Category: News

USDE Faces New Suit over Cancelled PD Grants (June 5, 2026)

On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) was sued over its abrupt termination last year of 28 national professional development grants for teachers of English learners, which allegedly “destabilized” teacher pipelines in at least 12 states.

The USDE rescinded the grants in September 2025 due to “divisive ideology,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which filed the lawsuit alongside the National Education Association. The suit alleges that the cancellations violated the recipients’ rights under the First Amendment and other federal laws, damaged teacher certification pipelines in at least a dozen states, halted coaching and credential pathways for thousands of teachers, and deprived EL students of qualified educators. 

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Shapiro Administration Awards $4.3 Million in Grants to 54 Pennsylvania Schools Offering CTE Programs (June 5, 2026)

On June 3, 2026, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe announced $4.3 million in grants to 54 Pennsylvania schools through the Competitive Equipment Grants program to help with the purchase of new equipment for approved career and technical education (CTE) programs that prepare students for in-demand jobs. Under the Competitive Equipment Grants program, school districts and CTCs can receive grants of up to $85,000 to update or purchase equipment used in the training of students in approved career and technical education programs. The equipment must be aligned with the needs of employers, and programming must provide students with hands-on use of the equipment as part of the curriculum.

The full list of recipients can be found on PDE’s Competitive Equipment Grants page.

Letter from Senators to USDE Demand Answers over Closed Office of English Language Acquisition (June 4, 2026)

In May, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) closed the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) office to “ensure better alignment of programs” for English learners. As a result, a 22 U.S. Senators sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on June 2, 2026 demanding answers over the U.S. Department of Education’s closure of the Office of English Language Acquisition last month. In that letter, the Democratic and Independent senators said that the decision “will have devastating and lasting consequences for the education of more than five million English learner students nationwide.” 

The letter also claims that portions of the Department of Education Organization Act, which established the agency in 1979, also “require the establishment of OELA.” and that the USDE “remains statutorily responsible for administering the programs that Congress has assigned to OELA through multiple authorization and appropriations laws.” 

In their letter, the senators asked the USDE to respond within 30 days with information, including what role the Labor Department will play in administering Title III programs, what steps the USDE has taken to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements, and whether the USDE will publicly release a transition and implementation plan.

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FRAC Report Reveals Ominous Signs for School Meal Availability (June 2, 2026)

According to a May 27, 2026 report by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), 74% of school districts are concerned about the effect on school meals from looming federal budget cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid. In fact, according to FRAC, children are set to lose direct certification for free school meals as families lose access to SNAP and the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the One Big, Beautiful Bill would wind up reducing SNAP participation by roughly 2.4 million people in an average month over the 2025-2034 period and, in the last year, in the 12 states with available data the number of children receiving SNAP food assistance has dropped by over 700,000 since the law was enacted last year.

In addition, to make matters worse school districts have reported that infrastructure challenges limit their ability to increase school meal participation, with over 80% of the 96 surveyed districts reporting high food and labor costs in the 2025-26 school year.

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PAPSA Sponsor Vector Solutions Provides New Free Resources (June 1, 2026)

Longtime PAPSA sponsor Vector Solutions is continuing to provide access to invaluable resources for our members. This month, they are providing the following new resources. Access them via the links below.

Preventing Youth Suicide | A Practical Guide for K-12 School and District Leaders

Youth suicide is one of the most serious and complex challenges facing K-12 education today. School and district leaders are increasingly being called on to strengthen prevention systems, support student mental health, and respond confidently when concerns arise. 

Download the guide to explore practical strategies that help schools create safer, more supportive learning environments for students and staff.

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The Real Problem with Absenteeism Isn’t Absenteeism | A Strategic Guide for School Leaders

Chronic absenteeism continues to impact student outcomes, and many districts are struggling to make meaningful progress despite increased tracking and interventions. The challenge is that attendance is often treated as the problem, rather than a symptom of deeper issues.

Download our guide today and explore the strategies you need to improve attendance and drive student success.

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