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President Donald Trump's tax-and-spending legislation was passed by the Senate on Tuesday, with a 50-50 deadlock decided with a tiebreaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. The package includes the nation’s first federal tax credit scholarship program, which grants donors to scholarship organizations a $1,700 tax credit for the same amount they contribute. Those nonprofits then award funds to families for private school tuition and other educational expenses. The Senate version of the bill differs from that passed by the House in late May by giving states a say over which groups can participate and strikes language that would have prohibited any control over private schools. The legislation includes other child-related provisions, including the extension of an existing $2,000 child tax credit. The House version boosts it to $2,500, while the Senate version increases the credit to $2,200. “Trump accounts,” a new feature, would provide a $1,000 investment fund for children that they could later use for education or a house. The House is expected to vote on the bill later today, sending it to the Oval Office for Trump's signature before July 4.  

 

The Texas Tribune

The 74

Wall Street Journal

California educators are urging the Trump administration to release $6.8bn in withheld education grants, which they deem illegal and harmful to students. The California Department of Education was informed of the funding freeze just before the typical release date. This decision threatens to cut $811m from essential services, including English language learning and teacher training. California Superintendent of Instruction Tony Thurmond stated: “We will pursue every legal avenue available to us to have these funds restored.” The frozen funds, already approved by Congress, are crucial for supporting vulnerable students, particularly those learning English. David Schapira, Chief of Staff at the state education department, emphasized that withholding these funds targets students and undermines the intent of taxpayer contributions.

 

Los Angeles Times

The Sacramento Bee

The recent termination of approximately $1bn in federal mental health funding for schools has sparked a lawsuit from 16 states against the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in Seattle by California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin, argues that the funding cuts will lead to layoffs of mental health staff and worsen outcomes for students, particularly in rural and low-income areas. The state officials argue in their complaint that the programs funded by these mental health grants have been “an incredible success,” providing services to nearly 775,000 students nationwide. The programs showed reduction in students' suicide risk, decreases in absenteeism and behavioral problems, and increases in student-staff engagement, according to the complaint. The funding, part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, was designed to support mental health services and training for professionals in schools. The Education Department has indicated plans to “re-envision and re-compete” the grants based on new priorities.

 

Chalkbeat

Education Week News

MSNBC News

Washington Post

St. Hope Public Schools is refusing to accept the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) proposed by Sacramento City USD, which was required for charter renewal. Interim Superintendent Elisha Ferguson Parsons emphasized the school's desire to collaborate but warned against overreach in oversight. The district's board, however, voted for a stricter MOU, citing concerns over accountability and trust. Trustee Taylor Kayatta stated, “With St. Hope, we are not in a trusted, verified place at the moment.” The St. Hope board plans to adopt its own version of the MOU, maintaining its relationships with certain contractors, including attorney Kevin Hiestand. The next district board meeting is scheduled for August.

 

The Sacramento Bee

The Pasadena USD Board of Education recently discussed the ongoing effects of immigration raids on local families. As one board member stated, "The reality is this is going to continue." The community partners highlighted the significant challenges these raids pose for students and their educational experiences as the school year approaches.

 

LA Daily News

Oakland USD is grappling with a significant budget deficit of $30m projected for the 2025-26 school year, compounded by a shift in leadership. The situation has raised concerns about the district's financial stability and future planning.

 

East Bay

San Francisco USD will continue its ethnic studies program next school year with an interim curriculum while the existing one undergoes review. The decision follows a previous announcement to pause ethnic studies courses amid budget constraints. The current curriculum, launched in 2010, became a graduation requirement for 9th graders last fall. The interim curriculum aligns with California State Board of Education guidelines and allows students to opt out of the two-semester ethnic studies mandate.

 

EdSource

In a recent Education Week K-12 Essentials Forum, principals Terita Walker and Tony Cattani discussed effective strategies for boosting teacher morale. Cattani emphasized the importance of personal recognition, sharing, “I've called a [teacher's] mother who was 70 years old. She said, ‘I haven't had a principal call since she was 14.'” This personal touch helps teachers feel valued beyond the classroom. While teacher morale is improving, challenges like student mental health and low academic scores persist. Both principals noted that strong relationships with administrators significantly enhance job satisfaction. Christina Colangelo, a math teacher at Lenape High School in New Jersey, highlighted the importance of principals showing genuine interest in teachers' lives. To foster trust, Walker hosts informal gatherings and seeks to understand teachers' needs, stating, “It's important as school leaders to realize that people want to know that you know them.”

 

Education Week News

Santa Cruz City Schools announced that all students will receive free meals during the 2025-2026 school year, thanks to federal funding from the National School Lunch and National School Breakfast programs. Director of Food and Nutrition, Amy Hedrick-Farr, expressed excitement, stating: “We're thrilled to once again be able to give the support and the comfort of good meals to all of our students.” This initiative aims to ensure that every student has access to nutritious meals, enhancing their overall well-being and academic performance.

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

California's top universities can now directly pay their athletes, marking a significant shift in college sports. This change stems from a settlement of a class-action lawsuit, allowing schools to distribute up to $20.5m this year to athletes, primarily benefiting football and men's basketball players. UC Berkeley estimates that some athletes could earn around $200,000 annually. However, the settlement imposes restrictions on compensation and requires schools to limit the number of players eligible for tuition aid.

 

San Mateo Daily Journal

The University of California (UC) is contemplating a shift from its traditional quarter system to a semester system, already adopted by its Berkeley and Merced campuses. This potential change, driven by a need for improved student experiences and systemwide cohesion, could cost between $288m and $371m. A working group has been studying the implications, including effects on student success and financial costs. While some students and faculty support the switch for its potential benefits, others express concerns about increased workloads and timing, especially given current budget constraints.

 

Los Angeles Times

Press Democrat

Only 9% of Canadian students learn about climate change often in school, while 42% say it's rarely or never discussed in the classroom, according to a new national survey from the nonprofit Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF). The report, called "From Awareness to Action: Canadians' Views on Climate Change and Education," is based on the responses of over 4,200 students, educators, parents, and the general public. It found that sixty-two percent believe climate change should be a high priority in education, while 56% believe it should be taught by all teachers.  When asked to grade schools on how well they were addressing climate change issues, only 4% gave schools an "A." Three-quarters of Canadians gave a "C" or lower. Research consultant Karen S. Acton, who worked on the report, said its findings underline the need for Canadian governments to introduce mandatory climate curriculum standards, and increase funding for teacher professional learning and resources. "Now more than ever, we need a reimagined education system that values climate learning as a core competency," she added. "Policymakers and education leaders must rise to meet this challenge before another generation of students graduate feeling unprepared to face the defining issue of their time."

 

Phys.org