Educational News Round Up, May 1, 2025

by Jon Scaccia May 1, 2025

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Boone County sees rise in student stress and mental health challenges

As college students approach the end of the semester, many face heightened stress levels due to final exams and projects, leading to potential declines in mental health. While moderate anxiety can motivate students, excessive anxiety and other stressors, such as political climate and social media pressures, may exacerbate mental health issues, underscoring the importance of accessible mental health resources and community support. Reports from Boone County indicate significant increases in both severe depression and suicide considerations among students, highlighting an urgent need for ongoing mental health support, despite improvements in stigmatization and resource availability.

DOGE cuts to higher education

The article highlights the cost-cutting measures being pursued in Oklahoma’s higher education institutions, which are already more affordable and instrumental in producing teachers and nurses necessary for the state’s workforce. This aligns with a broader, politically charged trend led by Republican state governments using state-level agencies, akin to the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to scrutinize and reshape universities’ operations and programs, intensifying existing pressures on higher education amidst federal funding cuts and policy shifts.

State discipline law keeps Black, Latino kids in class. Trump says it’s illegal

Recent changes in California’s school discipline policies, which aimed to address racial disparities by banning suspensions for “willfully defiant” behavior, face potential legal challenges due to an executive order from former President Trump. The order, which criticizes past federal guidance meant to reduce racial discrimination in school discipline, could undermine California’s efforts and reignite debates on equitable disciplinary practices versus maintaining student safety.

Supreme Court Poised to Back Student in Key Disability-Rights Case

The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to support a Minnesota student with severe epilepsy, questioning the validity of a stringent legal standard that complicates families’ ability to sue school districts under key federal disability laws, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The court’s decision could redefine how liability is determined for schools nationwide, impacting the accessibility of educational accommodations for students with disabilities beyond those receiving special education services, as highlighted by the case of Ava Tharpe, whose family’s appeal may set a broader precedent for disability discrimination standards in education.

Trump Ends $1 Billion in Mental Health Grants for Schools

In a controversial move, the U.S. Department of Education announced the discontinuation of $1 billion in grants aimed at enhancing school mental health services, citing a conflict with Trump administration priorities; this decision has sparked concerns about student safety and well-being, particularly in the wake of escalating mental health crises and recent school violence. Critics argue that the decision undermines efforts to diversify and expand the mental health workforce in schools, potentially compromising support for vulnerable student populations.

When breathing becomes a battle for Black children

The article highlights the significant health disparity faced by African American children who suffer asthma rates twice as high and mortality rates eight times greater than their white peers, underlining the impact of systemic barriers and environmental factors on these outcomes. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies combining medical care, environmental management, and advocacy to effectively address asthma disparities, while also recognizing the resilience and innovative approaches of families and communities striving to improve care and outcomes for affected children.