Category: Government Actions

FAFSA 2026 Sees Record Completion Rate (May 19, 2026)

According to a May 13th report by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), the rate of high school seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) hit an all-time high with the class of 2026.   

That record rate of 54.7%, set as of May 1, 2026, came well before the June 30th cutoff date NCAN has historically used to measure each class’s final completion rate. 

NCAN attributed this year’s strong completion to an early launch of the FAFSA in September 2025, processing improvements, requirements in nine states for graduating high school students to complete FAFSAs, and stakeholders having adjusted to an updated version of the form.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

USDE Closes Office of English Language Acquisition (May 17, 2026)

On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) closed the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), over a year after gutting its staff to just one. The office reportedly had around 15 employees.

In doing so, the agency is compromising school districts’ ability to provide instruction to English learners, according to public education advocates who oppose the move. The Trump administration, however, defends the action as one that will cut red tape and ultimately provide more focus on the topic.

The OELA was the only arm of the federal agency dedicated to ensuring that English learners and immigrant students gained English proficiency and academic success, that schools preserved students’ heritage languages and cultures, and that all students had the chance to develop biliteracy or multiliteracy skills.

Congress appropriated $890 million in Title III funding in fiscal year 2026 for the office to support over 5 million English language learners in U.S. schools, including through professional development grants and other resources to help educators support these students. While the funding will remain, its administrative responsibilities will be to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) which, as per an interagency agreement, places many OESE functions within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The USDE did not provide information on whether DOL will also administer Title III or English learner supports going forward.

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

Greg Moyer’s Law Becomes Act 17 of 2026 (May 16, 2026)

On May 13, 2026, Senate Bill 375, also known as Greg Moyer’s Law, became Act 17 of 2026 when it was signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro. This comes after over a decade of advocacy by Senator Rosemary Brown alongside the Moyer family, who tragically lost their 15-year-old son, Greg, to sudden cardiac arrest during a high school basketball game.

The new legislation requires AEDs to be present at all PIAA-sanctioned athletic events and practices and ensures schools have emergency action plans in place for sudden cardiac arrest situations. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Brown, was due to the efforts of Greg’s parents, Rachel and John Moyer, and his sisters, Abbie and Katie Moyer, whose advocacy, strength, and dedication were the driving force behind this legislation.

Click here to view Act 17 of 2026.

USDE to Release $144M for Special Ed., Early Intervention (May 14, 2026)

According to a May 13, 2026 announcement by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), states and school districts will receive an additional $144 million this year for services to infants, toddlers, children and young adults with disabilities,.

In the same announcement, the USDE released guidance on how states can use funds from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to help expectant parents of children with disabilities prepare for their child’s birth and plan for services after the birth. This represents a major departure from traditionally allocated early intervention funding, which supports children with disabilities and their families after a child’s birth.

Language included in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations legislation allows states to expand IDEA Part C services to people expecting to become a parent to a child with disabilities. The appropriations language did not, however, create any new requirements for Part C programs.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

PDE Gives 10 Schools Funding to Teach Students About Disabilities (May 9, 2026)

On May 7, 2026 the Shapiro Administration announced that it is giving 10 schools funding to join a pilot program designed to teach K-12 students about the political, economic, and social contributions of individuals with disabilities.

The Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program influences the overall culture and environment of schools by reducing stigma and including disability education as a part of a school-wide strategic plan. This is the second round of $30,000 grants, which cover the cost of implementing the curriculum over three years. With this second round of funding, the Shapiro Administration has committed a total of $600,000 to 20 school entities to incorporate disability inclusive educational programming in classrooms since the Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program launched in 2023-24. 

The following entities received grants:
-Carbondale Area School District in Lackawanna County
-Chester County IU24
-Delta School (Approved Private School) in Philadelphia
-Middle Bucks Institute of Technology in Bucks County
-Pittston Area School District in Luzerne County
-Upper Bucks County Technical School in Bucks County
-Reach Cyber Charter School
-Tri-Valley School District in Schuylkill County
-Intermediate Unit 1 in the Southwest Region
-Plum Borough School District in Allegheny County

In 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) developed a toolkit to assist schools with implementation of the Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program. The toolkit resources are inclusive of all age/grade levels and include sample lesson plans, professional development offerings/opportunities, ideas for implementing a disability inclusive curriculum, disability-led organizational contacts, and other resources.

Pennsylvania’s Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Grant was established by a state law in 2022 and is open to all school districts, charter school entities, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and nonpublic schools.