Category: News

Education Groups Sue USDE and OMB for Access to Nearly $2B in Funds Linked to Special Ed. (July 2, 2026)

On June 30, 2026, a coalition of disability and education organizations sued the the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) over its withholding of almost $2B in USDE funds that were appropriated by Congress for education research, data collection, program evaluation, and assistance to states and school The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts districts, alleges that the failure of the USDE’s Institute of Education Sciences and OMB to provide funding for grants and contracts violates the Administrative Procedures Act, the Antideficiency Act and the constitutional separation of powers.

It is the contention of the plaintiffs and many within the education community that the withholding or failure to “apportion” those funds will impact all students, including those with disabilities, as researchers, schools, and families have less access to research-based guidance and information for effective practices. Thus, the plaintiffs are asking the court to ensure that congressionally appropriated funds are made available for spending. The lawsuit also challenges a federal grantmaking process that requires competitive grants to comply with certain Trump administration priorities, including an executive order to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in federal activities and spending, which is in contradiction to the congressionally mandated requirement within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to provide for a student’s inclusion in general education classrooms through providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

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

Supreme Court Decision Allows Schools to Separate Sports Teams Based on ‘Biological Sex’ (July 2, 2026)

According to a June 30, 2026 U.S. Supreme Court (Court) decision, girls’ and boys’ sports teams can be separated based on “biological sex.” It also allows state laws separating athletics based on “biological sex” to remain in place. The ruling included a West Virginia case (West Virginia v. B.P.J. ) that was filed on behalf of a teen assigned male at birth but who has publicly identified as a girl since third grade. The student took medication to stave off male puberty and also began estrogen hormone therapy but, as an 11-year-old middle schooler in 2021, that student was prohibited by state law from trying out for and playing on the girls’ cross country team since West Virginia’s 2021 state law barred transgender students’ participation on sports teams based on their gender identity.

Prior to 2021, West Virginia schools allowed transgender students to play on teams aligning with their gender identity on a case-by-case basis, according to court documents.

In their decision, justices in the majority opinion said the 2021 West Virginia law and others similar to it nationwide ”are reasonable” because of physical differences between men and women such as height, weight, strength, speed, endurance and jumping ability — even in cases where hormones and puberty blockers are involved. However, the divide between justices about whether transgender students may be prohibited from playing on sports teams aligning with their gender identity in all cases or whether there should be some exceptions to that prohibition reflects a broader one nationwide among legislators, families, educators, education leaders, and the general public.

According to JD Supra, under the Court’s decision, Pennsylvania school districts are now permitted, but not required, to maintain girls’ sports teams limited to biological females, students assigned female at birth. Critically, the decision permits, but does not mandate, that states restrict athletic participation based on biological sex. Because Pennsylvania has not enacted a statute comparable to those in West Virginia or Idaho, its school districts retain discretion to set their own eligibility policies, subject to the executive order and state-law obligations discussed below.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

For more from JD Supra, click here.

PDH Takes Action to Address Measles Outbreak (June 29, 2026)

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) is working directly with local health care and community partners to address the increasing number of measles cases statewide among people who are not fully vaccinated, particularly in the Lancaster-Lebanon region. n 2026 so far, 84 measles cases have been identified in Pennsylvania, with 72 cases in the Lancaster-Lebanon region alone, beginning in late-April, including: Berks (2), Dauphin (2), Lancaster (41), Lebanon (20), Northumberland (6), and York (1) counties. Earlier in the year, cases were identified in Lancaster (8), Montgomery (3), and Chester (1).

Because measles was essentially eradicated in the U.S. since 2000, the majority of health care providers have not treated a patient with the disease. To ensure Pennsylvania providers have the information they need, PDH issued multiple Health Alert Network messages outlining the signs and symptoms of measles and reminding clinicians to encourage patients to stay up to date on their vaccinations.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people most at-risk are: 

  • Unvaccinated;
  • Infants too young to have received the MMR vaccine; and 
  • People from parts of the world where there is low vaccination coverage or where there is circulating measles. 

PDH currently provides school vaccination data at the county and state level. In the next couple of weeks, school-level vaccination information will be available online so families have additional information to make personal health and educational decisions. This is directly in line with the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to boosting public access to information and ensuring transparency in our work to protect public health.

People who believe they were exposed to measles and are experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider or call the PDH’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).

More information on measles is available at www.pa.gov/measles.

Now Open in Future Ready Comprehensive Planning Portal (FRCPP): 2026-2027 Annual School Reconfiguration Change Process, 2025-2026 Charter School Annual Report, and Compliance Updates (June 28, 2026)

The 2026-2027 Annual School Reconfiguration Change Process
The window for School Reconfiguration changes in the FRCPP opened , 2026. All changes must be submitted and received by PDE no later than 11:59 pm on , 2026, to be effective for the coming school year.

The following types of school reconfigurations must be submitted through the FRCPP and can only be made during this window: 

  • School name changes 
  • School mailing address changes
  • School physical address changes
  • School grade configuration changes (adding or removing)
  • School closure configurations
  • School opening reconfigurations 
  • Student enrollment changes

The 2025-2026 Charter School Annual Report
The 2025-2026 Charter School Annual Report opened , 2026. The purpose of the Charter School Annual Report is to provide a comprehensive overview of the performance and financial health of charter schools in Pennsylvania and are essential for the annual review process. Every charter school (brick-and-mortar and cyber) in Pennsylvania is required to complete and submit the Charter School Annual Report in the FRCPP by , 2026.

Compliance Updates
There will be several compliance requirements due over the next two months for the 2025/2026 school year, which are submitted via the Future Ready Comprehensive Planning Portal.

  • Due 6/30/2026, each chief school administrator must update a biennial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with local police departments, ensuring it includes threat assessment coordination procedures per Section 1319-B(d)(4), with signatures from all covered building principals.
  • Due 7/31/2026, administrators must report all incidents involving violence, weapons, controlled substances, alcohol, or tobacco on school property; LEAs with a single police jurisdiction should upload one signed Chief Law Enforcement template, while those with multiple agencies must upload a separately signed form for each. 
  • Due 7/31/2026, each school entity must review its Bullying Policy every three years and annually submit a copy to the office. 
  • Due 7/31/2026., Fire and Security Drill ACS needs signed.  Fire evacuation drills must be conducted monthly while school is in session, requiring full removal of staff and students to a safe outdoor location. Reporting is not required for months with fewer than seven school days.

Reminder, the bus evacuation drill (which was due ) must be conducted twice yearly per Pennsylvania School Code, covering emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and proper evacuation procedures.

Summer 2026 SUN Bucks Program is Underway (June 27, 2026)

Bucks, Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT program, is a grocery benefits program that provides households with a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy food while school is out. Benefits can be used at local participating retailers to purchase groceries.

Many children will get these benefits automatically, but some households will need to apply. The benefits will be added to an existing SNAP/TANF EBT card or a newly issued Summer EBT card. 

Note: Benefits for Summer of 2026 will begin being issued to all eligible children in early June.

Children who applied and were approved for free/reduced-price school meals or who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are automatically eligible for Bucks. 

Most children who get Medicaid are also automatically eligible for Bucks because their income level is under the income level for the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program. Children who get Medicaid through the Children with Special Needs category (PH 95) and children who are in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will have to apply for Bucks.  For more information, visit the SUN Bucks webpage or call the Bucks FAQ Line at 1-877-762-1575.