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Nov. 3, 2025

E-Update for November 3, 2025

The information covered below is from October 17, 2025, through October 30, 2025.

Highlights:

  • On October 30, the U.S. Department of Education released its final rule on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
  • On October 1, the federal government began a shutdown and as of October 30, the Senate has unsuccessfully voted thirteen times without garnering the 60 bipartisan votes needed to bring an end to debate on a “clean” Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the federal government.
  • On October 28, a pause on reductions in force (RIF) was extended by a federal judge who converted an October 10 temporary restraining order against the federal government into a preliminary injunction that (absent a successful appeal) will remain in place for the duration of the lawsuit challenging the RIFs.

Administration

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED to hold second Negotiated Rulemaking session of the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee: During the week of November 3, the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee – known as the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee – will meet for a second session to discuss federal student loan-related changes that are necessary as a result of the enactment of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Prior to the meeting, USED is expected to release additional materials outlining the Administration’s latest plans for implementation of OBBBA relating to fixed loan repayment plans; student loan limit provisions and definitions; miscellaneous loan repayment provisions and Public Service Loan Forgiveness; Income-Driven Repayment plans provisions; and loan deferment, forbearance, and rehabilitation provisions. The first session of the RISE Committee was held during the week of September 29. A key topic of discussion during that session was which graduate programs may qualify for higher student loan caps. According to Inside Higher Education, efforts to reach a compromise on this issue may be a key topic once again.

Indiana submits ESSA waiver request to USED: On October 17, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) submitted to USED a request to waive a number of requirements in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The waiver seeks to establish a “block grant” approach for state and district funding, which would maintain the existing distribution of funds to districts as required by law but would allow the state set-aside funds and the district funds to be combined at those respective levels for broader uses. The waiver also proposes to broaden the list of eligible recipients of school improvement funds to include local education agencies that do not operate schools identified for improvement, and it seeks to use Indiana’s state accountability system for federal accountability purposes. In submitting its request, the state wrote that the waiver “is aimed at reducing unnecessary bureaucracy” and “represents [the state’s] commitment to advancing student outcomes through innovation [and] flexibility.” USED, which sent a Dear Colleague letter in July encouraging states to submit waivers of ESSA requirements, has 120 days to respond to the waiver request.

Trump Administration seeks to transfer special education programs out of USED: On October 21, the Trump Administration confirmed that it “is exploring additional partnerships with federal agencies to support special education programs without any interruption or impact on students with disabilities.” Prior statements by President Trump and other Administration officials indicated that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the agency most likely to take over administering and monitoring implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other special education grant programs. However, the Trump Administration has not yet publicly confirmed which agency would receive the transferred work and/or funding.

While the Administration has not shared that an inter-agency agreement (IAA) has been finalized, this potential development comes in the wake of the Administration initiating a reduction in force that would terminate nearly every USED staff member in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. (See “U.S. Courts” below for more information about a federal court’s halting of the RIF.)

To date, USED has entered into one IAA to help implement a March 20 Executive Order directing Secretary McMahon, “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” That initial IAA moved substantial responsibility for career and technical education and adult education from USED to the Department of Labor. (See EducationCounsel’s June 13 Alert for more details.)

USED announces final rule on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): On October 30, USED released its final rule on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, most notably amending the definition of “qualifying employer” to “exclude organizations that engage in unlawful activities such that they have a substantial illegal purpose, including supporting terrorism and aiding and abetting illegal immigration.” The new rule was initiated by a directive in President Trump’s Executive Order, “Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness.” The Department held public hearings on April 29 and May 1, 2025, and engaged in the Negotiated Rulemaking process convening a committee of higher education stakeholders and experts June 30 through July 2, 2025. In response to the release of the final rule, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) stated, “Now, the Trump Administration is politicizing this critical debt relief and making repayment less affordable by preventing public servants whose work does not align with President Trump’s partisan political agenda from accessing loan forgiveness. These might include organizations that serve marginalized communities, such as those advocating for civil rights or immigrant and refugee families amidst rampant ICE raids, or health providers that serve LGBTQ+ youth.” The final rule will be officially published in the Federal Register here, and a fact sheet on the final rule can be found here. The rule will go into effect on July 1, 2026.

