Education (K-12 Education)

The Native American Education Opportunity Act establishes a program that provides $8,000 annually per eligible Native American student to be deposited into Tribal education savings accounts (ESAs) for educational expenses. Eligible students include those enrolled in Tribes who attended or will attend Bureau of Indian Education schools, with funds usable for private tutoring, private school costs, educational materials, technology, and other approved educational services. Tribes administering these programs must consult with Tribal officials before providing educational services, and the accounts terminate when students turn 25 or complete their education. The bill also authorizes Bureau-Funded Charter Schools to operate under specific guidelines and requires a GAO study on the program's implementation after 3 years.

Right to Read Act of 2025 This bill expands access to school libraries and literacy skills support for elementary and secondary school students. It also outlines certain constitutional rights and liability protections related to school libraries. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 (1) the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program, which provides grants to ensure high-quality instruction and effective strategies in reading and writing for children through 12th grade; and (2) the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program, which provides grants to support the development of literacy skills in low-income communities. Additionally, the bill allows Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants to be used to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools in recruiting, hiring, and retaining state-certified school librarians. Further, the bill authorizes states and LEAs to use Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants for programs and activities that promote the development of digital literacy and information literacy skills. The Department of Education (ED) must direct the National Center for Education Statistics to biennially collect data on school libraries. ED must require an assurance from each state and LEA receiving certain funds confirming that it will (1) protect the First Amendment rights of students in school libraries, and (2) provide equal protection in the conduct of school libraries in compliance with the requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment and nondiscrimination laws. The bill also provides liability protection to teachers, school librarians, school leaders, paraprofessionals, and other staff for actions that conform with state or local policies regarding the right to read.

HR 5056, the Teachers Are Leaders Act of 2025, creates a federal grant program to support teachers in high-need schools who maintain classroom roles while taking on leadership responsibilities. The bill provides funding for eligible school district-university partnerships to offer teachers one year of professional development leading to a teacher leadership credential, plus up to two additional years of support. This includes training in areas like curriculum development, peer coaching, and cultural competencies, with selection criteria requiring at least three years of teaching experience and certification. Grants cover 50% of stipends in the first two years and 33% in the third year, and teachers may repay credential costs if they leave the program early. The program directly affects classroom teachers in high-need schools and aims to improve student achievement through data-driven instructional practices.

This bill directs the Secretary of Education to reduce federal regulations and promote parental choice in education. It authorizes the Secretary to rescind rules limiting local control, expand access to school choice programs (like vouchers and charter schools), and reduce administrative burdens on schools. The bill affects parents, states, and local school districts by shifting decision-making authority away from federal mandates toward local communities, using existing education funding without new spending. It requires quarterly reports on unused funds and explicitly prohibits federal control over curriculum or homeschooling.

This bill requires schools receiving federal education funds to disclose foreign funding sources to parents upon request. It mandates that schools provide parents with access to classroom materials paid for with foreign government funds, information about staff compensated with such funds, and details about donations or agreements with foreign governments or "entities of concern." Schools must respond to parent requests within 30 days and post annual notices about these rights on public websites. The policy directly affects parents, schools, and local education agencies receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

This bill would terminate the U.S. Department of Education by October 1, 2026, and transfer its education-related functions to other federal agencies. It would move K-12 education programs to the Office of Education within Health and Human Services, student loans to the Treasury Department, vocational education to the Labor Department, and civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department. The bill also specifies that certain education programs would be terminated after October 1, 2036, and includes provisions to ensure continuity of existing grants, contracts, and legal proceedings during the transition. It directly affects federal education programs, agencies handling education funding, and recipients of education-related grants and services.

S 2702 requires K-12 schools receiving federal funds to obtain parental consent before accommodating students' gender identity expressions that differ from their biological sex. It prohibits schools from hiding such information from parents, encouraging students to conceal gender identity concerns, or facilitating referrals for gender transition procedures without consent. Schools must publicly post compliance policies and provide written policies to families, with violations allowing parents to sue for injunctive relief, attorney fees, and compensation for "harm" from gender transition treatments. The bill directly affects school districts, staff, and families of students under 18, mandating parental involvement in decisions about gender identity accommodations.