U.S. schools

The U.S. Department of Education has moved to end Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students, according to an EdSource update. Title IX is the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded education, and the change removes protections previously interpreted to cover gender identity and sexual orientation. Education advocates and civil rights groups are reacting to the decision, warning of consequences for transgender and queer students in schools.

The U.S. Department of Education has formally removed Title IX protections for LGBTQ students, rolling back interpretations of the federal civil rights law that barred discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools receiving federal funding. Education advocates and civil rights groups are expected to challenge or criticize the move, while supporters frame it as restoring the law's original scope.

The U.S. Senate has approved a college sports bill sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, aimed at reining in what he calls 'chaos' in the NCAA. The legislation marks a rare congressional intervention in college athletics, and attention now turns to whether the House will take it up and what it would mean for student athletes and the governing body.

A Notre Dame Law School amicus brief is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the question of religious exclusions in higher education funding. The filing argues that programs excluding religious institutions or students from otherwise available public funding raise constitutional concerns and warrant the Court's attention. The brief adds to ongoing legal debate over equal treatment of religious organizations in government benefit programs.

A new Q&A examines how China and Canada outperform the United States in educating children from low-income families. The discussion, reported by NJ Spotlight News, explores what factors explain the gap and what lessons the U.S. school system might draw from those countries' approaches to supporting disadvantaged students.