EdTrust’s Nicholas Munyan-Penney and Aileen Ma discuss the true cost lowering expectations for students to spare adult feelings in their blog post. https://edtru.st/4r0KmFz

Low Academic Standards Spare Adult Feelings at the Expense of Students’ Futures

As states lower the bar for graduation and grade-level tests, students can pass without mastering almost any high school skills

edtru.st

EdTrust’s Aileen Ma perfectly explains why Secretary McMahon’s recent comments on tracking students into skilled trades as early as elementary school is bad for kids. https://edtru.st/4wUDDyx

Tracking Students in Grade School Will Not Set Them Up for Success

Skilled trades are legitimate careers and a worthy target for college and career success. However, the idea that any child in grade school should be placed on a specific career pathway is absurd

edtru.st

This great piece is from EVEN fellow Ingrid Seymour-Pérez. The Elevating Voices of Educators of Newcomers Fellowship honors educators fighting negative portrayals of immigrants, and is part of the National Newcomer Network, led by EdTrust's Alejandra Vázquez Baur. https://edtru.st/4cBxeAV

In Tennessee, My Immigrant Students and Families Give More Than They Take

Social worker's view: Even those who entered the country legally are now facing deportation as the rules change.

edtru.st

The Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to eliminate civil rights protections. As a Black parent this is not an abstract policy debate. The guardrails are gone, and the consequences for Black students are too serious not to sound the alarm. https://edtru.st/4gKwHhf

The Trump Administration Threatens Black Students with Unfair and Punitive School Discipline and Punishment

By Denise Forte, EdTrust President and CEO

edtru.st

Proud to lend my voice in defense of schools working to recognize and remove barriers that threaten education fairness for students of color. https://edtru.st/4xb3Vg3

Public colleges and universities are the foundation of higher education and economic mobility in the United States. Now, those same institutions are under attack, as is the promise upon which they were built. https://edtru.st/4qNzI55

Back to the Well of Bad Ideas: Turning Bad Higher Ed Policy into State Law

By Reid Setzer, Government Affairs Director

edtru.st

EdTrust in Texas’s Jonathan Feinstein was featured in this “Inside Higher Ed” article explaining how Texas should continue to support community college students from traditionally underserved communities as it tries to fill a budget shortfall through cutting supports. https://edtru.st/4c54ArL

Texas Could Shortchange New Funding Model Champions

Community colleges’ student outcomes soared under a new performance-based funding model. But Texas lawmakers didn’t budget for so much success.

edtru.st

New technology transforming student learning is generational. But the power of artificial intelligence (AI) seems radically different. And during this back-to-school season, students, teachers, and parents are all trying to navigate this new future. https://edtru.st/4wzegBW

As Students Return to School, We Must Ensure AI Works for Everyone

By Denise Forte

edtrust.substack.com

“The Department of Education sent a message today: race doesn’t matter. But the fact is, you cannot address racial disparities in school discipline by telling schools to ignore race. The consequences for Black students are too dire." https://edtru.st/4wtZNqZ

Ignoring Race Does Not Make School Discipline Race Neutral. It Makes Inequities Harder to Confront

Black students have long faced some of the harshest discipline in our nation's schools. The Department of Education’s new guidance restricting consideration of race in school discipline will have dire...

edtru.st

EdTrust's new advocacy toolkit to fight school voucher programs equips advocates, families, educators, and community leaders with practical tools to push back against policies that weaken public education. https://edtru.st/3YKvrTy

Protect Public Schools: An Advocacy Toolkit to Fight School Voucher Programs

Here are resources communities can use to launch effective advocacy campaigns against school voucher programs.

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Every child deserves a strong start. We must protect and invest in programs that make that promise a reality. https://edtru.st/4x8WEy9

High-Quality Early Childhood Care and Education is Magic for Children — and the Economy

The Trump administration is threatening to gut Head Start, putting the largest federal investment in early childhood education at risk

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This article is a powerful reminder that educational opportunity is not just about access to school, but access to rigorous learning that opens doors to future careers and economic mobility. #EduReimagined #NationofPromise https://edtru.st/4zhD0kP

Report: Black Students’ Exclusion From High-Quality Math Has Dire Consequences

Black children are 15% of public school students, but only 6% of those in AP math while 12% of all workers are Black but just 9% of those in STEM.

edtru.st

Great work, EdTrust-New York! Their new report showcases successful programs driving stronger literacy outcomes and calls on state leaders to scale evidence-based solutions statewide. https://edtru.st/45Ugtx1

EdTrust-New York Highlights Proven Strategies to Improve Literacy Outcomes for Multilingual Learners Across New York - The Education Trust-New York

EdTrust-New York today released "Scaling What Works in Multilingual Literacy," a new report that highlights proven strategies to improve literacy outcomes for multilingual learners and calls on New York policymakers to scale evidence-based practices tha...

edtru.st

Read why EdTrust and nearly a dozen civil rights and education organizations argue that Equity Assistance Centers remain a vital tool for protecting students' rights and advancing educational opportunity. https://edtru.st/4fRCum8

Joint Comment on Equity Assistance Centers

Education and civil rights organizations submit joint public comment expressing concerns regarding the proposed rescission of regulations pertaining to the Equity Assistance Centers by the Department ...

edtrust.org

“The truth is that local control is about the federal government turning a blind eye as state and local leaders deliberately exclude Black communities from education and opportunity.” https://edtru.st/4wyccKR

