Week In Review: Funding freezes, enrollment concerns and cyberthreats

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from lawsuits against the Trump administration to St. Louis’ proposed school cuts.

By Roger Riddell • July 28, 2025

More Americans support school cellphone bans

The uptick comes as research increasingly points to harmful effects for children and as laws proliferate restricting cellphone use in classrooms.

By Naaz Modan • July 28, 2025

Unfrozen: White House releases remaining $5B for K-12 programs

The hold on the funds had drawn widespread rebukes from educators, lawmakers, parents and organizations — along with two lawsuits.

By Kara Arundel • July 25, 2025

Trump administration pauses Head Start immigration restrictions

The temporary stop, part of a court-approved agreement, also covers dual enrollment, adult education and CTE programs.

By Naaz Modan • July 25, 2025

Education Department issues AI priorities. But what if the agency closes?

As the agency issues advice on using federal grants to advance school AI strategies, districts remain concerned about leadership on cybersecurity.

By Anna Merod • July 25, 2025

Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From potential school closures in St. Louis to ransom demands on schools, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Kara Arundel • July 25, 2025

Strong budgeting, revenue flexibility key to weathering K-12 financial storm, says Moody’s

States are trying to offset the impact of reduced federal support, but their success is uncertain, according to a recent Moody’s Ratings report.

By Naaz Modan • July 25, 2025

Union seeks delay in Education Department RIFs

AFGE Local 252 seeks to delay employees' Aug. 1 termination date, which they say is too soon under their bargaining agreement.

By Naaz Modan • July 24, 2025

Tennessee launches direct admissions pilot with student aid component

The initiative aims to ease high schoolers’ paths to college by providing financial aid information and automatic acceptance to participating institutions.

By Natalie Schwartz • July 24, 2025

Trump’s withholding of Head Start funds violated the law, watchdog says

HHS disputes the GAO's conclusion, and a Head Start advocacy group says recent disbursements are comparable to last year.

By Kara Arundel • July 23, 2025

What the Supreme Court’s parental opt-out ruling means for schools

The high court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor left many questions for districts to answer when setting their policies. 

By Naaz Modan • July 23, 2025

Judge pauses Mississippi’s DEI ban at public schools and colleges

Accounts from educators and students fearing discussion of certain topics signal “possible widespread suppression of speech,” the judge wrote. 

By Natalie Schwartz • July 23, 2025

St. Louis Public Schools to propose closing over half of its 68 schools

The large-scale closures would be for 2026-27 and are based on declining enrollment and uncertainty about the future for families displaced by a tornado.

By Anna Merod • July 22, 2025

Lawsuit adds pressure on Trump administration to release K-12 funds

The Office of Management and Budget released after-school grants but is still reviewing the remaining funds to ensure alignment with Trump priorities.

By Kara Arundel • July 22, 2025

Did COVID have a lasting impact on public school enrollment?

An enrollment decline in Massachusetts may signal broader post-pandemic trends nationwide, an Education Next study suggests.

By Anna Merod • July 22, 2025

20 states sue over immigration restrictions for Head Start, other programs

The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration policy change would lead to the "collapse of some of the nation’s most vital public programs."

By Naaz Modan • July 21, 2025

Week In Review: Education Department cuts move forward and principals convene in Seattle

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from changes to federal oversight to a set of delayed Energy Department rules.

By Roger Riddell • July 21, 2025

Ransomware attacks in education jump 23% year over year

Education was the fourth-most-targeted sector during the first half of 2025, according to a report from Comparitech.

By Briana Mendez-Padilla • July 21, 2025

Trump administration to release frozen after-school, summer program funds

The Office of Management and Budget said its review of those grants is complete but gave no timeline for the rest of the withheld funds.

By Kara Arundel • July 18, 2025

How Portland Public Schools can afford to offer high-impact tutoring

Oregon has been struggling with student literacy for years. The state’s largest public school district is tapping into a tutoring model to reverse that trend.

By Anna Merod • July 18, 2025

Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From a major Supreme Court decision for the Education Department to new school shooting data, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Anna Merod • July 18, 2025

10 GOP senators call on OMB to release frozen K-12 funds

The senators said they don’t believe the over $6 billion in withheld funds are being used to fund “radical left-wing programs,” as OMB claims.

By Anna Merod • July 17, 2025

Energy Department delays multiple rules after public pushback

The proposals, quietly introduced in May, would have gone into effect for schools this week had critics failed to register their complaints.

By Naaz Modan • July 17, 2025

Chicago-area school district deploys geothermal system that’s a US first

The dynamic closed-loop system uses groundwater to reject and absorb heat to provide year-round space conditioning for a 130-year-old elementary school, Trane Technologies says.

By Brian Martucci • July 17, 2025

3 ways principals can help make schools safer

School safety teams, training, and special education resources are key to improving response during a crisis, according to K-12 safety experts.

By Anna Merod • July 16, 2025