Category: Education
From school corridors to classrooms: rethinking parental involvement in early literacy
Overview: This essay argues that to truly support parental involvement, schools must move beyond traditional hallway conversations and intentionally engage parents as active partners in[more...]
More than a Message: The Power of proactive family communication
Overview: Building positive communication early and consistently with families fosters trust, strengthens home-school partnerships, and makes challenging conversations easier throughout the school year. The dreaded[more...]
What do you see in 33 + 45? A case for visual math
Overview: Visualizing math helps students deepen understanding, build confidence, and connect abstract concepts to real-world thinking—one number line or doodle at a time. When you[more...]
The Elusive Guzman: One quiet student taught me everything
Overview: A new teacher in a rural California classroom reflects on how a quiet, overlooked student named Jose Guzman unexpectedly taught her the power of[more...]
ATA: A child started a rumor about a teacher’s marriage. Now she wants to try out for her sports team.
Overview: A teacher facing false rumors from a student must navigate personal hurt and professional ethics by enforcing clear, objective team policies rather than excluding[more...]
We’re More Than a Break for Teachers: Why specialist teachers deserve a voice in school leadership
Overview: A specialist teacher argues that they must be included in school leadership to truly support the whole child. There’s this unspoken rule in schools[more...]
Why classroom placement matters: Lessons from a decade in special Education
Overview: This teacher's reflective piece explores the author's decade-long journey in special education, emphasizing the importance of appropriately placing students in smaller, supportive classroom settings[more...]
Want students to run a mile? President Trump revives Presidential Fitness Test
Overview: President Trump has revived the Presidential Fitness Test and Fitness Award through a new executive order, celebrating the return of the tradition with professional[more...]
Public broadcasting to Shut Down After $1.1 Billion Federal Funding Cut
Overview: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down and lay off most staff by September 30 after Congress cut its $1.1 billion in federal[more...]
Nude images disrupt Oklahoma education board meeting — Lawmakers Demand Investigation
Overview: Oklahoma lawmakers and law enforcement are calling for transparency after explicit images were reportedly displayed on a TV in Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office during[more...]
Assistive Technology to Support Reading using Google Read & Write
Imagine it is the last hour of the day. You have given directions for the students to start on their class reading assignment, but all[more...]
Good Character Education is Good Education
Overview: Character education expert Dr. Marvin Berkowitz emphasizes that schools must go beyond stated values to foster a culture of inclusion, authentic relationships, and ethical[more...]
Project 2025’s silent strike on Headstart
Overview: Project 2025’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education and eliminate Head Start poses a critical threat to early childhood education, deepening disparities and[more...]
Why Are All the Kids at Low-Income Public Schools Wearing Uniforms?
Overview: A Brooklyn parent’s quiet protest against her daughter’s public school uniform policy reveals the broader inequities, outdated justifications, and disproportionate impact of dress codes—especially[more...]
35 years later, High School reading lists still diversity, NCTE study finds
Overview: A new NCTE-funded study reveals that despite growing advocacy for diverse literature, the most frequently taught books in U.S. secondary English classrooms remain overwhelmingly[more...]
China’s AI-Powered education reform: Lessons and warnings for the global classroom
Overview: China has a plan for education reform focused around AI. This teacher gives us the lessons and warnings for the global classrooms. China’s Ministry[more...]
Trump abruptly returns $5 billion in funding back to schools
Overview: After bipartisan pressure, the Department of Education has reversed course and announced the release of over $5 billion in paused federal funds—originally withheld by[more...]
How Magic School has revolutionized my teaching by adding relevancy and authenticity to my math classroom
Overview: A veteran math teacher explains how using the AI tool Magic School has helped her make math instruction more engaging and relevant by personalizing[more...]
Can AI Be a Learning Partner? Rethinking the role of generative AI
Overview: Generative AI is reshaping writing instruction, raising questions about academic integrity, authorship, and the ethical integration of technology in the classroom. Imagine that you’ve[more...]
The life, legacy, and lessons learned from Malcolm Jamal Warner
Overview: The death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner deeply impacted the Black community—especially Gen X—because he symbolized familial connection, positive Black representation, and compassion for learning differences,[more...]
AI in the Classroom: The impact on student development
Overview: A teacher argues that in the Big Beautiful Bill, we need to focus on restricting AI to protect students intellectual and social emotional development.[more...]
I’d Like to Report Some DEI
Overview: A veteran teacher highlights how true DEI—diversity, equity, and inclusion—thrives in his underfunded San Diego school community. The following is my DEI report to[more...]
NEA Executive leadership votes to maintain relationship with Anti-Defamation League
Overview: The NEA Board of Directors voted not to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League despite criticism of the organization's stance on Israel, following a[more...]
Trump plans to unfreeze $1 billion for after-school funding
Overview: The Trump administration has agreed to unfreeze more than $1 billion in 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding for after-school and summer programs—following an[more...]
New Colorado law mandates black history in K-12 public schools
Overview: Colorado has enacted a new law requiring K-12 public schools to implement standardized Black history education as part of the state's social studies curriculum[more...]
