Educational News Round Up, April 1, 2025

by Jon Scaccia April 1, 2025

No jokes for today. Nothing funny about dismantling the American Public Service Infrastructure.

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Special education and Trump: What parents and schools need to know

President Trump’s pledge to disband the Department of Education and transfer responsibilities, such as special education oversight, to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raises concerns among advocates and educators about the capacity for federal oversight and support for students with disabilities. This move, coupled with significant staffing cuts and legal challenges, risks undermining protections and services for vulnerable students, potentially reverting to a time when state discretion led to inconsistent protections and accommodations across the nation.

Trump freezes $14 million in aid for K-12 education in CT

The Trump administration has frozen $14 million in Connecticut’s school funds, causing disruptions to plans for academic and mental health support for students post-pandemic, particularly affecting districts relying on ESSER funds. This action has sparked concern over financial stability in high-need communities and the overall future of federal education funding, with state officials and education advocates urging federal reconsideration and planning potential state intervention to mitigate impacts.

Why Republicans Hate the Education Department

The Trump administration’s initiative to dismantle the U.S. Education Department signifies a significant rollback of federal involvement in education, threatening essential services for millions of American families that aid students, teachers, and communities. This move could have wide-ranging implications for educational equity and access, as it returns authority over education to state and local entities, potentially disrupting federal support for programs such as student loans, Pell Grants, Title 1 funding, and civil rights enforcement in education.