The U.S. Department of Education has called on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to restore records, titles, awards, and recognitions to female athletes who previously competed against transgender women. In a letter sent by the Department’s Office of General Counsel (OGC), federal officials urged […]
Elon Musk’s Team, DOGE, Cuts $900 Million in Education Contracts, Eliminating Key School Data Sources
The Trump administration- along with Elon Musk- has terminated more than $900 million in Education Department contracts, taking away a key source of data on the quality and performance of the nation’s schools. The cuts were made at the behest of Elon Musk’s cost-cutting crew, the Department of Government Efficiency, and were disclosed on X, […]
In a new lawsuit, 17 states sue to do away with 504 protections
A high-stakes lawsuit, Texas v. Becerra, is currently making its way through the courts, threatening crucial protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Seventeen states have challenged the federal government’s updated rules, putting at risk decades of legal safeguards that ensure accessibility in education, healthcare, and other public services. In […]
Restroom Etiquette for Employees at a Public or Private School
Restroom etiquette at a public (or private) school. We don’t discuss the issue enough. But we should, as it directly affects every gainfully-employed educator. Regardless of what type of school you work at, or what your school’s restroom situation is, there is likely a bit of intra-staff strife about proper conduct in the communal loo. […]
Trump Signs Executive Order Restricting Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at barring transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, a move he says will protect fairness in competition. “The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared during a signing ceremony held in the White House East Room on Wednesday, surrounded by women and girls who […]
Trump administration to defund the Department of Education
According to a White House source, the Trump administration is reportedly preparing steps to defund the federal Education Department, with an official announcement expected later in February. According to earlier reports from the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s advisers were evaluating executive actions to dismantle the Education Department, aligning with efforts by billionaire Elon Musk and […]
What do I do?
Between January 20 and January 31, 2025, Donald Trump signed dozens of executive orders that will have a grave impact on education and members of our community. The Trump administration has revoked long-standing policies that designate schools, churches, and hospitals as ‘sensitive areas.’ Other significant orders include the elimination of DEI programs, the revocation of […]
Oedipus Wrecked: A reflection on a champion teacher
1974. Ninth grade. The Agnes Irwin School, a private all-girls’ school outside of Philadelphia, where most of my female relatives had also gone to school. I was a lifer, which meant I came in kindergarten and grew up with many of the same girls, but in Ninth grade, the class expanded, with girls joining us […]
