On April 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) released final regulations excluding graduate education programs from its definition of “professional degrees,” making them ineligible for higher federal student loan caps. Consequently, borrowing for these programs will be capped at $100,000, as opposed to the $200,000 cap that is…
Despite a proposed $539 million dollar increase over the FY 2026 budget, special education administrative organizations and disability rights advocacy groups say the federal spending plan zero funds and consolidates several programs for FY 2027, similar to the administration’s FY 26 proposal. Those changes would make states less accountable for…
Educators, industry groups and Democratic leaders say a federal proposal restricting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility would harm student success initiatives, impose vague guidelines for educators and violate federal law. The comments came in public feedback on a proposed regulation from the General Services Administration (GSA) that would require all…
On April 3, 2026, the White House released a FY 2027 budget proposal that would eliminate Equity Assistance Centers and teacher quality grants for DEI ties. It would also cut the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which is tasked with protecting students from discrimination in…
On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education announced some of the first elementary and secondary grant competitions under its new partnership with the Department of Labor. The partnership announced in November offloaded certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act education programs, including programming for low-income school districts, homeless youth,…
President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2027 (FY 2027) budget request, released April 3, 2026, includes $8.5 billion in eliminations and consolidations for selected K-12 programs. It would also legislate the transfer of some responsibilities out of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). “The Budget puts the Department of Education (USDE),…
As reported by the Washington Post, the White House has stepped up its push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) by moving it out of the building that has been its headquarters. The U.S. Department of Energy will be moving into the building. The move is seen as…
The number of schools identified as low-performing and in need of support and improvement under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I, Part A, increased to 7.3% in 2022-23, up from 6.5% in 2019-20, according to a report released last week by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In 2022-23,…
The Trump administration is attempting to gradually shift government supervision of federal student loan debt to the U.S. Treasury Department from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). On March 19, 2026, the agencies signed an agreement to that effect. It is the 10th such contract in President Donald Trump and…
A group of House Republicans are seeking to overturn Plyler v. Doe, a 44-year-old landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ensures all children have access to a public education regardless of their immigration status. The push to overturn the 1982 decision arose during a March 18, 2026 hearing by the…
