Missouri, Kansas judges temporarily halt much of President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan
Federal judges in Kansas and Missouri have together blocked much of a Biden administration student loan repayment plan that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.
Most US students are recovering from pandemic-era setbacks, but millions are making up little ground
Americaโs schools have just started making progress toward getting students back on track after they fell behind by historic margins during the pandemic.
Bidenโs new Title IX rules protect LGBTQ+ students, but avoid addressing transgender athletes
The rights of LGBTQ+ students will be protected by federal law and victims of campus sexual assault will gain new safeguards under new rules from the Biden administration.
Biden promotes 'life-changing' student loan relief in Wisconsin as he rallies younger voters
President Joe Biden says student loan relief will empower Americans to pursue their dreams without the burden of debt.
President Joe Biden will unveil his new plan to give student loan relief to many new borrowers
President Joe Biden will announce a significant new plan next week to cancel federal student loan debt for new categories of borrowers.
'Frozen in time.' Kamala Harris tours bloodstained building where 2018 Parkland massacre happened
Vice President Kamala Harris toured the bloodstained classroom building where the 2018 Parkland high school massacre happened.
Hundreds of thousands of financial aid applications need to be fixed after latest calculation error
The U.S. Education Department says it discovered a calculation error in hundreds of thousands of student financial aid applications sent to colleges this month and will need to reprocess them, a blunder that follows a series of others and threatens further delays to this yearโs college applications.
Education Department starts sending financial aid data to colleges after months of delays
After months of delays and technical hiccups, some colleges and universities have started to receive federal data they need to put together financial aid offers for incoming students.
Biden withholds $2M from student loan servicers after companies bungled billing statements
The Biden administration is docking more than $2 million in payments to student loan servicers that failed to send billing statements on time after the end of a coronavirus pandemic payment freeze.
Columbia, Cornell and other colleges face US inquiries over alleged antisemitism and Islamophobia
The federal government has opened civil rights investigations at seven schools and universities over allegations of antisemitism or Islamophobia since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
Black and Latino students lack access to certified teachers and advanced classes, US data shows
Americaโs Black and Latino students were at a disadvantage in nearly every measure of education opportunity in the 2020-21 school year.
Few community college students go on to earn 4-year degrees. Some states have found ways to help
Partnerships between two- and four-year colleges and universities could help more community college students go on to earn bachelorโs degrees, according to data released Thursday by U.S. Education Department.
The Biden administration says colleges must fight 'alarming rise' in antisemitism and Islamophobia
The Biden administration is warning U.S. schools and colleges that they must take immediate action to stop antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses, citing an โalarming riseโ in threats and harassment.
Biden and Jill Biden hand out books and candy while hosting thousands for rainy trick or treating
Books were about as abundant as candy at a trick-or-treating event that President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted at the White House on the eve of Halloween.
Biden administration is moving toward a narrower student loan relief targeting groups of borrowers
The Biden administration is moving toward a narrower student loan relief plan that would target specific groups of borrowers rather than a sweeping plan like the one the Supreme Court rejected by the Supreme Court.
Colleges should step up diversity efforts after affirmative action ruling, the government says
The Biden administration is asking Americaโs colleges to step up their efforts to make campuses more racially diverse.
New rule will cut federal money to college programs that leave grads with high debt, low pay
A new federal rule threatens to cut federal money to college programs that consistently leave graduates with low pay or unaffordable debt.
US education chief considers new ways to discourage college admissions preference for kids of alumni
President Joe Bidenโs education chief says heโs open to using โwhatever leversโ are available โ including federal money โ to discourage colleges from giving preference to the children of alumni and donors.
Powerful storm kills 2 people and leaves 1.1 million without power in eastern US
At least two people have died, thousands of U.S. flights have been canceled and more than 1 million have lost power as destructively strong storms move through the eastern U.S. Residents were warned to stay indoors Monday and prepare for the worst.
Conservative groups sue to block Biden plan canceling $39 billion in student loans
Two conservative groups are asking a federal court to block the Biden administrationโs plan to cancel $39 billion in student loans for more than 800,000 borrowers.
