April 14, 2025
E-Update for April 14, 2025: The information covered below is from March 28, 2025, through April 10, 2025.
Note: Our biweekly E-Updates provide briefings on action across the Administration, Congress, and U.S. Courts. EducationCounsel’s resources specifically related to the Administration’s executive actions are available in one place by clicking here or by clicking on the blue banner at the top of our webpage.
Additionally, this E-Update includes a new Deep Dive titled, “More than Meets the Eye: Considerations for State and Local Education Leaders Regarding USED’s New Title VI Certification on ‘Illegal DEI.’” This new analysis explains several concerns surrounding the Department of Education’s (USED) April 3 notice to state education agencies “requiring” new certifications indicating that they will not violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through “illegal DEI practices.” The Deep Dive makes three key points:
Click here to access More than Meets the Eye.
In lieu of an Alert, we are highlighting three updates to Executive Actions in this week’s E-Update, and one regarding the congressional budget:
Administration:
White House:
President Trump issues Presidential Memorandum on Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations: On April 9, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum titled, “Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations.” The order directed the evaluation of existing regulations under ten recent Supreme Court decisions, including the following:
The order states, “in effectuating repeals of facially unlawful regulations, agency heads shall finalize rules without notice and comment, where doing so is consistent with the ‘good cause’ exception in the Administrative Procedure Act.” Additionally, agency heads must “submit to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs a one-page summary of each regulation that…has not been targeted for repeal, explaining the basis for the decision not to repeal that regulation.”
U.S. Department of Education (USED):
USED issues new requirement for states and school districts to certify compliance with Title VI and SFFA v. Harvard as a condition of receiving federal financial assistance: On April 3, the USED sent notices requiring all state and local education agencies to sign and return, within ten days, a new certification indicating that they are not violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through “illegal DEI practices.” Additionally, the USED noted that the certifications would “constitute a material condition for the continued receipt of federal financial assistance,” with the certification also noting that a violation of which can, among other things, subject the signatories to enforcement under the False Claims Act. The accompanying press release makes clear that the certification is premised on the Department’s February 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) and the March 1 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), which together articulated the Administration’s intended approach to Title VI and to interpreting the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA vs. Harvard.
According to EducationWeek, at least 11 states have responded to the USED to say they would not immediately respond to this request, while another 17 states have indicated that they will respond. In a separate response, the plaintiffs (including the National Education Association) in one of the two existing cases challenging the DCL and FAQs asked the federal court in New Hampshire to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the USED from proceeding with this new certification requirement while the court considers the legality of the underlying guidance from the USED. The USED then announced on April 9, an agreement to provide SEAs and LEAs an additional 10 days to respond to the certification request, making the new deadline for certification April 24.
USED rescinds prior approval for late liquidation of pandemic relief funds: On March 28, the USED informed SEAs that the Administration has canceled any prior approval for “late liquidation” of remaining funds from a variety of federal pandemic recovery funds, including American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS), and Homeless Children and Youth (HCY) funds. The letter also states that SEAs can reapply for an extension “on an individual project specific basis” by explaining “(1) how a particular project’s extension is necessary to mitigate the effects of COVID on American students’ education, and (2) why the Department should exercise its discretion to grant your request.” In explaining the reversal, the letter asserts that “[a]ny reliance on a discretionary extension [by the USED] subject to reconsideration by the agency was unreasonable.” Reporting suggests that as many as 41 states and the District of Columbia stand to lose almost $3 billion in funding that was already obligated (mostly via contracts for services), but not yet liquidated (or reimbursed). The now-cancelled extensions would have allowed final payments to be made through early 2026. Some states including Mississippi and Kentucky have responded by asking USED Secretary Linda McMahon to reconsider her decision. Meanwhile, a new portal to process the new project-by-project requests has reportedly launched, and some states are beginning to request these new extensions.
Congressional Democrats called for an “immediate reversal” of the action, while Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to Secretary McMahon stating, “This abrupt and chaotic revision of policy is not helpful to students whose states, school districts, or institutions of higher education are uncertain about the Department’s commitments to implementing federal funding designed to support students.” Additionally, on April 10, 16 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit regarding the reversal against the USED (See below under U.S. Courts for more information).
USED Secretary McMahon issues Dear Colleague Letter regarding school choice: On March 31, USED Secretary McMahon issued a Dear Colleague Letter to Chief State School Officers informing them of existing flexibility in federal formula funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to support education choice initiatives. The letter follows a directive to support the expansion of school choice included in President Trump’s January 29 Executive Order (EO) titled, “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families.” The letter points to two existing flexibilities within ESSA’s Title I formula funds (which support services for low-income students) that, according to the USED, states and districts can use “to provide greater flexibility to support parents’ choices for their child’s education.” First, the letter highlights the optional state set-aside in Section 1003A of up to 3% of a state’s Title I allocation for “Direct Student Services” (DSS), such as, “advanced courses, dual enrollment, academic tutoring, career and technical education, personalized learning, and out-of-school activities.” States could use these funds to provide families with a choice of DSS services to best meet their children’s needs. Second, the USED points out that Title I schoolwide and targeted assistance programs could similarly be designed by LEAs to provide families with some choice about which improvement activities in their school are the best fit for their child, such as “dual enrollment opportunities, academic tutoring programs, and career and technical education activities.” Notably, the letter does not name new opportunities for Title I funds to be used for school choice initiatives, rather, the letter reiterates options that could be offered by states or districts under existing law.
USED Secretary McMahon delivers remarks at ASU+GSV regarding changes at the USED: On April 8, USED Secretary McMahon spoke at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, California, remarking on the changes the Trump Administration has made at the agency since taking office. Regarding the closure of the Department, Secretary McMahon acknowledged that Congress would need to take such action, stating, “I want to have them partner with us so that they understand that what we really want to provide for the states are best practices and tools to help the states.” Secretary McMahon suggested that changes may be made to the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), first emphasizing that the test is “something we absolutely need to keep” and adding, “I’m not a technology expert, but I would really be interested in hearing what we need to do. How can we measure differently?” When asked a question about the impact of Administration’s actions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and specifically an example around cultural celebrations, Secretary McMahon said, “if we’re having, you know, an Asian American group, well, it shouldn’t just be Asian Americans. We should welcome everyone to come in and learn about that history and that diversity.”
