All articles tagged with #education politics
Louisiana's House of Representatives passed a bill requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all state-funded classrooms, pending the governor's approval. The bill has sparked controversy over potential violations of the US Constitution's establishment clause, with opponents arguing it infringes on religious freedom. Legal challenges are anticipated if the bill becomes law.
Democratic Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib criticized the suspension of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter, Isra Hirsi, from Columbia University after participating in a pro-Palestinian protest, calling it "appalling" and questioning the asymmetric crackdown on Palestinian human rights protests. Columbia University noted that Hirsi is a student at Barnard College, which is connected to Columbia but has some independence. The suspensions come amid a wave of demonstrations and protests on U.S. college campuses in the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel, and Hirsi's suspension took place a month after civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against Columbia University for suspending pro-Palestine student groups during the previous fall semester.
University of Texas at Austin students protested the school's decision to lay off nearly 60 employees working in diversity, equity, and inclusion-related positions, in compliance with a Texas law banning DEI efforts at higher education institutions. The layoffs have sparked backlash from students, faculty, and staff, who are demanding transparency, accountability, and a reversal of the firings. Critics argue that the layoffs disproportionately impact people of color and marginalized communities, and have led to the closure of vital student support programs. The protests reflect broader concerns about the impact of the state law on higher education institutions in Texas.
Jewish faculty at Columbia University express alarm and disappointment as President Minouche Shafik capitulated to illiberal agendas during a House education and workforce committee hearing on antisemitism, failing to defend academic principles and free expression. They criticize the committee's use of specious charges of antisemitism to attack universities and its bullying of the president into flouting academic procedures. The faculty argue that the hearings aim to stifle pro-Palestinian speech and protest, equating discomfort with actual danger and threatening academia's fundamental values and democracy itself. They express concern over the president's harsh punishment of students protesting the war on Gaza and the risk it poses to the university's foundations.
The president of Columbia University, Minouche Shafik, faced a highly charged hearing in Congress over allegations of antisemitism on campus, with members of Congress questioning the university's response to the issue. Tensions have risen between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, leading to disputes over what constitutes antisemitism. Shafik struggled to address concerns about a faculty member's reported support for Hamas and the university's handling of antisemitic statements during demonstrations. The hearing echoed previous confrontations with university presidents and highlighted the ongoing debate over free speech and the boundaries of legitimate expression on campus.
President Biden's administration has announced $7.4 billion in student loan debt forgiveness for 277,000 borrowers through the SAVE program, income-driven repayment adjustments, and fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Notifications will be sent via email, and applications are still open for eligible borrowers. The administration faces legal challenges from Republican states, but continues to unveil new plans for student loan forgiveness, including waiving interest, automatically discharging debt, and assisting borrowers facing hardship.
President Joe Biden announced the cancellation of $7.4 billion in student loans for 277,000 borrowers, bringing the total amount canceled to $153 billion for 4.3 million Americans. The relief targets borrowers in specific repayment plans and aims to provide assistance to those facing financial hardship. Biden emphasized his commitment to ensuring higher education is a pathway to the middle class and criticized Republican opposition to debt cancellation. The Education Department plans to waive interest for millions of borrowers, discharge debt for eligible individuals, and assist those in low-financial-value programs. Public input on the proposed actions will be sought in the coming weeks.
College financial aid officials criticize the Education Department over ongoing delays in processing FAFSA forms, warning that grant and loan offers will be delayed until May, impacting students' decisions. At least 30% of FAFSA forms submitted this year may contain errors, and the botched overhaul of the application process has caused bureaucratic limbo for millions. Bipartisan frustration is growing, with lawmakers demanding accountability from the Education Department and the contractor responsible for the FAFSA refresh. The delays have forced households to make tough decisions, and completion rates are down 40%, affecting 18 million students.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona met with teachers and borrowers in New York City to announce a newly proposed federal student debt relief plan that aims to benefit over 30 million people, following the Supreme Court's rejection of President Biden's previous debt forgiveness program. The plan would cancel interest for millions of borrowers, nullify debt for eligible participants in current forgiveness programs, and assist those facing financial hardship. Cardona anticipates pushback from critics but emphasizes the administration's commitment to providing debt relief, especially for first-generation college graduates, many of whom are Black and/or Latino. The plan is expected to undergo a public comment period in the coming weeks.
President Joe Biden is set to unveil a new plan to broaden student loan relief for specific categories of borrowers, nearly a year after the Supreme Court blocked his initial attempt to cancel debt for millions of college attendees. The plan, to be announced on April 8 in Madison, Wisconsin, aims to expand federal student loan relief through the Higher Education Act and is expected to be smaller and more targeted than the previous $400 billion proposal. The new plan includes categories such as resetting balances for those with snowballed interest, erasing remaining debt for long-term borrowers, and automatic loan cancellation for certain groups. This effort is part of the administration's broader initiatives to alleviate student loan debt, with previous targeted initiatives having already canceled $144 billion in student loans for almost 4 million Americans.
Students across Alaska walked out of schools to protest Governor Mike Dunleavy's veto of an education funding package, which the Legislature failed to override. The vetoed package included a $175-million increase in aid to districts through a school funding formula, but the governor complained about the lack of provisions he supported. The students marched through the statehouse, chanting slogans and urging lawmakers to fund their future, while some legislators expressed concerns about the governor's opposition and encouraged the students to stay involved in the legislative process.
Tennessee's majority-white legislature removed all 10 board members at the state’s only publicly funded historically Black university, Tennessee State University, and appointed eight new members, mostly from the business sector, to replace them. This move has been criticized by Democrats, who argue that the university's financial problems stem from years of state underfunding. The overhaul came after Republican complaints of mismanagement, despite a recent external audit finding no evidence of fraud. The "optics" of wiping out the board at an HBCU were deemed "horrendous" by Democrats, and TSU students cheered when Democrats criticized their colleagues and booed when Republicans passed the bill.
Eleven GOP state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block President Joe Biden's SAVE income-driven repayment plan, arguing that the shortened timeline for debt relief is unconstitutional. The plan, implemented over the summer, aims to provide borrowers with cheaper monthly payments and faster relief. The lawsuit, led by Kansas' Kris Kobach, alleges that the plan flouts the law and ignores Supreme Court decisions. The Education Department official stated that Congress granted the authority to define the terms of income-driven repayment plans, and the SAVE plan is the fourth instance of using that authority. The Biden administration remains committed to providing support and relief to borrowers, despite legal challenges.
Tennessee's only publicly funded historically Black university, Tennessee State University, had its board of trustees removed under legislation signed into law by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. The move has sparked controversy, with critics accusing state leaders of unfairly targeting the university, while Republicans cite financial and procedural deficiencies as the reason for the action. Supporters argue that TSU's problems stem from chronic underfunding, estimated at $2.1 billion over three decades, and question the decision to remove the entire board.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is leading a group of 11 states in filing a lawsuit against President Biden's latest student loan forgiveness plan, arguing that it violates the Supreme Court's ruling and bypasses Congress. The lawsuit contends that the plan, which aims to reduce monthly loan payments to near zero, transfers debt onto taxpayers and is a major policy decision falling under Congress's authority. Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the program, while Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey also announced plans to challenge it.