The information covered below is from February 28, 2025, through March 13, 2025.

Highlights:

• On March 14, the Senate passed H.R. 1968, a Continuing Resolution (CR) to provide annual federal funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 through September 30, 2025.
• On March 11, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) announced a major reduction in force that, together with other recent employment actions, reduces the agency’s workforce by nearly 50%.
• On March 3, newly-confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon outlined what she referred to as the USED’s “final mission” to “send education back to the states” by “eliminat[ing] unnecessary bureaucracy” and completing a “historic overhaul of a federal agency.”

Administration:

White House:

President Trump delivers joint address to Congress

On March 4, President Trump gave his first Joint Address to Congress for his second term, outlining policies and plans aligned to his “America First” agenda. The address aimed to tout the actions the Trump Administration has already taken across the federal government, focusing primarily on the Administration’s tariff and trade policies, as well as immigration, border security, and foreign policy. President Trump briefly mentioned issues related to education in his address, naming actions the Administration has already taken, but not providing further plans on education-related policies. Some of the issues include:

• Efforts to End DEI: At the beginning of his address, President Trump asserted that his Administration has “ended the tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the federal government and the private sector.” Referencing language used in his Executive Order on “Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” the President shared that the Administration believes “you should be hired and promoted based on skill and competence, not race or gender.”

  • After naming certain foreign aid programs that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has terminated, President Trump stated that DOGE ended “$101 million DEI contracts in the Department of Education.” Though the President did not explicitly name the contracts he was referencing, the number – $101 million – conflicts with prior reports that claim significantly higher numbers. The President claimed that the funding was “taken back to reduce the debt and fight inflation.”

  • President Trump added later in his remarks, “We have removed the poison of critical race theory from our public schools.”

  • The President also referenced a recent Executive Order “making English the official language of the United States of America.”

• Transgender Girls in Sports: President Trump emphasized his efforts to ban transgender women and girls, citing his Executive Order on the issue and referenced another order “making it the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.”

  • The President later stated the Administration's efforts “to protect our children from toxic ideologies,” naming his Executive Order banning public schools from indoctrinating our children with transgender ideology. He continued, urging “Congress to pass a bill permanently banning and criminalizing sex changes on children.”

• Immigration: President Trump spent a significant portion of his address on immigration policies, specifically highlighting the Laken Riley Act, which was the first bill he signed into law on January 29. Among other provisions, the bill requires mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants for certain offenses, including nonviolent misdemeanors. Advocates have warned that the implementation of the bill could lead to family separations as well as children being detained for petty crimes.

• Regulatory Action: President Trump also named his efforts to “unshackle our economy,” directing through an Executive Order “that for every one new regulation, ten old regulations must be eliminated.”

• Autism: Stating goals of the new Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again, President Trump shared the priority of “keeping our children healthy and strong.” The President shared statistics on the increase in children diagnosed with autism, suggesting a focus of the commission could be on autism, specifically.

Notably, President Trump did not speak about plans to dismantle or eliminate the Department of Education, expanding school choice, or addressing the child care crisis.

Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) delivered the Democratic response following President Trump’s address, highlighting how – regardless of political party – “Americans share three core beliefs: the middle class is the engine of our country, strong national security protects us from harm, and our democracy, no matter how messy, is unparalleled and worth fighting for.” Sen. Slotkin argued that President Trump’s policies are not helping Americans “get ahead,” and instead granting “giveaways” to billionaires. Turning to national security, Sen. Slotkin shared her support for a “functional” immigration system “that allows vetted people to come and work here legally,” later expressing disapproval for President Trump’s handling of the recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Sen. Slotkin concluded her remarks urging citizens to stay engaged to protect American democracy, advising three distinct actions: “don’t tune out, …hold your elected officials accountable, [and] …organize.”

President Trump issues a series of Executive Orders impacting education

As of March 13, President Trump has issued a series of Executive Orders (EOs) that impact education and related areas. The most recent Executive Orders, include, but are not limited to:

• “Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness,” which directs the Secretary of Education to update the PSLF regulations to exclude from program eligibility any employer that engages in “activities that have a substantial illegal purpose.”
• “Designating English as the Official Language of the United States,” which announced the symbolic designation of English as the national language and initiates revisions to agencies’ guidance about language access.

For more information on the most recent Executive Orders, please read EducationCounsel’s Summary and Analysis here.

