Policy & Politics

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the legislation, guidance, policies and people involved in federal and state government
Education Funding Congress Has Passed an Education Budget. See How Key Programs Are Affected
Federal funding for low-income students and special education will remain level year over year.
Mark Lieberman
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2 min read
Education Funding Trump Slashed Billions for Education in 2025. See Our List of Affected Grants
We've tabulated the grant programs that have had awards terminated over the past year. See our list.
Mark Lieberman
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8 min read
Federal Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Polarized Do You Think Educators Are?
The EdWeek Research Center examined the degree to which K-12 educators are split along partisan lines. Quiz yourself and see the results.
Elle Butler
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1 min read
School Choice & Charters The Federal Choice Program Is Here. Will It Help Public School Students, Too?
As Democrats decide whether to opt in, some want to see the funds help students in public schools.
Matthew Stone
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9 min read
Children play during recess at an elementary school in New Cuyama, CA on Sept. 20, 2023. Can a program that represents the federal government’s first big foray into bankrolling private school choice end up helping public school students?
As Democratic governors decide whether to sign their states up for the first major federal foray into private school choice, some say they want public school students to benefit. Here, children play during recess at an elementary school in New Cuyama, Calif., on Sept. 20, 2023.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Law & Courts Educators Sue Over ICE Activity on School Grounds and Nearby
The challenge targets the Trump administration's revocation of a policy that limited immigration enforcement at schools.
Alyson Klein
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5 min read
A sign reading "Protect Neighbors" is posted near a bus stop as a school bus passes on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis.
A sign reading "Protect Neighbors" is posted near a bus stop in Minneapolis on Jan. 30, 2026. A lawsuit from two Minnesota school districts and the state's teachers' union says immigration agents have detained people and staged enforcement actions at or near schools, school bus stops, and daycare centers.
Kerem Yücel /Minnesota Public Radio via AP
Federal Ed. Dept. Paid Civil Rights Staffers Up to $38 Million as It Tried to Lay Them Off
A report from Congress' watchdog looks into the Trump Admin.'s efforts to downsize the Education Department.
Alyson Klein
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5 min read
Commuters walk past the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Eduction, which were ordered closed for the day for what officials described as security reasons amid large-scale layoffs, on March 12, 2025, in Washington.
The U.S. Department of Education spent up to $38 million last year to pay civil rights staffers who remained on administrative leave while the agency tried to lay them off.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
School Choice & Charters Where Private School Choice Enrollment—and Spending—Is Surging
States have devoted billions of dollars recently in public funds families can use on private schooling.
Mark Lieberman
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13 min read
20260203 AMX US NEWS COULD TEXAS SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM 1 DA
Enrollment in private school choice programs has grown quickly around the country in recent years. Applications open this month for Texas' newly created private school choice program, the largest such program in the country. Private "microschools"—such as the Humanist Academy in Irving, Texas, shown on Jan. 8, 2026—could benefit.
Juan Figueroa/ The Dallas Morning News via Tribune Content Agency

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Discover practical ways to organize MTSS data that enable timely, confident MTSS decisions, ensuring every student is seen and supported.
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Thu., February 12, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Artificial Intelligence Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: AI Could Be Your Thought Partner
How can educators prepare young people for an AI-powered workplace? Join our discussion on using AI as a cognitive companion.
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Tue., February 17, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Student Well-Being & Movement K-12 Essentials Forum How Schools Are Teaching Students Life Skills
Join this free virtual event to explore creative ways schools have found to seamlessly integrate teaching life skills into the school day.
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More Policy & Politics

