Latest U.S. Department of Education News

US children fall further behind in reading, make little improvement in math on national exam

Jan. 29, 2025 19:27 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s children have continued to lose ground on reading skills in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and have made little improvement in math, according to the latest results of an exam known as the nation’s report card. The findings are yet another setback...

Despite chaos over Trump White House's funding pause, FAFSA forms and student loans still available

Jan. 29, 2025 14:43 PM EST

A temporary freeze imposed briefly this week by the White House on federal grants and loans left many students wondering about the impact to the FAFSA form used to apply for financial aid. President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday rescinded the memo freezing spending. The...

US education agency investigating Denver schools over all-gender bathroom

Jan. 28, 2025 19:16 PM EST

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Education Department said Tuesday it was investigating Denver Public Schools for alleged discrimination after the district converted a girl’s restroom on the second floor of a high school into an all-gender restroom while leaving another bathroom exclusive to boys. ...

Free speech organizations denounce Education Department's calling book bans a 'hoax'

Jan. 27, 2025 11:51 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Organizations that track the removal of books from schools and libraries are denouncing a Department of Education announcement that called bans a “hoax” and dismissed 11 complaints that had been filed during the Biden administration. A conservative group praised the...

As college sports move toward pay for play, Title IX looms as another hurdle for the NCAA

Jan. 17, 2025 18:48 PM EST

A court settlement that would require colleges – for the first time – to pay athletes billions for their play is not going to settle the debate over amateurism in NCAA sports. Many schools have said that most of the up to $20.5 million they'll pay out to their athletes as part of...

Maryland lawmakers convene with $3B deficit and uncertainties over incoming Trump administration

Jan. 08, 2025 14:58 PM EST

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday he will submit a budget plan with about $2 billion in spending reductions to start addressing a deficit of roughly $3 billion, as lawmakers convened for the first day of the state's 90-day legislative session. Democrats,...

DeSantis appoints conservative think tank members to university board

Jan. 06, 2025 19:05 PM EST

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed five new members to the board overseeing the University of West Florida in Pensacola, including two people affiliated with the conservative think tank behind Project 2025. The appointments to the public university in...

AI is a game changer for students with disabilities. Schools are still learning to harness it

Dec. 26, 2024 13:04 PM EST

For Makenzie Gilkison, spelling is such a struggle that a word like rhinoceros might come out as “rineanswsaurs” or sarcastic as “srkastik.” The 14-year-old from suburban Indianapolis can sound out words, but her dyslexia makes the process so draining that she often...

University of California campuses resolve discrimination complaints stemming from Gaza protests

Dec. 20, 2024 19:15 PM EST

The U.S. Department of Education said Friday it has reached an agreement with the University of California system resolving complaints from Jewish and Muslim students of discrimination and harassment during protests last spring over the war in Gaza. The department’s Office for...

US civil rights probe faults Philadelphia school district over handling of antisemitism reports

Dec. 20, 2024 13:13 PM EST

The Philadelphia school district failed to show it protected Jewish students from harassment despite “repeated, extensive notice” that students, teachers and administrators were engaging in antisemitic behavior, the U.S. Department of Education has concluded after a federal civil rights...