Republicans to introduce a bill to revoke charter of NEA, the largest labor union
Overview: Congressional Republicans are set to introduce a bill to revoke the NEA’s federal charter, accusing the nation’s largest teachers union of pushing a partisan[more...]
Three things that made my writing professional development actually work
Overview: By grounding professional development in shared challenges, collaborative book study, and personalized coaching and academic coach has changed the writing culture at her Title[more...]
New rule immediately stops undocumented immigrants from accessing Head Start
On July 10, Head Start providers nationwide were notified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that they must now verify children’s citizenship[more...]
Three things that made my writing profesional development actually work
Overview: By grounding professional development in shared challenges, collaborative book study, and personalized coaching and academic coach has changed the writing culture at her Title[more...]
The moral obligation of teaching “Divisive Concepts”
Overview: In examining The Zone of Interest and Ohio’s “divisive concepts” legislation, a retired teacher argues that just as parents must confront difficult truths to[more...]
Oklahoma Department of Education to introduce new assessment for incoming educators from ‘woke’ states
Overview: The Oklahoma State Department of Education is introducing a new initiative to assess educators in U.S. Civics, Constitutional Principles, American History, and the biological[more...]
Supreme Court allows Trump adminstration to resume firing Department of Education staff
Overview: The Supreme Court paused a lower court’s order requiring the reinstatement of nearly 1,400 Education Department employees, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with[more...]
Preserving Heritage Languages: Why it matters for families and identity
Overview: Heritage language is vital for preserving cultural identity, fostering intergenerational connections, and combating global language loss through the promotion of multilingualism. Language loss poses[more...]
The Middle and High School Edition: What to do about AI in the classroom
Overview: The unintended consequences of relying on AI-generated writing tools like ChatGPT in education should prompt teachers to prioritize originality, critical thinking, and authentic student[more...]
Oklahoma Department of Education to introduce new assessment for incoming educators focs
Overview: The Oklahoma State Department of Education is introducing a new initiative to assess educators in U.S. Civics, Constitutional Principles, American History, and the biological[more...]
The One Big Beautiful Bill is an ugly threat to the students who need us most
Overview: Title I funding is essential for supporting the academic, emotional, and behavioral needs of students in high-poverty alternative schools, and proposed federal cuts threaten[more...]
Largest teacher union, NEA votes to cut ties with the Anti Defamation League
Overview: The NEA voted to end its partnership with the ADL, citing concerns over biased materials and the ADL’s attacks on educators advocating for Palestinian[more...]
Crayons & Capital: Teaching kids financial literacy through art
Overview: Combining art with financial literacy helps young students better engage with money concepts by making learning creative, personal, and deeply memorable. I’ve been teaching[more...]
When testing means torture: The unseen burden on students with visual impairments
Overview: Standardized testing demands too much from students with visual impairments, forcing them to endure assessments that fail to accommodate their needs says one teacher.[more...]
From Classroom to Cruise Ship: Retired educator sets sail on a 15-Year ocean adventure
Overview: A retired high school teacher traded her California home for life aboard a cruise ship, where she plans to live for the next 15[more...]
Teaching 102: Avoid Recess Issues? Go Play!
Overview: Playing purposefully with students during recess can reduce behavioral issues, foster inclusion, and create a smoother transition back to learning, all while helping teachers[more...]
Congress Approves $930B in Medicaid Cuts—Schools Brace for Impact
Overview: The House’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act slashes $930 billion from Medicaid, threatening essential school health services—especially in rural communities—and prompting[more...]
Daily Digest: July 3, 2025
The Daily Dispatch is our quick bites of real talk in education, every weekday. We publish every morning at 5:00 a.m., just in time for your[more...]
Can public dollars fund religous charter schools? SCOTUS says no.
Overview: The U.S. Supreme Court let stand an Oklahoma ruling that blocks public funding for a religious charter school, citing violations of both state and[more...]
GOP ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ threatens key services for students
Overview: As Congress debates the Big Beautiful Bill Act, education advocates warn that the proposed Republican-backed budget reconciliation bill would slash funding for Medicaid, SNAP,[more...]
Billions in approved federal K–12 education funds remain withheld by U.S. Department of Education
Overview: As of July 1, the U.S. Department of Education has withheld over $6.2 billion in congressionally approved K–12 education funds—jeopardizing critical programs for underserved[more...]
SCOTUS: Parents can opt out of LGBTQ+ reading materials
Overview: The SCOTUS ruling will require schools to allow parents to opt-out of LGBTQ+ reading materials. Today, in a 6-3 vote along ideological lines, the[more...]
Dystopian Teacher Tales: What a Stupid Question
Overview: What would it be like if in a near future that students are blatantly told they are "stupid", modeling some of the politicians from[more...]
DeSantis and other southern governors seek to develop new accrediting commission in response to ‘woke accreditation cartels’
Overview: Florida is set to develop it's own higher education accreditation agency in collaboration with five other Southern states. In a power play with other[more...]