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED Secretary McMahon announces “final mission” of the Department

On March 3, newly-confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon outlined what she referred to as USED’s “final mission” to “send education back to the states” by “eliminat[ing] unnecessary bureaucracy” and completing a “historic overhaul of a federal agency.” In her message, McMahon seemed to acknowledge what she previously said in her Senate confirmation hearing, namely that USED can only be fully eliminated through an act of Congress. She wrote: “This restoration will profoundly impact staff, budgets, and agency operations here at the Department. In coming months, we will partner with Congress and other federal agencies to determine the best path forward,” referring to the fact that Congress established USED and many of its specific offices via the Department of Education Organization Act, and multiple other federal laws require the Secretary of Education to administer specific programs and grants.

USED announces reduction in force; Twenty-one Attorneys General sue USED

On March 11, the USED announced a major reduction in force (RIF) that, together with other recent employment actions, reduces the agency’s workforce by nearly 50%. In its press release, USED described the RIF as part of the agency’s “final mission,” a reference to Secretary McMahon’s first message to the staff. According to the press release, affected employees will be placed on administrative leave beginning on March 21, 2025, and, per regulations and collective bargaining agreements, will be paid through June 9, 2025. All indications are that the RIFs were not applied equally to all offices, with early reports of some offices being completely eliminated and others losing everyone except the office head. USED has not yet published an official accounting of the RIF, although in its release noted: “All divisions within the Department are impacted by the reduction, with some divisions requiring significant reorganization to better serve students, parents, educators, and taxpayers.” Acknowledging the Department’s responsibilities established by Congress, the press release also notes, “The Department of Education will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.”

Following the RIF, 21 Attorney General (AGs) filed suit against the Department on March 13, claiming the “massive reduction in force is equivalent to incapacitating key, statutorily-mandated functions of the Department, causing immense damage to Plaintiff States and their educational systems.” The states allege the USED has usurped Congress’ legislative authority, as “the Executive and his agencies cannot incapacitate [the Department], absent Congressional action that directs them to do so,” and exceeded “the scope of their constitutional and/or statutory authority,” among other allegations.

Later on March 13, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar issued a 14-day temporary stay in a different case brought by 20 Democratic Attorneys General, which requires 18 federal agencies, including the USED and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reinstate probationary employees that were fired in mass layoffs. The AGs argued that the states were not provided sufficient time from the federal government to prepare for the volume of unemployment. The decision requires rehiring nationwide, not just in the states that filed the suit. It is unclear how many employees at the USED will be reinstated.

USED’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) releases Frequently Asked Questions document on Dear Colleague Letter about racial preferencing

On March 1, OCR issued an FAQ to clarify and expand on its February 14 Dear Colleague letter about how the Administration will enforce “the decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, including how it applies to racial classifications, racial preferences, and racial stereotypes as well as how OCR will interpret the ruling in its enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations.” The FAQ describes the Administration’s plans to apply Title VI’s prohibition on race-, ethnicity-, or national origin-based discrimination to eliminate “DEI” in schools, including P-12 and postsecondary. Additionally, while the Dear Colleague letter notes that institutions not in compliance could face the loss of federal funds, the FAQ describes the approach to enforcement that includes several curative steps along the way prior to any action related to funding. Following the release of the Dear Colleague letter, both the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association each filed suits against the Department challenging the legality of the Letter and the FAQ.

USED continues action claiming to address antisemitism

Throughout March, the USED took multiple actions in the name of investigating and combating antisemitism on college campuses. On March 3, a task force led by the USED, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a comprehensive review of Columbia University’s federal contracts and grants in light of ongoing investigations for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Later that week, on March 7, the agencies, along with the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it was canceling about $400 million of Columbia’s federal grants and contracts. The new announcement reiterated that the task force will continue to review all of Columbia’s $5 billion in federal funding and noted the $400 million “represent the first round of action and additional cancellations are expected to follow.”

On March 10, the USED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) followed up cancellation of Columbia’s federal awards by sending a letter warning of similar enforcement actions against 60 universities that are already under investigation by OCR for alleged Title VI violations also related to antisemitism. USED’s press release about this includes a list of the 60 institutions. 

