Department of Education News

Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education. This week’s biggest headline: Secretary Linda McMahon announced six new interagency agreements with the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State to dismantle the federal education bureaucracy and shift control back to states, fulfilling President Trump’s promise.

These moves transfer elementary and secondary education programs to Labor, postsecondary programs to Labor, Indian education to Interior, and international language efforts to State. ED and Labor also launched FY26 grant competitions for teacher incentives and literacy programs through Labor’s GrantSolutions platform, kicking off K-12 funding awards this spring. Funding for Title I and rural programs stays on the familiar G5 system for now, avoiding delays for the 2026-27 school year starting July 1.

Secretary McMahon put it bluntly: “Cutting through layers of red tape in Washington is one essential piece of our final mission.” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum added, “Native American education programs will become stronger, more accountable, and fully dedicated to ensuring Native students are prepared for success.”

For American families, this means less federal meddling and more state-led innovation, like aligning K-12 with workforce needs to fill 700,000 skilled jobs. Schools and colleges face streamlined grants but potential transition hiccups—states have griped about communication gaps during past shifts. Local governments gain flexibility, though advocates worry about funding snags.

Watch for more grant deadlines this summer and staff transfers. Superintendents, check ED’s site for updates; citizens, submit feedback on ed.gov/initiatives/returning-education-states.

Next, track congressional reactions and FY26 funding flows. For details, visit ed.gov/newsroom.

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Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education, where we cut through the headlines to show how these changes hit home for families, schools, and communities.

This week's biggest story: the Department is accelerating its plan to downsize by shifting 118 programs to other agencies like Labor and Health, through nine interagency agreements as of mid-March. Education Secretary Linda McMahon calls this a smart way to prove the agency can vanish without dropping the ball on key supports. Despite the push, billions in K-12 funds—like Title I for low-income kids and IDEA special ed grants—will still flow through the familiar Ed portal this July, buying time for smooth handoffs, Assistant Secretary Kirsten Baesler assured states last week.

On the budget front, the FY2027 request slashes discretionary spending to $76.5 billion, down 2.9% from last year, but pumps up priorities: $18.4 billion for Title I, $2 billion new for Make Education Great Again grants, $16 billion for special ed with a $539 million boost, $500 million to grow charters, and $33 billion for Pell Grants to fix shortfalls.

These shifts empower states and locals with less federal red tape, meaning faster local decisions for American families chasing better school choices. Businesses and colleges face flux in higher ed grants moving to Labor, potentially delaying funds but streamlining workforce training. States like North Carolina watch bills like HB 87 for more choice, amid Leandro court drama ending litigation.

Experts at Education Week warn of glitches in scattered programs, but Heritage sees states reclaiming control. Quote from McMahon: "This demonstrates we can eliminate the department without sacrificing quality."

Watch July 1 fund flows and congressional votes. Dive deeper at ed.gov/news. Listeners, share your thoughts on school choice via public comment portals.

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Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education, where we cut through the noise to spotlight what matters for education nationwide.

This week's top headline: On April 23, the Department concluded its negotiated rulemaking session on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's loan provisions, reaching full consensus on student loan changes to protect taxpayers, as announced in their official press release.

Key developments are buzzing. The White House dropped its FY 2027 budget request on April 3, proposing $75.7 billion for the Department—a 4.1% cut from last year—prioritizing Title I with $18.4 billion for disadvantaged schools, a new $2 billion Make Education Great Again grants program, and $33 billion for Pell Grants, up $10.5 billion to fix shortfalls, per Powers Law Firm's Washington Update. They're shifting K-12 programs like Title I and special ed to the Labor Department, but Assistant Secretary Kirsten Baesler confirmed on April 17 that billions in school funds will still flow through ED's portal this summer for a smooth July 1 rollout, according to Education Week.

Over 300 colleges ditched DEI mandates, closing offices and scrubbing diversity statements from hiring, celebrated in an April 6 press release. Fraud crackdowns prevented over $1 billion in student aid scams last year via new identity checks. Plus, ED unveiled seven priorities for postsecondary improvement grants and launched the FY 2026 CCAMPIS competition with HHS to boost child care for student parents.

For Americans, this means tighter aid safeguards and more school choice with $500 million for charters, easing access for families. Businesses and colleges face streamlined regs but watch for program shifts that could delay funding. States get breathing room on grants, though scattering programs risks hiccups. No big international ripples yet.

Secretary Linda McMahon noted these moves prove the Department can shrink without losing quality. Over 10 million FAFSA forms are done—a 17% jump from last cycle.

