ED Press Secretary

Press Secretary for @usedgov. RTs are not endorsements

[California Post @californiapost]

White House targets LAUSD over twisted policies hiding kids' secrets from families - as 'domestic terrorists' row erupts again https://t.co/nzc3r23hWC

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

Today, ED and @TheJusticeDept took action to defend parents’ rights and hold schools accountable for policies that keep critical information about children from their parents.

The Trump Administration is putting parents back where they belong: at the center of their children’s education.

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

RETURN EDUCATION TO THE STATES. 🇺🇸

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

Today, ED approved THREE Workforce Pell Grant programs in Nebraska!

These approvals underscore the Trump Administration’s commitment to creating more affordable, faster routes to enter the workforce.

Learn more here: https://t.co/naicRsDR1Q

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

The Returning Education to the States Waivers slash red tape, consolidate funding, and redirect money back to where it matters most: our students.

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

Today, @EDSecMcMahon issued a called on all education leaders and teachers, urging them to strengthen civic learning and provide routine opportunities for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

Yesterday, ED and @StateDept opened foreign funding investigations into Duke University and the University of North Dakota after reviews of university records indicated incomplete, inaccurate, and untimely disclosures.

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

Foreign funding going to American universities and colleges should be TRANSPARENT.

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

On this day in history, WE the PEOPLE chose self-government!

History isn’t optional!

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

Following reports that school officials allegedly facilitated a “gender transition” of a CHILD without parental consent, ED has launched an investigation into the Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough in Massachusetts to determine whether the district violated federal law.

[Secretary Linda McMahon @EDSecMcMahon]

I join the nation in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton.

Through her Imagination Library, she placed millions of books into the hands of young children and helped spark a lifelong love of reading. Her music, storytelling, and generous spirit enriched American culture for generations.

Her light will continue to inspire.

Rest in peace, Dolly.

[Secretary Linda McMahon @EDSecMcMahon]

Parents, educators, and students — happy back-to-school season! 

This school year marks a return to common sense in American education — thanks to the leadership of President Trump.

[Carolyn D. Gorman @CarolynGorman_]

🚨ED today issued guidance on school discipline and disparate impact🚨

Dear Colleague letter says schools can and should discipline students according to BEHAVIOR not AGGREGATE RACIAL STATISTICS.

Discipline has a place—maintaining safety—and the fed govt shouldn’t pressure schools to racially balance discipline rates; because favoring or disfavoring based on race is discrimination.

VERY welcome common sense!

ED's points:

1. Schools must maintain safety and order AND not treat students differently based on race.

2. Title VI prohibits intentional discrimination, not disparate outcomes by themselves.

3. Past administrations imposed disparate-impact liability, assuming racial discrimination even if discipline policies were race-neutral and even-handed.

4. Threat of federal investigation motivated districts to suppress suspension rates, which undermined discipline and safety: misbehavior continued but was left unaddressed.

5. Following July 2026 regulatory change, OCR will NOT challenge otherwise neutral discipline policies that produce different racial outcomes.

6. Schools have broad authority to design and enforce discipline policies and can use mandatory consequences and teacher discretion.

7. Schools can use “subjective” offenses (e.g., classroom disruption, disrespect, ...) if policies are facially neutral, applied evenhandedly, and don't have discriminatory intent

8. Districts that change discipline policies or individual consequences *for the purpose of reducing racial disparities* may be regarded by OCR as intentionally discriminating based on race.

9. Districts should not: establish racial discipline targets or quotas, reduce a punishment because of the student’s race, change discipline rules because of disparate outcomes, or try to make discipline rates proportionate to enrollment.

Few other notes:

- Statistics can still be circumstantial evidence for intentional discrimination claims. A district can still violate Title IV if it punishes otherwise similar students based on race.

- The letter covers Title VI, 5th and 14th equal protection requirements, and race/color/origin discrimination. It does not reference nor change districts obligations under IDEA, 504, or ADA.

- Title VI pressure is removed but the DCL does not preempt state discipline laws. Since some state laws require race-based discipline decisions, those states could plausibly face challenge under this reading? E.g., WA and IL require reviews of outcomes disaggregated by race on a regular cadence and have aspects meant to address disparities

- ED can separately support productive, clear and consistently enforced discipline by continuing to review and restrict funding to DEI via the massive school "wellness" bureaucracy of mental health, SEL, restorative justice, trauma-informed practices, and related frameworks (MTSS, etc). These are often racial-justice oriented, reward misbehavior, and undermine authority.

GREAT that ED is putting this decade-plus-long disparate impact saga to bed the best it can.

More why this matters in @CityJournal
https://t.co/afaEXBBsjv

[Secretary Linda McMahon @EDSecMcMahon]

As a mother and grandmother, schools hiding the most sensitive information about a child from their own parents is unthinkable.

Under @POTUS, parents will no longer be shut out of their child's life.

Today, @usedgov and @TheJusticeDept further the Trump Admin’s dedication to America's parents.

[Nicki Neily @nickineily]

.@usedgov is investigating 20 school districts over allegations they failed to protect students from staff sexual misconduct.

Schools should be vetting the educators they hire—not covering for predators.

[CSPAN @cspan]

Education Sec. Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) at Education & Workforce Forum – LIVE online here: https://t.co/kDzFYEwGu3

[Nick Craig @nicholasmcraig]

I'll be filling in for Brett Winterble on WBT Radio this afternoon from 3–6 PM.

Coming up today:
🎙️ Latest on the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham
🎙️ Governor Henry McMaster press conference
🎙️ @EDSecMcMahon

Tune in live and be part of the conversation. #ncpol

[Kayleigh McEnany @kayleighmcenany]

🇺🇸 It’s Saturday in America!

🚨 Tune in from 10am-12pm ET on @FoxNews for @SatAmericaFNC !

@EDSecMcMahon
@PatriciaHeaton
@JamesBlairUSA
@JoeGruters
@TommyPigott
@vincehaley
@AndrewYang
@JamieMetzl
@brianeharrison
@JoeConchaTV
& MORE!

Tune in or set your DVR! #SaturdayVibes ⬇️

[New York Post @nypost]

Trump launches national crackdown on teachers accused of sexual abuse, California could lose $50M https://t.co/LIFsHVVaaJ

[Rapid Response 47 @RapidResponse47]

.@EDSecMcMahon: "We have, through our student loan program—the FAFSA program—we have actually identified and prevented now over $2 billion in fraud... now, we're looking more at the K-12 issues and I can assure you that we will be following through with departments to see where this money has been going."