ICE and the death of the rural school district
Overview: ICE Raids in small town America are contributing to the death of the rural school districts. The high visibility of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)[more...]
The Evolution of Teaching in American Schools
Overview: Teaching in American schools has changed- some say for the worse. Read this educator's experience and what can be done to change the relationship[more...]
Emperor’s New Clothes: The myth of the magic reading curriculum
Overview: Reading curriculums have been found lacking in the scientific evidence on how to teacher students how to read those in special education. For years,[more...]
Quiz| What do you know about Juneteenth
Since Donald Trump took office, the news cycle has reached an unprecedented level of intensity around education. The constant stream of breaking news, viral controversies,[more...]
School’s Out: A reflection of a life spent in schools
Overview: Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it. –Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland This is my story. It’s the story of a[more...]
Daily Education News: June 16, 2024
The Daily Dispatch is our quick bites of real talk in education, every weekday. We publish every morning at 5:00 a.m., just in time for your[more...]
ATA: Where do you store your materials for the summer?
Overview: This teacher doesn't want to leave anything up to chance and instead is debating renting a storage unit. A Teacher Asks… We get out[more...]
The Breakfast Blitz: A single dad grateful to be an educator
Overview: A story about fatherhood, fried eggs, and finding peace in the mess as an educator. This column is a series of fiction stories inspired[more...]
Stop the Summer Slide: Simple ways to keep elementary aged kids learning all summer
Overview: Summer slide is real, parents use these evidence based strategies to make sure your kids are having fun and learning. You can see it[more...]
Whitepaper: Media Literacy should be required in K-12 classrooms
Overview: In this piece, a journalism educator argues for a separate media literacy course is needed to help fight against misinformation and disinformation targeting students.[more...]
Museums must do more than display Black History—They must defend it
Overview: Museums are more than just historical pieces in black history, they have the responsibility to defend it. Growing up in Washington, D.C., I wandered[more...]
Report: The January Blues: A crisis among the nation’s new teachers
Overview: In this white paper, a young teacher laments about the crisis among the nation’s young educators and what districts can do about it. January[more...]
The Price of Honor: Would you leave your school to raise your teaching salary?
Overview: This column is a series of fiction stories inspired by reality. We publish short stories written by teachers each week. This week, a principal[more...]
Judge dismisses parents’ lawsuit over popular reading curricula
Overview: The suit, filed by Boston-area mothers Karrie Conley and Michele Hudak on behalf of their children, was filed in December, targeting literacy authors Lucy[more...]
The Daily Digest: May 29, 2025
The Daily Dispatch is our quick bites of real talk in education, every weekday. We publish every morning at 5:00 a.m., just in time for your[more...]
Dystopian Teacher Tales: The La Jollan Educational Missionary Society
Overview: What would happen if religious charter schools were approved and taxpayers paid for them? Read this short story that explores that. Last week, the[more...]
Instructional Coaching: Job-Embedded professional learning and compensation
Overview: From Steps and Lanes to Student Gains: How Instructional Coaching Bridges the Gap Between Teacher Growth and Classroom Impact If you’ve been in education[more...]
How I am Teaching My Elementary School Students About AI and Why You Should Too
As a classroom teacher, I have seen firsthand how AI can spark student curiosity. Students are hearing about AI and are excited about the future[more...]
Bearly Hanging On: My Final Week as Principal
Overview: An elementary school principal in KY barely survives the final two days which includes a black bear. This column is a series of fiction[more...]
Judge blocks Trump’s attempt to dismantle Department of Education
Overview: A federal judge has blocked former President Trump's attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, ruling the move likely exceeded executive authority and[more...]
Dr. Jennifer Pratt: A legacy of learning, leading, and lasting impact
Overview: Dr. Pratt is a veteran educator who is one of our 50 exemplary educators. Dr. Jennifer Pratt’s journey in education is a testament to[more...]
The Carbon Copy: As told by Ms. Reyes, Honors Chemistry Teacher and Reluctant AI Detective
Overview: This is a weekly short story series that focuses on teachers' crazy stories—but with a little fiction in them to protect the innocent (and[more...]
Standardized testing killed my career.
Overview: Nationwide, students in K-12 participate in multiple standardized tests each year. Read what this retired educator has to say about them. Standardized testing killed[more...]
5 Reasons Subbing Might Be Right for You
Overview: Subbing allowed this educator to reclaim his time and save his mental health after having a stressful school year. I never planned on becoming[more...]
Idaho teacher resigns over inclusive classroom sign
Overview: Idaho teacher Sarah Inama resigns after being ordered to remove inclusive "Everyone is welcome here" posters. Sarah Inama, a sixth-grade history teacher at Lewis[more...]
The Transformative Power of Literature Circles
Overview: Discover how literature circles transform student attitudes toward reading by promoting choice, peer discussion, and deeper comprehension. Walk into any given classroom and survey[more...]