Additionally, on March 7, OCR announced a directive to its enforcement staff “to make resolving the backlog of complaints alleging antisemitic harassment and violence an immediate priority.” The announced noted a “backlog” of complaints that were filed during the Biden Administration, adding that the complaints “must be addressed promptly.” It is unclear how the RIF described previously will impact OCR and these recent actions.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

HHS suspends notice and comment rulemaking

On February 28, the HHS released a Federal Register notice immediately suspending “notice and comment” rulemaking for any HHS rules that relate to agency management and personnel, public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts. HHS was able to do this by rescinding a waiver (known as the Richardson waiver) that had been in place since 1971. Under the Richardson waiver, HHS did not take advantage of a flexibility available in the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) that exempted certain topics from notice and comment rulemaking. HHS (and other agencies) instead engaged in notice and comment rulemaking for most matters to gather meaningful input from the public before taking certain actions relating to the agency’s administration and the programs it has overseen for more than 50 years. The Federal Register notice also indicates that HHS may take advantage of current “good cause” exemptions in the APA that allow the agency to avoid notice and comment rulemaking when the agency finds the procedure “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” Together, these changes to HHS’s approach to rulemaking could potentially allow the agency to unilaterally release regulations without any public input on significant programs, including Medicaid.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

USDA cancels more than $1 billion in funding for programs giving schools and child care providers food from local farms

On March 11, the USDA announced it was canceling more than $1 billion in funds for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), which award funds to states for food assistance purchases of domestic local foods for distribution to schools and child care institutions, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The LFPA uses non-competitive cooperative agreements to provide funding for state, tribal and territorial governments to purchase foods produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination to help support local, regional and underserved producers. In a statement to The Hill, a USDA representative said that the funding was canceled because they “no longer effectuate the goals of the agency.”

Personnel:

Senate confirms Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education

On March 3, the U.S. Senate confirmed Linda McMahon to serve as Secretary of Education by a party-line vote of 51-45. Previously, on February 27, the Senate voted to proceed on McMahon’s nomination, also by a party-line vote of 51-47; McMahon’s nomination advanced out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on February 20, with all Republican committee members supporting her nomination, and all Democratic members opposing.

Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Secretary of Labor

On March 10, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm former U.S. Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) as Secretary of Labor. The vote was 67 to 32, with 17 Democrats voting with most Republicans present. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Ted Budd (R-NC) voted against her confirmation. On February 27, the Senate HELP Committee advanced her nomination by a vote of 14-9. As in the final vote, Senator Paul voted against Chavez-DeRemer, citing her previous co-sponsorship of the Protecting Rights to Organize (PRO) Act, while a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The PRO Act would expand labor protections related to employees’ rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace.

Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as Deputy Secretary of Labor

On March 12, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of Labor, with all Republicans supporting the nomination, and all Democrats present opposing the nomination. After the vote, Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said, “Deputy Secretary Sonderling’s expertise and experience implementing labor policy make him more than qualified for this role[and] I look forward to working with him and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to enact a pro-worker agenda at the Department of Labor.”  The HELP Committee previously approved his nomination by a vote of 12 to 11. Sonderling served as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the Department during the first Trump administration. He was then appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he served from 2020-2024.

Congress:

Congress passes Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025)

On March 14, the Senate passed H.R. 1968, a CR to provide annual federal funding for the remainder of FY2025 through September 30, 2025, by a vote of 54-46. While the final vote was primarily on party lines, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted against the bill, and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Angus King (I-ME) voted in favor. The Republican-led bill advanced a prior procedural vote by 62-38 with the support of ten Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The House passed the bill on March 11 217-213, in another mostly party line vote, with only one Republican, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), voting against the bill, and one Democrat, Representative Jared Golden (D-ME), voting in support. The bill maintains federal funding levels for education programs and, overall, the full year CR would provide reductions of approximately $13 billion in non-defense spending, while allowing for $6 billion in increased defense spending due to rescissions of congressionally directed spending (or member projects/earmarks) and some additional targeted rescissions outside of education.

Senate:

Senate Democrats block legislation that would prevent transgender girls and women from participating in school athletic programs

On March 3, the Senate voted 51-45 on S. 9, the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025,” which would “provide that for purposes of determining compliance with title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in athletics, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The bill was first introduced by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and had 43 Republican co-sponsors. No Democrats voted to pass the bill.

House:

House Education and Workforce Subcommittee holds hearing on WIOA and workforce issues

On March 5, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled, "Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America's Workforce.” The hearing featured four witnesses: Dr. Stephen Moret, President and CEO at the Strada Education Foundation; Molly Dodge, Senior Vice President of Workforce and Careers at Ivy Tech Community College (IN); Robert Sainz, Chair of the Board of Directors at the National Youth Employment Coalition; and Nicholas Moore, Director of the Office of Education and Workforce Transformation for Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL).

In opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) spoke about the bipartisan work done last Congress to attempt to reauthorize WIOA - the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act - through the A Stronger Workforce for America Act (ASWA) and argued that the bill “made critical reforms to encourage better outcomes for workers and employers under WIOA by [ensuring] at least 50 percent of adult and dislocated worker funding will be dedicated to providing workers the skills they need through individual training accounts, on-the-job learning, and other employer-led and industry-relevant program.” Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (D-NC) shared her support for reauthorizing WIOA this Congress, noting that it was “an issue where we can come together and find common ground to make meaningful progress.” Ranking Member Adams highlighted that “significant gaps persist” in the current WIOA programs or “we risk leaving behind a large portion of our workforce.”

All four witnesses were in strong support of reauthorizing WIOA and spoke about specific provisions in the ASWA that would strengthen the workforce development system. In her testimony, Ms. Dodge, from Ivy Tech Community College, spoke about the need for increased funding for skills training and employer partnerships and provisions that support industry collaboration and skills-based hiring practices. Moore, from the Governor of Alabama’s office, said that the ASWA would help “incentivize states to take the lead in increasing the labor force participation rate and developing career pathways leading to economic self-sufficiency.”

Members from both parties spoke generally in support of reauthorizing WIOA and in using ASWA as a starting point for a new bill this Congress. Many members highlighted specific provisions of ASWA and areas in the current WIOA law in need of reform. Full Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) spoke about the need for improved workforce data. Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO) highlighted current areas of complexity and “needless red tape” for local workforce development boards. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) noted the importance of partnerships with K-12 schools, citing an example from his district where such a partnership helped support a new curriculum, training, and a path to the workforce for many students. Full Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) spoke about the benefits of short-term certificates. And former Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) talked about the important role of community colleges in preparing workers, and how ASWA can support those partnerships.

House Education and Workforce Subcommittee holds hearing on school choice

On March 11, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled, “Education Without Limits: Exploring the Benefits of School Choice.” The subcommittee heard from four witnesses: Dr. Michael McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice; Jenny Clark, Founder of Love Your School; Jessica Levin, Litigation Director at Education Law Center; Walter Blanks, Jr., Spokesman for American Federation for Children.

During his opening statement, Subcommittee Chair Kevin Kiley (R-CA) shared his support for states and communities that have “embraced” school choice, stating that they “defy the national trend,” contrasting it with traditional public schools, which he described as having “little regard for learning outcomes.” Chair Kiley continued, emphasizing how charter schools, in particular, have been “enormously successful,” naming examples such as the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) and citing a 2023 Mathematica study that found students who attended KIPP middle and high schools were twice as likely to graduate from a four-year college as their peers. Throughout his remarks, Chair Kiley claimed Democrats opposed charter schools and school choice, more broadly, and named polls that showed public support for increased school choice.

Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) emphasized in her opening statement that public schools serve the “overwhelming majority of students,” serving “the needs of every child regardless of background or income.” Expressing support for choice with public school systems, including charter schools, Ranking Member Bonamici underscored the importance that these schools “are required to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Act.” Raising universal voucher programs, Ranking Member Bonamici contended that “voucher schemes permit private schools to discriminate against students based on disability, religion and other factors that have and they've also been found to increase segregation,” and added that there is nationwide concern that certain voucher programs “violate the constitutional principle of separation of church and state.”

Throughout the hearing, Republican Subcommittee members expressed support for a wide range of school choice options, including universal school vouchers and education savings accounts. Democratic Subcommittee members voiced concern over school choice programs, specifically vouchers and the lack of accountability and oversight with these programs. Both Republican and Democratic Subcommittee members noted the need for support for students with disabilities; Republicans shared that they believe school choice programs could better serve students with disabilities, while Democrats raised that the flexibilities provided for private schools in school choice programs would, in their view, not guarantee support the needs of students with disabilities, which is currently required in public schools.

House Appropriations Labor/HHS Subcommittee holds Member Day Hearing

On March 5, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education held a Member Day hearing. Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL) framed the hearing in his opening statement as “an opportunity for any member of Congress to come before our Subcommittee and to draw attention to issues that are important to them important their districts, and of course, issues that are important to our entire nation.” Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, who also serves as Ranking Member of the full Appropriations Committee, shared that the Subcommittee “levels the playing field for low-income children looking to get a good education.”