“Civil rights do not sustain themselves. They endure only when leaders and institutions choose to protect them.” https://edtru.st/3RKydrr

Louisiana Cannot Turn Back the Clock on Civil Rights

ET-Louisiana and Denise Forte Statement on the Ending of Desegregation Orders in Louisiana and What This Means Nationally

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Every back-to-school season is an opportunity for us all to reimagine and bring to life what we think is possible for students. This year let's move from a nation littered with unmet educational commitments to a nation of promise for all students. https://edtru.st/4wah08O

This School Year, Let’s Become a Nation of Promise

By Denise Forte

edtru.st

EdTrust’s Alejandra Vázquez Baur, co-founder and director of the National Newcomer Network, joined Chuck Rocha to discuss her background, the Network, and why immigration enforcement is such a big threat to immigrant students and school communities. https://edtru.st/4fCeqn1

The Rocha Revolution with Alejandra Vázquez

EdTrust's Alejandra Vázquez Baur speaks with Chuck Rocha on The Rocha Revolution.

edtrust.substack.com

An upcoming regulatory proposal to change college accreditation threatens academic freedom, civil rights, and free speech. Once published, we must submit public comments that state the importance of free speech and student supports in higher education. https://edtru.st/4yBIgzl

Accreditation Needs Reform. ED’s Forthcoming Proposed Rule Misses the Mark

The Department of Education's forthcoming proposed rule on accreditation would weaken accountability, erode academic freedom, and expand political influence over higher education

edtru.st

EdTrust-New York's recent blog is clear: states have to deliver on Workforce Pell through prioritizing quality, accountability, and equity. If implemented thoughtfully, Workforce Pell can be a powerful tool for expanding opportunity. https://edtru.st/4bRBxrn

New York Must Build Guardrails to Ensure Workforce Pell Expands Opportunity - The Education Trust-New York

On July 1, 2026, the federal government launched Workforce Pell nationwide. The policy expands Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term workforce training programs and opens the door ...

edtru.st

OMB’s regulation for federal financial assistance is misguided and likely unlawful. It would leave Americans worse off as services are cut off, redirected toward politically-favored topics and actors, or never even proposed as OMB’s prohibitions take hold. https://edtru.st/4wqlFnT

Joint Comment on OMB’s Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance

Education and civil rights organizations submit joint public comment expressing concerns regarding the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed overhaul of the administration of federal financial as...

edtru.st

I am excited to join a panel hosted on Thursday by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, “Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead: Implications of the Changing Federal Role in Education.” I hope you will join us at 3 p.m.: https://edtru.st/4g0uBd1

Great work, Tramelle Howard, highlighting that "higher education is central to the affordability crisis" and the "need pathways that are affordable and connected to economic opportunities." https://edtru.st/4bgVkQS

Louisiana needs more affordable pathways to higher education, not tuition increases • Louisiana Illuminator

With college costs weighing heavily on families, students are deciding whether higher education feels possible, affordable and worth it.

lailluminator.com

EdTrust's P-12 research and data analytics intern Jenna Maree P. Wong, explains how the “caps ignore disability-related costs, and could force many to choose between graduate school, private debt, and meeting basic needs.” https://edtru.st/4gUe5xd

How Graduate Education Loan Limits Will Hurt Students With Disabilities

New graduate loan caps ignore disability-related costs, and could force many to choose between graduate school, private debt, and meeting basic needs

edtru.st

We updated our Federal Funding at Risk tool for the latest round of budget proposals from House Republicans and President Trump. It highlights what’s at stake if either proposal is implemented in terms of dollars, teacher salaries, and school counselors. https://edtru.st/45iqG65

FY27 Federal Budget Proposal Cuts Billions from Education Funding

EdTrust’s Federal Funding at Risk tool highlights what’s at stake if either the president’s or the House’s budget proposal is implemented

edtru.st

Massachusetts has made important investments in early literacy but we need to extend that momentum if we want to help middle and high school students develop and strengthen the literacy skills that will carry them to college, careers, and civic life. bit.ly/4gFWUiS

Beyond the Early Grades: The State of Adolescent Literacy in Massachusetts

Despite the state's top national ranking, about half of middle and high schoolers lack the support needed to read at grade level

bit.ly

I want more of this! Last week our student researchers published blog posts based on their experiences and the experiences of students in their research, and it is tremendous. https://edtru.st/3Tbg4mS https://edtru.st/3TKiPeZ

Maryland Middle School Students Are Being Left Behind

When people discuss college and career opportunities, why are students expected to wait until high school to access college and career opportunities?

edtru.st

We need better access to AP and advanced coursework for our students. We need them to graduate with diplomas that open doors. https://edtru.st/4f9V3le

Our Kids Deserve a Diploma that Actually Opens Doors

We send our children to Houston ISD schools every morning, hoping that when they graduate, they'll be ready for what comes next

edtru.st

Too many Black and Latino students are shut out of the advanced classes that lead to long-term success. EdTrust is proud to once again endorse the Advanced Coursework Equity Act. https://edtru.st/4vtOu1v

Booker, Castro Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Expand Advanced Coursework Opportunities for Underrepresented Students | U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey

<p><strong>WASHINGTON, DC – </strong> U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) reintroduced the<em> Advanced Coursework Equity Act</em>, bicameral legislation that w...

booker.senate.gov

July's Disability Pride Month. For students of color, students with disabilities, and those with intersecting identities, an accessible future is achievable. This great blog series explains how we get there. https://edtru.st/453F5TE