Trump Administration threatens Harvard University with loss of federal grants
Overview: In a letter addressed to the President of Harvard University, the Secretary of Education accused them of violating federal law. In a dramatic escalation[more...]
Feds want to expand on unsafe schools; offers more guidance to states
Overview: This new guidance would require states to broaden the definition of an unsafe school and open more avenues to charter schools. In a letter[more...]
Moms For Liberty: The rise of the anti-education movement
Overview: Far-right groups like Moms For Liberty are attacking public education and civil rights under the guise of "liberty." The gathering strength of the anti-public[more...]
Teacher Appreciation Week: Deals and Freebies
Overview: Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9th. This upcoming week of May 5-9 is Teacher Appreciation Week, with Teacher Appreciation Day being May 6th. According to[more...]
Trump adminstration cancels $1 billion in mental health grants for schools
Overview: The Trump administration has ended $1 billion in Biden-era school mental health grants, citing concerns over race-based initiatives and shifting education priorities. The Trump[more...]
Dueling Dictatorships: The DEI & Anti-DEI Movements
Higher education is engulfed in fear, hyperbole, and competing virtue-signaling performances across the political spectrum. Conservatives are viewing the Anti-DEI Trumpian movement as a harbinger[more...]
Morning Choice: A soft start with a strong purpose
Overview: Morning Choice is a scheduled 15-minute block in the morning that offers students a way to ease into the school day. The bell rings.[more...]
Teacher Rage: Using Science to Transform Triggers
Overview: Not only is teacher rage normal but there is a scientific explanation on why we have it and a three step method to stop[more...]
Vivian Ifeagwu: Teaching as a calling, advocacy as a mission
Overview: Vivian Ifeagwu-a Nigerian educator and advocate transforming African education through personalized learning and sustainable teaching models. “A golden fish has no hiding place.” —Vivian[more...]
Helping students feel like they belong in the classroom
Overview: Making sure all students belong in your classroom is something that all teachers can strive to do Every year, I hope to create a[more...]
Helping ELL students feel like they belong in the classroom
Overview: Making sure ELL students belong in your classroom is something that all teachers can strive to do- with the right supports. Every year, I[more...]
Trump signs education executive orders targeting AI, ‘woke’ ideology, and workforce development
Overview: These seven executive orders are targeting workforce development to AI to college accreditation. President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on April[more...]
Seeing Them Clearly: What my students taught me about stereotypes
Overview: This centers the reciprocal nature of the learning experience and acknowledges the blind spots educators may have when judging students. Educators don’t always have[more...]
Federal judge blocks enforcement of Trump DEI policy in K-12 schools
Overview: Federal judges in Maryland and New Hampshire blocked Republican President Donald Trump's administration from following through on threats to cut off funding. Two federal[more...]
Kindergarten nearly broke me: Classroom chaos to virtual success
Overview: A teacher chronicles her journey from classroom struggles and near burnout to discovering her passion and purpose in the virtual classroom, where she now[more...]
Dystopian Teacher Tales: Cool swag at the school fair!
The following story is fictional, set in a third Trump term. The President has recently alluded to the idea of seeking a third term, and[more...]
Beyond the Labels: What my students taught me about stereotyping
Overview: A psychology instructor confronts her own biases and discovered the transformative power of listening to students’ stories. Educators don’t always have the luxury of[more...]
The quietest voices, the strongest lessons: How a field trip changed my quietest student
Overview: Planning a field trip has the ability to teach something that can stay with you for twenty years. Planning a field trip has the[more...]
Words Matter: A teacher’s response to Robert F. Kennedy’s statement on autism
Overview: Kennedy Jr. is a prime example of individuals who have forgotten the power and potential harm that words can cause harm to autism students.[more...]
Amplifying Voices: One Mother’s Mission to Change the Narrative on Autism in Black Communities
Overview: Amplify Our Voices is a storytelling initiative to dismantle stigma, center authentic narratives, and give neurodivergent Black children the spotlight they deserve. When Toni[more...]
“Whitewashing” the curriculum: ACLU takes aim at Department of Defense schools
Overview: Lawsuit alleges the agency stripped award-winning books and canceled cultural events, chilling free speech in classrooms for thousands of military kids. By: Markus Schmidt – April[more...]
Resisting the rollback: How select universities maintain DEI programs despite federal pressure
Overview: DEI programs are under attack. Here's what private institutions like Fordham University and Georgetown Law are doing. “Principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging[more...]
Exploring New Horizons: How open-ended play-based learning enhances high quality learning and teaching
Overview: Play is the highest form of research. “But I can express myself only through writing. I don’t know any other way,” said my 10-year-old[more...]
Harvard University rejects the Trump adminstration’s demands
Overview: Harvard University will not comply with the Trump administrations demands citing intellectual freedom. According to a statement issued today to its community, Harvard University[more...]
Making learning stick: The power of multimodal classrooms
Are you finding it hard to get your students engaged in coursework? Does it sometimes feel like your lessons are dragging? I’ve been there, and[more...]