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    Law & Courts TikTok Settles as Social Media Giants Face Landmark Trial Over Youth Addiction Claims
    Trial centers on criticisms that the platforms deliberately addict and harm children.
    The Associated Press, January 27, 2026
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    5 min read
    The US Capitol is seen on Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington. Another federal shutdown that could impact education looms and could begin as soon as this weekend.
    The U.S. Capitol is seen on Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington. Another federal shutdown that could affect education looms if senators don't pass a funding bill by this weekend.
    Mariam Zuhaib/AP
    Federal Could Another Federal Shutdown Affect Education? What We Know
    After federal agents shot a Minneapolis man on Saturday, Democrats are now pulling support for a spending bill due by Friday.
    Mark Lieberman, January 26, 2026
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    5 min read
    Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.. Lee presented the Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 2024, his administration's legislative proposal to establish statewide universal school choice.
    Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks in favor of establishing a statewide, universal private school choice program on Nov. 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee lawmakers passed that proposal, and Lee is also opting Tennessee into the first federal tax-credit scholarship program that will make publicly funded private school scholarships available to families. Tennessee is one of 21 participating states and counting.
    George Walker IV/AP
    School Choice & Charters Federal Program Will Bring Private School Choice to At Least 4 New States
    More state decisions on opting into the first federal private school choice program are rolling in.
    Matthew Stone, January 26, 2026
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    6 min read
    Students sit on bleachers after science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities, facilitated by the Kentucky Science Center, in Simpsonville Elementary School, Nov. 18, 2025, in Simpsonville, Ky.
    Students sit on bleachers after STEM activities facilitated by the Kentucky Science Center at Simpsonville Elementary School in Simpsonville, Ky., on Nov. 18, 2025. The school district serving Simpsonville is one of nine in north-central Kentucky that was able to hire new school counselors with the help of a federal grant that the Trump administration terminated last year.
    Jon Cherry/AP
    Law & Courts The Stark Divide in the States Recouping K-12 Grants Cut by Trump's Ed. Dept.
    A fifth of lawsuits challenging Trump admin. education policies have come from multistate coalitions.
    Matthew Stone, January 22, 2026
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    8 min read
    Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Washington.
    Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Washington.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    Federal Trump Admin. Drops Legal Appeal Over Anti-DEI Funding Threat to Schools and Colleges
    It leaves in place a federal judge’s decision finding that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules.
    The Associated Press, January 21, 2026
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    1 min read
    Ten Commandments Texas 25322117067170
    A Ten Commandments poster is seen with boxes of others before they were delivered to local public schools in New Braunfels, Texas, on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. A federal appeals court appears open to reviving blocked Ten Commandments school laws in Louisiana and Texas.
    AP Photo/Eric Gay
    Law & Courts Full Appeals Court Signals Openness to Ten Commandments Classroom Laws
    The full 5th Circuit seemed sympathetic to unblocking two laws requiring Ten Commandments displays.
    Mark Walsh, January 21, 2026
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    5 min read
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Resources

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School & District Management Whitepaper 4 Questions K-12 Leaders Must Answer Amid Budget Uncertainty
Tyra Mariani, former Chief of Staff in the U.S. Department of Education, shares four questions leaders must answer to build lasting syste...
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Mathematics Spotlight Spotlight on Creating a Positive Math Culture
This Spotlight explores instructional practices that help build students’ math skills, confidence, and willingness to tackle hard problems.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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IT Infrastructure & Management Whitepaper Best practice handbook: K-12 Technology Lifecycle Management
In this all-new handbook, we dive in deep to provide school IT best practices for managing your school's technology assets from acquisiti...
Content provided by CTL
Student Well-Being & Movement Spotlight Spotlight on The Science of Self-Regulation: The Missing Foundation of Academic Success
This Spotlight focuses on ways to build students’ self-management skills, a foundational predictor of academic success.
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EdWeek Market Brief

Strategy & Operations Industry Insight Longtime Ed-Tech Veteran on New Role, Urgent Literary Needs in K-12
The new CEO of Really Great Reading also spoke about the challenges facing the K-12 market after the tumultuous past five years.
Michelle Caffrey
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11 min read
Meeting District Needs Exclusive Data When Districts Say They Want a 'Trusted Partner,' It's Not Just About Relationship-Building
EdWeek Market Brief survey data asks school and district leaders what factors make a vendor feel like a 'true partner' to their school or system, versus just a salesperson.
Emma Kate Fittes
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5 min read
Regulation & Policy K-12 Insider How Michigan's Process for Building Approved Literacy Materials Lists Is Raising the Bar for Companies
The state of Michigan is sending a clear message to education companies providing literacy materials and assessments, and it boils down to this: Get your evidence in order.
Emma Kate Fittes
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9 min read
Financing & Investment K-12 Dealmaking zSpace Secures $3M Investment as it Faces Possible Nasdaq Delisting; Ex-Google Staffers Raise Seed Funding for Ed-Tech Platform
The moves comes after the education AR/VR company zSpace cut staff for its U.S. business amid financial struggles.
Michelle Caffrey
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5 min read
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