Two members of Congress testified at the hearing: Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Seth Magaziner (D-RI). Congressman Thompson expressed his support for career and technical education (CTE) programs, sharing that the programs offer “a path that many high achieving students choose in pursuit of industry certification” and “urging” the Subcommittee to support the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Additionally, Congressman Thompson spoke in favor of the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSPG), which he stated, “help ensure a safety net for low-income individuals and families,” requesting that the Subcommittee “provide the highest amount possible for CSPG in Fiscal Year 2026.”

Congressman Magaziner advocated for doubling the Pell Grant, noting that “the value of the Pell Grant is not keeping up with the rising cost of tuition and cost of living,” specifically, that the grants cover around one-third of the cost of attendance, down from 80%. Congressman Magaziner also added his support for CTE programs, sharing the importance of modernizing and innovating the programs to meet employer needs.

House Education and Workforce Chair Walberg shared Committee priorities in interview with AEI

On March 12, House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) shared his priorities for the Committee during the 119th Congress in an interview with Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). During the interview, Chair Walberg first named school choice as a key priority, later adding his support for working on several bills that did not pass in the last Congress: the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, the Educational Choice for Children Act, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, and the Parents Bill of Rights Act. When asked about President Trump’s call for eliminating the Department of Education, which would require an Act of Congress, Chair Walberg stated, “I share President Trump’s concern regarding the Department of Education…I’d like to see more authority returned to the states and I plan to work with the administration to achieve this.” Hess asked Chair Walberg about the College Cost Reduction Act, which advanced out of the Committee last Congress, and Chair Walberg affirmed that the bill would also be a “top priority” this Congress. Chair Walberg also shared that the Committee will continue efforts to address campus antisemitism.

House Democrats call on House Committee leadership to investigate actions by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

On March 5, House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Ranking Member Alma Adams (D-NC) and Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA) led more than 30 House Democrats in a letter calling on House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) and House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) to “investigate DOGE’s overreach, mass firings, and violations of federal workforce protections—which goes beyond the [USED] and threatens the entire federal workforce.” Specifically, the letter requests that the House Education and Workforce Committee “confront [USED]’s security breaches, staff terminations, and the fallout for students, families, and schools,” adding that the USED “cannot function under these conditions.” The letter concludes, “[USED]’s ability to function effectively is at stake, and failure to act will have lasting repercussions for your constituents, millions of students, families, educators, educational support staff, and education professionals who rely on its oversight.”

U.S. Courts:

Federal judge temporarily restores cancelled teacher preparation grants

On March 10, a U.S. District Judge in Massachusetts granted a two week temporary restraining order (TRO) and reinstated the grant funding canceled on February 7 by the Trump Administration for the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) and the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant programs. Eight states - California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin sued the USED by claiming that, in terminating the grants, the Department gave no advance notice or any explanation and violated the Administrative Procedure Act.

Federal judge affirms that nationwide preliminary injunction on President Trump’s anti-“DEI” Executive Orders (EOs) applies to all agencies

On March 10, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland clarified that its nationwide preliminary injunction against key provisions of the Administration’s anti-“DEI” EOs applies to all federal agencies and not just those specifically named in the lawsuit brought by National Association 0f Diversity Officers In Higher Education. This decision prohibits the federal government from terminating federal grants on the basis of those EOs while the lawsuit proceeds to a final resolution, pending appeal.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On March 18 at 4:00 p.m., the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will hold a webinar titled, “Rebuilding Higher Education Finance: Reform Through Reconciliation.” Panelists will explore the potential for education finance reform through budget reconciliation legislation. The panel will be moderated by Beth Akers, Senior Fellow at AEI, and include the following speakers: Lindsey Burke, Director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation; Preston Cooper, Senior Fellow at AEI; and Alex Ricci, Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications at the Education Finance Council. More information and registration are here.
• On March 19 at 3:00 p.m., the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) will host a webinar titled, “Strengthening School-Community Connections for Student Success.” The webinar will highlight findings in a recent NASBE journal, the State Education Standard, which emphasized the power of school, community, and family connections in supporting student learning and improving outcomes. The authors of the journal - Maggie Caspe and Reyna Hernandez of the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement, Jodi Grant from the Afterschool Alliance, and California State Board of Education Member Francisco Escobedo - will elevate how states can strengthen school-community connections, create the conditions for stronger family-school-community engagement, and drive policy to support these efforts. More information and registration are here.
• On March 19 at 3:00 p.m., the Education Commission of the States (ECS) will partner with the National Governors Association (NGA) to host a webinar titled, “Education Trends in Governors’ State of the State Addresses.” Presenters will dive into the education priorities named by Governors and consider what they may mean for education policy in 2025. Speakers include: Lauren Bloomquist, Policy Analyst and ECS; Lauren Peisach, Policy Analyst at ECS; and Seth Gerson, Program Director at the NGA Center for Best Practices. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On March 11, Learning Policy Institute (LPI) published a resource titled, “Public and Private School Distribution.” LPI reported that 91% of students in the U.S. attend a public school while less than 9% attend a private school. Likewise, LPI found that only 16.6% of private schools are located in distant or remote regions. LPI believes this analysis provides useful information on where private school vouchers would likely be allocated.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 1783
A bill to assist States in, and pay for the Federal share of the cost of, defraying the cost of pre-apprenticeships or related instruction associated with qualified apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