Deadline alert: Campus-based program requests due per the April 8 Federal Register notice. Citizens, join ED webinars on OBBBA implementation or comment on AIM rulemaking materials from April 6.

Watch the FY 2027 budget battle and July grant flows. Dive deeper at ed.gov/newsroom. If input's open, submit via their site.

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# Education Department in Transition: Your Weekly Update

Good morning. This is your education policy brief for the week of April 20th. We're tracking a historic reorganization reshaping federal education infrastructure, new priorities around workforce readiness, and significant budget changes that affect students and institutions across the country.

The big story this week centers on the Trump Administration's systematic shift of Education Department programs to other agencies. According to the Department of Education, six interagency agreements announced in November are now moving into full implementation, transferring career and technical education, adult education, and other major programs to the Department of Labor and other federal agencies. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has framed this as an opportunity to eliminate redundancy while maintaining program quality, but education advocates worry about potential funding delays and operational disruptions during the transition.

On the budget front, the Administration released its FY 2027 education request at 75.7 billion dollars, representing a 4.1 percent decrease from current funding levels. This comes as the Department celebrates progress on federal student aid, with more than 10 million FAFSA forms completed for the 2026-2027 school year, a 17 percent increase from last year.

Workforce readiness is now a centerpiece of federal education strategy. The Education Department finalized new priorities for career and technical education that emphasize tailoring programs to local workforce needs, expanding apprenticeships including paid educator apprenticeships, and providing work-based learning opportunities. Listeners working in education should note that these initiatives now fall under Department of Labor oversight for grant competitions and technical assistance.

Another major focus is artificial intelligence in schools. Despite strong public opposition, the Education Department is moving forward with priorities to integrate AI literacy into teaching practices, expand age-appropriate AI coursework in K-12 settings, and provide professional development for educators on the subject.

Meanwhile, Colorado's education department is managing its own significant changes. The State Board of Education held rulemaking hearings this month on new postsecondary and workforce readiness funding tied to Senate Bill 315, which begins in the 2026-27 budget year and will fund programs based on student outcomes like earned college credits, industry credentials, and work-based learning experiences.

For educators and institutions, several deadlines warrant attention. Colorado schools must apply for the Early Literacy Assessment Tool Project by April 15th, and the Alternative Education Campus application period closes April 24th.

Looking ahead, listeners should monitor congressional action on proposals to eliminate the Education Department entirely. Currently six bills to eliminate the department are pending, though none have advanced significantly.

For more detailed information on these developments, visit the Department of Education's newsroom or your state education agency website. Subscribe to stay informed as these major structural changes unfold throughout 2026.

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Welcome to Quiet Please, your weekly dose of education policy news. This week, the Trump administration is making sweeping changes to how federal education programs operate, and it's reshaping the landscape in ways that could touch nearly every school and college in America.

The biggest headline comes from the Department of Education's announcement of six new interagency partnerships. Starting this week, major portions of the Education Department's work are shifting to other federal agencies. Career and technical education programs are moving to the Department of Labor. Other initiatives are being distributed across multiple agencies as part of the administration's broader effort to downsize the Education Department itself. Education Secretary Linda McMahon frames this as an opportunity to eliminate redundancies and demonstrate that the department's functions can operate effectively elsewhere. However, many education advocates worry this piecemeal approach could create funding delays and operational confusion for schools trying to access these programs.

For K-12 schools specifically, the changes are already visible. North Carolina recently hosted discussions about the Educational Choice for Children Act, which created the first federal tax-credit scholarship program. Multiple states including Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma have announced expanded school choice initiatives in response. Meanwhile, the administration is intensifying enforcement around Title VI and Title IX, but with a new focus. Rather than protecting underserved students as in the past, federal enforcers are targeting diversity initiatives and LGBTQ protections in schools that receive federal funding.

The budget picture is tightening too. The Education Department requested 76.5 billion dollars for 2027, a 2.3 billion dollar decrease from current levels. However, new money is flowing to Title I programs serving disadvantaged schools and to a fresh initiative called MEGA grants worth 2 billion dollars.

For higher education, the Department concluded negotiations on student loan reforms tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with final rules now taking effect. The Workforce Pell Grant program launches July first, expanding access to grant funding for certificate and professional programs.

What does this mean for you? If you work in education, expect less predictability around federal funding and more state-level decision-making. If you're a parent, school choice options may expand in your state. Students should watch for changes to how financial aid works starting this summer.

The next major moment comes in May when more regulatory details roll out. For complete updates on these developments, visit the Education Department's website or check your state education agency for how these federal shifts affect your local schools.

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