Federal education policy shifts and their impact on students

by Bernadette AchiengOctober 3, 20266 links · ~51 min read · ~1 min for the TL;DR

Office Hours by Bernadette Achieng: six links on Education every week.

TL;DR

Skeptics of new federal tax credit scholarship rules argue that donations may skew heavily toward wealthier communities, despite the eligibility of public school students.
Democratic governors face unanswered questions as they consider whether to opt into federal education tax credits following the release of new rules from the Trump administration.
Cuts and restructuring at the Office of Civil Rights have resulted in fewer staff and longer waits, limiting the office's ability to serve as a resource for parents.
Rural colleges face significant gaps in childcare, transportation, and data, even though student parents represent a larger share of their enrollments than at other institutions.
Education Department staff report that scattering employees across multiple federal agencies has increased bureaucracy and made it more difficult to serve students.
Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is promoting a new federal tax credit as part of a national effort to advance school choice.

From the curator

Recent federal education policy changes and administrative restructuring are creating new challenges for students and institutions. The NPR article reports that the Department of Education has become more inefficient as staff are scattered across agencies, which employees say adds bureaucracy and hinders service to students. Meanwhile, the article from The Conversation explains that cuts and restructuring at the Office of Civil Rights have reduced staff and closed offices, making it harder for parents to file civil rights complaints.

Bernadette Achieng

Curated for this issue

the74million.org7 min readIn Long Awaited Rules for Tax Credit Scholarships, Feds Stress Neediest Students
But even though public school kids are eligible, some skeptics argue donations will ‘skew heavily’ toward wealthier communities.

Linda Jacobson · curated 1 time

Chalkbeat6 min read4 factors that could influence whether Democratic governors opt into federal education tax credits
With the release of rules for the education tax credits from the Trump administration, supporters say it’s time for governors to get on board. But unanswered questions about the…

The Conversation9 min readWhat civil rights enforcement cuts mean for students with disabilities – fewer staff, closed offices, longer waits
Filing a civil rights complaint with the Office of Civil Rights can be parents’ last stop. Following cuts and restructuring, this federal office is no longer serving that same…

David Edward DeMatthews · curated 1 time

Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs4 min readSupporting Student Parents in Rural America
A new report finds that student parents make up a larger share of enrollments at rural colleges than at institutions over all, but rural colleges face gaps in childcare,…

Joshua Bay · curated 1 time

NPR10 min readThe Education Dept. hasn't been dismantled. It's become more inefficient, staff say
Education staff are being scattered across several other federal agencies. Despite the Trump administration's claims, employees say it's adding bureaucracy and making it harder to…

the74million.org13 min readFormer Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Taking the School Choice Fight National
The Virginia Republican pushed K–12 politics into the national spotlight in 2021. Now he’s spreading the word about a new federal tax credit.

Kevin Mahnken · curated 1 time

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From the curator

the74million.org7 min readIn Long Awaited Rules for Tax Credit Scholarships, Feds Stress Neediest StudentsBut even though public school kids are eligible, some skeptics argue donations will ‘skew heavily’ toward wealthier communities.

Chalkbeat6 min read4 factors that could influence whether Democratic governors opt into federal education tax creditsWith the release of rules for the education tax credits from the Trump administration, supporters say it’s time for governors to get on board. But unanswered questions about the…

Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs4 min readSupporting Student Parents in Rural AmericaA new report finds that student parents make up a larger share of enrollments at rural colleges than at institutions over all, but rural colleges face gaps in childcare,…

NPR10 min readThe Education Dept. hasn't been dismantled. It's become more inefficient, staff sayEducation staff are being scattered across several other federal agencies. Despite the Trump administration's claims, employees say it's adding bureaucracy and making it harder to…

the74million.org13 min readFormer Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Taking the School Choice Fight NationalThe Virginia Republican pushed K–12 politics into the national spotlight in 2021. Now he’s spreading the word about a new federal tax credit.

the74million.org7 min readIn Long Awaited Rules for Tax Credit Scholarships, Feds Stress Neediest Students
But even though public school kids are eligible, some skeptics argue donations will ‘skew heavily’ toward wealthier communities.

Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs4 min readSupporting Student Parents in Rural America
A new report finds that student parents make up a larger share of enrollments at rural colleges than at institutions over all, but rural colleges face gaps in childcare,…

NPR10 min readThe Education Dept. hasn't been dismantled. It's become more inefficient, staff say
Education staff are being scattered across several other federal agencies. Despite the Trump administration's claims, employees say it's adding bureaucracy and making it harder to…

the74million.org13 min readFormer Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Taking the School Choice Fight National
The Virginia Republican pushed K–12 politics into the national spotlight in 2021. Now he’s spreading the word about a new federal tax credit.