As a result of $6.2 billion in federal K-12 grant money that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) is withholding from states and school districts, it is likely that they will be forced to cancel after-school programming, services for English learners and professional development. The funding that has already been…
In an effort to promote better treatment and protection of students with disabilities, a new Florida law will require public K-12 schools to develop curriculum on disability history and awareness. As per the law, during the first two weeks of October students will learn about disability history and different types…
According to annual accountability ratings released by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on June 20, 2025, a total of 37 states or territories need assistance for meeting special education targets for students ages 3-21. Only 19 states and the Republic of the Marshall Islands meet requirements, and two educational…
In a June 12, 2025 opinion in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School Dist. No. 279, the U.S. Supreme Court (Court) undid a decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that required students with disabilities to meet a higher legal standard compared to disability cases outside of…
At a June 5, 2025 congressional hearing it was reported that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has seen caseloads for those still employed at the agency ballooning from an average of 42 cases per caseworker to 115 per caseworker due to the March 2025 layoffs…
On June 4, 2025. the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration’s motion for a stay in a lawsuit challenging the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), effectively halting efforts to reduce the agency’s workforce and transfer some education responsibilities to other federal departments until the…
On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the U.S. Department of Education's (USDE) FY 26 Budget at a Senate hearing on Capital Hill. The budget recommends a total of $66.7 billion for all USDE activities, which would be $12 billion, or 15.3%, less than its current…
On May 21, 2025, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon fielded questions at a House hearing about school choice, literacy achievement, and closing the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). In the process, she defended the Trump administration’s proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2026 saying the budget will “shrink federal bureaucracy,…
According to an analysis of data by the Center for Learner Equity (CLE), a nonprofit that supports inclusive school approaches, charter schools focused on serving students with disabilities (specialized charter schools) may offer unique learning programs tailored for a specific disability, but school leaders and management organizations should ensure they…
In a May 19, 2025 settlement, the California Department of Education and the Los Angeles Unified School District will include religious private schools as potential placements for students with disabilities. The plaintiffs in Loffman v. California Department of Education had challenged a California code that excluded religious private schools from…
