Category: Federal Government Actions

Policy Changes and Funding Cuts Expected to Affect Learning, School Budgets (September 24, 2026)

When free school meals are no longer available to all students, teachers report an increase in student hunger and behavior issues that impact the ability to focus on learning, according to a study published this month by the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

The study analyzed teacher interviews conducted after the end of a nationwide, pandemic-era universal free school meal policy in June 2022. The findings come as school nutrition and anti-hunger advocates fear more students will lose access to universal school meal programs in 2026-27 due to Trump administration-led policy changes.

One of those policy changes is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “public charge” final rule that puts noncitizens’ green card applications at risk if an applicant — including their U.S.-born children — uses federal public benefits, such as Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The DHS regulation went into effect September 18, 2026.

In addition, according to a September 21, 2026 report by The School Superintendents Association (AASA), 67% of superintendents say that current funding levels are moderately or significantly hindering school meal programs. Further, two out of 5 leaders said they had to pull funding from elsewhere in their school district budgets to cover the cost of feeding students last year, such as tapping into their rainy day balances or deferring maintenance upgrades. Also, nearly one-third said they had to reduce spending on academic programs, intervention supports, tutoring, or enrichment to make up for insufficient federal reimbursements.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here and here.

Federal Judge Vacates USDE Anti-DEI Directive That  Resulted in PD Grant Cuts (September 22, 2026)

A federal judge ruled the Education Department directive and its cancellation of hundreds of millions in funds for teacher training programs was unlawful.

As reported by K-12 Dive, on September 17, 2026 a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) anti-diversity, equity and inclusion directive and its cancellation of hundreds of millions in funds for teacher training programs was unlawful. The final court order was issued as part of a lawsuit from eight states challenging the grant cuts and comes over a year after the USDE abruptly cut over 100 grants from the Teacher Quality Partnership Program and the Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant program because those programs trained teachers using “divisive ideologies.”

Issued in February 2025, the Trump administration “Eliminating Discrimination and Fraud in Department Grant Awards” directive, which was used to justify the cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal teacher training grants, was found to be arbitrary, capricious and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

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Court Filing: USDE is Withholding Important Documents During Discovery Process (September 17, 2026)

A September 14, 2026 filing as part of New York v. McMahon claims that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) is withholding over 1,000 documents related to how the reductions-in-force (RIFs) of employees were planned and carried out.

Led by New York, more than 20 states and the District of Columbia sued the USDE on March 11, 2025 in the wake of the layoffs.

The September 14, 2026 court motion by the plaintiffs claims that the USDE is withholding approximately 1,072 of the identified 1,212 documents they have sought in the discovery process and they are asking the court to compel the USDE to produce those documents. Thus far, the USDE has continued to withhold hundreds of documents, averring that the internal agency documents are “privileged.” One particular document, titled “RIF Brief,” was dated five days prior to the layoffs on March 11, 2025.

For more details from K-12 Dive, click here.

Bureau of Special Education Fiscal Training 2026 (September 17, 2026)

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) oversees states’ compliance with federal special education statutes, regulations, and requirements. As part of its compliance monitoring process, OSEP includes a fiscal verification review that focuses on key federal areas such as the use of funds for Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS), Maintenance of Effort (MOE), and the general use of federal funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B).

To support local educational agencies in understanding both federal requirements and related state processes, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is providing training for special education directors and business administrators. This training will address topics including IDEA-B, Contingency Funding, Act 16, Maintenance of Effort, Data Collection, and the Approved Private School Electronic Management System (APSEM).

Participation in this training is required for all school districts, charter schools and intermediate units. Given the focus on IDEA-B fiscal reporting and data verification, PDE strongly recommends that both the special education director and business administrator attend. If a district, charter school or intermediate unit contracts its business services, the contracted business representative should also attend.

This year, there will be nine training options. We are offering Beginner training for new or newer admin and Advanced training for returning admin. Please register for one of the following:

In-Person Sessions:

Live Virtual Sessions:

  • Online (Live via Zoom) – , 2026 | 9:00 – 11:00 AM (Beginner) 1:00 – 3:00 PM (Advanced)

Self-Paced Option: 

Registration and session information is available at the PaTTAN Events webpage.

Any questions about registration should be directed to Sharon Kennedy, PaTTAN, 717-901-2265 or skennedy@pattan.net. Any other questions regarding the fiscal training should be directed to Marcia Wilson, PDE Division of Analysis & Financial Reporting, at 717-736-7266 or marciawils@pa.gov.

Shrinking USDE Offers State Decision-making Playbook (September 12, 2026)

On September 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced a new resource to help states build capacity for problem-solving and program improvements. The resource encourages states to take greater ownership of problem-solving and finding effective solutions to challenges as the USDE shrinks in both size and scope. It also purports to help states build capacity for problem-solving and program improvements and will allow states “to ask and answer their own questions of issues and goals and matters that are most important to those states and local communities.”

The Learning Agenda Playbook will include case studies, templates, guidance and other resources to help state education agencies (SEAs) set goals, measure progress and make financial investments in their initiatives cover such priorities as literacy, teacher recruitment and retention, and agency alignment. and can be adapted to each state’s needs and context.

The playbook was developed with the help of eight states (Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin) that piloted the resources over the past year.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.