Additional institutions respond to Trump Administration’s proposed Higher Education Compact: On October 1, the White House issued a memorandum to nine colleges and universities titled the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which “lay[s] out a set of operating principles that universities would agree to in exchange for preferential access to federal funds, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). On October 20, the University of Arizona rejected the Compact, and Vanderbilt University responded to the Administration's request for feedback while withholding explicit rejection. Prior to these responses, six institutions had rejected the compact: Brown University, Dartmouth University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and University of Virginia. The University of Texas at Austin has not responded publicly.

Following the initial invitation, the White House on October 17 invited leaders of several institutions, some of which were part of the original nine invited to provide feedback, as well as three additional institutions – Arizona State University, University of Kansas and Washington University in St. Louis – to the White House to discuss the Compact, according to the Wall Street Journal. Washington University later rejected the invitation. On October 27, New College of Florida became the first institution of higher education (IHE) to announce it would sign, although it was not reported to be part of the Administration’s initial or additional outreach.

AFT and Trump Administration reach agreement to resume loan forgiveness for eligible borrowers and resume collection of loan forgiveness applications: On October 17, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) filed a joint status report in a suit against the Trump Administration, in which the Administration agreed to resume the collection of loan forgiveness applications for borrowers eligible for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) and begin processing loan cancellation for all eligible borrowers enrolled in income-based repayment, income-contingent repayment, pay-as-you-earn payment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The AFT confirmed that the actions are applicable to all borrowers, and added that the Administration will also issue refunds to any borrowers who made additional payments beyond the date of eligibility for cancellation through IDR.

Institute for Education Sciences (IES) awards nine grants through Seedlings to Scale program: IES recently awarded nine grants through the Seedlings to Scale Program, which invests federal funds in “innovative ideas within an identified focus area through three phases of increasing funding and duration to support ideas as they grow from seedlings to scalable solutions.” The current projects, under the Seamless Personalized Education Experiences Delivered at Scale (SPEED at Scale) focus area, aim to “develop innovative solutions that allow teachers to seamlessly provide personalized instruction for PreK-12 grade students.” The nine grantees and the respective projects are:

Trump Administration announces withdrawal of nomination of Kevin O’Farrell for USED Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education: On October 21, the White House announced the withdrawal of the nomination of Kevin O’Farrell for USED Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE). O’Farrell most recently served as Senior Chancellor for the Florida Department of Education's Division of Career and Adult Education. In a statement for POLITICO, USED Spokesperson Madi Biedermann said that O’Farrell chose to withdraw his nomination “following a job promotion in his home state of Florida.”

New York City Public Schools sues USED over termination of magnet schools funding: On October 15, New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) filed suit against USED, challenging the termination of $47 million in Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant funds. Local education agencies (LEAs) under desegregation plans are eligible to apply for MSAP grants to assist in the “the elimination, reduction, or prevention of minority group isolation in schools with substantial proportions of minority students,” among other purposes, and USED regularly reviews grantees for compliance. In a September 16 letter, USED’s Office for Civil Rights notified NYCPS that its grant funding would be discontinued because the district’s gender identity policies are inconsistent with Title IX, as interpreted by the Administration.

University of Virginia settles multiple federal civil rights investigations: On October 22, the University of Virginia (UVA) became the first public university to sign an agreement with the Trump Administration regarding five federal Title VI civil rights investigations. The agreement pauses the Administration’s investigations and allows the university to continue receiving federal funding on equal terms as other universities. In exchange, UVA agreed to, among other things, apply the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” but only “so long as that Guidance remains in force and to the extent consistent with relevant judicial decisions,” which is a significant caveat given the DOJ’s interpretation of current law. UVA will also provide regular updates about its compliance with the agreement (and current civil rights law) through December 31, 2028. The agreement explicitly addresses the question of academic freedom, stating that “no provision of this Agreement…shall be construed as giving the United States authority to dictate the content of academic speech or curricula.” Although it is not mentioned in the agreement, it is worth noting that four months before UVA entered into this agreement, UVA President James Ryan announced that he would step down in response to DOJ’s demands for policy and personnel changes at UVA, including Mr. Ryan’s resignation.