Following her remarks, Secretary McMahon sat for an interview with The74million, answering additional questions on NAEP, the plan to dismantle the USED, and civil rights enforcement, among other topics. Responding to a question about staffing cuts to the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), which administers and analyzes NAEP results, Secretary McMahon again asked, “Is this the best way to do it?” and added, “This may be the ultimate way to do it, but I do believe that people who are in this industry, there are those who can look at this and determine whether or not this is the right course to continue to take.” When asked about a timeline to close the Department, Secretary McMahon shared that there was not a specific plan in place to close the agency within a year, rather, “As efficient and as quickly as we can get it done.” Finally, when questioned regarding the Department’s reduction in force amidst an increase in civil rights complaints on antisemitism and Title IX, specifically, Secretary McMahon shared that the “joint task force” with the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and General Services Administration (GSA) “combining resources…to some extent” makes up for having fewer people in the USED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
USED’s Office of Postsecondary Education announces negotiated rulemaking: On April 4, the USED published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to negotiate new regulations on at least three higher education topics:
As part of the required process to issue regulations under the Higher Education Act, the USED will host two public hearings, an in-person session on April 29, at the USED’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., and a virtual session on May 1. The USED will also accept written comments until May 5, and then solicit nominations for negotiators. Following those initial steps, the USED will convene a rulemaking committee which will propose new regulations and then could issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with request for comments. Any final regulation published by November 1, 2025, will become effective on July 1, 2026; any final regulation published after November 1, 2025, will be effective on July 1, 2027, though the USED may be able to “early implement” any provisions that do not cover regulated parties.
Following the announcement of negotiated rulemaking, Congressional Democrats sent a letter to Secretary McMahon expressing “strong opposition” to the rulemaking on PSLF, stating it “contradicts the core tenets of public service and the original intent and purpose of the PSLF program.” The members explicitly called attention to Secretary McMahon’s testimony during her confirmation hearing, where she stated that we would fully implement existing public service loan forgiveness programs because they “have been passed by Congress…That is the law.” The member requested Secretary McMahon’s “immediate action and assurance on the following: Ensure that all eligibility criteria are strictly followed under the law passed by Congress.”
USED issues Dear Colleague Letter about FERPA and students’ gender identity information: On March 28, the USED’s Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) issued a new Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) to state chiefs and district superintendents notifying them of their obligations under the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) in the context of K-12 schools’ policies and practices related to information about students’ gender identity at school. Secretary McMahon’s cover letter to the DCL references “pervasive” “ideological indoctrination” in public schools and points to schools’ approach to parent engagement on these issues as an illustration of educators treating parents as “enemies.”
The Dear Colleague Letter directs all SEAs by April 30, to document compliance by themselves and their LEAs with both FERPA and PPRA via “reports, information on policies and procedures, annual notifications, training materials or other information.” The documentation should focus particularly on a set of five “priority” concerns, including “[e]nsuring parental rights to inspect and review education records” (especially “gender plans” that the letter says are subject to FERPA) and “[e]nsuring parents receive annual notification of rights” under FERPA. Secretary McMahon’s letter also “reminds” SEAs and LEAs that they are “obligated to abide by FERPA and PPRA if they expect federal funding to continue.”
The USED’s SPPO also launched a directed investigation on March 28 into the Maine Department of Education for alleged FERPA violations amid reports that Maine school districts are violating or misusing FERPA by maintaining policies that the USED alleges “infringe on parents’ rights.” Specifically, the USED is investigating the districts’ policies, which allegedly allow for schools to create “gender plans” supporting a student’s “transgender identity” and then claim those plans are not education records under FERPA, and therefore, not available to parents.
Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism continues investigations and funding freezes at Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, and Northwestern Universities: In late March and early April, the USED, the HHS, and the GSA, all of which lead the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, continued their investigations at multiple Ivy League institutions. On March 28, the Task Force issued a statement acknowledging the steps that Columbia University has taken to negotiate the Task Force’s conditions, which were set following an investigation into the institution’s Title VI enforcement. On March 31, the Joint Task Force announced a comprehensive review of federal contracts and grants at Harvard University “to ensure the university is in compliance with federal regulations, including its civil rights responsibilities.” Additionally, the Associated Press and ABC News reported that federal grants and funding have been frozen at Princeton, Cornell, and Northwestern Universities “in connection with several ongoing, credible, and concerning Title VI investigations.” The USED has not issued official statements on the investigations into the latter three institutions.
USED and U.S. Department of Justice announce Title IX Special Investigations Team: On April 4, the USED and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the formation of a joint “Title IX Special Investigations Team” that will “apply a rapid resolution investigation process to the increasing volume of Title IX cases and also enable USED and DOJ to work together to conduct investigations that are fully prepared for ultimate DOJ enforcement.” The team will focus particularly on complaints related to transgender girls’ and women’s participation in sports and access to facilities (such as locker rooms and bathrooms) that align with their gender identity. The joint team includes USED’s Office for Civil Rights investigators and attorneys, DOJ’s Civil Rights Division attorneys, USED’s Office of General Counsel attorneys, USED’s Student Privacy Policy Office staff, and a USED Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) Enforcement investigator.
