Revolutionize Education—Powered by You!

Stay ahead with exclusive content from This Week in School Psychology for just $5/month or save with an annual subscription for $50. Your subscription directly supports our independent platform, bringing you actionable insights in mental health and education. Subscribe now and empower yourself and your community!

CT delegation promises action in response to Trump order on Department of Education

The article details U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes’ emotional response to President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, outlining concerns about the potential negative impacts on public education, particularly for special education and low-income students in Connecticut. With the closure plan sparking widespread criticism and legal challenges, state leaders, including Gov. Ned Lamont and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, expressed doubts about filling the financial gaps left by federal funding cuts, raising alarms about the order’s implications for educational equity and access.

DOGE’s push for data gets sidelined

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction to prevent Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing private data at various departments, citing likely violations of federal privacy laws by the Trump administration in facilitating such access without consent. This move underscores concerns about privacy rights amid governmental agendas, alongside separate judicial actions which address deportation practices and military service restrictions, highlighting ongoing tensions between administrative orders and legal standards for individual rights.

Many Medical Schools Lacking Crucial Education on Autism

Harvard Medical School’s integration of a disability-focused curriculum, particularly addressing autism through partnerships like Operation House Call, aims to bridge significant gaps in medical training, as many students nationwide still lack formal education on neurodivergence. The absence of standardized autism education in medical schools nationwide contributes to healthcare access issues and disparities, highlighting the need for systemic curriculum changes and the influential role medical students can play in advocating for such advancements.

Texas lawmakers advance bill that makes it a crime for teachers to assign “Catcher in the Rye”

The proposed Texas legislation, which seeks to impose severe criminal penalties on librarians and teachers for distributing award-winning literature with sexually explicit content, highlights a growing trend across multiple states to restrict educational materials based on content deemed inappropriate by conservative lawmakers. This move raises significant concerns about academic freedom, the role of education in exposing students to diverse narratives, and the potential for increased censorship that may undermine the developmental benefits of literature deemed valuable for educational purposes.

Ultimate authority over West Virginia education policies is in conflict again

Despite West Virginian voters previously rejecting a constitutional amendment to allow legislative oversight of the state Board of Education’s rule-making authority, lawmakers are pursuing new legislation that challenges this division of power, setting the stage for a likely judicial battle. Critics argue that the push for increased legislative control over education policies contradicts established legal precedent and public opinion, suggesting it could politicize and destabilize the management of educational standards amid ongoing concerns about the state’s educational performance.

What’s at stake when Feds investigate local accommodations for trans students

The recent investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into Chicago Public Schools and Deerfield Public School District 109 over their accommodations for transgender students highlights the escalating tension between federal and state laws on transgender rights; it underscores a broader national debate about the impact of anti-trans policies on student mental health, with research indicating significant mental health risks, including increased suicide attempts among transgender youths in states with such laws.