Congress

Senate:

Senate continues standoff leading to federal government shutdown: On October 1, the federal government began a shutdown after the Senate failed to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend federal funding. Republicans remain committed to passing a “clean” continuing resolution that would reopen the government, while Democrats have continued to seek an extension of health insurance subsidies, reversal of Medicaid funding cuts, and an end to fast-track procedures to rescind funds, as well as prohibiting “pocket rescissions.” As of October 30, the Senate has unsuccessfully voted thirteen times without garnering the 60 bipartisan votes needed to bring an end to debate on a “clean” CR and the Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has said they will no longer vote on the Democrats’ version of the CR. Additionally, on October 23, the Senate failed to pass S. 3012 by a vote of 54-45, which would have provided funding for federal workers during the shutdown.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Collins urges USDA to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit payments: On October 23, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the agency to take all possible actions to ensure that SNAP benefit payments continue during the ongoing government shutdown. Chair Collins emphasizes the importance of the SNAP program to families in her home state of Maine and urges Secretary Rollins to “consider all available options…including the use of contingency funds and looking at the viability of partial payments” to provide SNAP benefits. Subsequently, on October 24, Chair Collins joined Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) in co-sponsoring legislation that would ensure SNAP payments continued uninterrupted during the shutdown.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Cassidy issues letter to governors encouraging participation in new tax credit: On October 14, Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) issued letters to governors “encouraging” the state leaders “to support educational opportunity by opting [their state] into the recently enacted federal scholarship tax credit.” The new dollar-for-dollar tax credit, which was passed as part of H.R. 1, or OBBBA, would apply to qualifying charitable contributions to tax-exempt state and local organizations included by the state on an annual list of “scholarship granting organizations” (SGOs) that provide scholarships (or vouchers) to elementary or secondary school students in their same state. Chair Cassidy writes that the tax credit “complements existing state-level education programs,” and that “it will not impact federal or state education funding or diminish public schools.” Rather, Chair Cassidy contends that “it gives families more options—whether in public or private, religious or non-religious settings—and allows students to either pursue new opportunities or enrich their current education.”

Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Murray leads Senate Democrats in letters to USED Secretary McMahon and HHS Secretary Kennedy regarding agency reductions in force (RIFs): On October 20, Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) led Senate Democrats, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and HELP Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), in letters to USED Secretary Linda McMahon and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. describing the detrimental impacts that mass agency firings will have on students and families. Calling attention to the RIFs at USED, the Senators highlighted that RIFs include “approximately 20 percent of the Department’s remaining workforce.” Additionally, the Senators noted, “Continuing to fire employees working on bipartisan programs that provide students with additional educational resources or confer educational rights on children does not serve these students better or make the government more efficient.” The letter describes the firings of staff in USED’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), and Office of Higher Education Programs, naming the specific laws, programs, and funding that these offices are charged with implementing and the consequential impacts of the RIFs in doing so. Similarly, the letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy describes how the cuts will impact the agency’s Division of Children and School Mental Health, Administration for Children and Families, and Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five program in the Office of Early Childhood Development, among others. The letters call the RIFs “illegal…reckless and harmful actions” that will “[hurt] students and families in every part of the country.”

Senate HELP Committee Chair Cassidy introduces legislation to safeguard student data privacy during use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools: On October 28, Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced S. 3063, the “Learning Innovation and Family Empowerment (LIFE) with AI Act,” which would establish “a parent-centered framework to safeguard student data privacy, enhance transparency, and encourage the responsible and optional use of AI in K-12 personalized learning.” A fact sheet describes the key components of the bill’s aim to protect students' privacy, including “prohibiting the use of student photos to train facial recognition AI without prior parental consent, as well as “a process for crafting model privacy language for ed-tech contract consistency.” Aiming to help train teachers about AI use, the bill also “directs the creation of evidence-based training resources and materials to aid teachers in using AI well in their classrooms.”

Senator Hawley introduces bipartisan legislation to protect children from AI chatbots: On October 28, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced S. 3062, the “Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue (GUARD) Act of 2025,” which requires artificial intelligence chatbots to implement age verification measures and make certain disclosures. Specifically, the bill would ban AI companies from providing AI companions to minors, and mandate that AI companions disclose their non-human status and lack of professional credentials for all users. Co-sponsors of the bill include Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).

House:

House Appropriations Ranking Member DeLauro releases fact sheet highlighting the impact of the current federal government shutdown, including reductions in force (RIFs) at USED: On October 29, House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) published a fact sheet to call attention to the impact of the current federal government shutdown. Specifically, the fact sheet calls attention to the RIFs at USED, including a specific accounting of the RIFs by office within USED. The fact sheet confirms that the layoffs include “137 staff at the Office of Civil Rights; 132 staff at the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; 121 staff at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; and 64 staff at the Office of Postsecondary Education.”

