1. Lessons From Memphis
LISTEN: This week, I sat down with Dorsey Hopson, former superintendent of Shelby County Schools, and Sarah Carpenter, executive director of The Memphis Lift, to unpack one of the most complex school mergers in U.S. history. We discussed the political, racial, and socioeconomic tensions that shaped the integration of Memphis City and Shelby County Schools—and the rapid de-merger that followed. Dorsey and Sarah reflected on the challenges of leading through a highly charged educational landscape while striving to put students first, the role of school choice, and the importance of community and parental involvement in education:
Listen to the full episode here.
2. When Good Grades Mislead
READ: Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop took to the pages of The Atlantic to reflect on new research that shows enthusiasm for learning plummets in middle school. To avoid teens coasting through school in what they term “Passenger Mode,” where they attend school and obtain passing grades but remain disengaged, Anderson and Winthrop recommend families embrace self-directed learning:
Obviously, we’re not suggesting that parents give teens complete independence; they’re young and need guidance. But parents shouldn’t default to working harder to solve a kid’s problem than the kid does. And they probably should give up a little bit of control; think fewer commands and more supportive nudges. To figure out if what you’re saying might gently push a teen toward autonomy, it’s useful to ask: Will this help my child learn to do this on their own?
Read more from Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop in The Atlantic here.
3. Disability Rights on Hold
READ: Under the Trump administration, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights paused disability rights cases last month, leaving families struggling to secure services. While the freeze was later lifted, shifting priorities and staffing shortages continue to delay enforcement of disability protections. Parents like DarNisha Hardaway, whose son has received services due to an intellectual disability, autism, and epilepsy, fear political changes will further weaken oversight and leave students with disabilities without the support they need:
This month, after her son had an outburst in class, his suburban Detroit school told her he would need to learn online for the rest of the year — a ruling Hardaway saw as a violation of his disability accommodations. An Office for Civil Rights representative told her they could not respond with any substantive information.
Every day she waits, her son learns in front of a computer. “He can’t learn online, and DarNisha is not a teacher,” said Marcie Lipsitt, who is working with the family. “The OCR is just closed for business, and I’m outraged.”
Read more from Heather Hollingsworth, Collin Binkley, and Annie Ma in Chalkbeat here.
4. Defense Schools Restrict Student Groups
READ: Schools run by the Defense Department, which educate military families worldwide, have paused student clubs related to gender and race, removed Pride decorations, and canceled Black History Month events, citing Trump administration orders. The changes mark a stark shift for a school system long recognized for diversity and strong academic performance:
“Diversity is, like, the core principle of our schools,” said Kadyn, 16, a junior at Lakenheath High School, northeast of Cambridge, who asked to use only his first name because he is the child of a federal employee.
At his school, he said, “All Are Welcome” signs, which included a rainbow flag and a Black Lives Matter symbol, had been taken down from classrooms. He added that some flags of foreign countries had also been removed. “I feel like we are losing the essence of what makes our schools thrive,” he said.
Read more from Sarah Mervosh in The New York Times here.
5. Chronic Absenteeism Persists
READ: Chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools has dropped from 28% in 2021-22 to 23% in 2023-24, but it remains a major issue. New analysis from FutureEd reveals that high school seniors and ninth graders have the greatest problem with attendance, exceeding 50% in some areas, while kindergarten absenteeism also remains high despite post-pandemic recovery. Because the causes vary by grade, DiMarco says the solutions must vary, too:
These grade-specific patterns underscore the need for targeted interventions. The factors driving absenteeism in kindergarten — more likely linked to parental challenges — differ from those affecting high schoolers, who may struggle with disengagement, work obligations or other external pressures. Effectively addressing chronic absenteeism requires a nuanced approach informed by data rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. Identifying which students are missing school, and ultimately understanding why, is essential for developing targeted, impactful solutions.
Read more from Bella DiMarco in The 74 here.
6. The Wild West of Magnet School Admissions
READ: Tim DeRoche called for more oversight of magnet schools in his latest piece for Education Next. DeRoche argues that magnet schools operate with little oversight, allowing school leaders to bypass fair admissions rules and keep families in the dark about their process:
There’s nothing inherently unfair about a dance school admitting a committed dancer over someone with no background or interest in dance. But decisions about who is admitted to a public school (and who is turned away) should take place within legal limits and be subject to professional standards. It shouldn’t be up to an individual school leader. We need to protect both the principle that our public schools be “available to all” and the reality that certain public schools cater to a specialized subset of the public.
“Sometimes we just let them in” is no longer acceptable.
Read more here.
7. Student Loan Chaos
READ: A court order has blocked President Biden’s student loan repayment plan, forcing millions of borrowers into costly repayment options. The Education Department also halted all income-driven repayment applications for 90 days, citing the ruling. Critics argue the department’s broad response goes beyond the court’s directive and leaves borrowers in financial uncertainty:
Persis Yu, deputy executive director at the Student Borrower Protection Center, an advocacy group, called the Trump administration’s move to take down all of the plans “cruel.”
“This was a choice by the Trump Administration and a cruel one that will inflict massive pain on millions of working families,” she said.
Read more from Danielle Douglas-Gabriel in The Washington Post here.