Category: Government Actions

PDE Announces 2026-27 Programming Opportunities through Mikayla’s Voice (October 1, 2026)

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education announces Mikayla’s Voice programming for the 2026-2027 school year. This programming is grant-funded and available at no cost to districts. Mikayla’s Voice offers original programming to help build a positive school culture and ensure the well-being of your staff and students, and includes all of the following: 
Two Assemblies: 
Two school-wide assemblies are held in which the book Our Friend Mikayla is shared. One of the presenters is a student or young adult with a disability who also shares their personal story. Questions are encouraged for further discussion about having a friend with a disability. Each presentation concludes with an invitation for all students to serve as Mikayla’s “Voice.” 
One Art Project: 
Participating schools choose one of the following projects in which 24 students of all abilities will work together to create large-scale artwork to celebrate kindness and friendship in their school.
–Wheels of Friendship®:
Wheels of Friendship® is an original art program that incorporates wheelchair painting and tissue paper decoupage, both mediums that offer success for students of all abilities. Together, the group of students choose the theme for their art and decide how best to represent kindness, belonging, and friendship in their school. 
-Kaya’s Kaleidoscope: Kaya’s Kaleidoscope is created when students complete their own individual canvases that work together in an interactive, puzzle-like design. Symbolic of school communities, every canvas is as essential to the mural as each student is at their school. And, in keeping with Mikayla’s Voice message, mission, and style, each canvas features wheelchair tracks, tissue paper decoupage, and a yellow spot. The canvases can be arranged and rotated any way, creating an endless number of options…each as unique and beautiful as the next. The interactive exhibits allow thousands of students to engage in art and consider its many lessons. 

Artwork Unveiling and Installation: 
Once complete, all student artists help unveil their collaborative artwork and share its message with the entire school community before it is permanently installed in their school. This culminating, year-end school-wide celebration also provides an opportunity to highlight individual and class projects based on the books or lessons and revisit Mikayla’s Voice message and mission with all students. 

Books about Belonging:
Mikayla’s Voice has published four children’s books written and illustrated by kids for other kids about having a friend with a disability. Mikayla was born with a brain injury, Jeffrey has Down Syndrome, Brady is challenged by autism, and Dot has a yellow spot, but these books are not about the main characters or their disabilities. They are about friendship and kindness. Two of each book are provided for your elementary school library and/or for your middle/high school students to share with younger students in your district. 
•    Our Friend Mikayla 
•    High Fives and A Big Heart 
•    Super Brady ~ Always on the Move! 
•    The Spot 

Mikayla’s Bookshelf Enrichment Website: 
“Mikayla’s Bookshelf” includes electronic versions of all four books, making it easier to share them with all classes, students, and families. The books are available in alternate formats such as read aloud and braille. The books are just the foundation upon which enrichment lessons for teachers and/or older students build upon to introduce and/or reinforce Mikayla’s Voice message of kindness, belonging, and friendship.

Mentor Program: 
Middle and high school students are encouraged to serve as mentors to read books to the younger students and complete several enrichment lessons from Mikayla’s Voice bookshelf. 

Data Collection: 
Mikayla’s Voice has partnered with Drs. Dever and Lindstrom as part of an ongoing program assessment for improvement and replication. Participating schools are required to complete pre- and post-data collection to measure the global quality of the programs and the ability to improve school culture and community. All data is reported in aggregate form, and no school is identified in the data report. 

Ease of Programs: 
Mikayla’s Voice assigns a Program and Outreach Coordinator who will facilitate on-site programming at schools and bring all materials and supplies. Districts assign a liaison for scheduling assemblies and art programs and to be present during art projects.

Schools interested in participating can contact: 
Molly Lick, Director of Programs, at 610-730-1644 or mlick@khs.org  Rita Cheskiewicz, Executive Director, at 484-523-7215 or rita@mikaylasvoice.org.

Schools are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis

USDE to Require Additional Layer Prior to Drawing Down Pre-Approved Funding (October 1, 2026)

Despite being seen by some as additional red tape, starting November 1, 2026, all U.S. Department of Education (USDE) grant recipients will be required to have written justification for drawing down pre-approved funding. ,

According to a September 28, 2026 agency memo. an additional step has been added to add accountability and transparency for spending taxpayer funds. The directive comes from President Donald Trump’s February 2025 executive order for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Cost Efficiency Initiative, also known as “defend the spend.”

As per the memo, grant recipients will be required to provide “clear, detailed justifications for each payment request.” Each request must include the program name, expense categories and amounts, and the start and end dates for expenses. The written justifications can be no longer than 255 characters and clear without additional narrative. The directive applies to all Education Department grant recipients, including those with programs for early childhood education, K-12, higher education and adult education.

Some education organizations, including the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDE), are expressing concern that the process could cause delays in moving federal resources to schools, school districts, and states. Presently, federal education funds are drawn down through state agencies, but the new justification requirements would create additional administrative work for both states and school districts since another layer of pre-approval paperwork increases administrative burden and redirect limited administrative capacity away from teaching, learning, and student services.

On September 30, 2026, NASDE released a statement the new requirement will “impact every student in every school,” especially students with disabilities. In fact, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes both formula and discretionary grant funds that students with disabilities depend on to receive timely services.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

Federal Anti-swatting Guidance for Schools Focuses on Preparation (September 29, 2026)

According to guidance issued jointly on September 25, 2026 by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), K-12 schools can better prepare for and protect themselves from swatting incidents by developing procedures and training to identify and respond to false threats. Swatting is identified as a “crisis” that causes significant disruption and trauma to school communities. Swatting also costs taxpayers millions of dollars in personnel and equipment, lost classroom time, and property damage.

The guidance recommends several steps that schools and colleges can take, including training their staff and educating their communities on typical characteristics of a swatting event so they can detect false threats sooner.

According to both agencies, all threats should be treated as credible when they are received.

To view the guidance document, click here.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

PA Schools Urged to Include Bullying Prevention and School Safety Assessments in Their PCCD Grant (September 29, 2026)

Pennsylvania school districts can strengthen bullying prevention, school safety and student well-being through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) School Safety and Mental Health Grants. Center for Schools and Communities (CSC) offers two services that may be included in grant applications:

–Center for Safe Schools’ Physical Security and Behavioral Health/School Climate Assessments, which identify gaps and provide actionable recommendations to improve school safety.

–Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), an evidence-based, schoolwide approach that provides training, tools and ongoing support to prevent and address bullying. 

Applications are due , 2026. Contact CSC for free cost estimates and guidance on incorporating these services into your grant application.

Learn more about these services and request free estimates

USDE Rescinds USDE Title IX Gender Identity Rule

On September 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) formally rescinded 2024 Title IX regulations, which for the first time had incorporated LGBTQ+ protections for students and school employees. The agency’s move repeals the 2024 regulations, which had been stopped by the courts. USDE rescinded the 2024 rule, which provided Title IX protections against sex-based discrimination to also cover gender identity without a public notice and comment period.

Source: K-12 Dive