"Education Under Trump: Charter Boom, Civil Rights Shifts, and Decentralization"

# THE EDUCATION BRIEF *Music intro* Welcome to The Education Brief. I'm your host, bringing you the latest from the Department of Education on this May 28th, 2025. Our top story this week: Secretary Linda McMahon has announced a $60 million funding increase for the Charter Schools Program, bringing significant changes to the educational landscape as National Charter Schools Week wrapped up earlier this month. This boost to charter school funding aligns with Secretary McMahon's recently released discretionary grant priorities, which focus on evidence-based literacy, expanding education choice, and returning education to the states. These priorities signal a clear direction for the Department under the Trump administration. In other developments, the Department's Office for Civil Rights has launched a Title VI investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools, continuing the administration's focus on civil rights enforcement in education. Meanwhile, controversy surrounds the administration's multi-agency actions to terminate $450 million in grants to Harvard. On May 13th, the Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism released a statement regarding these actions, highlighting the administration's approach to addressing anti-Semitism on college campuses. The Department is also seeking public input, calling for nominations to serve on a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, offering citizens a chance to participate in shaping educational policy. These developments come against a backdrop of significant federal policy shifts. The President's budget blueprint proposes a 15% reduction from approved FY25 funding levels, amounting to about $12 billion in cuts to the Department. In March, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities," directing the Secretary to take steps toward facilitating the closure of the Department—though this would require Congressional approval. For community colleges and higher education institutions, the Department has implemented several policy changes, including the elimination of race-based practices in hiring, financial aid, and student life. The May 2025 update to the Federal School Code List of Participating Schools was also recently released—an essential resource for students completing the FAFSA. What's next? Watch for how these funding priorities translate into program implementation and how state education agencies respond to the administration's push for local control. For more information on these developments or to submit nominations for the Rulemaking Committee, visit the Department of Education's website. *Music outro* This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.