House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott calls attention to impact of RIFs at USED and HHS and calls for GAO investigation: On October 17, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) urged the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to “investigate and issue a legal opinion as to whether actions taken to effectuate RIFs at various federal agencies on or after October 1, 2025 are legal under federal law and the Constitution.” In a letter to GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Ranking Member Scott alleges the Administration is “usurping the power of the purse from Congress” in carrying out the RIFs at several federal agencies, including USED, the scope of which “seriously calls into question whether the employees remaining at certain agencies can carry out the tasks mandated to them in law by Congress.” The letter emphasizes that the GAO is “empowered by Congress to ‘investigate all matters related to the receipt, disbursement, and use of public money’” and requests that an investigation evaluates the Constitutionality of the firings, as well as whether the actions violate the Anti-deficiency Act.

Ranking Member Scott then sent letters to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought regarding the RIFs at USED and HHS. In an October 21 letter, Ranking Member Scott demands the compliance with an October 15 court order to rescind RIF notices issued since the beginning of the shutdown. The letter also requests documentation and communications demonstrating the compliance, as well as analyses showing the agencies are able to execute statutorily required programs and functions in light of RIFs. An October 27 letter follows on, demanding the reversal of layoffs and reinstatement of fired employees at USED and HHS, naming specific offices and corresponding programs that those employees were responsible for implementing. Signed by 15 additional Democratic members of Congress, the letter concludes that without the reinstatement of those employees, “the health and safety of those in our country, as well as the education of our nation’s students, hangs in the balance.”

House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Scott leads House Democrats in comments on USED Secretary’s Proposed Supplemental Priority on Promoting Patriotic Education, requesting USED withdraw the proposed priority: On October 17, House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) led several House Democrats in comments on USED Secretary’s Proposed Supplemental Priority on Promoting Patriotic Education. The proposed priority was the fifth priority announced by USED, and would “focus grant funds on programs that promote a patriotic education that cultivates citizen competency and informed patriotism … and communicates the American political tradition to students at all levels.” The comments offered by Ranking Member Scott acknowledged that “civics education is a vital component of a well-functioning democracy,” but express concern regarding the details of the priority as proposed. Specifically, the comments noted that the “federal government does not and cannot control curriculum,” and contends that the current proposal “would insert this Administration’s preferences of a particular understanding of American history in curriculum, professional development, and educational programs.”

The comments call attention to the proposed definition of “patriotic education,” asserting that the “framing creates the potential for schools that teach accurate and complex histories of slavery, Indigenous displacement, the Women’s Suffrage Movement, and the Civil Rights Movement to be limited in their ability to access certain discretionary grants.” Finally, the comments note how the priority was proposed amid the issuing of non-continuation notices of “19 of the approximately 26 recipients of federal American History and Civics grants…effectively defunding their work, because the Department claimed, without further explanation the projects did not align with the Administration’s standards of ‘merit, fairness, and excellence’ and also claimed that some of the projects may have violated civil rights laws.” The members express concern regarding these decisions, which they write “risk further marginalizing students in historically disenfranchised groups and inadequately preparing our children for the future without an accurate understanding of America’s past.” The members conclude their comments requesting that the Department withdraw the proposed priority entirely.

U.S. Courts

Federal judge extends pause on new reductions in force: On October 28, reduction-in-force (RIF) notices impacting 4,000 federal workers—including 466 from USED—were further halted by a federal judge, who converted an October 10 temporary restraining order against the federal government into a preliminary injunction that (absent a successful appeal) will remain in place for the duration of the lawsuit challenging the RIFs.

Twenty-five states sue USDA regarding suspension of SNAP contingency funding: On October 28, twenty-five states filed a lawsuit challenging USDA’s decision not to tap its contingency funds or other available resources to provide SNAP benefits during the shutdown. The case contends that the USDA “suspended SNAP benefits even though, on information and belief, it has funds available to it that are sufficient to fund all, or at least a substantial portion, of November SNAP benefits.” Additionally, the plaintiff states allege that the suspension is “contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.” 

