Latest news with #UnitedStatesDepartmentofEducation
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Pride Month 2025: Donald Trump says June will be celebrated as Title IX month – here's what it means
The Trump administration renames June as Title IX Month. This move marks the 53rd anniversary of the law. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. The Education Department plans actions to protect women. They will reverse Biden's transgender policies. Investigations are launched at universities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is Title IX and why is it being highlighted now? What actions are being taken under Title IX Month? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What's the history behind Title IX? FAQs June is commonly known as Pride Month, but this is changing under Donald Trump's administration. The United States Department of Education has now designated June as Title IX Month move undermines Pride Month by shifting the federal focus to protecting women's spaces and reversing Biden-era transgender policies in schools and athletics. Controversy has quickly ensued in the aftermath of this Trump administration has officially designated June as " Title IX Month ," marking the 53rd anniversary of the landmark 1972 law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education.A recent report from the U.S. Department of Education , released on Monday, June 2, announced that June is set to be a month dedicated to honoring women and celebrating their achievements in the pursuit of equal educational Department would announce further actions to protect women in line with the true purpose of Title IX throughout the month and highlight actions taken to reverse the legacy of undermining Title IX under the Biden Administration, as quoted in a report by report also stated that two "investigations into the University of Wyoming and Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado for allegedly allowing males to join and live in female-only intimate and communal spaces" are being launched by the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) as part of the first-ever Title IX Month.'By prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded programs, #TitleIX opened countless athletic & academic opportunities for women & girls across the country. This month, we celebrate Title IX's 53rd anniversary & will take more action to protect women's hard-earned rights,' the department's official page also stated in an X of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX, is a federal civil rights law. Title IX's primary purpose is to outlaw sex-based official language of Title IX reads: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."Harvard University's explanation of Title IX states that "Title IX regulations guide how colleges and universities, including Harvard, must respond to sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct through appropriate grievance procedures, supportive measures, and related policies," as quoted in a report by to Fox News, "Dept of Education labels June as 'Title IX Month' in wake of trans athletes winning girls' competitions."No, the Department of Education has officially recognized Title IX aims to celebrate women's educational rights while also criticizing Biden's transgender policies.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Indian-American banned from MIT graduation ceremony for pro-Palestine speech. Who is Megha Vemuri?
Indian-American student Megha Vemuri of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was banned from attending a graduation ceremony on Friday after she delivered a pro-Palestinian speech during a commencement event on May 29. Vemuri was designated to be the marshal at the graduation ceremony, however, the university announced that she and her family were barred from attending the event. Vemuri, the elected class president and a double major in computation and cognition and linguistics, spoke at MIT's OneMIT Commencement Ceremony in Cambridge. Her speech, which was not pre-approved, denounced MIT's research ties with Israel and accused the university of being complicit in the 'genocide' of the Palestinian people. Following the speech, University Chancellor Melissa Nobles informed Vemuri that she would not be allowed to participate in the graduate ceremony on Friday, adding that she would receive her diploma by mail. In a statement, the university said: 'MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage.' In response to MIT's decision to bar her from the graduation ceremony, Vemuri said she was not disappointed about missing the event. 'I see no need for me to walk across the stage of an institution that is complicit in this genocide,' she wrote. However, she expressed disappointment with the university's handling of the situation, saying school officials 'massively overstepped their roles to punish me without merit or due process.' According to data from the United States Department of Education, MIT received $2.8 million in grants, gifts, and contracts from Israeli entities between 2020 and 2024, as reported by The Boston Globe and cited by The New York Times. Born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, Vemuri graduated from Alpharetta High School in 2021. She studied computer science, cognition, and linguistics at MIT, recently completing her degree while serving as the class president. At MIT, Vemuri was also a part of the Written Revolution, a student group that 'platforms revolutionary thought on campus' through writing and art, which it describes as 'powerful tools for conducting a revolution.' Before enrolling at MIT, she interned at the Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and participated in various youth leadership and science outreach programs. Vemuri's ONEMIT speech quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. In response to the online backlash, she has since taken down her LinkedIn profile. Taking the stage wearing a red keffiyeh – a symbol of solidarity with Palestine – Vemuri was one of nine speakers at MIT's OneMIT Commencement Ceremony on Thursday. Read from crumpled sheets of paper, her speech, roughly four minutes long, was addressed to her classmates, highlighting some of their efforts to protest against Israel. 