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What the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ will change for students, schools and colleges

NPR — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:31:26 +0000

In just six months, the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress have brought lasting change—and enormous unpredictability—to federal education policy.

The U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, has cut roughly half its staff. It is also withholding nearly $7 billion in grant funding to school districts—for before- and after-school programs, teacher training, services for English language learners and more—while that funding undergoes further review.

A teacher gives a tour of Nora Sterry Elementary School to students in Los Angeles in January. California is one of 24 states suing the Trump administration over frozen education grant funding.

Civil rights work is slowing as Trump dismantles the Education Department, agency data shows

AP News — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:24:49 +0000

The Trump administration insists it hasn’t wavered in its duty to protect the civil rights of America’s children even as it dismantles the Education Department. Yet its own data shows the agency has resolved far fewer civil rights cases than in past years despite families filing more complaints.

The Education Department’s civil rights branch lost nearly half its staff amid mass layoffs in March, raising questions about its ability to address a deep backlog of complaints from students alleging discrimination based on disability, sex or race. Pressed on the issue in June, Education Secretary Linda McMahon denied a slowdown.

“Not only are we reducing the backlog, but we are keeping up with the current amount with a reduced staff because we are doing it efficiently,” McMahon said at a Senate budget hearing.

What the 2024–25 school year taught us about transportation

Mitch Bowling — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:00:22 +0000

The 2024–25 school year will be remembered as a turning point for student transportation in America. It wasn’t just another academic cycle—it laid bare the evolving demands facing districts and families alike.

From surging student needs to sharper regulatory oversight, this year underscored a hard truth: our systems must modernize or risk leaving vulnerable students behind.

Below are five clear takeaways — and a blueprint for how we must move forward.

1. Equity is a transportation imperative

Today’s school transportation can’t be designed for a “typical” student because that student doesn’t exist. Variety is the norm, and districts are continuing to rise to this opportunity.

Since 2020, we’ve seen the number of McKinney-Vento riders—students experiencing housing instability—, reaching more than 17,000 students this past year alone. This surge reflects a deeper national trend, with youth housing instability rising 39% over the same period. Meanwhile, demand for specialized transportation for students with medical or developmental needs continues to climb steadily.

��Ĵ�ýs and providers must build systems that deliver equitable access to school every day, no matter a student’s circumstances. Transportation is not just a logistics function; it’s a cornerstone for attendance, learning, and well-being.

2. Visibility builds trust—and it’s now expected

Parents and administrators no longer see GPS tracking or live trip notifications as nice extras—they expect them. Caregivers want to know when a vehicle arrives, where it is en route, and that their child got to school safely.

We’ve invested heavily in rolling out in-vehicle cameras, which add a layer of security and accountability for students and drivers alike. Visibility tools don’t just answer questions; they build trust and peace of mind at a time when safety concerns are top of mind.

3. Tech is not the future—it’s the foundation

��Ĵ�ýs aren’t just dabbling in technology; they’re embedding it at every level. In fact, 99% of districts now have formal modernization plans in place, according to an EverDriven study.

Tools like smart routing, real-time parent apps, and driver performance monitoring via telematics are already reshaping how services are delivered. The lesson from this year is clear: technology must be intentionally woven into the DNA of transportation systems.

4. Flexibility is the new stability

Budget constraints, evolving enrollment, and shifting funding streams are the new normal. With federal funding adjustments expected in FY 2026, districts need partners who can scale seamlessly.

We’re seeing growing demand for more flexible vehicle options, alternative route models, and even on-demand solutions that adapt to the reality of each community. The old one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t hold up against modern demands.

5. Compliance can’t be an afterthought

This year also showed us that compliance must be proactive, not reactive. Regulatory shifts, like California’s SB88, point to a future with well-defined standards and heightened scrutiny.

��Ĵ�ýs and providers alike need systems that make compliance automatic—from rigorous driver training to automated reporting and continuous background checks. Staying ahead of changing rules is no longer optional; it’s essential for student safety and district trust.

Where we go from here

The 2024–25 school year reminded us that student transportation is about more than moving kids from point A to B—it’s about ensuring that every student, regardless of their circumstances, arrives at school safely and ready to learn.

For districts and providers, the path forward is clear: build systems that prioritize equity, embed transparency, design for change, and embrace technology as a core strength — not an add-on.

Modernization is no longer optional. It’s essential for meeting the evolving needs of students, caregivers, and communities everywhere.