Federal judge grants preliminary injunction to restore BSCA grants: On October 27, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against USED in a lawsuit challenging USED’s decision this summer to discontinue about $1 billion in mental health grants made pursuant to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). In April, USED notified almost all of the grantees under two BSCA grant programs that they would not receive additional years of funding they had been awarded under the original five-year grant because their programs “reflect the prior Administration’s priorities and policy preferences and conflict with those of the current Administration.” Sixteen states filed suit in June arguing that the abrupt terminations “have already caused and will cause immediate and devastating harm to Plaintiff States.” The plaintiff states include CA, CO, CT, DE, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, NY, NV, OR, RI, WA, and WI.

The court found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in proving that the discontinuation decisions were arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The preliminary injunction will restore funding for a total of 49 grantees in those states while the lawsuit proceeds; the list of restored grants appears on page 25 of the court’s order. (Note that although Nevada is part of the lawsuit, it does not have a grantee among those listed.) Additionally, the injunction prevents USED from awarding the contested funds to different grantees through two new BSCA grant competitions that USED launched in September, applications for which are due on October 29.

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

  • On November 5 at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Registered Apprenticeship: Scaling the Workforce for the Future.” Witnesses include: Josh Laney, Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN); Latitia McCane, The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding; Gardner Carrick, The Manufacturing Institute; John Downey, International Union of Operating Engineers; and Brent Booker, Laborers’ International Union of North America. The hearing will be held in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.
  • On November 6 at 10:00 a.m., the Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Reforming Financial Transparency in Higher Education.” Witnesses include: Justin Draeger, Senior Vice President for Affordability at Strada Education Foundation; Brenda Hick, Director of Financial Aid at Southwestern College; Preston Cooper, Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute; Onjila Odeneal, Chief Executive Officer at Detroit Promise; and Mark Huelsman, Director of Policy and Advocacy at The HOPE Center for Student Basic Needs. The hearing will be held in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.
  • On November 20 and 21, the National Assessment Governing Board will hold its Quarterly Meeting. On Thursday, November 20, the following Committees will meet regarding responsibilities in their jurisdiction: Assessment Development Committee, Committee on Standards, Design and Methodology, Reporting and Dissemination Committee, and Nominations Committee. On Friday, November 21, the full Governing Board will hear from a number of representatives, including Mark White, Chair of the Governing Board, Nicholas Kent, Under Secretary of Education, Lesley Muldoon, Executive Director, who will provide an update on the Board's work, followed by a report from Matthew Soldner, Acting Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). More information is here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

  • On November 4 at 3:00 p.m., Grantmakers for Thriving Youth will host a webinar titled, "Building Whole-Family Civic Engagement: Research from the Children’s and Parent Leadership Training Institute." Join GTY, NYU Metro Center, University of Michigan, and the National Parent Leadership Institute to discuss findings and recommendations from the “Building Power Together: Family Civics in Communities of Color” study. Funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, this 4-year mixed method study focused on a community-based civic leadership initiative for parents/caregivers and their children, ages 3-12 — the Children’s Leadership Training Institute (CLTI) and the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). The webinar includes researchers, Dr. Joanna Geller, Dr. Matthew Truwit, and Dr. Wendy Y. Perez, and a panel with PLTI and CLTI alumni, Shatara Tucker and her son Liam, and CLTI teacher, Tyler Benson. Spanish interpretation will be available. Registration is here.
  • On November 4 at 3:00 p.m., the Campaign for Grade Level Reading will host a webinar titled, “Revisiting Head Start as a Cornerstone for Early Learning & Development: Emerging Challenges & Opportunities.” The webinar will feature current and former Head Start leaders and field experts as they explore how to strengthen and adapt Head Start to the current educational climate. Panelists will discuss whether and how Head Start will contribute to efforts to ensure children growing up in economically challenged families receive the support, services, and learning opportunities to prepare them to succeed in school. The panel will be moderated by  Lori Masseur, Read On Arizona and panelists include: Deborah Bergeron, Ph.D., The Academy at National Head Start Association, Former Director, HHS Office of Head Start; Eve Del Real, Ph.D., Southwest Human Development, Arizona Head Start Association; Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, Early Start, Former Director, HHS Office of Head Start; Bernadine P. Futrell, Ph.D., Institute for Educational Leadership, Former Director HHS Office of Head Start; and Carrie Gillispie, Ed.D., New America. Registration is here.
  • On November 13 at 2:00 p.m., Education Week will host a virtual forum titled, “How Schools Are Navigating AI Advances.” The webinar will examine how schools are striking a balance between using AI to improve teaching and learning and avoiding the potentially harmful effects it can have on students and teachers. Presenters will share insights on how schools are creating AI policies and building strategies to integrate technology in developmentally appropriate ways. More information and registration are here.
  • On November 13 at 3:00 p.m., Learning Policy Institute will begin a webinar series titled, “2026 Legislative Prep Session: Education Challenges and Solutions.” From chronic absence to major shifts in federal funding, state legislators and education leaders will face significant decisions in 2026 as they work to strengthen public education systems and address emerging and persistent challenges. This three-part webinar series, co-hosted by Education Commission of the States (EC), LPI, and National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), offers timely, nonpartisan research and real-world policy solutions, drawing from a broad range of state experiences. Each session focuses on pressing education challenges and combines research presentations with insights from education leaders in both Democratic- and Republican-led states. By highlighting evidence-based strategies and bipartisan approaches, the series is designed to equip legislators and education leaders with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate complex debates, craft effective policies, and advance equitable opportunities for students in the years ahead. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