Black lawmakers press Justice and Education Departments to investigate Florida's race curriculum
The Congressional Black Caucus is pushing the White House, Justice Department and the Department of Education to look into whether Florida school districts are violating federal discrimination law following changes to the state's Black history curriculum.
Affirmative action for white people? Legacy college admissions come under renewed scrutiny
In the wake of a Supreme Court decision that removes race from the admissions process, colleges are coming under renewed pressure to put an end to legacy preferences, the practice of favoring applicants with family ties to alumni.
DeSantis sues Biden administration over university accrediting system
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state is suing the Biden administration and U.S. Department of Education over accreditation agencies that control federal aid for students.
New rule targets college programs that leave grads with low income, high debt
College programs that leave graduates underpaid or buried in loans would be cut off from federal money under a proposal issued by the Biden administration on Wednesday.
US would bar full ban on trans athletes but allow exceptions
A new rule proposed by the Biden administration would prevent schools and colleges from enacting outright bans on transgender athletes, but it would allow certain exceptions to promote fairness or reduce injuries.
High court to rule on Biden student loan cancellation plan
The Supreme Court says the Biden administration program to cancel student loans will remain blocked for now, but the justices have agreed to take up the case in late winter.
Biden admin relaxes rules for student debt forgiveness
The Biden administration is moving forward with an overhaul of several student debt forgiveness programs, aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get cancellation if they are duped by their colleges or if they put in a decade of work as public servants.
Here's how you can apply for student loan forgiveness
President Joe Biden has officially kicked off the application process for his student debt cancellation program, opening the door for millions of Americans to apply for up to $20,000 in forgiveness.
Small business group files suit over Biden student loan plan
A small business advocacy group has filed a new lawsuit seeking to block the Biden administrationโs efforts to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans.
Libertarian group sues to block student debt cancellation
A libertarian group in California filed a legal challenge to President Joe Bidenโs plan for student debt cancellation on Tuesday, calling it an illegal overreach that would increase state tax burdens for some Americans who get their debt forgiven.
After cancellation, Dems look to reduce future student debt
House Democrats are proposing new legislation that would increase federal student aid, lower interest rates on loans and take other steps to make college more affordable.
Montana defies order on transgender birth certificates
Just hours after a Montana judge blocked health officials from enforcing a state rule that would prevent transgender people from changing the gender on their birth certificate, the Republican-run state said it would defy the order.
Legality of student loan plan relies on pandemic, 2003 law
The Biden administration is tying its authority to cancel student debt to the coronavirus pandemic and to a 2003 law aimed at providing help to members of the military.
Jill Biden on teaching as first lady: 'Knew I could do both'
Jill Biden says she didn't doubt that she could keep teaching as first lady and overcame skepticism that she could handle both jobs by instructing her staff to โfigure it out.โ.
Jill Biden, education chief to kick off summer learning tour
Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona are kicking off a summer learning tour this week with stops in Connecticut, Georgia and Michigan over two days.
LGBTQ students would get new protections under Biden plan
The rights of LGBTQ students would become enshrined in federal law and victims of campus sexual assault would gain new protections under new rules proposed by the Biden administration.
Mourners lean on faith as teacher and her husband are laid to rest in Uvalde
Uvalde said goodbye Wednesday to Irma Garcia, who was killed along with fellow teacher Eva Mireles, and 19 children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last week when a gunman made his way into their classroom as they were wrapping up the school year.
Debt wiped for Corinthian students as bigger decisions loom
President Joe Biden hasn't made a decision yet on how he'll handle the student loan debt issue, but his administration is trying to bring closure to one of the most notorious cases of fraud in American higher education.
US education chief seeks action to prevent school shootings
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he's ashamed the United States is "becoming desensitized to the murder of childrenโ and he's calling for action to prevent more lives from being lost in school shootings like the one in Uvalde, Texas.
EXPLAINER: Biden extends student loan freeze through August
The Biden administration has announced that federal student loan payments will remain paused through Aug. 31, extending a freeze that began in 2020 but was set to end after this month.
White House to extend student loan pause through August
The Biden administration plans to freeze federal student loan payments through Aug. 31, extending a moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to postpone payments during the coronavirus pandemic.