USED’s OCR refers Maine investigation on Title IX compliance to the DOJ and initiates federal funding termination proceeding: On March 31, USED’s OCR issued a final warning letter to Maine regarding its compliance with Title IX. As background, an investigation was initiated on February 21, and the USED’s OCR determined on March 19 that the MDOE “is in continuing violation of Title IX by permitting, directing, instructing, or requiring Maine school districts to: (1) allow males to participate in female athletics (whether interscholastic, intercollegiate, club or intramural); and (2) deny to female students (particularly, female student-athletes) access to intimate facilities on the basis of sex, such as female-only locker rooms and bathrooms.” Following the issuance of the warning letter, the USED announced on April 11, that the investigation has been referred to DOJ. Additionally, the USED initiated on the same day an administrative proceeding to adjudicate termination of MDOE’s federal K-12 education funding, including formula and discretionary grants.
USED revokes waivers allowing for services for undocumented college students: On March 27, the USED announced it was revoking Biden-era waivers for California and Oregon that allowed colleges to use federal TRIO program funds to support undocumented students. The waivers had been granted pursuant to the Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth (P3) program, which allows states and localities to integrate program funding across federal agencies to improve the systems serving disconnected youth, and the USED asserts, “not provide entitlements to illegal immigrants.”
USED Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Programs Pidluzny delivers remarks at Heritage Foundation: On April 8, the Heritage Foundation held an event titled, “Reclaiming the Culture of American Higher Education,” at which USED Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Programs Jonathan Pidluzny spoke about college accreditation, civil rights enforcement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. According to Inside Higher Ed, Pidluzny stated that, “We see the headlines every day, all the ways DEI imposes a viewpoint monoculture,” adding that confidence in higher education is low because “the typical campus culture is so far from the American culture.” Comments reported by Inside Higher Ed noted that Pidluzny criticized the accreditation system, remarking that it’s “almost impossible to start a new university today due largely because of our accreditation system — and universities that underperform are allowed to go on underperforming with few consequences.” Pidluzny reiterated the Trump Administration’s focus on civil rights enforcement, particularly around Jewish students experiencing antisemitism and transgender women and girls participating in sports. Pidluzny also added that the Department may work on postsecondary accountability systems, “so universities that are charging six figures for a lower-return-on-investment credential also have some skin in the game.”
USED announces retirement of Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) Chief Operating Officer Denise Carter: On April 2, USED announced the retirement of FSA Chief Operating Officer and former Acting Secretary of Education Denise Carter. Ms. Carter held a number of roles throughout her 30 years in federal service before leading FSA since July 2024. Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron will now serve as Acting Chief Operating Officer for FSA.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
HHS initiates reorganization and Reduction in Force (RIF) affecting early childhood programs: On March 27, the HHS announced a restructuring of the agency, followed by providing layoff notices on April 1 to approximately 20,000 employees. Affected agencies primarily included the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health. The overhaul consolidates HHS divisions from 28 to 15, aiming to save $1.3 billion annually. The implementation of the RIF appears to affect early childhood most directly through the closure of five out a total of ten regional offices, with the Boston, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle offices shutting down. This impacts all staff in those offices working in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), including the Office of Child Care (OCC) and the Office of Head Start (OHS). States affected include those in Regions 1, 2, 5, 9, and 10, covering New England, the Midwest, the West Coast, and U.S. territories.
The announcement from the HHS did not include a plan to transition Head Start and Child Care & Development Fund grantees to a different regional office. These grantees include states and tribal entities, in addition to school districts and nonprofits operating Head Start. This reduction-in-force comes less than two months after the Administration terminated all probationary employees, which already had led to a staff loss of 20% for OHS and 25% for OCC.
HHS Secretary Kennedy conducts “Make America Healthy Again” tour: From April 7 through 9, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visited various locations in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico “to celebrate MAHA initiatives” and “meet with elected officials, tribal leaders, nutrition experts, and charter school visionaries … to fulfill President Trump’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.” Specifically, Secretary Kennedy celebrated new state laws that ban ultra-processed foods and dyes in public schools, restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) purchases of candy and soda, and ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water. Additionally, Secretary Kennedy visited a Pre-K to 11th grade charter school that integrates healthy eating and physical fitness into its daily student life.
Congress:
House and Senate concur on budget resolution unlocking the budget reconciliation process: On April 10, the House adopted a motion to concur to the Senate Amendment to H.Con. Res. 14, the Budget Resolution, by a vote of 216-214. Two Republicans joined all Democratic members in opposing the motion – Reps. Tom Massie (R-KY) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN). Prior to the House vote, the Senate amended a prior version of the Budget Resolution and passed H.Con. Res. 14 by a vote of 51-48, with Republicans Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan Collins (R-ME) opposing the resolution with all Democratic Senators. The adoption of the motion in the House was the final step in both the House and Senate reaching an agreement on a budget resolution with identical language, unlocking the budget reconciliation process. The House and Senate will now begin drafting a budget reconciliation bill over the coming month(s).
The budget resolution lays out the instructions to each of the House and Senate Committees on savings that must be included, at a minimum, in a subsequent budget reconciliation bill to allow passage in the Senate on a simple majority (51 votes). Key to know is that the adopted budget resolution includes separate savings instructions for House Committees and Senate Committees. In the Senate, Committees must draft budget reconciliation legislation that includes a minimum overall of $4 billion over 10 years in savings, while in the House, Committees budget reconciliation legislation includes a minimum overall of $1.5 to $2 trillion over 10 years in savings, depending on the amount included for tax cuts extensions (or new tax cuts). For instance, the House Education and Workforce Committee is instructed to draft legislation including savings of at least $330 billion over 10 years, while the Senate HELP Committees is instructed to draft legislation including savings of at least $1 billion over 10 years. Additionally, the instructions to the Senate – different from the House – allow for “current policy” baseline budgeting, meaning tax cuts could be extended without needing to be offset. These differences will ultimately need to be resolved in a subsequent budget reconciliation bill (which must be passed in both the House and Senate) before going to the President to be signed.
House and Senate Appropriations Committees release guidance for members to submit fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding requests: The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have announced that Representatives and Senators have until May 23 to submit FY2026 funding requests in support of programs within the USED and the HHS to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittees. The guidance for Representatives to submit requests to the House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee is here. The guidance for Senators to submit requests to Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee is here.