  • On October 7, Learning Policy Institute (LPI) released a report titled, “Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments.” The report studies behavioral threat assessment (BTA) systems, which are intended to respond to threats of violence from students by intervening with appropriate support. The report found that many schools encounter implementation challenges with BTA systems, oftentimes following practices not tied to established BTA models and sometimes leading to unintended consequences and disparities. The report suggests focusing on problem solving approaches and intervention to avoid these disparities.
  • On October 31, LPI published a blog titled, “The Implications of H.R. 1 for School Funding and What States Can Do.” The blog covers how the Federal changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), including modifications to Medicaid and SNAP, will alter how states identify students from low-income backgrounds. This, along with changes affecting student attendance and enrollment, will disrupt state education funding systems, prompting the need to adopt both short-term and long-term strategies for ensuring funding stability and equity.  
  • On August 26, The Century Foundation released a resource titled, “Trump Announcement on Public Benefits Does Not Change Legal Protections for K–12 Students.” The resource discusses the recent interpretive notices form USED and HHS, on potential eligibility immigrants have for some federally funded programs. It outlines the effects the notices may have on program providers and students and includes information on what schools districts and service providers can do in response.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 5769

A bill to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to improve provisions relating to dyslexia, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN)

H.R. 5774

A bill to amend the Head Start Act to protect Head Start from proposals to eliminate the program and restore the Head Start program’s regional offices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)

H.R. 5779

A bill to establish a program of workforce development as an alternative to college for all, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Max Miller (R-OH)

H.R. 5790

A bill to require the reimbursement of State governments, local governments, and school districts by the Government for funds used by them to maintain participation in Head Start and Early Head Start during a Government shutdown.
Sponsor: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

H.R. 5806

A bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to eligible applicants to provide stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)

H.R. 5807

A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a fund to provide support services for individuals participating in certain training activities under such Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)

H.R. 5812

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to cap certain intercollegiate athletics compensation and buyouts as a condition of institutional participation in Federal student aid programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA)

H.R. 5816

A bill to prohibit penalties, interest accrual, negative credit implications, or other adverse actions for qualified student loans for Federal employees during a lapse in Federal funding.
Sponsor: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)

H.R. 5927

A bill to advance bipartisan, common sense solutions.
Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY)

H.R. 5843

A bill to provide Federal student loan borrower relief for Federal employees.
Sponsor: Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)

H.R. 5850

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education, as a condition of participating in programs under title IV of such Act, to not terminate or otherwise alter the enrollment status of a student due to a disruption of the student’s Federal student financial aid under such title caused by a lapse in appropriations.
Sponsor: Rep. Shomari Figures (D-AL)

H.R. 5860

A bill to require the immediate release of funds appropriated for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM)

H.R. 5867

A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot grant program to make grants to school food authorities to provide 100 percent plant-based food and milk options, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)

H.Res. 821

A resolution expressing support for the recognition of October 2025 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month".
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 3063

A bill to improve student privacy, parental choice, and personalized learning innovation in education.
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)

S. 3070

A bill to provide Federal student loan borrower relief for Federal employees.
Sponsor: Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)

S. 3071

A bill to appropriate funds to ensure uninterrupted benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
Sponsor: Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)

S.Res. 471

A resolution calling on Congress, schools, and State and local educational agencies to recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must be addressed, and designating October 2025 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month".
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)

 

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These materials have been prepared for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Internet subscribers and online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.