Policy & Politics

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the legislation, guidance, policies and people involved in federal and state government
Law & Courts Opinion How the Supreme Court Is Making Public Education Itself Unconstitutional
In a recent ruling, the high court took a step toward effectively outlawing public schools.
Johann Neem
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5 min read
Education Funding Interactive See How Much Federal Money Trump Is Holding Back From Your District
Hundreds of districts will lose more than $1 million each, according to a new analysis.
Mark Lieberman
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1 min read
Federal Opinion A D.C. Insider Explains What’s Changed in Education Policy
The biggest thing that people don’t understand about federal education policy? How much the details really matter.
Rick Hess
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7 min read
Education Funding Two Dozen States Sue Trump Over $6.8 Billion School Funding Freeze
The Trump administration violated the U.S. Constitution when it withheld billions from schools in early July, the lawsuit alleges.
Mark Lieberman
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7 min read
President Donald Trump speaks at an event to promote his domestic policy and budget agenda in the East Room of the White House on June 26, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump speaks at an event to promote his domestic policy and budget agenda in the East Room of the White House on June 26, 2025, in Washington. Two dozen states have sued the president and others in his administration over its withholding of $6.8 billion in education funds that were supposed to go out to states on July 1.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Education Funding Opinion Trump's Cuts to Schools Will Hit Hard. But Leaders Need More Than Just Money
The federal funding chaos highlights a perennial dynamic in public schools.
Joshua P. Starr
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5 min read
Concept of the remedy for melancholy and happiness, with a painter who transforms a brick wall into a sunny sky.
iStock/Getty
Federal Trump Admin. Says Undocumented Students Can't Attend Head Start, Early College
The administration issued notices saying undocumented immigrants don't qualify for Head Start and some Education Department programs.
Brooke Schultz
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7 min read
Children play during aftercare for the Head Start program at Easterseals South Florida, an organization that gets about a third of its funding from the federal government, on Jan. 29, 2025, in Miami.
Children play during aftercare for the Head Start program at Easterseals South Florida, an organization that gets about a third of its funding from the federal government, on Jan. 29, 2025, in Miami. The Trump administration said Thursday that undocumented children are ineligible for Head Start and a number of other federally funded programs that the administration is classifying as similar to welfare benefits.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Federal How Medicaid, SNAP Changes in Trump's Big Budget Bill Could Affect Schools
The bill will stress a major funding stream schools rely on, leading to ripple effects that make it harder for schools to offer free meals.
Brooke Schultz
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6 min read
President Donald Trump signs his signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House on July 4, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump signs his signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House on July 4, 2025, in Washington. The bill cuts federal spending for Medicaid and food stamps—cuts that stand to affect students and trickle down to schools.
Evan Vucci/AP

