All articles tagged with #department of education
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College over its policy of admitting self-identified transgender women and granting them access to women-only spaces, including dorms, bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletic teams, a policy the college adopted in 2015.
The U.S. Department of Education has opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College, an all-women’s college in western Massachusetts, over its policy of admitting transgender women and granting them access to women-only spaces. The probe, prompted by a civil rights complaint from Defending Education, asks whether Smith’s policy complies with Title IX’s single-sex exception (grounded in biological sex). Smith says it remains committed to civil rights laws and will not comment on pending investigations. Advocates for LGBTQ rights say inclusion aligns with the mission of women’s colleges, while critics view the move as government overreach. Smith has updated admissions to include trans students since 2015 and provides trans-affirming healthcare and gender-inclusive facilities on campus.
California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed shifting oversight of the Department of Education from State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to the State Board of Education to streamline governance, a move that surprised Thurmond and faced criticism for potentially reducing accountability and funding for schools.
A federal judge ruled that the Department of Education violated the First Amendment rights of employees by editing their out-of-office emails to blame Democrats for the government shutdown, permanently barring such partisan modifications.
The Trump administration has significantly reduced the Department of Education's staff and operations amid a government shutdown, aiming to dismantle the agency by cutting core functions like funding distribution and law enforcement for civil rights and special education, though some funding and programs remain unaffected for now.
The Trump administration announced significant layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, notably affecting the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which oversees programs for children with disabilities, raising concerns about compliance with federal laws and support for students with disabilities.
The US Department of Education has conducted mass layoffs affecting special education staff, risking the disruption of services for children with disabilities and the enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Critics argue that these cuts undermine the department's ability to support vulnerable students, despite assurances from Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
The American Federation of Government Employees sued the US Department of Education, alleging it unlawfully inserted partisan blame on Democrats into automated out-of-office emails of furloughed workers during the government shutdown, violating employees' First Amendment rights.
President Trump announced that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance to protect the right to prayer in public schools, emphasizing religious liberty and citing past incidents where students faced restrictions on prayer.
The Department of Education has paused student loan forgiveness under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan due to system updates related to court injunctions affecting other income-driven plans. Despite IBR being legally separate and not currently challenged in court, the department is not processing forgiveness, causing concern among borrowers eligible for discharge. The suspension is linked to broader disruptions in federal student loan programs, with upcoming legislative changes expected to alter repayment options and forgiveness policies.
President Trump has begun implementing major changes to student-loan repayment plans from his recent spending bill, including new income-based options and borrowing limits, with full rollout expected by July 1, 2026.
The U.S. Education Department is shrinking due to staffing cuts just as Congress increases its workload, raising concerns about delays and confusion in implementing new student loan repayment plans and the upcoming FAFSA application process, potentially impacting students and borrowers.
The article criticizes the Supreme Court's decision allowing President Trump to unilaterally dismantle the Department of Education, arguing it violates the Constitution's separation of powers by granting the executive branch excessive authority to repeal laws without congressional approval, with dissenting justices warning of a move towards unchecked presidential power.
The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to proceed with significant layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, which could impact funding, civil rights protections, and services for students, especially those from low-income families and students with disabilities, as the department's staff is reduced by nearly half.
The Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, allowed the Trump administration to proceed with dismantling parts of the Department of Education, despite strong dissent from liberal justices who argued it undermines congressional authority and the separation of powers. This decision enables significant downsizing and reorganization of the department, which is controversial and linked to broader efforts to overhaul federal agencies.