Education

In Los Angeles, the youth-led activist group Students Deserve, alongside families and educators, is actively advocating for Black students' right to an inclusive and peaceful educational environment within the LAUSD. This effort persists despite ongoing legal challenges from conservative entities seeking to undermine racial equity initiatives.

The Family Life Center at Saint Paul Church launched the STEM Summer Institute, offering high-quality STEM education to students from underserved communities. Funded by the SMUD Shine Grant program, the initiative was led by professional role models, aiming to inspire and prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The recent decision to cut $400 million in AmeriCorps funding poses a significant threat to organizations like Teach For America, which rely on this financial support to sustain the pipeline of educators entering high-need communities. AmeriCorps funding empowers communities to address critical issues, serving as a vital engine for progress and strengthening civic engagement nationwide. Revert

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," recently signed into law, threatens to leave 16 million Americans without health insurance and reduces funding for Medicaid and SNAP, programs crucial to 45% of U.S. children for healthcare and nutrition.

The American Federation of Teachers has announced a collaboration with tech leaders Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to establish the National Academy for AI Instruction. This $23 million initiative aims to offer complimentary AI training and curriculum to all 1.8 million AFT members, focusing on revolutionizing the integration and instruction of AI in classrooms nationwide.

A group of tech companies and teachers' unions has launched a $23 million initiative to train 400,000 K-12 teachers in AI over the next five years.

Colleges and universities across the nation are facing significant financial challenges, driven by declining enrollment figures, escalating tuition costs, and rigid academic structures. A proposed flexible degree model, enabling students to integrate various disciplines, may offer a solution to these pressing issues.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a federal budget proposal that would slash Pell Grant funding by $9 billion, reducing the maximum award to $5,710. This change would restrict eligibility to students completing 30 academic credit hours, a move that could significantly impact community colleges and adult learners who often balance education with work and family responsibilities.

The VIP Scholars Program at UCLA, designed to help disadvantaged students prepare for college, could be at risk due to President Trump's attack on DEI, which could lead to a loss of federal funds and grants.

The persistent issue of lead exposure in schools continues to disproportionately affect children in predominantly Black and low-income communities, exacerbated by aging infrastructure and insufficient resources. Despite the urgency, federal efforts to address the crisis remain inadequate, leaving vulnerable populations at risk.