The Education Trust

July 4th is a time to come together and celebrate the contributions of every person who has worked to build out the ideals of the United States. It is also a time to reflect on promises unkept, which should prompt us to redouble efforts to demand that the nation’s promises extend to every American, not just a privileged few. I believe in the hope and vision of American democracy and in the ability of this country to expand democratic principles to every person and group living within its borders.

Massachusetts has taken a decisive step toward making literacy a reality for every child through the enactment of the comprehensive “Right to Read” early literacy law FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2026 CONTACT: Chanthy Lopes Clopestoro@edtrust.org EdTrust in Massachusetts Statement on the Passage of the “Right to Read” Early Literacy Law BOSTON, MA – “Today, Massachusetts has taken a decisive step toward making literacy a reality for every child through the enactment of the comprehensive...

Statement from EdTrust on the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2026 CONTACT: Media@edtrust.org 202-731-9582 Strengthening the Pell Grant for Millions of Low-Income Students Statement from EdTrust on the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 WASHINGTON — “EdTrust is proud to support the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, a comprehensive package of reforms that will strengthen the Pell Grant for millions of students from...

EdTrust brief highlights how new borrowing caps harm Black, Latino, Native, and low-income students FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: media@edtrust.org June 23, 2026 College Students Face New Hurdles as They Pursue Graduate and Professional Degrees EdTrust brief highlights how new borrowing caps harm Black, Latino, Native, and low-income students WASHINGTON —July 1st not only marks the end of the Grad PLUS loan, but it’s also when new borrowing caps enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act...

The elimination of Grad PLUS loans will limit access to advanced degrees and drive many students toward riskier private loans A major change to federal student aid is about to reshape how students pay for graduate school. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in July 2025, eliminates the Grad PLUS loan program and introduces strict new borrowing caps.

Federal changes to funding, push for vouchers require response from state legislators A year and a half into the Trump presidency, the administration has, through the coordinated actions of the Great American Heist, instituted a wide variety of harmful programs that will undermine students’ futures. Federal education funding remains under threat for K-12 education, and more generous student loan repayment plans are being eliminated, even as families lose eligibility for Medicaid and SNAP.

America is in the middle of a profound literacy crisis, more than 60% of fourth graders aren’t reading at proficient levels, and the disparities are stark across racial, economic, and geographic lines. In this episode, we explore the science of reading, the importance of structured literacy, and how culturally responsive literacy instruction can transform the lives of students.

Statement from EdTrust on the Transfers of OSERS and OCR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: media@edtrust.org June 16, 2026 Students’ Civil Rights Are Being Treated Like an Afterthought Statement from EdTrust on the Transfers of OSERS and OCR WASHINGTON —“The Trump administration’s decision to move both the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice is the latest step in its...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: media@edtrust.org June 16, 2026 Approval of Indiana Waiver Abandons Federal K-12 Education Law Statement from EdTrust President and CEO Denise Forte WASHINGTON —“In approving Indiana’s waiver request, the U.S. Department of Education has abandoned the promise that every K-12 student should be supported to achieve at the same rigorous standards, that disaggregated data on how well schools are fulfilling that promise should be reported publicly, and that schools...

Navigating AI implementation is an enormous challenge for districts, educators, students, communities, and policymakers that can have serious implications for the US’s most vulnerable students. Generative AI use in educational settings is accelerating at a rapid pace, with students and teachers across the country utilizing and experimenting with educational technology embedded with AI capabilities or with Large Language Models (LLMs) themselves.