LGBTQ group sues Florida over so-called โDonโt Say Gayโ law
Gay rights advocates are suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to block a new law forbidding classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
US education secretary to Florida LGBTQ kids: Got your back
In another clash between the Biden administration and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has spoke with LGBTQ students in Florida.
Bomb-threatened Black schools eligible for security grants
Vice President Kamala Harris says historically Black colleges and universities that were victimized by recent bomb threats are eligible for federal grants to help improve security and mental health on campus.
With US aid money, schools put bigger focus on mental health
Schools across the U.S. are using portions of the windfall of federal coronavirus relief money to quickly expand their capacity to address studentsโ struggles with mental health.
Feds urge schools to provide COVID-19 shots, info for kids
The Biden administration is encouraging local school districts to host clinics to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to kids and information to parents on the benefits of the shots.
![EXPLAINER: What's behind changes in student loan forgiveness](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Wx9maiGzLOW2cR0Dne8AloBfBnE=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UAMDSOXO7NF7HIAPCUF6G3M3GY.jpg)
EXPLAINER: What's behind changes in student loan forgiveness
A student debt forgiveness program with notoriously complex eligibility rules is getting an overhaul from the Biden administration, with the intent of extending debt relief to thousands of public workers.
![The Latest: Alaska Gov: Bidenโs vaccine order 'un-American'](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/uRt1rqSdbEgBIfyrbRuFzVMFOCY=/800x600/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2V4BPGSMTFBTBKGAREIN4WG7AU.jpg)
The Latest: Alaska Gov: Bidenโs vaccine order 'un-American'
Alaska Gov_ Mike Dunleavy said President Joe Bidenโs effort to require millions of U_S_ workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is โill conceived, divisive, and un-American.โ.
![State mask bans face federal civil rights inquiries](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Fp_WVVxKq_pZnizsGpzdaUDOGp0=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/W6YK4YW6HFAQZE7TS67IAREXMA.jpg)
State mask bans face federal civil rights inquiries
The Education Department says itโs investigating five Republican-led states that have banned or limited mask requirements in schools, saying the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.
![Loan forgiveness offered to more former ITT Tech students](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-QaK6r8G3BbGNuK1MYGPlVsvk3g=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IIUNP7QV2NFA5BYLVCNAX5JHHU.jpg)
Loan forgiveness offered to more former ITT Tech students
The Education Department has announced it will forgive student debt for more than 100,000 borrowers who attended colleges in the now-defunct ITT Technical Institute chain but left before graduating.
![Pandemic windfall for US schools has few strings attached](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6ArQe6JJ8rPfjIqELVSmkgcQeNc=/800x449/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/U4BWRFS3S5GXRK6SCF7RQDBODI.jpg)
Pandemic windfall for US schools has few strings attached
The Biden administration says the historic amount of federal pandemic aid flowing to the nation's K-12 schools presents a moment for reimagining all aspects of American education.
![US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/JnPITjiQcTgGMNu5E-eIEchHB3E=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E3DY7XGORNANVF5DR2YSYS6MYM.jpg)
US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities
The Biden administration says it will automatically erase student loan debt for more than 300,000 Americans with disabilities that leave them unable to earn significant incomes.
![States banning mask mandates could face civil rights probes](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/uupnNYWG9s8dydWglyAP6LWecU0=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OEQRT5KXQFEB7FVRCCZMXHWIB4.jpg)
States banning mask mandates could face civil rights probes
President Joe Biden has ordered his Education secretary to explore possible legal action against states that have blocked school mask mandates and other public health measures meant to protect students.
![Biden admin backs Texas, Florida districts on mask mandates](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UTYWcRgddOGxQmU6WuNNTjr8zZo=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QOZGUVROPZA2ZCFNOUQMT45VWE.jpg)
Biden admin backs Texas, Florida districts on mask mandates
President Joe Bidenโs administration is offering its full-throated support for local cities and school boards in Texas and Florida that are defying orders by their Republican governors that prohibit mask-wearing mandates in schools.