U.S. Department of Education moves to strip Maine of federal K-12 funding over Title IX dispute
Overview: The USDOE has referred Maine’s Title IX case to the Department of Justice and begun proceedings to revoke the state’s federal K-12 funding. The[more...]
Who’s in charge here? The erosion of authority in schools
Overview: The erosion of traditional authority in society has profoundly impacted classroom dynamics, leaving teachers struggling to manage student behavior. “I’d like you to go[more...]
Calls for resignation grow after Memphis school board member’s ICE threat
Overview: Memphis Shelby County School Board member Towanna Murphy has issued an apology after facing backlash for threatening to deport a Hispanic former student during[more...]
Rampaging elephants, stolen markers, and the reason we teach
Overview: Logan has taught high school and university-level English for 13 years, with courses on everything from writing to activism to superheroes. He also illustrates[more...]
Teaching 102: Seven easy ways to bring manners into your classroom
Overview: Teachers are often tasked with "teaching with urgency" but yet, kids need time to practice being good little humans. I’ve heard every teacher I[more...]
Top scholar says evidence for special education inclusion is ‘fundamentally flawed’
Overview: Analysis of 50 years of research argues that there isn’t strong evidence for the academic advantages of placing children with disabilities in general education[more...]
Trump administration gives guidance to school districts to use Title 1 to provide school choice
Overview: The U.S. Department of Education’s will divert funding from Title 1 toward school choice initiatives The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and[more...]
Trump administration requests Supreme Court to halt teacher training grants
Overview: Donald Trump wants the Supreme Court to freeze millions in teacher training grants. On Wednesday, the Trump administration requested the Supreme Court to permit[more...]
The Impact of DEI Bans on American Schools: Consequences for students and educators
Overview: DEI initiatives provide teachers with training to improve their cultural competence and bias awareness, ultimately fostering a more supportive and effective learning environment Times[more...]
Dystopian Teacher Tales: Hero Teacher Stops Bad Guy With Gun
Overview: These dystopian teacher tales are currently not true, with the demise of the Department of Education this could very well become true. Although the[more...]
New lawsuit alleges cuts to the Department of Education impact students’ civil rights
Overview: New lawsuit alleges that gutting the Department of Education will send class sizes soaring along with gutting student civil rights protections. Today, the National[more...]
Trump shifts student loan oversight to SBA, Special needs funding to HHS in education shake-up
Overview: President Donald Trump announced the transfer of federal student loan management to the Small Business Administration and special needs funding oversight to the Department[more...]
Done! Trump signs executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education
Overview: Donald Trump signed an executive order to transfer education oversight to individual states, initiating a process to dismantle the DOE. Today, President Donald Trump[more...]
Trump to Sign executive order on Thursday seeking closure of the Department of Education
Overview: This executive order will be signed on Thursday afternoon in a ceremony attended by several Republican governors and state education commissioners. President Donald Trump[more...]
Twenty Democratic states sue Trump adminstration over cuts to education department
Overview: Democratic attorneys general have filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s drastic staff cuts at the Department of Education, arguing they unlawfully undermine federally[more...]
U.S. Department of Education warns 60 universities over antisemitism allegations
Overview: The U.S.D.O.E. Office for Civil Rights has issued warnings to 60 universities across the alleging they failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. The[more...]
The Science of Reading: How research-based instruction transforms struggling readers
As a retired elementary educator, I’ve seen firsthand how foundational reading skills shape the trajectory of a child’s academic success and overall confidence. I had[more...]
USDA Cuts $1 Billion in School Meal Funding, Threatening free lunch access for millions of kids
Overview: Roughly 20 million children benefit from the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which enables high-poverty schools to provide free meals to all students without requiring[more...]
Education Department staff told to stay home Wednesday; 50% of workforce to be reduced
According to an internal email confirmed by The Educator’s Room, staff at the U.S. Department of Education were instructed to vacate their offices by 6[more...]
Education Department staff told to stay home Wednesday; 50% of workforce to be reduced
According to an internal email confirmed by The Educator’s Room, staff at the U.S. Department of Education were instructed to vacate their offices by 6[more...]
Dystopian Teacher Tales: Monday in Room B”
Overview: In this fictional narrative, Veteran Teacher Thomas Courtney writes from the perspective of a future gay educator in a world without the Department of[more...]
Trump’s Draft Executive Order Seeks to Abolish the Education Department
Overview: The Executive Order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the department. President Donald Trump is[more...]
Fostering a Love for Lifelong Learning in Classrooms
Overview: The role of a teacher must be like that of a farmer. After all, a farmer does not instruct a plant on how to[more...]
Shifting from Co-Teaching to Co-Serving: Transforming Special Education in Inclusive Classrooms
Overview: The act of co-serving is when special and general education teachers are equally responsible for delivering specially designed instruction. In today’s inclusive classrooms, where[more...]
Elephant in the Classroom: Parents Aren’t Reading to Their Kids!
Overview: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as of 2021, only 51.8% of parents reported reading to children ages five years[more...]