Congressional Republicans introduce bills to eliminate the USED: On April 7, Representative Barry Moore (R-AL) introduced H.R. 2691, a bill to abolish the Department of Education and to provide funding directly to States for elementary and secondary education. In March, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced legislation in the Senate and Representative Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) introduced a bill in the House. These bills follow legislation introduced by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) in January to eliminate the USED, prior to President Trump’s Executive Order. A bill is still expected to also be introduced by Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) based on his earlier statements.
Congressional Republicans request information from Ivy League institutions regarding alleged tuition collusion: On April 10, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA), House Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chair Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), and Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Chair Mike Lee (R-UT) sent letters to Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University seeking documents and communications regarding the Ivy League institutions' apparent collusion to raise tuition prices. The Committees wrote their “concern that the Ivy League member institutions' coordinated practices and alleged collusion violate the Sherman Act and that the institutions continue to benefit from their prior collusion, despite no longer having an antitrust exemption.” The letters request information regarding tuition rates and communications between leaders and members of certain postsecondary groups.
Democratic Appropriations leaders request information from HHS Secretary Kennedy regarding the agency’s RIFs: On March 31, Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. requesting information regarding the agency’s recent RIFs and plans to reorganize. The letter characterizes the reorganization and staffing cuts as “unprecedented and disruptive,” expressing that the “Department has demonstrated a complete unwillingness to share even basic information with Congress.”
Congressional Democrats introduce new child tax credit legislation: On April 9, Congressional Democrats introduced child tax credit (CTC) legislation in both chambers. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) led the introduction of the American Family Act, which would permanently increase the value of the CTC from the current level of $2,000 per child to $6,360 for newborns, $4,320 for children ages one through six, and $3,600 for children age six through 17. Sen. Bennet’s press release adds that the legislation “ends the longstanding, discriminatory policy that reduces the value of the Child Tax Credit for low-income families, ensuring that the families of 17 million low-income children left out of the CTC under current law will receive the same credit as families in the middle class.” A summary notes that the bill will provide for monthly delivery of the CTC so families will have “access to the credit as bills arrive.” In the House, companion legislation is being led by House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), among others.
Senate:
Senate HELP Committee Chair Cassidy and Ranking Member Sanders invite HHS Secretary Kennedy to future hearing on HHS reorganization: On April 1, Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) invited HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to participate in a Senate HELP Committee hearing on the reorganization of HHS. The Committee leaders reference in their letter a commitment from Secretary Kennedy during his confirmation process to come before the Senate HELP Committee on a quarterly basis, and wrote, “We are following up on the commitment you made during the confirmation process that as Secretary you would come before the HELP Committee on a quarterly basis, upon request of the Chair.” According to recent reports, HHS Secretary Kennedy has yet to respond.
Senate HELP Committee Chair Cassidy launches investigation into organization with alleged ties to Hamas and antisemitic violence on college campuses: On March 28, Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) launched an investigation into American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) following reports that the group has helped organize, support, and facilitate violent, antisemitic demonstrations that are disrupting college campuses across the country. In a letter to AMP Chairman Dr. Hatem Bazian, Chair Cassidy writes, “According to reports, at least nine individuals with ties to AMP… including you, have past or present ties to groups associated with the Foreign Terrorist Organization Hamas.” Chair Cassidy added that, “AMP helped create the organization Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) …Demonstrations and activities organized by SJP have resulted in antisemitic violence.” Chair Cassidy requests in the letter answers to a range of questions about the AMP’s and SJP’s finances, records of activities, and communications with institutions since January 1, 2010.
Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Sanders releases new report on impact of reductions in force at the USED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR): On March 27, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released a new report on the impact of reductions in force (RIFs) at the USED’s OCR. The report asserts that because of the RIFs, “millions of students who face antisemitism and Islamophobia, students with disabilities, students who are sexually harassed and LGBTQ+ students who are bullied have been left without recourse or protection.” The report calls attention to the Trump Administration’s directive for OCR staff to prioritize cases of antisemitism, positioning it against the challenge of investigating such cases amidst staffing cuts: “Fired staff in the seven OCR regional offices that were closed were working on … 1,870 cases of discrimination based on race and national origin discrimination, leaving thousands of students in potentially unsafe learning environments—or out of school entirely—and without any clear plan for resolution.” The report also estimates that following the RIFs, “caseloads are expected to explode to an estimated 86 cases per investigator—an increase of 206 percent.”
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden introduces legislation to improve access to quality childcare: On April 3, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led colleagues in the introduction of S. 1285, the “Building Child Care for a Better Future Act,” aimed at helping families access quality, affordable child care. The legislation would expand child care funding by increasing annual funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) to $20 billion per year (a $16.45 billion increase per year), and appropriate $5 billion to the CCES annually to provide new grants to improve childcare workforce, supply, quality, and access in areas of particular need, including rural communities. The funding can be used for the purposes included in the Child Care and Development Block Grant, such as, increasing childcare slots in childcare facilities and family child care homes, and supporting professional development and training for the childcare workforce, including through apprenticeships, among other uses. A one-pager on the bill is here, and companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representative Danny Davis (D-IL).
Democratic Senators introduce legislation to permanently expand childcare tax credits: On April 10, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, was joined by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) in introducing the “Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act,” would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC). Specifically, the bill would help ease the burden of high childcare costs on working families by increasing the maximum tax credit to $4,000 per child, allowing families to receive up to $8,000 in tax credits to offset up to $16,000 in expenses. The bill would also make the credit refundable to ensure low-income working families can benefit and index the credit to inflation. The bill is cosponsored by Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA).
Senate Democrats send letter to the USED regarding impact of closing agency on students with disabilities: On April 2, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) led 22 Democrats in a letter to USED Secretary McMahon expressing “deep concern regarding the Trump administration’s recent actions to dismantle the [USED] and the impact this will have on students with disabilities and their families.” The letter highlights the 9.5 million students with disabilities that are served by programs the USED administers and oversight that the USED conducts. The Senators call attention to the “specific expertise” that USED staff uses to “safeguard the rights of students with disabilities.” The letter requests answers to a dozen questions on grants the Administration has terminated, the impact of special education and civil rights investigations given recent reductions in force, and ability to monitor compliance with federal disability law and protect students.