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More Policy & Politics

  • Image of a $100 dollar bill that is cut into blocks for distribution.
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    Education Funding Who Will Bear the Brunt of Trump's Hold on $6.8 Billion in School Funds?
    The sudden absence of expected federal funds has already cost some educators their jobs.
    Mark Lieberman, July 7, 2025
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    12 min read
    From left, Quentin J. Lee, superintendent of Talladega City Schools, Keith Konyk, superintendent of Elizabeth Forward School District, and Eric Mackey, Alabama's state superintendent of education, discuss the latest K-12 policy changes at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 on July 2, 2025.
    From left, Quentin J. Lee, superintendent of Talladega City Schools in Alabama; Keith Konyk, superintendent of Elizabeth Forward School District in Pennsylvania; and Eric Mackey, Alabama's state superintendent of education, discuss the latest K-12 policy changes at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 on July 2, 2025.
    Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
    Federal What Superintendents Think About a Steady Clip of Federal K-12 Changes
    A state superintendent and two district leaders shared their thoughts on the latest changes coming from Washington.
    Jennifer Vilcarino, July 3, 2025
    •
    4 min read
    This artist sketch depicts Justice Amy Coney Barrett, from left, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the Justices announce opinions at the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 27, 2025.
    An artist sketch depicting Justice Amy Coney Barrett, from left, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the Justices announce opinions at the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 27, 2025. The Supreme Court on July 3, 2025, announced it will hear cases challenging Idaho and West Virginia laws that bar transgender students from participating in girls’ or women’s school sports, stepping into a high-profile legal battle over transgender rights in schools.
    Dana Verkouteren via AP
    Law & Courts Supreme Court to Weigh State Laws Barring Transgender Athletes in Girls' Sports
    The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up transgender sports laws from Idaho and West Virginia, among the 27 states that have such laws.
    Mark Walsh, July 3, 2025
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    5 min read
    A new billboard welcoming visitors to "Florida: The Sunshine 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' State," is seen on April 21, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. Florida's state government and LGBTQ+ advocates have settled a lawsuit challenging a law that bars teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
    A billboard welcoming visitors to "Florida: The Sunshine 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' State," is seen on April 21, 2022, in Orlando. The billboard was a commentary by an LGBTQ+ rights group on a controversial law backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis regarding the teaching of certain topics. A federal appeals court on July 2 refused to block a related law, one barring teachers from using pronouns or titles that don't match their sex assigned at birth.
    John Raoux/AP
    Law & Courts Appeals Court Backs Fla. Law Barring Transgender Teacher's Use of Her Pronouns
    A federal court upheld Florida’s ban on K-12 teachers using pronouns that differ from their sex assigned at birth when speaking to students.
    Mark Walsh, July 2, 2025
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    4 min read
    The Senate side of the Capitol is seen in Washington, early Monday, June 30, 2025, as Republicans plan to begin a final push to advance President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts package.
    The Senate side of the Capitol is seen in Washington early on June 30, 2025, hours before Republicans narrowly passed President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts package. The bill includes the first major federal private school choice program.
    J. Scott Applewhite/AP
    Federal The Senate Passed a Federal Voucher Program. What's in It?
    The measure would create a national program funding private school tuition through tax credits, though states would have to opt in.
    Brooke Schultz, July 2, 2025
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    7 min read
    President Donald Trump speaks to the media before walking across the South Lawn of the White House to board Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., and on to Florida, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Washington.
    President Donald Trump speaks to the media before walking across the South Lawn of the White House to board Marine One on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Trump's administration has told states it's holding back nearly $7 billion in already-approved federal funds for schools, sending states and schools scrambling for more information.
    Mark Schiefelbein/AP
    Education Funding Schools and States Scramble as Trump Freezes $6.8 Billion in Federal Funds
    After-school programs, English-learner services, migrant education programs, and professional development are all at risk.
    Mark Lieberman, July 1, 2025
    •
    8 min read
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Allovue’s third annual Education Finance Survey takes stock of on-the-ground realities of school spending at a time of unparalleled uncertainty.
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  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center, joined from left by, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to reporters after passage of the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2025.
    Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center, joined from left by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip; Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; and Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to reporters after passage of the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts, at the U.S. Capitol on July 1, 2025. The bill includes the first major federal investment in a private school choice program.
    J. Scott Applewhite/AP
    Federal Senate Narrowly Passes Trump’s Big Tax Breaks and Spending Cuts Bill
    The bill goes back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson warned off big revisions from his chamber’s version.
    The Associated Press, July 1, 2025
    •
    5 min read
    Image of money symbol made of sand filtering slowly through an hour glass.
    DigitalVision Vectors
    Education Funding Interactive See How Much School Funding Trump Is Holding Back From Your State
    The administration is holding back nearly $7 billion for English learners, after-school programs, professional development, and more.
    Mark Lieberman & Laura Baker, July 1, 2025
    •
    1 min read
    Audience members listen as President Joe Biden speaks during an event to celebrate the passage of the "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act," a law meant to reduce gun violence, on the South Lawn of the White House, July 11, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
    Audience members listen as then-President Joe Biden speaks during an event to celebrate the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act on the South Lawn of the White House on July 11, 2022. The legislation provided funding for two school mental health grants that the Trump administration terminated in late April. Sixteen states are now suing to restore the funding.
    Evan Vucci/AP
    Law & Courts 16 States Sue Trump Admin. to Restore Mental Health Grants for Schools
    Democratic state officials are challenging the Education Department ending mental health funding, which had passed with bipartisan support.
    Brooke Schultz, July 1, 2025
    •
    3 min read
    063025 Trump AP BS
    President Donald Trump walks to an event in the East Room of the White House on June 26, 2025. On June 30, his administration informed state education departments it won't send out nearly $6.8 billion in education funding on July 1 as required by law.
    Mark Shiefelbein/AP
    Education Funding Trump Tells States He's Holding Back $6.8 Billion for Schools
    Schools nationwide won't see funding earmarked for English learners, migrant students, professional development, and more.
    Mark Lieberman, June 30, 2025
    •
    4 min read
    The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen May 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
    The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen May 21, 2025 in Washington. On Friday, the court limited the ability of lower courts to issue universal injunctions that put a policy on hold nationwide. The ruling could affect how a number of cases challenging Trump administration policies proceed.
    Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images
    Law & Courts What a Supreme Court Ruling Means for All the Education Lawsuits Against Trump
    The decision could change the course of education-related cases that have been trickling through the courts since Trump returned to office.
    Brooke Schultz, June 30, 2025
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    8 min read
    Make America Great Again hats are sold alongside other Trump memorabilia for the inauguration of Donald J. Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
    Make America Great Again hats are sold alongside other Trump memorabilia for the inauguration of Donald J. Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30, 2025, declined to hear two cases involving political speech in public schools, including one centered on a student who alleges he was bullied and harassed by classmates and teachers after wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
    Apolline Guillerot-Malick/Sipa via AP Images
    Law & Courts Supreme Court Declines to Hear Cases on Teacher, Student Political Speech
    The justices refused to take up the cases of a teacher fired over social media posts and a student who alleged harassment over his MAGA hat.
    Mark Walsh, June 30, 2025
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    5 min read
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EdWeek Market Brief

Meeting District Needs Market Analysis Deeper Look: What Happens After Signing an Outcomes-Based Contract
The experiences of the Jackson Public Schools offers a window into how a district made its performance-driven expectations a reality.
Emma Kate Fittes
•
9 min read
Meeting District Needs K-12 Insider What This Superintendent Thinks Vendors Need to Know About The Newest AI Certification
A superintendent who worked on Digital Promise's new Responsibly Designed AI shares his AI must-haves.
David Saleh Rauf
•
8 min read
Meeting District Needs Market Analysis The Connection Between Curriculum, Professional Development and Teacher Morale
A nationwide survey of classroom teachers asked about the support they want, and what they're missing.
Emma Kate Fittes
•
7 min read
Education Market K-12 Market News Despite Push to Pare Back Ed Tech, Report Finds Districts' Inventories Are Still Growing
Though the numbers trend upward, districts are becoming more selective, doubling down on vendors who can demonstrate one specific, yet crucial, aspect about their products.
Alexandria Ng
•
4 min read
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