![Pause on student loan payments extended through January](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/9XTRlySLINrriaeQQlDJVQAYfug=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XS5WBINBGNHFXKKUV4NFQPCYXA.jpg)
Pause on student loan payments extended through January
The Biden administration has announced that federal student loan payments will remain suspended through January 2022, extending a pause that was scheduled to expire next month.
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Loan relief approved for more for-profit college students
The U.S. Education Department has announced it will forgive student loans for more than 1,800 borrowers who attended for-profit colleges that made false recruiting claims.
![Overhaul makes it easier for aspiring teachers to get grants](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/1V9eFXd2o08WYD4lgELUZYBo-5g=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XEA5C7XZING7LK7J3JRUE3I63Y.jpg)
Overhaul makes it easier for aspiring teachers to get grants
The U.S. Education Department is loosening the rules around a grant program thatโs meant to help aspiring teachers pay for college but has actually left many stuck with debt.
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Puerto Rico to receive nearly $4B in US pandemic funds
U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says Puerto Rico will receive nearly $4 billion in federal education pandemic relief funds to help boost the U.S. territoryโs fight against COVID-19.
![Loan relief granted to defrauded for-profit college students](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/rpqJwOeH8k8_JNg4kU6wQnYiYZ4=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Z6SVWZ3XUNACBKA4B3KR7XE4GY.jpg)
Loan relief granted to defrauded for-profit college students
The U.S. Education Department says it's erasing student debt for thousands of borrowers who attended a for-profit college chain that exaggerated its graduatesโ success in finding jobs.
![Education Department reviewing campus sex assault rules](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Q2u0cBQjQCH004clPtEGt3tP4pY=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ORQDWTAWBJEDDG5APVFQVQRGZM.jpg)
Education Department reviewing campus sex assault rules
The Education Department is taking the next step to revise federal rules around campus sexual assault, paving the way for an overhaul of a polarizing Trump-era policy that President Joe Biden has vowed to reverse.
![School survey shows 'critical gaps' for in-person learning](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jnOiRwLYKa0rBamC-4CPh3uEBcI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BHLL5P3TIRG57GN5JJLOY6RDOI.jpg)
School survey shows 'critical gaps' for in-person learning
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the findings, while encouraging, also showed โcritical gapsโ for in-person learning, especially for students of color. In January, 38% of fourth graders were learning full-time in-person, compared with 28% of eighth graders, the survey found. Among fourth graders, almost half of white students were learning fully in-person, with just over one-quarter learning online. Just 42% of those with disabilities and 34% learning English were enrolled in full-time classroom learning, compared with 38% of all students. AdAmong students learning online, the survey found, the amount of time spent with a live teacher also varied greatly.
![Students who got partial loan relief to see full discharge](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/TqMbJNeP27zQhszFpkjOh1jm6GE=/2048x1365/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2T22ICPBO5AZTGHJ5DZJ4GFOAM.jpg)
Students who got partial loan relief to see full discharge
WASHINGTON โ Thousands of students defrauded by for-profit schools will have their federal loans fully erased, the Biden administration announced Thursday, reversing a Trump administration policy that had given them only partial relief. The change could lead to $1 billion in loans being canceled for 72,000 borrowers, all of whom attended for-profit schools, the Education Department said. The borrower defense to repayment program allows students to have their federal loans canceled if they were defrauded by their schools. The Education Department said a total of 343,331 applications for relief under borrower defense had been received as of Feb. 28. Sen. Patty Murray, who heads the Senate committee overseeing education, said DeVos used โfaulty mathโ to deny student full relief.
![Expanded testing part of Biden administration school plans](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/U7GzUJ34xAzCKP0lMJ_rxsKWPl4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KBW76QVCWBGRXL5GZ2WOWWIHLU.jpg)
Expanded testing part of Biden administration school plans
As part of that effort, first lady Jill Biden visited a school in New Hampshire on Wednesday. Also Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced $10 billion for states to support school COVID-19 testing programs. The Education Department said first lady Jill Biden will deliver opening remarks. The Education Department will begin making the money available this month. AdPresident Biden has ordered states to prioritize teachers in their vaccination plans, and the CDC has released guidelines to help schools reopen.