House:
House Education and Workforce Committee holds markup and advances legislation on gender ideology and childcare: On April 9, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup and advanced four bills, three of which were education bills.
The Committee also adversely reported to the House floor H.Res. 237, a resolution of inquiry introduced by House Education the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA). The resolution would have requested the President and directed the Secretary of Education to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the reduction in force and other downsizing measures at the Department of Education. Due to House procedures, the adverse reporting of the resolution means the measure is unlikely to be considered by the full House or advance further.
House Education Committee holds hearing on the impact of AI on K-12 education: On April 1, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled, "From Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Impact of AI on K-12 Education.” The Subcommittee heard from four witnesses: Dr. Sid Dobrin, Chair of the Department of English at the University of Florida; Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, CEO of the ILO Group - a “national education policy and strategy firm supporting over 200 state and district superintendents”; Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU and the EDSAFE AI Alliance; and Chris Chism, Superintendent of the Pearl Public School District in Pearl, MS.
Subcommittee Chair Kevin Kiley (R-CA), in his opening remarks, argued that AI “has the potential to give every child in America a richer educational experience than any child in America had just a few years ago. It can give every teacher in America a greater ability to reach students than any teacher did in the past. It can empower parents to follow their child’s progress and guide it accordingly.” Chair Kiley also highlighted some potential risks about AI use in the classroom, including “cheating,” student privacy, “[vigilance] in assuring AI never becomes a shortcut to avoid engaging critical thinking, formulating original ideas, and persevering through challenging content,” and “excessively absorbing students into digital worlds.” He concluded by noting that, “none of this…is a call for new mandates at the federal level.”
Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), in her remarks noted the “opportunities and challenges” of AI and stated this is a “pivotal time…the path we choose will determine whether students succeed in a technology-driven world.” She highlighted challenges with ensuring equity and the need for regulation and oversight and argued that efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, which “helps level the playing field and provides critical resources” would “exacerbate inequities.” Ranking Member Bonamici also noted that every witness mentioned the importance of “access” to AI in their written testimonies.
In his testimony, Mr. Dobrin spoke about efforts underway in China to “improve its AI-ready workforce, [and a] nationwide effort toward increased teacher development.” He added that “China’s efforts in AI education, particularly in teacher preparedness, are more rigorous and unified than our approaches. The U.S. has no federal mandate and currently, about 25 states have or are developing official guidelines and/or policies for K-12 AI education…with varied implementation from state to state, contributing to a fragmented landscape.” Dr. Rafal-Baer emphasized the importance of “comprehensive AI literacy initiatives…to ensure everyone understands how to responsibly leverage AI tools, critically evaluate AI-driven information, and maintain accuracy, fairness, and objectivity in all interactions.”
InnovateEDU CEO Mote called AI “a transformative force with the potential to significantly impact the education system, offering both remarkable opportunities and considerable challenges.” Ms. Mote added that, “Proactive and informed policymaking at the congressional level is essential to ensure that AI is harnessed responsibly, ethically, and equitably to enhance learning outcomes for all students across the nation.” Ms. Mote also highlighted efforts internationally, including in China, Singapore, and South Korea, to embed AI curricula and literacy and noted that “a decline in U.S. investment will lead to a loss of global leadership now with generational consequences in this critical technological domain.” Superintendent Chism said that he “has seen firsthand the transformative potential of AI in our classrooms and offices,” but also “the pros and cons of classroom AI use; concerns regarding equity, teacher training, [and] over-reliance, and student data privacy.” He offered several recommendations for policymakers to support the responsible and equitable integration of AI in K–12 education and concluded that “if we get this right, AI can be a great equalizer and accelerator in education.”
In questions and comments from members of the Subcommittee, there was general agreement on the potential of AI, including for individualized and differentiated instruction, and the importance of understanding the impacts of AI on students. Republican members minimized discussion of risks and were generally opposed to more federal involvement in guiding AI use in schools. Democratic members used this opportunity to highlight the Trump Administration’s efforts to “dismantle” the Department of Education, including massive reductions in force, cancellation of federal grants, and what potential cuts to federal research could mean for AI use and development.
House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee holds a hearing to hear testimony from public witnesses: On April 9, the House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to hear from public witnesses to inform the FY2026 appropriations process. The witnesses who provided testimony in support of funding for education and early learning programs included: Sarah Shapiro, Executive Director of the Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI); Rey Saldaña, President and CEO, Communities in Schools; and Jennifer Carroll, Assistant Director of Children’s Services, Community Action Partnership of North Alabama (CAPNA). Shapiro, who testified on behalf of a bipartisan coalition that brings together nearly 100 education nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, emphasized the need for federal investments in education R&D – including $900 million for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) – and encouraged Congress to ensure IES and other federal agencies have the appropriate staffing levels needed to ensure good stewardship of tax-payer resources. Saldaña, representing full-service communities schools which provide comprehensive academic, social, and health services to students and their families, advocated for strengthening federal funding for Title I (which supports services for low-income students), Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, Full-Service Community Schools, and 21st Century Learning Centers, among other programs. Carroll spoke in support of the need for an immediate and significant investment of $14.91 billion in FY2026 for Head Start, which provides comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services to low-income families. Following Carroll’s testimony, House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) said we need to maintain Head Start before going on to say regarding the possible elimination of the program “over my dead body.” Additionally, Ranking Member DeLauro, in response to Shapiro’s testimony, highlighted the bipartisan support in the past for education research saying, “we have to fight to get it back.”