President Trump threatens federal funding for colleges who allow illegal protests
Overview: This threatening of federal funding goes against Free Speech according to critics of President's Trump's social media post. U.S. President Donald Trump announced early[more...]
Linda McMahon, wrestling billionaire, confirmed as Secretary of Education
Overview: Linda McMahon has been confirmed as the Secretary of Education by the Senate in a vote of 51-45, making her the choice for the[more...]
U.S. Department of Education offers employees $25K buyout amid looming layoffs
Overview: Jacqueline Clay, the Department’s Chief Human Capital Officer, announced the incentive with employees having until Monday to accept the offer. According to a department-wide[more...]
AFT Urges Major Asset Managers to Review Tesla Investments Amid Stock Decline
Overview: In a letter sent today to the CEOs of BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street, T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, and TIAA, the AFT urging immediate action[more...]
Educators sue Trump administration over civil rights law weaponizing DEI in schools
A coalition of educators and sociologists has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s recent policy that threatens to withhold federal funding[more...]
House Narrowly Passes Budget Resolution with Major Medicaid Cuts
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution on Tuesday evening that could significantly impact Medicaid-funded school services. The resolution narrowly passed with a[more...]
Teaching 102: Part 2 of 2: Understanding School Personnel, A Teacher’s Guide
Overview: The roles of various school support staff, highlight their contributions, challenges, and best practices for collaboration with teachers. In Part 1, we took a[more...]
U.S. Department of Education Targets Maine Over Transgender Athlete Policy
Overview: Maine is at the center of debate for federal education money due to their stance on transgender athletes competing against girls. The U.S. Department[more...]
Legal Battle Over 504 Protections Continues as States Attempt to Clarify Intent
Overview: The joint status report filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the states stated that they “have never moved[more...]
1890 Land Grant Program Put on Hold by Trump Adminstration
Overview: The 1890 National Scholars Program partners with 19 HBCUS to provide full scholarships in agriculture, food sciences, and natural resources. The Trump Administration has[more...]
Teaching 102: Understanding School Personnel, A Teacher’s Guide
Overview: Understanding school personnel is crucial for effective teaching, as office staff, custodians, cafeteria workers, counselors, and health professionals each play vital roles in supporting[more...]
U.S. Department of Education Ends Over $600 Million in Teacher Training Grants
Overview: The U.S. Department of Education has terminated over $600 million in grants for teacher training programs that included Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Equity, and[more...]
Education Department Declares War on Race-Based Scholarships and Programs, Deems Them Illegal
In a sweeping move, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has declared race-based scholarships, cultural centers, and graduation ceremonies illegal, signaling a[more...]
U.S. Department of Education Cancels Over $350 Million in Contracts and Grants
Overview: The Department of Education terminated 10 contracts totaling $336 million with the Regional Educational Laboratories, which are intended to support applied research, development, and[more...]
Week in Review: What was happening in the World of Education
Oedipus Wrecked: A reflection on a champion teacher 1974. Ninth grade. The Agnes Irwin School, a private all-girls’ school outside of Philadelphia, where most of[more...]
The U.S. Department of Education targets two athletic associations over girls’ and women’s sports
Overview: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) retaliates against the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and the California Interscholastic Federation[more...]
Linda McMahon Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Education Secretary Nomination
Months after being named President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Education, Linda McMahon faced intense questioning from senators on Capitol Hill on[more...]
Education Department Urges NCAA, NFHS to Reinstate Female Athletes’ Records
Overview: The U.S.E.D has urged the NCAA and NFHS to restore records and accolades to female athletes who previously competed against transgender women. The U.S.[more...]
Elon Musk’s Team, DOGE, Cuts $900 Million in Education Contracts, Eliminating Key School Data Sources
Overview: The Trump administration has canceled over $900 million in Education Department contracts, significantly reducing federal education research and data collection. The Trump administration- along[more...]
In a new lawsuit, 17 states sue to do away with 504 protections
A high-stakes lawsuit, Texas v. Becerra, is currently making its way through the courts, threatening crucial protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of[more...]
Restroom Etiquette for Employees at a Public (or Private) School”
Overview: There's a list of spoken (and unspoken) rules for using the restroom at school. Here you go. Restroom etiquette at a public (or private)[more...]
Trump Signs Executive Order Restricting Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at barring transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, a move he says will protect fairness[more...]
Trump administration to defund the Department of Education
Overview: This move would make good on campaign promises to Trump's base that promised the elimination of the Department of Education. According to a White[more...]
What do I do? – The Educators Room
Overview: Between January 20 and January 31, 2025, Donald Trump signed dozens of executive orders that will have a grave impact on education and members[more...]
Oedipus Wrecked: A reflection on a Teacher
1974. Ninth grade. The Agnes Irwin School, a private all-girls’ school outside of Philadelphia, where most of my female relatives had also gone to school.[more...]
What Teachers Can Learn from Trevor Noah’s Wisdom
I learned so much from a recent episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast featuring an interview with Trevor Noah that I felt the need[more...]
