Big Shifts in Federal Education Policy
This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced interagency agreements to move several offices currently under the purview of the Department of Education to other federal agencies. This unilateral executive effort follows President Trump’s campaign promise to shut down the Department of Education, though only Congress has the authority to officially shutter the agency.
Such a large change comes with risks and concerns, especially for students of color, disabled students, Native students, and female students. Yet a coordinated, strategic response could present an opportunity for states to innovate and change the landscape of education to meet the needs of their population. We discuss these considerations further in the full update
ESEA Waivers on the Horizon | Weekly Policy Update
The U.S. Department of Education recently sent a letter to all heads of state education departments encouraging them to seek waivers from “burdensome statutory and regulatory provisions” under federal law. States that apply for waivers could receive a federal block grant and decide how to spend this money.
In this update, we lay out how Tennessee could use a waiver to accelerate its cradle-to-career transformation. If our state can create an accountable system that improves outcomes for children and families without leaving anyone behind, we could become a national model for economic mobility.