'You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine,' she said, adding, 'The MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide.' After Vemuri left the stage to a round of applause, MIT President Sally Kornbluth spoke next. She paused as some people began chanting, and then responded, 'OK, listen folks. At MIT, we believe in freedom of expression. But today is about the graduates.' President Kornbluth has found herself on this type of tightrope before. In December 2023, she testified before the US House Committee on Education and the Workforce, alongside student presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. The hearing was on how universities were handling campus protests and allegations of antisemitism. Unlike her counterparts Claudine Gay and Liz Magill —both of whom were replaced by their schools — Kornbluth managed to avoid serious consequences. The 2023-24 academic year saw widespread pro-Palestinian protests on many college campuses, including encampments and tense standoffs across the country. Graduation ceremonies became a stage for political expression, with walkouts and protest speeches common. Generally, those who participated in such actions were not subjected to disciplinary measures. Vemuri's also drew criticism from the House Speaker, Mike Johnson, a key ally of US President Donald Trump. 'Ignorant. Hateful. Morally bankrupt. Where is the shame—or appropriate response from the institution?' he wrote on X. 'Have your children avoid MIT & the Ivy League at all costs.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EDITORIAL: Recent grad rates are a reason to be optimistic
May 13—It's not a surprise to anyone at this point that the COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse effect on education as it did with most things. As education shifted to an online format, it forced a change to the way we viewed education and how we delivered education. But just like there is no denying that education was affected, that reverberation echoed down the line to graduation. Graduation rates inevitably slipped as schools attempted to navigate the rigors of online schooling and remote education. Austin High School was able to maintain a steady grad rate of around 83% for both of 2020 to 2021, however, that rate dropped nearly 10% in 2022 to 75.2% and like many schools, the district has been trying to build back ever since. That's why this year's announcement that overall in the state, grad rates this were the highest ever recorded at 84.2% marks a significant moment in the continued work to increase grad rates. AHS, for all intents and purposes, stayed for the most part level with numbers revealing not even a full percentage point slip. Sometimes staying even is an optimistic step forward. In particular, AHS saw significant increases in three key areas within the district: —Special Education students, up 12.3% (from 55.8% to 68.1%) —Asian students, up 4.2% (72.5% to 76.7%) —White students, up 0.7% (84.0% to 84.7%) It's short-sighted to consider any problem like this 100% fixed and it should be accepted by all teachers and administrations that there is always room for improvement, but we also have to celebrate the wins when they come. This is especially true while standing in the face of headwinds caused by the federal government threatening to dissolve the United States Department of Education, which could send cascading waves through education. To give you an idea, numbers released by the MDE show some of the funding that's threatened: —$256 million for students with disabilities —$192 million for students from low-income backgrounds —$27 million for academic enrichment —$6 million for students in rural schools —$38 million to support children living on military bases or Native American reservations —$100 million for Career and Technical Education workforce development programs Education is one thing we should never stop striving for more of and the momentum resulting from the recent graduation numbers should be a cause to continue reevaluating the steps to come and how we can improve education. These numbers don't just represent a singular moment in time, but rather demonstrate a continued progression for years to come. It's not simply something we maintain anymore. Every year is a chance to get better. We owe that to our students.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Gov. Shapiro challenges decision to revoke $185M owed 116 PA school districts
Apr. 13—WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Josh Shapiro this week joined a multi-state lawsuit with 15 other states and the District of Columbia challenging the Trump Administration's decision to abruptly revoke $185 million in funding owed to Pennsylvania — much of which the United States Department of Education had already approved for distribution. These funds include $183.6 million owed to 116 Pennsylvania school districts, charter schools, intermediate units, and career and technical centers and $1.8 million owed to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This funding supports mental health resources for students, provides access to reliable high-speed internet, and enables HVAC installation to improve student health and safety. Gov. Shapiro has been working aggressively to protect Pennsylvania taxpayers and ensure the federal government honors its obligations. In February, the Governor filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's unconstitutional freeze of federal funding, and just last week Governor Shapiro joined a multistate lawsuit to protect public health in Pennsylvania after the Trump Administration abruptly and arbitrarily canceled more than half a billion dollars in public health grants. As a result of the Governor taking legal action both times, $2.7 billion in federal funding owed to Pennsylvanians has been restored. "Congress and the federal government made a commitment to our students, and school districts across Pennsylvania started construction to make schools safer, delivered supplies to students, and invested to create more opportunity for our kids based on that commitment," said Gov. Shapiro. "Now