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WASHINGTON D.C. - The Education Department announced Friday investigations into alleged discrimination at more than 50 universities, amid President Donald Trump's efforts to end "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" programs.
The announcement comes about a month after the department issued a memo warned schools that they would lose federal funding if they used "race-based preferences” in admissions, according to The Associated Press.
These practices tend to exclude white people and Asian-Americans, Trump administration officials said.
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. "We will not yield on this commitment.”
Some of the universities being investigated for alleged "race-exclusionary" practices include Arizona State , Cornell, Clemson and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Last month, the department cut $600 million in grants that were meant to go to organizations to train teachers. Click here to read more.
WASHINGTON D.C. - The Social Security Administration (SSA) has renewed a past policy that allows it to more quickly claw back overpayments made to millions of Americans.
Under last year’s policy, issued in a March 2024 advisory, the automatic overpayment recovery rate was reduced to 10 percent. However, as of March 27, the federal entitlement program announced in a March 7 press release that it will begin to recover 100 percent of money disbursed to beneficiaries who received more funds than their benefit permitted.
“The withholding rate change applies to new overpayments related to Social Security benefits,” the SSA said.
“The withholding rate for current beneficiaries with an overpayment before March 27 will not change and no action is required. The withholding rate for Supplemental Security Income overpayments remains 10 percent,” it said.
“People who are overpaid after March 27 will automatically be placed in full recovery at a rate of 100 percent of the Social Security payment.”
CustomFitFinancial.com owner and CFP Chad Gammon expects the new policy to cause financial hardship for those impacted. Click here to learn more.
KILLEEN, Texas - A Texas superintendent said a weapons detection system at a middle school was not working the day a student was fatally stabbed during an altercation.
Killeen ISD Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Fey also revealed on Friday that 14-year-old Serenity Baker was stabbed in the neck with a 3.5-inch tactical folding knife on March 10.
“The EVOLV weapons detection system at Roy J. Smith Middle School was not functioning that day,” Fey said during a news conference.
The school district did not explain why the system was not working and Fey said it’s unclear if the knife would have been detected.
Parents have been speaking up about ongoing bullying and fights within the school and others. In regards to the fatal stabbing, Fey says no bullying reports were made by the suspect or Baker prior to the deadly incident.
“However, what we don’t know to be true at this time was if the students or parents actually made a report, whether verbally or on paper to KISD staff,” Fey explained.
There was also talk about if either Serenity or the suspect were recently suspended for bringing a knife to school, but Fey said that was not true. Click here to read more.
WASHINGTON D.C. - As U.S. public school scores plunge yet again, a new study shows homeschool students are more likely to report positive mental health outcomes, to be married and have children, to volunteer in their communities, and to believe in God.
The report’s findings come as President Donald Trump contemplates returning most of the federal government’s role in education back to the states and eventually abolishing the U.S. Department of Education.
Compared to the other groups, long-term homeschoolers—those who spent at least eight years being educated at home—reported the lowest levels of depression and anxiety, were the least likely to say they “feel helpless dealing with life’s problems,” and “exhibited the highest levels of optimism, gratitude, and life satisfaction,” found a report titled “Diverse Outcomes for a Diverse Population,” released early last month. Click here to read more.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida has been named as the leading state for education freedom, earning the top spot from EdChoice for offering the most extensive school choice options in the country.
The 2025 EdChoice Friedman Index assesses “how well each state enables families to direct education funding toward the options they deem best, whether public or private.”
Florida received 77 “due to the fact that 100% of Florida’s students may obtain funding to participate in the Sunshine state’s private educational choice programs,” the announcement said.
After Florida, Arkansas ranked second with 60 and Alabama and Arizona tied in third with 59.
The EdChoice Friedman Index scores range from zero, meaning a state offers no private school choice options for families, to 100, representing Milton and Rose Friedman’s vision of universal educational choice: “All Students, All Options, All Dollars.”
The report said the highest-scoring states have widespread eligibility and robust ESA programs, however, top states “fall short in funding parity between choice and public school students.” Click here to read more.
