affiliates. She replaces Becky Pringle and faces challenges like federal school choice programs and DEI restrictions. The NEA has 2.8 million members, mostly educators, with recent membership growth but still below pre-pandemic levels.

Ohio public school librarians are expressing concerns over book bans, funding cuts, and the potential loss of their positions. Proposed legislation and budget reductions have led to fears about the future of school librarianship, with some professionals leaving the field due to financial uncertainties and shifting educational priorities.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Chancellor Kamar Samuels initiated community feedback on public schools, with parents providing diverse recommendations on curriculum, discipline, teacher quality, and resource allocation. Parents expressed concerns about eliminating gifted programs, lack of discipline in classrooms, and the need for better teacher training and evaluations.

Mississippi teachers report increased difficulty accessing funds for classroom supplies due to a new digital platform and bureaucratic hurdles. The Education Enhancement Fund provides $748 per teacher, but educators face challenges with training access, limited vendor options, and a cumbersome reimbursement process for local purchases.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over withheld federal grants for school-based mental health services. The Department of Education is attempting to end the grants, which were established by the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, by citing a different administrative law provision after a prior court ruling forced the release of some funds.

Teachers were punished for posts related to Charlie Kirk, which generated significant revenue. The posts in question earned millions, leading to disciplinary action against the educators.

Large school districts in Colorado and elsewhere face a shortage of permanent superintendents, with declining applicant pools and fewer qualified candidates. High salaries for these roles do not offset challenges like increased demands on schools and divisive politics, leading to shorter tenures for superintendents.

New York City is expanding special education services for preschoolers with disabilities, including autism, emotional disabilities, and those needing adapted academics. A $67.5 million investment will fund three new programs starting in fall 2024 across 14 community school districts, prioritizing areas with working-class and immigrant families. The initiative includes hiring staff to reduce evaluation delays, support IEP creation, and expand bilingual assessments.

The U.S. Department of Education has reduced federal monitoring of states' special education systems, with teams visiting fewer than half of scheduled states for 2025-2026 reviews. The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) warns this could extend review intervals to once every 25 years, while the Trump administration plans to transfer oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services, facing congressional and advocacy group opposition.

A study found Boston charter schools outperformed traditional public schools in academic results over 25 years but experienced a decline between 2015-2019, later recovering during the pandemic. MIT researcher Geoffrey Kocks analyzed lottery data from 32 Massachusetts charter schools to track performance shifts.