the Trump Administration is trying to renege on its commitments to our kids and leave Pennsylvania taxpayers holding the bag. Every Pennsylvania student deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed." In early 2025, the United States Department of Education (USDE) granted Pennsylvania an extension of time to access hundreds of millions of dollars in funds previously awarded to students in grades K-12 attending both public and private schools. Legislation would increase penalties for illegals reentering the U.S. U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R. 749 — the Stop Illegal Reentry Act (Kate's Law) — a bill that would increase criminal penalties for specific individuals who illegally reenter the U.S. after exclusion or removal. The Stop Illegal Reentry Act, also known as Kate's Law, is named in memory of Kate Steinle — a 32-year-old woman tragically killed by an illegal immigrant with multiple felony convictions who had been deported five times. Under this legislation, individuals who have been denied entry or removed from the U.S. three or more times and then attempt to reenter illegally would face fines, up to ten years in prison, or both. The bill also imposes stricter penalties on those with serious criminal history — specifically individuals convicted of aggravated felonies or removed after at least two prior convictions. If they attempt to reenter, they would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years in prison, along with possible fines. Rep. Meuser noted that under President Trump's leadership, illegal border crossings have drastically been reduced compared to the number of illegal crossings under the Biden Administration. For context, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported just 7,181 encounters at the Southern border in March of this year — a 95% decrease from the 137,473 encounters recorded in March 2024 under the Biden-Harris administration. "H.R. 749, the Stop Illegal Reentry Act, is a targeted effort to impose serious consequences on individuals who repeatedly and unlawfully reenter the United States after removal — particularly those with felony convictions," Rep. Meuser said. "This legislation sends a clear message: if you've been removed from the country due to criminal activity and attempt to return illegally, there will be real consequences. By enforcing our immigration laws and strengthening penalties, we can help prevent future tragedies and restore accountability at the border. No family should have to endure the kind of loss that Kate Steinle's family did." H.R. 749 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration. U.S. Sen. McCormick introduces term limits resolution U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pittsburgh, introduced a joint resolution this week proposing an amendment to the Constitution to implement term limits in Congress. This resolution would limit Senators to two six-year terms and House Members to six two-year terms, limiting either chamber to service of 12 years. "Our Founding Fathers never imagined that Congress would become an institution filled with career politicians who stay on well past retirement age, and Congress shouldn't be a place where people can get comfortable in their jobs," Sen. McCormick said. "We are extremely grateful for those who have served, for those who are serving, and for those who are willing to serve. At the same time, we need constant change and new blood for our democracy to work, and it is my hope that this resolution can help Washington begin to work again for the American people." Notably, McCormick's resolution would not apply to any person who was in office prior to the 118th Congress. Sen. McCormick said elected office has become an increasingly popular career choice rather than a temporary service. More than one-third of Senators in the 118th Congress were 70 or older. The 119th Congress is the third oldest in history. The average Senator is nearly 64 years old, which is 11 years older than the average Senator in 1981. Similarly, the House Members are nearly nine years older on average than they were in 1981. As of this year, Members of the House and Senate have an average of 8.6 and 11.2 years of prior service in their respective chambers. This represents a steady increase from the early 20th century when that number fell below six years for both the House and Senate. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education Department probes more than 45 universities for Title VI violations
March 14 (UPI) -- The United States Department of Education said Friday that has opened investigations into seven universities that are being accused of race-related improprieties. The department's Office for Civil Rights said in a press release that it opened investigations into 45 universities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." Educational institutions that receive federal funding originally received a Dear Colleague Letter in February that insisted each dump their diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, worded as each must "cease using race preferences and stereotypes," regarding "their admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, sanctions, discipline, and beyond," with the warning that any "institutions that fail to comply may, consistent with applicable law, face investigation and loss of federal funding." The OCR also stated that it has opened investigations at Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, New England College of Optometry, University of Alabama, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of South Florida and University of Tulsa School of Medicine, six of which for "allegedly awarding impermissible race-based scholarships," and one for "allegedly administering a program that segregates students on the basis of race." The statement did not specify which school was singled out for alleged segregation. Sixty universities are also under OCR scrutiny for alleged anti-Semitism, as the Education Department announced Monday after federal authorities canceled $400 million worth of grants to Columbia University last week, citing the school's response to pro-Palestinian protests on its New York City campus.
