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The House of Representatives and President Donald Trump have ended a record 43-day government shutdown by approving a spending bill that funds the government through January 30, restores federal layoffs, and sends furloughed employees back to work, while postponing the central dispute over extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. The bill passed the House 222–209 after earlier Senate approval, with a handful of Democrats joining Republicans, and two GOP members voting no. Democrats, who had pushed to include subsidy extensions in the deal, vowed to continue that fight after reopening the government, while Republican leaders argued negotiations could only occur once operations resumed. The shutdown caused significant disruption, from delayed flights to halted economic data, and although its overall economic damage was modest, analysts noted that its costs and operational strain on federal workers and services were steadily growing. The U.S. Department of Education is set to reopen for business today, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon expected to resume work on policy reforms in areas including charter school spending, the transfer of special education oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services, and school prayer guidance. 

 

New York Times

Politico

Washington Post

Wall Street Journal

Yahoo News

The U.S. Department of Education has proposed eliminating a requirement for states to submit detailed data on racial disparities in special education from their annual IDEA Part B grant applications, aiming to reduce administrative burdens. While states would still have to comply with the Equity in IDEA rule requiring them to identify and address significant disproportionality in special education, they would no longer need to report methodological changes to the federal government. Critics, including civil rights advocates, researchers, and parents, warn the change would undermine transparency and oversight, making it harder to detect and remedy racial inequities in how students are identified, placed, and disciplined in special education. They point to persistent disparities, as students with disabilities represent 17% of enrollment but up to 29% of suspensions, and argue that without reporting, states could weaken their monitoring standards, eroding federal accountability and effectively obscuring inequities that the 2016 Equity in IDEA regulations sought to expose.

 

K-12 Dive

Oregon lawmakers assert that they have allocated sufficient funding to public schools to meet the goals established by the Quality Education Commission, which estimated a need of $13.5bn for a quality education. However, they approved only $11.36bn, leading school advocates to argue that this amount is inadequate. The Legislature's financial analysts claim that schools will receive the full $13.5bn when including an additional $2.2bn from the corporate activities tax. Christy Splitt, a member of the Portland Public Schools board, commented: "If you ask anyone who spends time in our classrooms, they will tell you that the state is not adequately funding our public schools." The ongoing debate highlights the complexities of school funding in Oregon, with advocates calling for a new funding formula to address systemic underfunding issues.

 

The Oregonian

Cy-Fair ISD in Texas concluded the fiscal year 2024-25 with a smaller budget deficit than initially anticipated. Originally projected at around $24m, the district's deficit was reported at $11.1m after accounting for unfilled positions that reduced payroll costs. The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report revealed that CFISD spent approximately $27.6m more than its revenue last fiscal year. The district ended the fiscal year with a fund balance of $549.6m, spending only 1.56% of its budget on general administration costs, significantly lower than the statewide average of 3.51%.  

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Changes to Wisconsin's school accountability measures have complicated year-over-year comparisons, making it challenging to assess student growth accurately. Most Green Bay area school districts experienced a decline in growth scores, although chronic absenteeism rates decreased. Green Bay was notably the lowest-scoring district, with five one-star rated schools. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has adjusted the cutoff scores for star ratings, leading to concerns about transparency. DPI estimates that no school districts will receive below two stars, prompting criticism from groups like the Institute for Reforming Government, which said: "These new measures force parents to play a guessing game about where their children can learn best." Overall, while some districts showed improvement in attendance, the changes in accountability metrics have made it difficult to gauge true educational progress.

 

Green Bay Press Gazette

New York City public schools will implement a pilot program next year to provide on-site banking services, aimed at enhancing financial literacy among students. Announced by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, the initiative is part of the “financial literacy for youth” program, which seeks to educate students on managing money and accessing banking services. Adams stated: "If you don't teach people how to use their money, they will lose their money." The program will initially involve fifteen schools located in neighborhoods with limited banking access, offering financial educators to assist students and families. The city plans to expand this initiative to reach 350,000 students and families by 2030, with an estimated cost of $25m. Critics, however, express concerns that such programs may not address systemic issues within the financial sector. Twelve financial institutions are currently partnering with the schools to provide resources and support.

