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Betsy DeVos. Donald Trump. The Every Student Succeeds Act. Congress. State chiefs. School spending. Elections. Education Week reporters keep watch on education policy and politics in the nation’s capital and in the states.

First-grade teacher Megan Garner-Jones, left, and Principal Cynthia Eisner silent clap for their students participating remotely and in-person at School 16, in Yonkers, N.Y., on Oct. 20, 2020.
First-grade teacher Megan Garner-Jones, left, and Principal Cynthia Eisner silent clap for their students participating remotely and in-person at School 16, in Yonkers, N.Y.
Mary Altaffer/AP
Federal Biden Calls for $130 Billion in New K-12 Relief, Scaled Up Testing, Vaccination Efforts
President-elect Joe Biden proposed new aid for schools as part of a broader COVID-19 relief plan, which will require congressional approval.
Evie Blad, January 14, 2021
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5 min read
Federal Obama Education Staff Involved in Race to the Top, Civil Rights Join Biden's White House
Both Catherine Lhamon and Carmel Martin will serve on President-elect Joe Biden's Domestic Policy Council.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 14, 2021
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4 min read
Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks after being introduced at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, as Biden, right, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, look on.
Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks after being introduced at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Dec. 23, 2020, as Biden, right, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, left, look on.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Special Education What Biden's Pick for Ed. Secretary Discussed With Disability Rights Advocates
Advocates for students with disabilities want Biden to address discipline and the effects of COVID-19 on special education.
Evie Blad, January 13, 2021
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2 min read
The U.S. Capitol Dome
Sun shines on the U.S. Capitol dome, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Patrick Semansky/AP
Education Funding Congress Could Go Big on COVID-19 Aid for Schools After Democrats Take Control
Education leaders hoping for another round of coronavirus relief might get their wish from a new Congress.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 7, 2021
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2 min read
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., speaks about the coronavirus during a media availability on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in Washington.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., speaks about the coronavirus on Capitol Hill in March.
Alex Brandon/AP
Federal Patty Murray Set to Lead Senate Education Committee After Democratic Wins in Georgia
The Washington senator, a former preschool teacher, is about to become the top U.S. senator for education policy.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 7, 2021
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3 min read
Federal Watch: A Primer on Miguel Cardona, Biden's Education Secretary Pick
In this video, Education Week reporters discuss Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's choice for U.S. Secretary of Education.
Evie Blad, January 6, 2021
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2 min read
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., does a television news interview outside the Capitol on June 25, 2020.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., is chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via AP
Federal Q&A Chairman of House Ed. Committee on COVID-19 Aid: 'We Need More Money'
The House education committee's chairman says schools still need more federal relief, but must administer tests to see where students are.
Andrew Ujifusa, December 29, 2020
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6 min read
Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks after being introduced at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 23, 2020.
Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks after being introduced at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 23, 2020.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Federal Where Biden's Choice for Education Secretary Stands on Key K-12 Issues
Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, Biden's pick for education secretary, has taken positions on an array of K-12 issues.
Evie Blad, December 22, 2020
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8 min read
State Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona speaks with Berlin High School students while on a tour of the school on Jan. 28, 2020. Cardona met with students to hear about the issues they face and visited classrooms at the high school and Griswold Elementary School.
Connecticut Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona speaks with students at Berlin High School in Berlin, Conn., earlier this year.
Devin Leith-Yessian/Berlin Citizen/Record-Journal via AP
Federal Biden Picks Connecticut Schools Chief Miguel Cardona for Education Secretary
Cardona became head of the Connecticut Department of Education in 2019. He's also been a teacher, principal, and district administrator.
Andrew Ujifusa & Evie Blad, December 22, 2020
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6 min read
FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2020, file photo, the Washington skyline is seen at dawn with from left the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol.
In this Nov. 8, 2020, file photo, the Washington skyline is seen at dawn with from left the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol. (File Photo-Associated Press)<br/>
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Education Funding Education Dept. Gets $73.5 Billion in Funding Deal That Ends Ban on Federal Aid for Busing
The fiscal 2021 deal increases K-12 aid for disadvantaged students, special education, and other federal programs.
Andrew Ujifusa, December 21, 2020
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3 min read
Utah school teacher Emily Johnson protests with other teachers at the Utah State Capitol, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City. The Utah Board of Education has rejected multiple proposals requiring stricter precautions against the coronavirus as schools reopen across the state. The board voted 9-5 Thursday against a series of mandates, including one that would limit the number of students in a classroom if community spread spikes above the 5% reopening threshold set by the World Health Organization, the Deseret News reported.
Utah school teacher Emily Johnson protests at the Utah State Capitol in August. Utah is one of many states that have prioritized teachers and school employees in COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans, citing concerns about keeping schools open.
Rick Bowmer/AP
Federal Include School Employees in Next Phase of Vaccinations, Federal Panel Recommends
School employees should be included among "frontline essential workers" in COVID-19 vaccine plans, a federal panel recommended Sunday.
Evie Blad, December 20, 2020
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3 min read
Image of students taking a test.
smolaw11/iStock/Getty
Accountability State Schools Chiefs Push Biden for Wiggle Room on Accountability During Pandemic
State schools chiefs say it's necessary to change how they use scores from mandated annual tests during the unprecedented disruption created by the coronavirus pandemic.
Evie Blad, December 17, 2020
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4 min read
The U.S. Capitol Dome
The sun shines on the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Patrick Semansky/AP
Education Funding The Incredible Shrinking COVID-19 Relief Package for Schools?
The parameters of new bipartisan aid bill might signal that coronavirus relief for schools will fall short of what they've hoped for.
Andrew Ujifusa, December 15, 2020
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3 min read
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., gives an opening statement during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss vaccines and protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in Washington.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., gives an opening statement during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss vaccines and protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in Washington.
Greg Nash/Pool via AP
Federal Q&A Q&A: Sen. Patty Murray on the Next Education Secretary, COVID-19 Relief, and ESSA
The Washington senator is the top Democrat on the education committee and poised to be chairwoman if her party takes Senate control.
Andrew Ujifusa, December 14, 2020
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5 min read
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