Education

President Donald Trump is anticipated to sign a sweeping executive order today to initiate the dismantling of the Department of Education, a pivotal agency established to ensure educational equity and enforce civil rights laws, with significant implications for Black students.

Black students are disproportionately represented in special education, often due to biased interpretations of their behavior rather than actual disabilities. The potential dismantling of the Department of Education raises concerns that these students may be further underserved and misclassified.

Black journalists are actively addressing the shrinking pipeline for future storytellers by providing access to journalism programs and ensuring accurate coverage of Black communities, amid limited opportunities for the next generation.

In 2020, visual artist Amanda Williams created a series of paintings to challenge perceptions of race and identity. Spelman College is now using these works to inspire conversations about racial healing and Black identity.

President Donald Trump's employment cuts to the Department of Education will disproportionately impact Black K-12 students, undermining significant advancements for marginalized students. The reductions affect key offices, including the Office of Civil Rights, the Institute of Education Sciences, and the Federal Student Aid Office.

Democratic attorneys general from 20 states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of undermining the Department of Education to advance an illegal agenda aimed at dismantling the agency.

Artificial intelligence is transforming K-12 education, yet critics argue it is flawed and biased. Parents possess the right to refuse certain technologies and must be informed about the racial disparities inherent in these systems.

Nikole Hannah-Jones will host a free event in Waterloo, Iowa, to honor Black authors and themes after the local school district canceled the annual read-in. The cancellation followed President Trump's threat to withhold federal funding from schools that integrate diversity into their curriculum.

Black K-12 students in California are experiencing significant academic disparities, with projections indicating they will not achieve reading proficiency until 2070 and math proficiency until 2089. These delays are attributed to a range of systemic issues, including poverty and persistent inequities.

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, a retired Army commander, was dismissed from his position as superintendent of Virginia Military Institute after advocating for cultural change and securing increased state funding and enrollment, despite opposition from influential alumni.