House Ways and Means Subcommittee holds hearing on TANF: On April 8, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work & Welfare held a hearing titled, “Government Watchdog Findings: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program In Need of Reform, Better State Accountability, and Fraud Protection.” The Subcommittee heard from five witnesses: Jeffrey Arkin, Director of Strategic Issues at the Government Accountability Office (GAO); Kathryn Larin, Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security at the GAO; James Dalkin, Director of Financial Management and Assurance at the GAO; Seto Bagdoyan, Director of Forensic Audits and Investigative Services at the GAO; and Roxane Somerlot, Director of Marion County, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The hearing follows the release of a GAO audit report on TANF, which found 37 states with collectively 162 deficiencies, 56 of which were severe.
In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chair Darin LaHood (R-IL) highlighted the areas in need of improvement from the GAO’s report, including inconsistent state budgeting and expenditure reporting practices, and a lack of transparent data on who is being served and the quality of services being paid for with federal tax dollars, among other findings. Subcommittee Ranking Member Danny Davis (D-IL), conversely, criticized the Trump Administration and his Republican colleagues during his opening remarks, specifically calling attention to the cancellation of bipartisan TANF pilot programs by the Trump Administration, as well as the reductions in force at HHS, with Ranking Member Davis asserting, “Secretary Kennedy…fired the entire HHS TANF policy division.”
House Agriculture Committee holds hearing on SNAP: On April 8, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing titled, “The Power of Work: Expanding Opportunity through SNAP.” The Committee heard from four witnesses: Dr. Angela Rachidi, Senior Fellow and Rowe Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute; Sam Schaeffer, Chief Executive Officer at the Center for Employment Opportunities; William Lewis, Site Supervisor at the Center for Employment Opportunities; Dr. Diane Schanzenbach, Margaret Walker Alexander Professor of Human Development and Social Policy at the Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University; and David Tidwell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hope Ministries/The Way to Work.
In his opening statement, Committee Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA) shared that the hearing aimed to address “the relationship between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, and employment,” stating that “there is a need to strengthen the connection between receiving SNAP and securing employment.” Chair Thompson added, “Work requirements are an important tool for encouraging work among low-income households.” Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) criticized Committee Republicans during her opening remarks, contrasting the goal of the hearing with Republicans actions on child care, for example: “Where were Republicans when we wanted to make universal Pre-K and affordable child care the law of the land, so parents could go to work knowing their kids are taken care of?” Ranking Member Craig also called attention to the recent reductions in force at the Department of Agriculture, as well as President Trump’s “global trade war that increases costs for working families and threatens to put farmers out of business.”
House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott hosts event with civil rights leaders on how to combat the Trump Administration’s actions in education and other areas: On April 1, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) hosted a forum with civil rights leaders to “discuss how they are fighting the Trump Administration’s systematic attacks on students, workers, and families.” In his remarks at the event, Ranking Member Scott named specific actions the Trump Administration has taken “to erase contributions and accomplishments of so many Americans,” including removing references to Jackie Robinson’s military participation, the erasure of references to women in health care research or women who served at the CIA, and how “the Executive Order [on the Smithsonian Institutes] singles out the African American History Museum for its ‘corrosive ideology.’” Ranking Member Scott concluded his remarks, stating, “We want to let the public know what we are specifically doing to fight back, and know how the public can join into that fight.”
House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Scott requests information regarding HHS RIFs and oversight hearing from Committee Chair Walberg: On April 8, House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. requesting information on the agency’s RIFs and restructuring. Ranking Member Scott wrote that the downsizing “will destabilize—and, in some cases, even decimate—programs and services on which some of the most vulnerable people in America rely,” “strongly urg[ing]” Secretary Kennedy to reconsider the agency’s actions and “engage with Congress on organizational plans.” The letter requests detailed information on the decision-making process and rationale for the reorganization of HHS, as well as a detailed analysis on the impact on HHS’ services as required under federal statutes.
In conjunction with the letter to Secretary Kennedy, Ranking Member Scott led Democratic Committee members in a letter to Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) requesting a Committee hearing “to examine the full extent of the Department’s restructuring and reduction in force, the purported rationale for these changes, and the expected impacts of these changes on Americans’ health and wellbeing.”
House Oversight Committee Ranking Members Connolly and Krishnamoorthi request information on how the USED will meet congressionally mandated obligations: On April 4, House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Oversight Health Care and Financial Services Subcommittee Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a letter to USED Secretary McMahon requesting information on how the Department plans to meet its congressionally mandated obligations while pursuing President Trump’s Executive Order to dismantle the agency. The Ranking Members wrote, “It is not clear how the Administration anticipates implementing this order without massive disruption to students, families, and educators across the country.” The letter also calls attention to varying reports across the Administration of how specific programs will continue to operate, noting specifically that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously assured that federal student loans and Pell Grants “will still be run out of the Department of Education” though President Trump later remarked that these and other programs would be “redistributed to various other agencies and departments.” The Ranking Members requested by May 2, “All documents and communications related to the decision to close or reorganize the Department; all steps being taken to ensure that services are not interrupted for students and families as the Administration attempts to dismantle the Department; and a detailed description of how each federal agency that will be absorbing responsibilities currently housed within the Department will ensure it is able to meet the needs of students, educators, and schools despite anticipated reductions in force,” among other items.
U.S. Courts:
Supreme Court issues interim ruling in teacher prep grants case: On April 4, the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decided in Department Of Education v. California that the USED does not have to reinstate the teacher preparation grants which the Department terminated at the beginning of February, while a lawsuit challenging the lawfulness of those terminations proceeds. The case was originally brought by eight states in the District Court for the District of Massachusetts and is one of two lawsuits about the terminations of Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED), Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP), and Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program (TSLIP) grants. SCOTUS did not weigh in on the legality of the grant terminations themselves—this was an interim decision about whether a temporary restraining order should or should not be put in place for now.
