EDUCATION POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
The Education Domain tracks and reports on policies that deal with school choice, student loans, curriculum reform efforts, teacher unions, students with disabilities, affirmative action, minority students, vocational training and higher education. This domain tracks policies emanating from the White House, the Department of Education and state legislatures.
Latest Education Posts
The Trump Administration and the University Communities: Part 1, Funding Suspension
In April 2025, the Trump administration escalated its efforts to reshape American higher education by suspending billions in federal grants to elite universities — including Harvard, Columbia, and others — accused of promoting “critical race theory,” “transgender ideology,” and other Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. This move is part of a broader campaign to reorient education policy around conservative cultural values and dismantle what the administration frames as liberal dominance within academia.
Understanding What the U.S. Department of Education Did
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE), established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, promotes student achievement, ensures equal access to education, and enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in federally funded programs. Historically, it manages Pell Grants, student loans, Title I programs for low-income students, and special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It also oversees civil rights compliance in educational institutions.
MAGA Against College: A Fight for America’s Minds
It is no secret that the past two months of Trump’s second term have rattled both American and international societies to their core. Racing out of the gates, the administration has enacted executive orders and taken initial action against those who stand against its policy agenda; these actions are illegal and fundamentally violate the Constitution.
The Reasons We’ve Had a Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE), established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, operates to promote student achievement, ensure equal access to education, and enforce federal laws prohibiting discrimination in federally funded programs. Historically, the DOE controls policies related to federal financial aid, collects education data, and administers funding for education research. It notably manages Pell Grants, student loans, Title I programs (support for low-income students), special education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and oversees compliance with federal civil rights laws in educational institutions.
The Dangers for Schools Amid the Trump Gender War
The Trump administration has recently begun redefining its view on what it sees as the appropriate options for gender in the education system. The newly released Trump executive order on “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” released on January 29 seeks to prohibit federal funding for schools that are teaching gender ideology and critical race theory in the classroom.
The Uncertainty of the Student Loan Crisis in the Age of Trump
The student loan crisis, a pressing issue under former President Biden, has entered a phase of uncertainty with President Trump back in office. Biden’s initiatives, including forgiving $188.8 billion in student loans and easing repayment with the SAVE plan, are now at risk as the Trump administration signals a potential rollback of these measures. With proposals to dismantle programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and the Department of Education itself, the future of student debt relief hangs in the balance. Trump’s track record suggests prioritizing the wealthy over supporting struggling borrowers. Can America afford to overlook the needs of millions saddled with debt?
The Fallacy of School Choice
Though touted as a way to empower families, school choice policies often widen the gap between wealthy and disadvantaged communities, leaving public schools underfunded and many children underserved. Instead of fixing the education system, these measures risk creating a fragmented system where only a privileged few benefit, while the majority are left behind.
Trump and Vance Fail to Offer Solutions to School Violence
Trump and Vance Fail to Offer Solutions to School Violence Education Policy Brief #196 | By: Evan Wechman | December 28, 2024 Photo by Jose Alonso on Unsplash __________________________________ Policy Summary: The conversation about school shootings has recently been...
Transgender Students Need Protection from Trump’s Assault on Title IX
Transgender Students Need Protection from Trump’s Assault on Title IX Education Policy Brief #196 | By: Evan Wechman | December 21, 2024 Photo by Katie Rainbow 🏳️🌈 __________________________________ Policy Summary: With President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration...