Erica MeltzerErica Meltzer is Chalkbeat’s national editor based in Colorado.From the AuthorPolicy and LegislationTrump has signed an executive order to close the Education Department. Here’s what it says.ChalkbeatLegally, only Congress has the power to eliminate the department. But the administration recently laid off nearly half its staff.Policy and LegislationED slashes nearly half of workforceChalkbeatEducation Secretary Linda McMahon said the move is a first step toward eliminating the department.Policy and LegislationEducators sue to block enforcement of anti-diversity civil rights guidanceChalkbeatThree educator groups have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy requiring K-12 schools to either eliminate any DEI initiatives and programming or lose federal funding.Policy and LegislationSchool diversity efforts could violate civil rights, Trump administration saysFor nearly two decades school district leaders have believed they are within the law to use non-racial criteria such as household income and ZIP code to diversify schools. But the ED's letter claims even those efforts are illegal and will be investigated.Student Achievement and AssessmentNAEP scores show disheartening trends for the lowest-performing studentsChalkbeatThe 2024 results released on Wednesday paint a sobering picture of academic haves and have-nots across the country.Success StoriesClosing struggling schools helped student achievement in Denver, study findsChalkbeat ColoradoThe analysis found that most students who left closed Denver schools and attended new ones saw their test scores go up, with greater gains for English learners and students with disabilities.Page 1 of 1
