Federal

Education news, analysis, and opinion about federal education policies and federal officials.
  • Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks with Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice during an event at the group's annual convention in Washington, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
    Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, speaks with Tiffany Justice, a Moms for Liberty co-founder, during the group's national summit on Friday Aug. 30, 2024, in Washington. The former president spoke only briefly about issues directly related to education.
    Mark Schiefelbein/AP
    Federal At Moms for Liberty National Summit, Trump Hardly Mentions Education
    In a "fireside chat" with a co-founder of the parents' rights group, the former president didn't discuss his education policy priorities.
    Libby Stanford, August 30, 2024
    5 min read
    President Ronald Reagan is flanked by Education Secretary Terrel Bell, left, during a meeting Feb. 23, 1984 meeting  in the Cabinet Room at the White House.
    President Ronald Reagan is flanked by Education Secretary Terrel Bell, left, during a meeting Feb. 23, 1984 meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House. Bell, who once testified in favor of creating the U.S. Department of Education, wrote the first plan to dismantle the agency.
    Education Week with AP
    Federal Then & Now Why It's So Hard to Kill the Education Department—and Why Some Keep Trying
    Project 2025 popularized plans to end the U.S. Department of Education, but the idea has been around since the agency's inception.
    Evie Blad, August 30, 2024
    9 min read
    Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago.
    Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. She alluded to proposals to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education during her acceptance speech.
    Gabrielle Lurie/AP
    Federal Video WATCH: 5 Key Education Moments From the Democratic National Convention
    Calls to end gun violence, Tim Walz's background as a teacher, and Project 2025 all made for key K-12 moments at the 2024 convention.
    Libby Stanford, August 23, 2024
    7 min read
    Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks on crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Howell, Mich.
    Former President Donald Trump speaks about crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office in Howell, Mich., on Aug. 20, 2024. Trump will speak for the second time at the annual summit of Moms for Liberty, the conservative parents' rights organization announced.
    Evan Vucci/AP
    Federal Trump Will Return to Moms for Liberty Summit as Keynote Speaker
    At the group's 2023 meeting, the former president pledged to eliminate the Education Department and have parents elect principals.
    Libby Stanford, August 21, 2024
    3 min read
    Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hugs President Biden during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
    Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hugs President Biden during the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. Democrats approved a party platform Monday whose education priorities include universal pre-K and a reduced emphasis on standardized testing.
    Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
    Federal Where Does Kamala Harris Stand on Education? Inside the 2024 Democratic Platform
    The 2024 platform calls for universal prekindergarten, expanded career and technical education, and fully funding IDEA.
    Libby Stanford, August 20, 2024
    7 min read
    Artistic image of multiple paths leading to a school building
    Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
    Federal Project 2025 and GOP Aim for Universal School Choice. What Would That Look Like?
    Most ambitious private school choice policies have happened at the state level. How would it take shape at the federal level?
    Libby Stanford, August 19, 2024
    8 min read
    Vote here sidewalk sign pointing to open doors of a building.
    Canva
    Federal From Our Research Center Why Most Teachers Won’t Be Talking About the Election in Their Classrooms
    Most educators also said their districts won't hold voter registration drives for students this school year, according to a new survey.
    Libby Stanford, August 14, 2024
    7 min read
    Education Week opinion letters submissions
    Gwen Keraval for Education Week
    Federal Letter to the Editor Rick Hess' Project 2025 Gaslight
    A school board member responds to Rick Hess' opinion essay on the Heritage Foundation's education proposal.
    August 13, 2024
    1 min read
    Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrives at a campaign rally Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wis.
    Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrives at a campaign rally Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wis.
    Julia Nikhinson/AP
    Federal The School Where Tim Walz Taught Suddenly Finds Itself in the National Spotlight
    It has to navigate excitement for one of its own with political neutrality and ensuring the school is still a place focused on learning.
    8 min read
    Gov. Tim Walz pauses before delivering his third State of the State address Sunday, March 28, 2021 from his old classroom at Mankato West High School in Mankato, Minn.
    Gov. Tim Walz pauses before delivering his third State of the State address Sunday, March 28, 2021 from his old classroom at Mankato West High School in Mankato, Minn.
    Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP
    Federal Video Educators From Tim Walz’s Old School React to Having Him on the Ballot
    The superintendent and a principal from Tim Walz's former school district weigh in on his selection, and what it means for their town.
    3:16
    Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks during an interview, Sept. 20, 2023, in Washington. The U.S. Education Department says it discovered a calculation error in hundreds of thousands of student financial aid applications sent to colleges this month and will need to reprocess them, a blunder that follows a series of others and threatens further delays to this year's college applications. Senate Republicans are requesting a hearing with Cardona to discuss their “serious concerns” about the FAFSA rollout.
    Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks on Sept. 20, 2023, in Washington. The U.S. Department of Education has announced a phased rollout of the FAFSA form this year.
    Mark Schiefelbein/AP
    Federal FAFSA Was a Debacle Last Year. Here’s What the Ed. Dept. Is Changing
    The Education Department plans a phased rollout of the FAFSA this year after the revamped form's introduction was beset by major glitches.
    Libby Stanford, August 7, 2024
    3 min read
    Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, along with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and first lady Gwen Walz, read "The Day You Began" by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López, to a group of kindergarteners at Adams Spanish Immersion Elementary, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, St. Paul, Minn.
    Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, along with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and first lady Gwen Walz, read to a group of kindergarteners in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 17, 2023.
    Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP
    Federal Opinion A Teacher in the White House: What Harris-Walz Could Mean for Education
    It’s no surprise that vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz is so good at explaining things: He's a former social studies teacher.
    Phelton Moss, August 6, 2024
    3 min read
    Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz listens as Maryland speaks to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at the White House in Washington.
    Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz listens as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at the White House in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen the Minnesota governor as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
    Jacquelyn Martin/AP
    Federal Tim Walz, a Former Teacher, Is Kamala Harris' Running Mate
    Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, for the No. 2 slot on the Democratic ticket.
    Libby Stanford, August 6, 2024
    4 min read
    United States flag pencil drawing an up arrow over a road. Success direction planning symbol as a pencil drawing an upward 3D illustration arrow from a straight road as a symbol for the growing American public education and civic engagement.
    iStock/Getty
    Federal Opinion How to Get Ahead of a Trump Education Agenda
    An attorney at the Center for Law and Education proposes three K-12 ideas to recommit to the promise of public education.
    Chris Yarrell, August 2, 2024
    5 min read
    Image of a school hallway with icons representing lockdowns, SRO, metal detectors.
    via Canva
    Federal Federal School Safety Clearinghouse Taps Diverse Array of Advisers
    Educators, advocates, and parents whose children died in school shootings will advise officials on school safety.
    Evie Blad, July 31, 2024
    3 min read