Education News
Reports on education reform, school choice, and classroom policies. The Daily Signal provides conservative commentary and opinion alongside education news.
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news
As This School District Sets New Transgender Guidelines, Parents Fight for Transparency
Parents in a Washington suburb say their school board has cut them out of the process of implementing new guidelines for accommodating transgender students. The school board in Fairfax County, an affluent suburb in Northern Virginia, has scrapped a public forum on the gender identity policy and scheduled a work session in which parents aren’t… -
opinion
What Americans Can Learn From the Failure of Centralized Education in Brazil
Despite the geographic differences, Brazil and the United States have much in common: both are continental, diverse countries organized in federations with relatively autonomous states. This is why the failure of centralized education system in Brazil is a cautionary tale for American policymakers. Twelve years ago, when his daughters’ eighth grade teacher compared St. Francis of… -
opinion
3 Higher Education Proposals That Don’t Cut It
The House Education and Workforce Committee recently marked up a number of proposals concerning higher education. Instead of using the opportunity to address the drivers of tuition inflation or encourage innovation in the higher education sphere, the proposed reforms maintain an open spigot of federal college subsidies. The package of proposals includes: 1. Simplifying the Application… -
opinion
Why This Hollywood Mom Became a Home Schooling Advocate
Why are more and more parents making the decision to home-school their children? In her interview with The Daily Signal, actress Sam Sorbo explains how she and her husband, actor Kevin Sorbo, came to the conclusion that home schooling was the best option for their family. Sorbo is the author of a new book titled,… -
news
LGBT Bill Threatens California’s Religious Schools
A California state bill its sponsors say will prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity at private universities is threatening to expose faith-based schools to enormous legal threats, school officials warn. SB 1146, introduced in February by state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, which passed the state Senate May 26, is designed to close “a… -
news
School District Grapples With the Transgender Debate
A few short miles outside of Washington, D.C., a public school community appears divided over a policy that allows transgender students to use the bathrooms, locker rooms, and other sex-specific facilities in accordance with their gender identity. Supporters view it as a positive step in the name of equality, while opponents view it as an… -
news
School Board Facing Lawsuit by Transgender Student Asks Supreme Court to Hear Case
A Virginia school board facing a lawsuit over a policy that bans transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match their preferred gender identity due to bodily privacy concerns of other students asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to hear its case. “This case is one of national significance,” the court document reads…. -
opinion
Taxpayer-Funded Summer School Is Not the Answer to the College Cost Problem
On Tuesday, the Senate considered a proposal that would expand Pell Grants (federal aid meant to help low-income students attend college) to cover year-round tuition. In theory, part-time and full-time students who have increased access to Pell Grants would be encouraged to finish their degrees faster and graduate with less debt. Unfortunately, the proposal to expand Pell… -
news
Students Sue North Carolina State University for Regulating Religious Speech
A student-led Christian group filed a lawsuit against North Carolina State University for allegedly restricting their First Amendment rights by demanding they obtain a speech permit. The federal court hearing took place Thursday where Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, represented Grace Christian Life, a non-denominational Christian church that organizes services and fellowship… -
opinion
Outrageous Tactics Used by DePaul University to Shut Down Conservative Speech
Back in March 2014, Stanford University’s Graduate Student Council revoked funding and demanded exorbitant security fees (over $5,000!) from the Student Anscombe Society related to its event on traditional marriage, which featured Heritage fellow Ryan T. Anderson. Selectively charging outrageous security fees in order to make student leaders “voluntarily” shut down events that college administrations… -
news
K-12 School Proposes Removing Urinals and Making Bathrooms Gender Neutral
A nationally ranked Minnesota charter school facing a discrimination complaint by the parents of a former kindergarten transgender student approved a controversial new gender inclusion policy at a school board meeting. While the school board, which consists of a mix of parents, teachers, and community members, overwhelmingly voted in favor of the new policy Monday… -
opinion
School Choice Gets a Big Win in Nevada Court Decision
On Wednesday, families got one step closer to finally being able to access the most expansive education choice option of any state. A trial court judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against Nevada’s nearly universal education savings account (ESA) program. The suit, Duncan v. State of Nevada, challenged the… -
news
Utah School Board Members Push to Reject Federal Money to Avoid Transgender Guidelines
Instead of following transgender student guidelines pushed by the Obama administration, some Utah district school board members have plans to create a budget that would be free from federal funding, according to reports. Brian Halladay, Wendy Hart, and Paula Hill, school board members in the Alpine School District, penned an open letter to Utah state… -
opinion
School Lunch Program: No Wealthy Child Left Behind
This week, the House is expected to markup its child nutrition bill, which covers programs such as school meals. The last child nutrition bill–the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010–made it possible for many children from middle-class and wealthy families to receive free school meals. The House should end this wasteful policy, known as the… -
news
Texas School District Adopts Transgender Guidelines Without Parental Approval
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called for school superintendent Kent Scribner’s resignation after Scribner adopted new transgender student guidelines for his district, without the input of parents, school board members, and others in the community. “The district did not seek any public comment or input from parents or the public,” Fort Worth resident Julia… -
opinion
Texas Can’t Afford to Miss Out on School Choice
Last week I had the good fortune to be in Texas discussing conservative policy solutions with hundreds of dedicated men and women in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston. One of the big topics of conversation was freedom in education: How can we offer young Americans the best education possible, while ensuring that each family can… -
news
California Teachers Unions Force Nonmembers to Pay for LGBT, Other Political Goals
A large California teachers union and its national affiliate are forcing nonunion teachers to pay for political activism, according to a disclosure form acquired by The Daily Signal. Under a category called “human rights,” both the National Education Association and the California Teachers Association require nonunion teachers to finance LGBT leadership training and other political… -
news
51 Families Sue Over Illinois High School’s Transgender Bathroom Policy
A group of 51 families whose children attend a high school in Illinois filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, attempting to reverse a policy that allows a transgender student to use girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and other sex-specific facilities. The families are challenging a policy at Township High School District 211 that was mandated by the… -
news
Education Secretary Assails ‘Hateful’ Transgender Bathroom Laws
Education Secretary John B. King Jr. on Monday blasted state laws that prohibit public school students from using bathrooms designated for the opposite sex, calling them “hateful.” Ed Sec John King: NC #HB2 is "hateful" law. Won't say what action feds might take, but clearly gender id is protected by Title IX. #ewa16 — Jane… -
news
Nationally Ranked School Counters Complaint of Transgender Discrimination
A nationally recognized charter school in Minnesota is fighting a complaint filed by the parents of a transgender kindergartner who allege the school enabled discrimination against their child. Nova Classical Academy administrators said they will deny the allegations, filed last month with the city of St. Paul, while continuing their push to improve school policies…