 

Chalkbeat

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), alleging that the district's policies obstruct U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from performing its duties. The lawsuit, filed on November 6, claims that the district restricts ICE's access to school grounds and prevents employees from assisting with enforcement actions, violating the state's anti-sanctuary law. Rokita said: "Schools across the country are vulnerable to infiltration by criminal illegal aliens, it's happened in many other states, and it is essential that ICE be able to take action when that occurs to help keep our kids safe." In response, Indianapolis Public Schools criticized the lawsuit as politically motivated and harmful to students, asserting its commitment to providing a safe environment for all. “While IPS takes all legal obligations seriously, we respectfully hope that all concerned parties will recognize the heavy burden that silly litigation and political posturing places on students, families, and taxpayers," it added. The lawsuit seeks to compel the district to cooperate fully with immigration enforcement.

 

Education Week News

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into education, the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) has highlighted the necessity of foundational computer science (CS) education for all students. According to the upcoming 2025 Teacher Landscape Report, 70% of computer science teachers are already incorporating AI into their curricula. The CSTA's recent survey, conducted in partnership with the Alliance for Interdisciplinary Innovation in Computing Education (AiiCE), found that 80% of K-12 computer science teachers view AI as essential to the curriculum. The report highlights that 44 states have established standards for teaching these foundational skills, with many requiring computer science for graduation. The CSTA asserts: "A foundational computer science education is the cornerstone of AI literacy." To prepare students for a future driven by computing, educators must engage them as creators of AI, not just users.

 

EdSource

Denton ISD has introduced targeted improvement and turnaround plans for six underperforming elementary schools, aiming to enhance student outcomes. The Texas Education Agency reported that schools including Alexander, Borman, Cross Oaks, Martinez, Ginnings, Paloma Creek, Providence, and Stephens did not meet accountability standards for the 2024-25 school year. Luci Schulz, area superintendent, said: "It's really important to note that our school improvement story, it didn't start with TEA." The plans involve relocating Ginnings students and focusing on leadership, staffing, and instructional quality. Schools will also promote a positive culture to engage students and parents. The district's approach is designed to address the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students and improve overall academic performance.

 

Denton Record-Chronicle

The Waukesha School Board voted 8-1 on November 12 to close three elementary schools—Bethesda, Hawthorne, and the Whittier building—due to declining enrollment. Superintendent James Sebert stated that the decision is "a palatable and viable option" to address the district's challenges. The closures aim to save an estimated $3.2m-$3.7m and will reduce the number of elementary schools from twelve to nine. The board's decision followed extensive public comments, with many parents advocating for the schools' continued operation. The district's enrollment has decreased from over thirteen thousand in the 2012-13 school year to ten thousand three hundred ninety-six as of September. Concerns were raised by the Alliance for Education in Waukesha regarding the impact on Latino families, citing a lack of adequate translation services during meetings. Sebert countered these claims, highlighting the district's efforts to provide bilingual resources and community engagement opportunities.

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Tuskegee University has initiated two federal lawsuits against the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to safeguard its College of Veterinary Medicine from losing accreditation. The AVMA's Council of Education recently placed the college on terminal accreditation status, prompting Tuskegee to appeal. The university claims the upcoming appeal hearing on December 5 is a “facade” and alleges that the AVMA violated due process by restricting its ability to present evidence and testimony. Tuskegee has also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent the December hearing until the court can assess whether the AVMA's procedures comply with due process. The university warns that losing accreditation could severely damage its reputation and hinder its ability to recruit students and faculty. The complaint has garnered support from Alabama's congressional delegation, including Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, who expressed concerns about the AVMA's decision, stating: “TU-CVM has been a cornerstone of veterinary education for more than 80 years.”

 

Al.com

Chinese authorities have introduced new measures aimed at enhancing the mental health of primary and secondary school students. The initiatives, announced by the Ministry of Education, focus on reducing academic pressure, limiting screen time, and mandating two hours of physical exercise daily. Schools are required to enforce a ban on mobile phones in classrooms and implement "screen-free" periods to mitigate excessive internet use. Additionally, the ministry emphasized the need for schools to manage homework loads and ensure students receive adequate sleep. The ministry said: "Strictly enforce sleep management regulations, resolutely curb violations such as excessive studying and prevent excessive academic burdens." These measures are designed to help students cope with stress and anxiety, particularly during exam periods. Furthermore, the ministry is also working to alleviate teacher workloads by limiting out-of-school duties.

 

Reuters