The decision was a 5-4 vote, with Chief Justice Roberts joining Justices Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor in dissenting, and Justice Jackson’s dissent emphasizing the serious harm the cancellations are causing. The majority did suggest that the lawsuit should have been filed in a different court—the Court of Federal Claims, which typically handles monetary claims against the government—but the District Court that has the case will continue to move the case forward at this stage. The primary immediate effect of the Supreme Court’s decision will be on the grantees who can no longer access their projects’ federal funding for however long the lawsuit takes to reach a resolution.
Supreme Court and Appeals Court issue decisions allowing Trump Administration to restart mass firings of probationary workers: On April 8, the SCOTUS lifted a District Court Judge’s order blocking the Trump Administration’s firing of probationary employees in a case brought against six agencies by federal employees labor unions and non-profit groups. The Supreme Court’s decision stated that the groups lacked the legal standing to challenge the firings.
Separately, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on April 9, issued a 2-1 decision that allows the Trump Administration to restart mass firings of probationary staff, lifting a lower court ruling that blocked the mass terminations. This separate case was brought by 20 state attorneys general (AGs) against a number of federal agencies, and the Appeals Court ruled that the AGs lacked the legal standing to challenge the terminations.
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia file lawsuit against USED for ending pandemic relief funding for schools: On April 10, a coalition of 17 Democratic AGs filed a lawsuit against the USED for canceling any prior approval for “late liquidation” of remaining funds from a variety of federal pandemic recovery funds, including American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS), and Homeless Children and Youth (HCY) funds. The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, includes the District of Columbia and the following states: Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Josh Shapiro in his official capacity as Governor of Pennsylvania. The lawsuit stems from the Trump Administration’s decision on March 28, without “notice or advance warning” to rescind previously approved extensions that would have allowed states to continue accessing pandemic relief funds—which had already been obligated before September 30, 2024, to vendors and programs—through March 2026.
According to the lawsuit, “If the rescission action is not vacated and the approved extensions are not reinstated, key programs and services that address ongoing and emerging education needs of Plaintiffs’ students and local school districts to combat the long-term effects of the pandemic will have to be dissolved or disbanded…The result of [US]ED’s rescission is a massive, unexpected funding gap that is causing serious harm to the public, cutting off vital education services, all to the detriment of the students whom Congress intended to benefit.”
Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) and the Association for Education Finance and Policy file lawsuit against the USED for dismantling the Institute for Education Sciences (IES): On April 4, IHEP and AEFP filed a lawsuit against the USED “for unlawfully acting to dismantle the IES.” The organizations allege that the reduction in force (RIF) at the IES have left the office unable to perform its statutory functions, and the complaint asserts that the RIFs and cancelations of contracts “were outside the Department’s statutory authority, arbitrary and capricious, contrary to the numerous statutes that require IES to do its work, and violate laws regarding the spending of congressional appropriations.” The lawsuit asks the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to order Secretary McMahon and the USED “to immediately end their efforts to eliminate IES and restore the contracts, staff, and other resources that enable IES to execute its mission.”
Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):
On May 7 at 10:15 a.m., the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses.” Witnesses include: Dr. Jeffrey Armstrong, President of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Dr. Wendy Raymond, President of Haverford College; and Dr. Robert Manuel, President of DePaul University. The hearing will be held in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.
Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):
Publications (Outside Organizations):
Legislation:
Introduced in the House of Representatives:
H.R. 2485
A bill to expand arts education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
H.R. 2490
A bill to amend section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to prohibit the provision of assistance under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to States that offer in-State tuition rates to aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)
H.R. 2506
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide funding, on a competitive basis, for summer and year-round employment opportunities for youth ages 14 through 24.
Sponsor: Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)
H.R. 2516
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit political litmus tests in accreditation of institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT)
H.R. 2521
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to protect opportunities for families in the Federal student aid process, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ)
H.R. 2530
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to prohibit the serving of certain foods under the school lunch program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT)
H.R. 2539
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require schools to offer a variety of milk to students participating in the school lunch program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tory Carter (D-LA)
H.R. 2555
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for certain freedom of association protections, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Erin Houchin (R-IN)
H.R. 2577
A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish Regional School Safety Development Centers to provide consultation for schools to develop or improve a school safety plan based on evidence-based best practices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL)
H.R. 2583
A bill to establish the Office of the Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education within the Department of Education.
Sponsor: Rep. David Taylor (R-OH)
H.R. 2584
A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that Federal funds provided under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families are used to supplement State spending, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY)
H.R. 2595
A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide funding to sustain and increase the supply and quality of child care, access to child care, and the child care workforce, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
H.R. 2598
A bill to amend part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide full Federal funding of such part.
Sponsor: Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)
H.R. 2616
A bill to require public elementary and middle schools that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to obtain parental consent before changing a minor’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI)
H.R. 2617
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prevent the use of funds under such Act to teach or advance concepts related to gender ideology, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT)
H.R. 2629
A bill to provide Federal-local community partnership construction funding to local educational agencies eligible to receive payments under the Impact Aid program.
Sponsor: Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)
H.R. 2634
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require public institutions of higher education, as a condition of participating in programs under title IV of such Act, to provide a written statement and educational programming to new students on the rights of students under the first amendment to the Constitution.
Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA)
H.R. 2651
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a State innovation demonstration authority.
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT)
H.R. 2657
A bill to require large social media platform providers to create, maintain, and make available to third-party safety software providers a set of real-time application programming interfaces, through which a child or a parent or legal guardian of a child may delegate permission to a third-party safety software provider to manage the online interactions, content, and account settings of such child on the large social media platform on the same terms as such child, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
H.R. 2660
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt qualified student loan bonds from the volume cap and the alternative minimum tax.
Sponsor: Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA)
H.R. 2664
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)
H.R. 2680
A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to eliminate reduced price breakfasts and lunches and to require that the income guidelines for determining eligibility for free breakfasts and free lunches be 224 percent of the poverty level, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
H.R. 2682
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grant program that will support efforts at the State level to establish anti-bullying task forces to study, address, and reduce bullying in elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)
H.R. 2686
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose penalties with respect to civil rights violations by certain tax-exempt educational institutions.