H.R. 1801
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the exclusion for certain employer payments of student loans under educational assistance programs permanent.

Sponsor: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)

H.R. 1810
A bill to address and take action to prevent bullying and harassment of students.

Sponsor: Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)

H.R. 1813
A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to set maximum monthly allowances for milk under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.

Sponsor: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)

H.R. 1825
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to eliminate the Office of Enforcement within the Office of Federal Student Aid, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)

H.R. 1826
A bill to implement or strengthen programs that increase the supply of quality child care services by enhancing the wages of child care workers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)

H.R. 1827
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the employer-provided child care credit and the dependent care assistance exclusion.

Sponsor: Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)

H.R. 1852
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require that any institution of higher education that is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code be deemed a nonprofit institution of higher education for purposes of such Act.

Sponsor: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)

H.R. 1862
A bill to declare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to Congress' powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section 8, of the Constitution.

Sponsor: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)

H.R. 1886
A bill to expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students and improve textbook price information.

Sponsor: Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)

H.R. 1889
A bill to require that States that receive a grant under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, will not prohibit licensed child care providers from performing simple food preparation of fruits and vegetables.

Sponsor: Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA)

H.R. 1901
A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permanently extend the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA)

H.R. 1999
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require staff and faculty to report foreign gifts and contracts, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. John James (R-MI)

H.R. 2003
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the interest rate on Federal student loans to 2%.

Sponsor: Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY)

H.R. 2021
A bill to provide grants to State educational agencies to support State efforts to increase teacher salaries, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)

H.R. 2028
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.

Sponsor: Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX)

H.R. 2057
A bill to affirm and protect the First Amendment rights of students and student organizations at public institutions of higher education.

Sponsor: Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN)

H.R. 2059
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.

Sponsor: Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN)

H.R. 2080
A bill to develop and disseminate a civic education curriculum and oral history resources regarding certain political ideologies, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL)

H.Res. 281
A resolution recognizing and honoring teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification.

Sponsor: Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 826
A bill to amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance on the ground of religion, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for rigorous enforcement of prohibitions against discrimination by institutions of higher education on the basis of antisemitism, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Rick Scot (R-FL)

S. 836
A bill to amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of children and teens, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA)

S. 846
A bill to implement or strengthen programs that increase the supply of quality child care services by enhancing the wages of child care workers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)

S. 847
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the employer-provided child care credit and the dependent care assistance exclusion.

Sponsor: Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)

S. 880
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education participating in Federal student assistance programs from giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to legacy students or donors.

Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

S. 906
A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a pilot program to support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students.

Sponsor: Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

S. 922
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.

Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)

S. 937
A bill to establish that an individual who is convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law related to the individual's conduct at and during the course of a protest that occurs at an institution of higher education shall be ineligible to receive a Federal student loan or for forgiveness, cancellation, waiver, or modification of certain Federal student loans.

Sponsor: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)

S. 942
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.

Sponsor: Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

S. 982
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose campus policies relating to responding to certain incidents of civil disturbance, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)

S. 986
A bill to address and take action to prevent bullying and harassment of students.

Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

S. 994
A bill to provide for accountability in higher education.

Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

S. 1001
A bill to develop and disseminate a civic education curriculum and oral history resources regarding certain political ideologies, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)

S. 1024
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize a grant program to support students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

S.Res. 107
A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of March 3 through March 7, 2025, as "National Social and Emotional Learning Week" to recognize the critical role social and emotional learning plays in supporting the academic success and overall well-being of students, educators, and families.

Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)