Federal Policy

News, analysis, and opinion about federal education laws, regulations, and proposals—and their impact
Vivien Henshall, a long-term substitute special education teacher, works with Scarlett Rasmussen separately as other classmates listen to instructions from their teacher at Parkside Elementary School on May 17, 2023, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Vivien Henshall, a long-term substitute special education teacher, works with Scarlett Rasmussen as other classmates listen to instructions from their teacher at Parkside Elementary School on May 17, 2023, in Grants Pass, Ore. Proposals to change Medicaid spending could impact the classroom, where special education services are often covered by the federal health insurance program.
Lindsey Wasson/AP
Student Well-Being How Medicaid Spending Cuts Could Harm Schools
Districts use Medicaid to cover costs of special education, student services. Cuts to the program would hurt, superintendents said.
Evie Blad, April 18, 2025
4 min read
High school students Student in Field Marine Science 2018 tagging salt marsh periwinkle snails for a mark recapture study to learn about their movement and behavior in the marsh, 2014
High school students tag salt marsh periwinkle snails to learn about their movement and behavior in the Louisiana marsh at a camp run by Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium in 2014. Federal funding cuts could put place-based learning experiences like this at risk.
Courtesy of LUMCON
Teaching Trump's Budget Cuts Leave the Future of Some Field Trips in Jeopardy
Field trips can leave indelible impressions on students. Federal budget cuts and layoffs place them at risk.
Elizabeth Heubeck, April 18, 2025
7 min read
Education Secretary Linda McMahon accompanied by Attorney General Pam Bondi, right, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, accompanied by Attorney General Pam Bondi, right, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The pair were announcing a lawsuit against the state of Maine over state policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Federal Inside Trump's Full-Force Approach to Ban Trans Athletes and DEI in Schools
Trump’s return to the White House has brought a new era of aggressive investigations of entities that flout the president's orders.
Brooke Schultz, April 16, 2025
8 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Federal Letter to the Editor Public Education Benefits the American Worker and the American Economy
Our nation’s schools are central to our nation’s health and future, says this letter to the editor.
April 15, 2025
1 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Federal Opinion Federal Education Research Has Been 'Shredded.' What's Driving This?
How to understand why the Trump administration's axe fell so heavily on the Institute of Education Sciences.
Rick Hess, April 15, 2025
8 min read
Then and Now, JD Vance, manufacturing, trade schools and jobs
Liz Yap via Canva with Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP<br/>
College & Workforce Readiness Then & Now Why JD Vance’s Changing Rhetoric on Tariffs Matters for Schools
In a 2017 Education Week interview, Vance said education, not protectionism, is key to a strong American workforce.
Evie Blad, April 11, 2025
7 min read
Illustration on a cyan blue background showing a businessman's hand and suit arm as he controls the strings attached to each arm of a clock.
DigitalVision Vectors
Education Funding States Sue Linda McMahon Over 'Drastic and Abrupt' End to COVID Relief Aid
The sudden cancellation of extensions on spending COVID relief aid "triggered chaos," the states argue.
Mark Lieberman, April 11, 2025
5 min read
Young Female Teacher Giving a Lecture During an Adult Education Course in School, Having a Conversation with a Older Female with Laptop. Diverse Mature Students Doing Textbook Exercises in Classroom
iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Another Court Lets the Trump Admin. Keep Teacher-Training Grants Frozen
A federal appeals court overturned a lower court's order that had temporarily restored millions of dollars in terminated grant funds.
Matthew Stone, April 11, 2025
4 min read
US flag. Vector illustration with glitch effect
iStock/Getty Images
Federal Opinion Here’s What the K-12 Field Thinks of the Trump Ed. Department
Educators discuss what the current administration’s changes to the U.S. Department of Education will mean for schools.
April 11, 2025
9 min read
A man standing on the edge of a one dollar bill that is folded downward to look like a funding cliff.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding Trump Cut Teacher-Training Grants for Schools and Colleges. Now What?
Some educator-preparation programs have little hope of getting their money back, even if court cases advance.
Mark Lieberman & Olina Banerji, April 10, 2025
10 min read
DEI Removal 042025 506859558 1481700088
Collage by Gina Tomko/Education Week and Getty
States Tracker 'Illegal' DEI: See Which States Are Telling Trump Their Schools Don't Use It
The Education Department wants states and schools to sign a certification saying they don't use DEI. Here's how they're responding so far.
Matthew Stone & Mark Lieberman, April 10, 2025
7 min read
Image of shipping boxes from different countries.
iStock/Getty
Curriculum How to Teach Tariffs: 8 Resources and Lessons
Wondering how to broach tariffs with your students? Check out these resources and lesson plans we've gathered.
Marina Whiteleather, April 9, 2025
2 min read
 Knowledge mechanism. Business people and connect gear mechanisms.
Liz Yap/Education Week and iStock/Getty
Social Studies What National Endowment for the Humanities Cuts Could Mean for Social Studies Teachers
The agency made grants for professional development and supported nationwide history education programs. Now these offerings may disappear.
Sarah Schwartz, April 9, 2025
9 min read
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iStock/Getty
Privacy & Security 4 Things to Know About School Cybersecurity and Trump Funding Cuts
Schools stand to lose significant cybersecurity support as the Trump administration and DOGE slash and rearrange the federal government.
4 min read