The post What the 2024–25 school year taught us about transportation appeared first on ��Ĵ�ý.

Fired Education Department workers say the ‘fight isn’t over’

USA Today — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:30:10 +0000

These days, it seems all Beth Gellman-Beer does is wait.

First, she waited to see whether President Donald Trump would follow through on his promise to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. She’s worked there for nearly two decades, helping prevent students from experiencing the bullying she faced growing up with disabilities.

Then, in March, she and more than 1,300 of her coworkers were laid off, and she waited to see if a court would intervene. By May, a federal judge in Boston had reinstated her position and those of many of her colleagues.

GOP senators urge Trump administration to reverse $6 billion education funding freeze

ABC News — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:27:42 +0000

A total of 10 Republican senators are urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision to withhold more than $6 billion in federal funds for education programs already appropriated by Congress.

“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K12 education to the states,” the GOP senators wrote in a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought obtained by ABC News.

“This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families,” the letter stated.

[Infographic] Addressing the Hidden Gaps in K–12 Facilities Funding

Michelle Kuseske — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 22:09:28 +0000

K-12 Facilities Planning in an Era of Low Funding��

Most K-12 districts are facing a sobering truth: 80% of district leaders report they don’t receive adequate funding to meet their facilities needs and objectives. Without sufficient recurring operating dollars, leaders are forced to seek alternative resources to maintain and modernize critical infrastructure.��

In this data-rich infographic produced by ��Ĵ�ý, more than 400 K-12 leaders in districts with varying degrees of student population growth and decline share what’s driving facilities priorities, as well as where the biggest funding challenges lie — and how to address them.��

Key Takeaways:

The top three challenges K–12 leaders face beyond funding — and what’s fueling them��
Where districts are finding capital funding today (and where they aren’t)��
What leaders can do to generate dollars if capital funding still isn’t enough to enhance their schools — and the key reason why this is possible��
How leaders can bring transparency and evidence-based decision-making to their facilities plans��
How to unlock community support and project prioritization to meet student needs��

Informed planning starts with understanding the landscape. Download the infographic and start building a stronger case for facilities investment in your district.��

By submitting your contact information, you agree to receive communications from Gordian. Please read for more details.

The post [Infographic] Addressing the Hidden Gaps in K–12 Facilities Funding appeared first on ��Ĵ�ý.

Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ caps student loans. Here’s what it means for borrowers

CNBC — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:28:21 +0000

President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending package will bring sweeping changes to federal student loans, in part by capping how much money people can borrow from the federal government to pay for college and graduate school.

Among other measures, the legislation, which Trump has called the “one big, beautiful bill,” sets new limits for students and their families.

The following changes go into effect for new borrowers on July 1, 2026:

Map shows states with the most, least high school graduates

Newsweek — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:25:20 +0000

West Virginia has the highest rate of graduation among public high school students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

With score of higher than 90 percent, the state led the way on public high school graduation, with Tennessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Massachusetts close behind. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Education via email for comment.

High school graduation rates in the country have been on the rise based on NCES data. Between 2011 to 2012, the average adjusted cohort graduation rate for public high school students was 80 percent, but in 2021 to 2022, that number was 87 percent.

San Diego County’s schools have 27,000 fewer students than a decade ago. It will get worse

Voice of San Diego — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:21:55 +0000

When Sarah Hillard first started teaching at Millenial Tech Middle a decade ago, she always rounded up enrollment to 500 students. Now, though, she usually rounds up to 400.

Like many schools across the county, Millenial Tech has far fewer students walking through the halls. Over the past decade, enrollment has dropped by about 19 percent.

“It’s definitely a big, noticeable difference,” Hillard said.

Oklahoma parents, faith leaders drop lawsuit over Catholic charter school

Oklahoma Voice — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:17:00 +0000

An Oklahoma County lawsuit challenging a Catholic charter school has been dropped following the school’s failed appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Court’s 4-4 stalemate upheld an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision against permitting the country’s first religious charter school to begin operating in the state with taxpayer funds.

While Catholic leaders, a small state agency and Attorney General Gentner Drummond debated their case before the nation’s highest court, a separate lawsuit opposing the religious school was pending in Oklahoma County ��Ĵ�ý Court. The coalition of local parents, faith leaders and public education advocates who filed the Oklahoma County case announced Monday they have voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit in light of the higher court decisions.

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