If there’s one thing district leaders have been able to count during the second Trump administration, it’s being surprised.
For weeks this summer, the administration held back billions in federal funds that Congress approved and districts had already built into their budgets, and didn’t explain why.
The administration has also reneged on deadline extensions to spend COVID relief funds (before changing course); abruptly terminated scores of grants and contracts; and launched dozens of investigations into schools over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and transgender athlete policies. Legal challenges have delayed or put a stop to some changes, injecting unpredictability from a different angle.
In the background, Congress is considering an administration budget that proposes to cut Education Department spending by 15% and shake up many of its programs and funding streams.
Districts spend months assembling their budgets and years executing strategic plans. They benefit from knowing generally what to expect from policymakers. So how can districts plan around unpredictability?
In this webinar, we will:
- Review major K-12 policy changes since the beginning of the second Trump administration
- Share highlights from the Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal and its status
- Discuss on-the-ground effects of administration K-12 policy changes
- Share insights on planning in an environment dominated by uncertainty
