Federal Policy

News, analysis, and opinion about federal education laws, regulations, and proposals—and their impact
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Local elementary schools participate in the annual Brooklyn Gay Pride Parade, celebrating its 30th year, June 13, 2026 in the Park Slope neighborhood of the borough of Brooklyn, New York City.
Local elementary schools participate in the annual Brooklyn Gay Pride Parade, celebrating its 30th year on June 13, 2026, in the Park Slope neighborhood of the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. The Trump administration has officially rescinded a Biden-era regulation that extended Title IX's prohibition on sex discrimination to cover discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images
Federal Ed. Dept. Officially Kills Biden Rule That Added LGBTQ+ Protections to Title IX
The Education Department reinstates 2020 Title IX regulations effectively in place since early 2025.
Mark Walsh, September 28, 2026
•
4 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Education Funding Letter to the Editor Expired Funds, Unreliability Harm Rural Schools
Responsible planning requires predictable funding, says a school district superintendent.
September 25, 2026
•
1 min read
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, center, arrives for a news conference about President Donald Trump s Education Freedom Tax Credit on March 27, 2026 at Hamtramck Academy in Hamtramck, Mich.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, center, arrives for a news conference about President Donald Trump's tax-credit scholarship program on March 27, 2026 at Hamtramck Academy in Hamtramck, Mich., where she urged Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to opt her state in. The Trump administration, through the Department of the Treasury, is expected to release regulations for the program in the coming days. Several governors have said they're awaiting those regulations before deciding whether their states participate.
Katy Kildee/The Detroit News via TNS
Education Funding Federal Tax Credits for K-12 Scholarships: What We Know (and Don't)
The Trump administration is preparing to issue rules for its new, ambitious school choice program.
Mark Lieberman & Arianna Prothero, September 23, 2026
•
11 min read
Collage-style illustration of a teacher reading to young children, with clippings of line 11 from form 1040 around the image. Pieces of paper money also surround them and off to the far left there is a clipping from the instructions for form 1040 from the IRS, with the heading "Educator Expenses" visible.
Illustration by Emily Wright for Education Week + Getty
Early Childhood A Tax Break for Early Childhood Educators: Why This Policy Change Matters
A new law expands the federal educator expense deduction to include early childhood educators.
Elizabeth Heubeck, September 23, 2026
•
4 min read
Collage-style illustration of the top of the U.S. Capitol building rotunda, with the upper portion hinging open and an arm wearing a suit reaches out holding a pen. The hand is writing a red X through a clipping of a printed letter B, and cut out letters A and C are on the page as well.
Illustration by Emily Wright for Education Week + Getty
Reading & Literacy Opinion Why Congress’s Latest Foray Into the Reading Wars Is Too Sloppy to Work
In trying to promote the science of reading, are politicians doing the opposite?
Timothy Shanahan, September 23, 2026
•
5 min read
Student sitting criss cross pondering.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week + Getty
Student Well-Being & Movement Teen Mental Health Is Improving, CDC Finds. Then Why Are Experts Still Concerned?
Student mental health remains a big challenge for schools to address.
Lauraine Langreo, September 21, 2026
•
5 min read
Collage of Trump signing an executive order, money, desks, torn paper, legal pad.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week with Getty + Evan Vucci/AP
Education Funding Trump's Education Funding Maneuvers Were Illegal, Judges Rule
Judges ruled in suits about teacher-training grant cancellations and withheld education research money.
Mark Lieberman, September 18, 2026
•
4 min read
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 17: The U.S. Department of Justice Building on August 17, 2026 in Washington, DC.
The U.S. Department of Justice Building on Aug. 17, 2026 in Washington. The Justice Department has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Education to fight school and state policies concerning transgender students it deems objectionable.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Law & Courts Trump Admin. Turns to Student Privacy Laws in Gender Identity Fights With Schools
The feds are increasingly citing student privacy laws in gender-identity battles with school districts.
Mark Walsh, September 17, 2026
•
8 min read
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: Members of the U.S. House of Representatives leave the Capitol Building after a session on September 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) cancelled votes for Thursday, sending lawmakers home a day early ahead of the midterm-election recess.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives leave the Capitol after a session on Sept. 16, 2026 in Washington, D.C. The House passed legislation that would make the "science of reading" a priority in some federal literacy grants.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
Reading & Literacy Federal 'Science of Reading' Legislation Passes the House
A bipartisan bill would make the evidence-based instruction a priority in some federal literacy grants.
Sarah Schwartz, September 17, 2026
•
3 min read
MONTEREY PARK, CA - August 21, 2026: Transitional kindergarten students engage in a clay activity at a dual language Head Start program at Hillcrest Elementary School in Monterey Park on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Transitional kindergarten students engage in a clay activity at a dual-language Head Start program at Hillcrest Elementary School in Monterey Park, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. A new poll sheds light on early childhood educators' stance toward industry regulations.
Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Early Childhood Deregulate Early Childhood Education? Here's What Educators Think
A new report from a national early education organization breaks down workforce concerns.
Elizabeth Heubeck, September 16, 2026
•
4 min read
TahSoGhay Collah, right, teaches a third-grade English learners class at the 700-student intermediate school that serves grades 3 through 5, in Worthington, Minn., on Oct. 22, 2024.
TahSoGhay Collah, right, teaches a 3rd grade English learners class in Worthington, Minn., on Oct. 22, 2024. Researchers seeking federal grant funding to train more teachers to work with English learners requested letters of support from state leaders to submit competitive applications this year.
Jessie Wardarski/AP
Education Funding What 'Returning Ed. to the States' Looks Like as the Ed. Dept. Awards Grants
State leaders face requests for letters of endorsement from grant applicants under new priorities.
Ileana Najarro & Maya Riser-Kositsky, September 11, 2026
•
7 min read
Fifth and second grade students work together using Magic School AI to build presentations during class at Galileo STEM Academy in Eagle, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
Fifth and 2nd grade students work together using Magic School AI to build presentations during class at Galileo STEM Academy in Eagle, Idaho, on Feb. 24, 2026. Education groups are raising concerns that the FCC's review of a program that helps fund school internet connectivity could lead its demise.
Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via TNS
Ed-Tech Policy ‘Essential Infrastructure’: Education Groups Raise Concerns About FCC's E-Rate Review
The FCC might limit or end the program that subsidizes broadband connectivity for schools.
Lauraine Langreo, September 11, 2026
•
4 min read
President Donald Trump, center right, walks with Education Secretary Linda McMahon, center left, and guests after a back to school event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Washington.
President Donald Trump, center right, walks with Education Secretary Linda McMahon, center left, and guests after a back-to-school event in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Washington. A new report envisions a number of scenarios in which the new federal school choice program launching next year could become one of the nation's largest K-12 funding streams.
Alex Brandon/AP
School Choice & Charters Could Trump's School Choice Program Rival Title I or IDEA in Size?
A new report looks at how much money could be raised under different scenarios.
Arianna Prothero, September 10, 2026
•
6 min read
Letters on the Department of Education building are missing after removal of America 250 banners, which included those of Booker T. Washington, Catharine Beecher and Charlie Kirk, on March 18, 2026, in Washington.
Letters on the Department of Education building in Washington are missing in this March 18, 2026 photo. The Trump administration continues to push for the agency's closure while also touting its help for states.
Allison Robbert/AP
Federal Trump Admin. Touts Ed. Dept.'s Help for States as It Tries to Shut It Down
The Trump administration pushes the Education Department's closure, while touting its help for states.
Mark Lieberman, September 9, 2026
•
6 min read