Latest news with #CharterSchoolsProgram
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Supreme Court blocks creation of religious public charter school
May 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court decided Thursday that the state of Oklahoma will not be permitted to create the first-ever religious public charter school with a deadlocked decision only a sentence in length. The judges ended up in a 4-4 tie as Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case. The decision, without a majority, sets no precedent and therefore leaves the question of legality in regard to whether religious schools can take part in taxpayer-funded state charter school programs unanswered. It also means that the previous decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court that denied a proposal by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa to launch an online Catholic school that would have been funded by taxpayers still stands. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in June of 2024 that "Under Oklahoma law, a charter school is a public school. As such, a charterschool must be nonsectarian." The St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, created by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa in 2023, had said that as state funding for charter schools is generally made available to qualified organizations, the state could not discriminate based on religion. "A ruling that Oklahoma's charter-school law unconstitutionally discriminates against religion would upend the federal [Charter Schools Program] and charter-school laws nationwide, sowing chaos and confusion for millions of charter-school students," the state Supreme Court said in its ruling. Justice Barrett did not publicly explain her recusal, but it could be related to her ties to Notre Dame Law School, whose religious liberty clinic represents St Isidore. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond responded to the Supreme Court's decision in an X post Thursday. "The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of my position that we should not allow taxpayer funding of radical Islamic schools here in Oklahoma. I am proud to have fought against this potential cancer in our state, and I will continue upholding the law, protecting our Christian values and defending religious liberty," Drummond said. Gentner's reference to "radical Islamic schools" is a callback to his statement made in June of 2024 when the state Supreme Court made its ruling, when he said that "by preventing the State from sponsoring any religion at all," it would assure Oklahomans " that our tax dollars will not fund the teachings of Sharia Law or even Satanism."
UPI
22-05-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Supreme Court blocks creation of religious public charter school
May 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court decided Thursday that the state of Oklahoma will not be permitted to create the first-ever religious public charter school with a deadlocked decision only a sentence in length. The judges ended up in a 4-4 tie as Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case. The decision, without a majority, sets no precedent and therefore leaves the question of legality in regard to whether religious schools can take part in taxpayer-funded state charter school programs unanswered. It also means that the previous decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court that denied a proposal by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa to launch an online Catholic school that would have been funded by taxpayers still stands. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in June of 2024 that "Under Oklahoma law, a charter school is a public school. As such, a charterschool must be nonsectarian." The St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, created by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa in 2023, had said that as state funding for charter schools is generally made available to qualified organizations, the state could not discriminate based on religion. "A ruling that Oklahoma's charter-school law unconstitutionally discriminates against religion would upend the federal [Charter Schools Program] and charter-school laws nationwide, sowing chaos and confusion for millions of charter-school students," the state Supreme Court said in its ruling. Justice Barrett did not publicly explain her recusal, but it could be related to her ties to Notre Dame Law School, whose religious liberty clinic represents St Isidore. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond responded to the Supreme Court's decision in an X post Thursday. "The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of my position that we should not allow taxpayer funding of radical Islamic schools here in Oklahoma. I am proud to have fought against this potential cancer in our state, and I will continue upholding the law, protecting our Christian values and defending religious liberty," Drummond said. Gentner's reference to "radical Islamic schools" is a callback to his statement made in June of 2024 when the state Supreme Court made its ruling, when he said that "by preventing the State from sponsoring any religion at all," it would assure Oklahomans " that our tax dollars will not fund the teachings of Sharia Law or even Satanism."
