Major student loan overhaul begins July 1
#StudentLoans #EducationPolicyStarting July 1, major student loan changes begin: the SAVE plan ends, two GOP-designed plans start, and strict borrowing limits apply for some. Borrowers must choose new repayment options to avoid default, with new caps for grad and Parent PLUS loans. read more
Sweden to ban mobile phones in schools
#Sweden #EducationPolicySweden will ban mobile phones in schools starting next academic year, prioritizing books and traditional learning to combat declining reading levels among students. The policy reflects a broader international shift away from classroom screens. read more
LA Schools Vote to Ban Screens for Young Students
#EducationPolicy #ScreenTimeLimitsSeveral states and LA public schools are limiting classroom screen time, shifting from pandemic-era tech reliance. Parents advocate for less digital learning, citing concerns over student well-being and data privacy. Schools must craft new policies by fall. read more
McMahon Defends Education Cuts in Heated Hearing
#EducationPolicy #DepartmentOfEducationEducation Secretary Linda McMahon defended Education Department cuts in a tense hearing, facing Democratic criticism over special education, civil rights, and TRIO programs. She pledged more OCR lawyers and disputed claims of reduced services. read more
McMahon Aims to Dismantle Her Own Education Department
#EducationPolicy #TrumpAdministrationLinda McMahon, former WWE executive, is now Education Secretary aiming to dismantle the department. A New Yorker profile explores how her wrestling industry background informs her approach to this controversial political role. read more
LA Schools Enact Landmark Student Screen Time Limits
#EducationPolicy #ScreenTimeLimitsLos Angeles is the first major U.S. school district to restrict student screen time. The policy, prompted by parent concerns and research on harms, bans devices for first graders and encourages paper assignments to protect childhood development. read more
Tennessee Vouchers Expand Amid Privacy, Funding Fears
#SchoolVouchers #EducationPolicyTennessee will nearly double its school voucher program to 35,000 students next year, directing $260 million to private schools. The bill passed narrowly, with amendments altering funding for public schools and raising privacy concerns over Social Security number collection. read more
School Board Battles Reshape American Education
#SchoolBoards #EducationPolicySchool boards govern local districts, making key decisions on budgets, hiring, and policies. Recently, they've become battlegrounds over book bans, gender identity, and COVID rules, with nearly 40% of elections uncontested despite their significant community impact. read more
New Classic Learning Test Rivals SAT, Gains State Support
#EducationPolicy #StandardizedTestingThe Classic Learning Test, emphasizing Western classics, is gaining acceptance as a college entrance exam alternative in some states and military academies. Critics question its predictive validity and ideological focus, while supporters champion its rigorous content. read more
DOJ Sues LA Schools Over Race-Based Program
#EducationPolicy #CivilRightsThe Trump Justice Department is intervening in a lawsuit against the Los Angeles school district. The suit alleges that programs providing extra resources to schools with mostly non-white students discriminate against white pupils. read more
Phone Bans Boost Focus, Stir Student Anxiety
#EducationPolicy #DigitalWellbeingSince 2023, 29 states have enacted laws restricting cellphones in K-12 public schools. Ohio's strict ban, prohibiting use all day, has increased student social interaction and focus according to principals, though some students express safety and autonomy concerns. read more
"End DEI Portal Launched to Report Diversity Practices in Schools"
#DEI #EducationPolicyThe Trump administration has introduced an online portal for reporting diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in K-12 public schools, amidst an initiative to dismantle DEI programs. The portal prompts complaints about discrimination based on race or sex in schools. read more
Zero-Tolerance Discipline in London Schools Sparks Concerns About Education
#EducationPolicy #DisciplineDebateEducation Secretary Michael Gove visited Woodpecker Hall primary academy in London in 2011. The investigation into disciplinary practices in London schools questions the impact of zero-tolerance discipline. Academies, accountability, and the emotional well-being of students are under scrutiny. read more