Next Week in Educational News, November 11, 2025
President Trump’s March executive order to dismantle the Department of Education—part of the Project 2025 agenda—has led to sweeping cuts that gutted the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, laying off over two-thirds of its remaining staff and effectively halting enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which serves 7.5 million U.S. children. The move shifted oversight of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose past comments on autism and proposals for a national autism database have drawn outrage from disability advocates.
Experts warn the restructuring will slash funding, weaken accountability, and deepen inequities for students with disabilities, particularly as schools already struggle to address emerging conditions like long COVID. Advocates argue that these actions represent a major rollback of decades of bipartisan progress toward inclusive education, risking a future where millions of children lose access to essential supports and protections.
So here’s what else is in the news
How Pa.’s largest public cyber charter school discourages public participation
The Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) is criticized for its lack of transparency in board meetings, which discourages public participation, and for prioritizing senior leadership over community involvement. This has led to limited public input and concerns about governance practices compared to other cyber schools and traditional districts.
Blackfeet Nation’s Sukapi Lodge Opens as First Tribally Run Mental Health Center in U.S.
Sukapi Lodge, the first tribally-run mental health center in the U.S., integrates Blackfeet cultural practices with modern mental health therapies such as equine-assisted programs to address community-specific needs. By offering services like telehealth, youth mentoring, and privacy-focused care, the Lodge provides crucial mental health support to the Blackfeet Nation while fostering cultural identity and holistic wellness.
Three years after the school shooting in Uvalde, survivors struggle to find ongoing support
Amy Franco, a former educator at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, was wrongfully blamed for leaving a door open during the 2022 mass shooting, affecting her emotional health and financial stability. As she struggles with PTSD, denied worker’s compensation, and the challenges of limited community support systems, Uvalde grapples with ongoing economic and psychological recovery efforts.