2024 NAEP reading scores show declines, Highlighting challenges in student achievement
Overview: The Nation’s Report Card reveals that U.S. student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, with slight improvements in fourth-grade math but continued declines[more...]
President Trump Signs Executive Orders expanding school choice Initiatives and ending “radical indoctrination”
Overview: President Trump signed an executive order expanding school choice initiatives, directing federal agencies to support state-based educational options, including private, charter, and faith-based schools.[more...]
President Trump Signs Executive Order Expanding School Choice Initiatives
Overview: President Trump signed an executive order expanding school choice initiatives, directing federal agencies to support state-based educational options, including private, charter, and faith-based schools.[more...]
Men need not apply to be a teacher
Overview: Why have all the men left teaching? Listen to this male educator tell us why. A stanza from the infamous anti-war poem ‘Boots’ by[more...]
U.S. Department of Education investigates Denver Public Schools for alleged discrimination against female students
Overview: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating Denver Public Schools for allegedly violating Title IX by converting a female restroom[more...]
White House memo orders federal assistance spending freeze
Overview: The Trump administration has ordered a federal funding freeze on grants and loans to review alignment with the president's policies. A memo from the[more...]
U.S. Department of Education Dismisses Complaints on “Book Bans” and Ends Related Oversight
Overview: The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has dismissed 11 book removal complaints, rescinded related guidance, and ended investigations into claims that[more...]
After Trump Bans DEI, Air Force pulls class with Tuskegee Airmen video
Overview: The Air Force has removed and is reviewing a basic training course featuring videos on the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs to comply with President[more...]
Trump’s Executive Orders Force Cancellation of HBCU Workforce Development Conference
Overview: The conference was focused on highlighting the voices and experiences of HBCU leaders and students in workforce development. President Donald J. Trump’s recent executive[more...]
Supreme Court to Hear Case on Nation’s First Taxpayer-Funded Religious Charter School
Overview: The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether Oklahoma can establish the nation's first taxpayer-funded religious charter school. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed[more...]
Department of Education Ends Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
The U.S. Department of Education removed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives from its workforce and public communication channels today. These actions follow President Trump’s[more...]
Federal immigration authorities can raid churches and schools to arrest immigrants under new policy
Overview: Federal immigration authorities will be allowed to target schools and churches seeking individuals who are in the United States without legal status. Starting Tuesday,[more...]
Trump Appoints Acting Education Secretary Amid Transition, Awaiting Senate Confirmation of Linda McMahon
Overview: Denise Carter has spent more than 30 years supporting and leading federal operations and has received Meritorious Presidential Rank Awards in recognition of her[more...]
President-elect Trump appoints Penny Schwinn as United States Deputy Secretary of Education
Overview: President-elect Trump appointed Penny Schwinn as the next United States Deputy Secretary of Education. President-elect Trump appointed Penny Schwinn as the next United States[more...]
Massive PowerSchool Data Breach Exposes Historical Student and Teacher Records Across U.S. Schools
Overview: The breech resulted in the unauthorized access of personal data from millions of current and former students and teachers. School districts across the United[more...]
What Teachers Can Learn from Trevor Noah’s Wisdom
Overview: Trevor Noah was featured on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, the world’s top Health and Wellness podcast. I recently listened to an episode of[more...]
President Jimmy Carter dies at 100 Years Old
Overview: Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, a former peanut farmer, and Navy lieutenant known for his landmark foreign policy achievements, passed away at 100,[more...]
Trailblazing Educators: A group of dynamic educators from around the globe
[Atlanta, Georgia] – The Educator’s Room, LLC is proud to announce the recipients of The Educator’s Room Trailblazing Educators recognition, honoring outstanding educators who have[more...]
Dr. Mike Dunn: Trailblazing Educator Instilling a Passion for Wonder and Curiosity in the Classroom
Overview: Dr. Mike Dunn is a trailblazing educator who instills passion for wonder and curiosity in the classroom through his work in Colorado. If you[more...]
House Passes Social Security Fairness Act to Address WEP and GPO Reductions
Overview: If signed by President Biden, legislation passed the bill into law it would apply to all benefits payable after December 2023. Last night, the[more...]
Study Unveils a Key Barrier to Reading Proficiency in Older Students: The Decoding Threshold
Despite the expectation that students master basic reading skills by third grade, a significant number of older students continue to face reading challenges. A recent[more...]
New Jersey Governor signs law banning book bans; cites intellectual freedom
Overview: Governor Phil Murphy signed the Freedom to Read Act, ensuring access to diverse, age-appropriate books in New Jersey schools and libraries while safeguarding intellectual[more...]
Lawsuit Claims Popular Literacy Programs Fail Students with Anti-Phonics Approach
Overview: A lawsuit accuses developers and publishers of early literacy curricula, including Lucy Calkins and Fountas & Pinnell, of neglecting evidence-based phonics instruction and instead[more...]
Senator Mike Rounds Introduces Bill to Abolish Department of Education
Overview: This bill was introduced on November 21, 2024 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for further review.[more...]