Politico
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Charters press for space in reconciliation debate
Presented by Third Way With help from Mackenzie Wilkes and Bianca Quilantan CHARTER CHATTER — Charter schools are angling to influence the massive congressional budget reconciliation bill amid broader momentum for school choice. — Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Friday said her agency will pump an additional $60 million into this year's federal Charter Schools Program and unveiled a new kind of charter school development grant, atop a potential funding expansion from the Trump administration's budget proposal. A bipartisan group of senators also reintroduced legislation to streamline the process of opening new campuses. — The charter industry still wants more for the publicly-funded campuses as private school boosters push to cement a multibillion-dollar federal tax credit program that would fund scholarships for private tuition and other educational expenses, including for wealthy families. — A lobbying campaign featuring Eva Moskowitz, the head of Success Academy Charter Schools, is pressing the GOP to include the High-Quality Charter Schools Act in their bill — a federal tax credit for qualified charitable contributions made to nonprofit charter school organizations. — 'The President campaigned on universal school choice, and you can't have universal if you have half of the equation,' Moskowitz told your host in Washington after a congressional hearing where Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) criticized House Republicans for not including the charter tax credit. 'You're going to have a broader coalition if you include a public school choice.' — Moskowitz, who was floated as a potential Education secretary during President Donald Trump's first term, said she's talking with McMahon and the agency's legislative affairs team as negotiations continue in the House and Senate. — 'There are a lot of twists and turns in what the final package will be between now and when the music stops,' she said. IT'S MONDAY, MAY 19. WELCOME TO WEEKLY EDUCATION. Library defenders in a Trump-friendly Southern California city are taking their fight to the ballot as public libraries have become a conservative culture-war target across the country. Reach out with tips to today's host at jperez@ and also my colleagues Becca Carballo (rcarballo@ Bianca Quilantan (bquilantan@ and Mackenzie Wilkes (mwilkes@ Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. In Congress DOLLARS AND SENSE — McMahon is scheduled to face congressional appropriators on Wednesday to detail the Trump administration's proposal to slash her agency's budget. — She's also facing criticism from senior Democrats about federal funds schools need for the coming academic year. States and school districts only learned last week about preliminary amounts of fiscal 2025 funding they can expect from the government's Title I grant program for students from low-income households, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said in a letter to McMahon. — The delayed allocation gives states less time to plan the use of money meant for the lowest-performing schools and students, the Democrats said. — 'We implore the Department to reverse course, stop creating chaos, provide states and school districts with information about the resources Congress provided in the 2025 appropriations law and begin to support states and their school districts in the effective implementation of federal law,' they added. A department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. HOUSE E&W DOES ITS PART — The House Education and Workforce Committee's overhaul of federal student aid programs as part of the GOP budget bill exceeds the savings Chair Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) was tasked with finding, Mackenzie reports. — By the numbers: The House education committee's portion of the GOP budget bill is estimated to produce $349.1 billion in savings, according to a new score from the Congressional Budget Office. The latest score comes after preliminary estimates from the CBO showed that the committee's policies would decrease deficits by $351 billion. The panel was tasked with finding at least $330 billion in savings. — The plan would place stricter limits on federal loans borrowers can take out, repeal regulations related to gainful employment and borrower defense, make significant changes to the Pell Grant and limit the Education Department's authority to issue regulations that would increase federal costs related to student loan programs. — The largest portion of the panel's savings would come from repealing and replacing former President Joe Biden's student loan repayment program known as SAVE. Overall changes to student loan repayments would reduce spending by $294.6 billion between 2025 and 2034. Republicans have proposed replacing the Biden-era income-driven repayment plan with two pared-down options. Borrowers could opt for fixed monthly payments over a certain period of time based on debt load or an income-based plan dubbed the 'Repayment Assistance Plan.' — The CBO notes that there's some uncertainty with current law spending, given that federal courts have had the SAVE program on hold for months. — 'Participation data are limited and incomplete because, as a result of pending litigation, borrowers enrolled in that plan have been placed in administrative forbearance, and applications for most IDR plans have been closed,' the CBO report says. 'Actual participation in the SAVE Plan, if fully implemented in the future, or in the legislation's proposed IDR plan may be higher or lower than CBO estimates.' Teacher Unions A 2025 CAMPAIGN — The National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers are launching a $2 million media campaign and mobilization effort in an effort to oppose Republican lawmakers' budget plans alongside other public service unions in more than a dozen congressional districts. — The unions say their Put Families First campaign 'will center the stories of the workers who keep our communities running and know firsthand the devastating impact reckless cuts will have on working families.' The labor groups will share their stories within targeted congressional districts via television, streaming, social media and more. — A union official said the targeted congressional districts are in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. EYES EMOJI — AFT President Randi Weingarten is set to publish a book in September. Publishers Weekly reports the controversial union chief's book is titled, 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy'. — According to Weingarten's publisher, the book will tell 'the story of what teachers do and why those who are