Policy & Politics

Federal

Education news, analysis, and opinion about federal education policies and federal officials.
  • U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., speaks with reporters during a news conference on Capitol Hill, in Washington on Nov. 3, 2021.
    U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., speaks with reporters during a news conference on Capitol Hill, in Washington last fall. Foxx is the new chairwoman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Education and Workforce committee.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    Federal House Republicans Say Schools 'Stonewalled' Concerned Parents
    Previewing their agenda, GOP members prioritized 'parents' rights' in the first education committee hearing since taking control of the House.
    Libby Stanford, February 8, 2023
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    4 min read
    President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington.
    President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 7.
    Patrick Semansky/AP
    Federal Biden Calls for More Mental Health Care at Schools in State of the Union
    Biden focused much of his annual speech on the mental health and well-being of children and youth.
    Libby Stanford, February 7, 2023
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    6 min read
    Young boy in a school lunchroom cafeteria line and choosing a slice of pizza to put on his tray which includes an apple.
    SDI Productions/Getty
    Federal USDA Clamps Down on Salt and Sugar in Proposed School Nutrition Guidelines
    It marks the first time the federal agency is calling for limiting the amount of added sugars in school meals.
    Arianna Prothero, February 3, 2023
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    4 min read
    Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., talks with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023.
    Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., talks with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, in late January.
    Susan Walsh/AP
    Federal Q&A Boosting 'Pathetically Low' Teacher Pay Is Top of Mind for Bernie Sanders
    The progressive senator from Vermont spoke with Education Week as he prepares to chair the Senate's education committee.
    Libby Stanford, February 1, 2023
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    6 min read
    Teachers from Seattle Public Schools picket outside Roosevelt High School on what was supposed to be the first day of classes, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Seattle. The first day of classes at Seattle Public Schools was cancelled and teachers are on strike over issues that include pay, mental health support, and staffing ratios for special education and multilingual students.
    Teachers from Seattle Public Schools picket outside Roosevelt High School on what was supposed to be the first day of classes, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Seattle. The first day of classes at Seattle Public Schools was cancelled and teachers are on strike over issues that include pay, mental health support, and staffing ratios for special education and multilingual students.
    Jason Redmond/AP
    Federal What’s Behind the Push for a $60K Base Teacher Salary
    When reintroduced in Congress, a bill to raise teacher salaries will include money to account for regional cost differences.
    Libby Stanford, January 26, 2023
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    5 min read
    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona delivers a speech during the “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” event in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2023.
    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona delivers a speech during the “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” event in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2023.
    Sam Mallon/Education Week
    Federal Teachers Shouldn't Have to Drive Ubers on the Side, Education Secretary Says
    In a speech on priorities for the year, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said teachers should be paid competitive salaries.
    Libby Stanford, January 24, 2023
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    5 min read
    Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks on the House floor after the first vote for House Speaker when he did not receive enough votes to be elected during opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Jan 3, 2023, in Washington.
    Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 3 following the first round of voting for House Speaker. McCarthy fell short of enough votes to be elected speaker in three rounds of voting on opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol.
    Andrew Harnik/AP
    Federal A Chaotic Start to a New Congress: What Educators Need to Know
    A new slate of lawmakers will have the chance to influence federal education policy in the 118th Congress.
    Libby Stanford, January 4, 2023
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    4 min read
    Revelers march down Fifth Avenue during the annual NYC Pride March, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in New York.
    Revelers march down Fifth Avenue during New York City's annual Pride March in June. Proposed changes to Title IX would explicitly protect students from discrimination based on their gender identity or sexuality.
    Mary Altaffer/AP
    Federal Historic Changes to Title IX and School Safety Funding: How 2022 Shaped K-12 Policy
    Federal lawmakers sought to make Title IX more inclusive, respond to school shootings, and crack down on corrupt charter schools.
    Libby Stanford, December 29, 2022
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    6 min read
    People fill out ballots to vote at Benjamin Banneker Middle School during Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Silver Spring, Md.
    People fill out ballots to vote at Benjamin Banneker Middle School on Nov. 8 in Silver Spring, Md.
    Jose Luis Magana/AP
    Federal What Education Issues Did Voters Care About Most? Hint: It Was Not Critical Race Theory
    An NEA poll shows voters' education priorities in the midterm elections.
    Libby Stanford, December 20, 2022
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    5 min read
    Twin Cities teachers including MFT, Minneapolis Federation of Teachers Local 59, and ESP, Education Support Professionals, rallied at the Minnesota State Capitol, Wednesday, March 9, 2022 St. Paul, Minn.
    Minnesota teachers rally for higher wages at the state capital in St. Paul last spring.
    Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP
    Federal Teachers Would Make at Least $60K Under New Federal Bill
    The American Teacher Act would create federal grants to incentivize states to raise the pay floor.
    Libby Stanford, December 15, 2022
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    4 min read
    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona talks during a roundtable with School District of Philadelphia officials, the principal, a teacher, and a parent at the Olney Elementary School Annex in North Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona talks during a roundtable discussion last year in Philadelphia.
    Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
    Federal Conservative Backlash Pushes Biden Administration to Dissolve New National Parent Council
    Parent advocacy groups sued the U.S. Department of Education over the council, claiming it was unlawfully biased.
    Libby Stanford, December 6, 2022
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    6 min read
    Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks Monday, June 13, 2022, during a debate with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, Hosted by Fox News at the The Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston for a debate intended to prove that bipartisanship isn't dead.
    Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a June debate with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, at The Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston. Sanders is poised to become the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
    Josh Reynolds/AP
    Federal How a Divided Congress Will Influence K-12 Education Policy
    The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives education committees will have new leaders in January.
    Libby Stanford, December 2, 2022
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    6 min read
    Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the Florida State Capitol on March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida House Republicans advanced a bill, dubbed by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people.
    Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in Tallahassee on March 7, 2022. Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law was a model for a federal bill introduced last month.
    Wilfredo Lee/AP
    Federal What the Federal 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Actually Says
    The bill would restrict federal funds for lessons on LGBTQ identities. The outcome of this week's election could revive its prospects.
    Eesha Pendharkar, November 9, 2022
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    4 min read
    Image of a conference table.
    vasabii/iStock/Getty
    Federal Fed's Education Research Board Is Back. Here's Why That Matters
    Defunct for years, the National Board for Education Sciences has new members and new priorities.
    Sarah D. Sparks, November 2, 2022
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    2 min read
    Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
    DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
    Federal Opinion NAEP Needs to Be Kept at Arm’s Length From Politics
    It’s in all our interests to ensure NAEP releases are buffered from political considerations and walled off from political appointees.
    Rick Hess, November 2, 2022
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    4 min read
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