The Department of Education Smackdown
Overview: With the announcement of WWE Co-Founder, Linda McMahon, being named the Department of Education this could have dire consequences for students. There has never[more...]
PBS KIDS Premieres “Carl the Collector,” Its First Show Featuring Autistic Central Characters
PBS KIDS has introduced a groundbreaking new animated series, Carl the Collector, which debuted on November 14, 2024. Announced earlier this year at the Television[more...]
MIT Expands Financial Aid, Waives Tuition for Families Earning Under $200,000 Starting Fall 2025
Overview: MIT will eliminate tuition for students from families earning less than $200,000 annually. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced a landmark expansion of[more...]
Texas State Board of Education Looks to Adopt Controversial Curriculum Emphasizing Biblical Teachings
Overview: If approved, the state will offer $60 per student to districts adopting Bluebonnet Learning, a potential draw for financially struggling schools. In an 8-7[more...]
U.S. Department of Education Issues Guidance on Preventing Discriminatory Use of AI in Schools
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a new resource, Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Artificial Intelligence, aimed at[more...]
Trump Reportedly Taps Linda McMahon as Education Secretary
Overview: McMahon has a bachelor's degree in French from East Carolina University. She will oversee the agency that oversees education in the United States. President-elect[more...]
Oklahoma State Department of Education Purchases Bibles for AP Government Classrooms
Overview: The Oklahoma State Department of Education has purchased more than 500 Bibles for use in AP Government classrooms. The Oklahoma State Department of Education[more...]
Thinking Classrooms: A Book, An Idea, A Call To Action in Math Classrooms!
The phrase thinking classrooms has stormed the field of math education in the past year or so. From networking events to classrooms, book talks to[more...]
What the First 180 Days of a Donald J. Trump Presidency Could Mean for Education
A focus on disrupting, eliminating, and restricting programs that have historically been in public schools. Donald J. Trump is set to serve a second presidential[more...]
Seminole County Teacher Placed on Leave After Controversial Classroom Comments on Election Results
Overview: The alleged comments came after discussing election results in reference to Project 2025. A Seminole County high school teacher has been placed on administrative[more...]
The Decoding Threshold: Measuring the roots of older students’ reading difficulties
Overview: The decoding threshold plays a significant role in hindering older students' ability to comprehend text. Despite the expectation that students master basic reading skills[more...]
The Day America’s Educational System Dies
Overview: What does the Department of Education actually do? In this article, the intricacies of this department is delved in. …With only days left until[more...]
Opinion: Donald Trump Needs Some School Shooter Training
Overview: What if Donald Trump participated in school shooter trainings? This teacher says it must happen. Former President Donald Trump has nearly been assassinated by[more...]
From Fear to Fun: 10 Simple Hacks to Bring Joy Back into Your Classroom
I recently watched an Instagram reel of a gal tandem jumping. I can’t quit thinking about it. She is stuck at the start, her whole[more...]
Gus Walz: A Joy inside and outside the classroom
In 2010, I worked at Boude Storey Middle School in the South Oak Cliff community, one of Dallas’s most impoverished areas. Like all other campuses,[more...]
What If Mr. Lunch Supervision Goes to Washington?
Overview: If elected as the Vice-President of the United States, Tim Walz would be the first Mr. Lunch Supervisor in the White House. In 1939,[more...]
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Marked by history and plagued by misinformation
Indigenous Peoples‘ Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, and with that comes disinformation about the people who first inhabited North America. Many[more...]
Classic Literature, Blockbusters, and Higher Reader Engagement – The Magic Lasso!
By R. S. Hill As a high school English teacher in Tucson, Arizona, I work at one of the most diverse schools in the state. [more...]
Dear FAFSA: I’m an accomplished educator adn cannot navigate the new form
Dear Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), My name is Shareefah Mason. I am a Presidential Leadership Scholar who currently serves as the Director of[more...]
What Project 2025 Really Means for US Schools
Overview: What Project 2025 means for America, particularly for public schools and our kids could be detrimental. “I know nothing about Project 2025. I have[more...]
Gov. Gavin Newsom signs sweeping legislation to ban legacy admissions
Overview: The law will take effect in September 2025 and will affect a variety of institutions. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1780, a[more...]
The Nightmare of Initiatives in Public Education
Overview: Instructional Initiatives in schools are ruled by our beliefs and motivations. Learn how to balance research with advice from practitioners. “I think the task[more...]
Idris Elba set to star as Okonkwo in remake of Things Fall Apart
Overview: Ibris Elba will serve as the executive producer on the acclaimed book turned series, Things Fall Apart. Idris Elba has officially joined the cast[more...]
California joins growing movement by states to protect children from Social Media Addiction with New Law
Overview: Several states have passed legislation focused on protecting children from the ills of social media. California made a significant move to protect children from[more...]
Banned Books Week 2024: The preliminary research and the titles
In anticipation of Banned Books Week this week (September 22-28, 2024); the American Library Association has released preliminary data documenting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school,[more...]