afraid of freedom and opportunity try to stop them,' and 'why the fate of American democracy is inexorably intertwined with the fate of public education.' THE COLLEGE BOARD AP TESTING DISRUPTIONS — Psychology students sitting for their AP exam Friday afternoon faced issues logging into the College Board's Bluebook testing app, disrupting one of the testing giant's largest exams. — More than 300,000 students sat for the test, which was the last in this year's AP testing window. The College Board said the login issue was resolved and many students were able to take the exam, though it's still working to determine the full impact. — 'We know how hard students work to prepare for their AP exams and we regret that their testing period was disrupted,' a College Board spokesperson said in a statement. Students who were unable to test can participate in the late-testing exam on May 23. AP Psychology is one of 16 subject exams that were transitioned to fully digital this year. IN THE STATES CALIFORNIA TRADE-OFF — Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration is proposing legislation that would redirect money earmarked for school heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to programs meant to reduce electricity use during grid emergencies, POLITICO's Eric He reports. — A trailer bill the governor floated as part of his revised budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year would send any unused funds remaining in the CalSHAPE school facilities program in July to programs such as the Emergency Load Reduction Program, which rewards electricity customers who reduce their usage during grid emergencies. If lawmakers back Newsom's proposal, the funding shift would begin as temperatures typically climb in the summer months. — California Federation of Teachers legislative representative Mitch Steiger voiced 'strong opposition' to the trailer bill last week during a climate budget subcommittee hearing. 'It will give kids cancer and will force kids to learn in classrooms that are over 90 degrees,' Steiger said. Report Roundup — A new report from The Century Foundation finds that graduate students at historically Black colleges and universities are more likely to borrow graduate PLUS loans to cover tuition, fees, and related costs — despite generally carrying smaller loan balances than non-HBCU graduate students. — The national average price for childcare rose by 29 percent from 2020 to 2024, outpacing inflation, according to a new report from Child Care Aware of America. Syllabus — Education secretary wants talks with Harvard to resume, without giving ground: The New York Times — ICE threatens OPT visa holders with deportation: Inside Higher Ed — Judge blocks Energy Department limits on universities' indirect costs: POLITICO Pro — Financial reckoning hits universities: Pay cuts, layoffs and no coffee: The Wall Street Journal — Judge OKs Iowa limits on K-6 gender identity, sexual orientation teaching but not elective programs: The Associated Press
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Education Department to increase funds and grants for charter schools
The Department of Education is increasing the Charter Schools Program by nearly 15% this year, bumping the total budget to $500 million, per a press release from Education Secretary Linda McMahon. McMahon also announced that her department will launch new grant opportunities through Charter Schools Program called the Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program. 'Through this program, the department will showcase bold strategies and innovative education models from charter schools. We will particularly emphasize those that focus on classical education, civics, STEM programs and career focused education,' McMahon said in a video posted to X. There are currently over 8,000 operating charter schools in the U.S., and as of 2022, charter schools are legally recognized in 45 of 50 states, plus Washington D.C., per the Nation Center for Education Statistics. States without charter schools include Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont. The announcement follows the conclusion of National Charter School Week, which the White House recognized on Monday. Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, a member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, has been a proponent of charter schools and increasing educational choice in Utah. In remarks on Friday, Owens referenced these new innovations. 'As a nation, we've entered a very exciting new era where every child, not just a lucky few, can access opportunities that fit their unique needs and abilities,' he said. He continued, 'And we've started to view education in the same way we view other parts of our economy — through the eyes of the American consumer. It is a culture built on capitalism. Competition drives innovation, accountability and better outcomes.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Education Department to increase funds and grants for charter schools
The Department of Education is increasing the Charter Schools Program by nearly 15% this year, bumping the total budget to $500 million, per a press release from Education Secretary Linda McMahon. McMahon also announced that her department will launch new grant opportunities through Charter Schools Program called the Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program. 'Through this program, the department will showcase bold strategies and innovative education models from charter schools. We will particularly emphasize those that focus on classical education, civics, STEM programs and career focused education,' McMahon said in a video posted to X. There are currently over 8,000 operating charter schools in the U.S., and as of 2022, charter schools are legally recognized in 45 of 50 states, plus Washington D.C., per the Nation Center for Education Statistics. States without charter schools include Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont. The announcement follows the conclusion of National Charter School Week, which the White House recognized on Monday. Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, a member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, has been a proponent of charter schools and increasing educational choice in Utah. In remarks on Friday, Owens referenced these new innovations. 'As a nation, we've entered a very exciting new era where every child, not just a lucky few, can access opportunities that fit their unique needs and abilities,' he said. He continued, 'And we've started to view education in the same way we view other parts of our economy — through the eyes of the American consumer. It is a culture built on capitalism. Competition drives innovation, accountability and better outcomes.'