Sponsor: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
H.R. 2688
A bill to prohibit a student athlete from being considered an employee of an institution, a conference, or an association based on participation in certain intercollegiate athletics.
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI)
H.R. 2690
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define employer-directed skills development, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Mary Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
H.R. 2691
A bill to abolish the Department of Education and to provide funding directly to States for elementary and secondary education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL)
H.R. 2700
A bill to require State educational agencies to implement policies prohibiting the use or possession of personal mobile phones by students in public school classrooms during school hours, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-CA)
H.R. 2720
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the termination of a certain educational assistance program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Timothy Kennedy (D-NY)
H.R. 2733
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to change certain Federal Pell Grant requirements for certain students with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY)
H.R. 2738
A bill to reduce exclusionary discipline practices in schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
H.R. 2739
A bill to divert Federal funding away from supporting the presence of police in schools and toward evidence-based and trauma informed services that address the needs of marginalized students and improve academic outcomes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
H.R. 2741
A bill to address the behavioral health workforce shortages through support for peer support specialists, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
H.R. 2752
A bill to prioritize the hiring and training of veterans and retired law enforcement officers as school resource officers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ)
H.R. 2763
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payment.
Sponsor: Rep. Rose DeLauro (D-CT)
H.R. 2778
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require additional disclosures relating to gifts and contracts from foreign sources.
Sponsor: Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN)
H.R. 2789
A bill to amend the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to strengthen adult education.
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)
H.R. 2809
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education participating in Federal student assistance programs from giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to legacy students or donors.
Sponsor: Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)
H.R. 2819
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the child and adult care food program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
H.R. 2829
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and reduce interest rates.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)
H.R. 2845
A bill to establish competitive Federal grants that will empower community colleges and minority-serving institutions to become incubators for infant and toddler child care talent, training, and access on their campuses and in their communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
H.R. 2852
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow students to take the saver's credit and receive the saver's match.
Sponsor: Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX)
H.R. 2859
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to increase the amount of reimbursements under the child and adult care food program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH)
H.R. 2866
A bill to direct the Secretary of State to revoke the visas of students who have engaged in antisemitic activities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
H.R. 2899
A bill to provide for accountability in higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
H.Res. 269
A resolution reaffirming the commitment of the Federal Government to historically Black colleges and universities and honoring their enduring legacy and contributions.
Sponsor: Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)
H.Res. 297
A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that paraprofessionals and education support staff should have fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions.
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
H.Res. 321
A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, a call to action to communities across the country to demand equal educational opportunity, basic civil rights protections, and freedom from erasure for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ young people, in K-12 schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
H.Res. 328
A resolution expressing support for the staff of public, school, academic, and special libraries in the United States and the essential services those libraries provide to communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad scope of social service and community supports provided by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens of the United States to freely access information and resources in their communities, supporting a strong union voice for library workers, and defending the civil rights of library staff.
Sponsor: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
Introduced in the Senate:
S. 1211
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide funding, on a competitive basis, for summer and year-round employment opportunities for youth ages 14 through 24.
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
S. 1220
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment plan as an income contingent repayment plan.
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
S. 1225
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for certain freedom of association protections, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)
S. 1236
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require schools to offer a variety of milk to students participating in the school lunch program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
S. 1244
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow parents of eligible military dependent children to establish Military Education Savings Accounts, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
S. 1253
A bill to establish the Office of the Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education within the Department of Education.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)
S. 1266
A bill to establish a Youth Mental Health Research Initiative in the National Institutes of Health for purposes of encouraging collaborative research to improve youth mental health.
Sponsor: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
S. 1275
A bill to provide Federal-local community partnership construction funding to local educational agencies eligible to receive payments under the Impact Aid program.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
S. 1277
A bill to amend part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide full Federal funding of such part.
Sponsor: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
S. 1285
A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide funding to sustain and increase the supply and quality of child care, access to child care, and the child care workforce, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
S. 1296
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen disclosure requirements relating to foreign gifts and contracts, to prohibit contracts between institutions of higher education and certain foreign entities and countries of concern, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tom Tillis (R-NC)
S. 1307
A bill to allow certain qualified law enforcement officers and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms to protect children in school zones.
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT)
S. 1317
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require additional disclosures relating to gifts and contracts from foreign sources.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)
S. 1329
A bill to address the behavioral health workforce shortages through support for peer support specialists, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
S. 1338
A bill to reduce exclusionary discipline practices in schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
S. 1347
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make college affordable and accessible by expanding access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)
S. 1382
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance the child tax credit, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)
S. 1393
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payment.
Sponsor: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
S. 1400
A bill to amend the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to strengthen adult education.
Sponsor: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
S. 1402
A bill to abolish the Department of Education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)
S. 1411
A bill to establish competitive Federal grants that will empower community colleges and minority-serving institutions to become incubators for infant and toddler child care talent, training, and access on their campuses and in their communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
S. 1420
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to increase the amount of reimbursements under the child and adult care food program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
S. 1421
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and make the credit fully refundable for certain taxpayers.
Sponsor: Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)
S. 1447
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the child and adult care food program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
S.1469
A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to include food allergy information in existing training modules for local food service personnel.
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
S. 1488
A bill to address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
S.Res. 158
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that paraprofessionals and education support staff should have fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions.
Sponsor: Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)
S.Res. 161
A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of April 7 through April 11, 2025, as "National Assistant Principals Week".
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
S.Res. 168
A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, a call to action to communities across the United States to demand equal educational opportunity, basic civil rights protections, and freedom from erasure for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ young people, in K-12 schools.
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
S.Res. 169
A resolution expressing support for the staff of public, school, academic, and special libraries in the United States and the essential services those libraries provide to communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad scope of social service and community supports provided by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens of the United States to freely access information and resources in their communities, supporting a strong union voice for library workers, and defending the civil rights of library staff.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
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