The Weekly Connect 02/23/2026

JAMA Network Open: Early Intervention Developmental Programming and Childhood Academic Outcomes
A new study published in Pediatrics examines the New York City early intervention (EI) program and its impact on academic achievement later in childhood. EI is Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which supports infants and toddlers with developmental delays or other diagnosed conditions. The study examined children who received EI in the first 36 months of life compared to those who did not receive any EI services. Services include programs such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special instruction. Children who received EI services before age three had increased English language arts (ELA) test scores and an increased likelihood of meeting testing standards in math and ELA by third grade. Children with mothers born outside the United States, with lower educational attainment, or on public insurance experienced greater gains in math and ELA when receiving EI services. The research builds upon numerous studies that explore the benefits of early-life interventions on developmental and cognitive outcomes. 

Developmental and Psychopathology: Domain-Specific and Multidomain Resilience Among Parentally Bereaved Youth: Assessment and Associations With Long-Term Outcomes
Researchers from Arizona State University examined the effects of resilience on long-term outcomes for youth ages eight through sixteen who lost a parent. Two hundred forty-four children and their caregivers were recruited for the study, and they completed assessments of the child’s grief, internalizing and externalizing problems, and academic and relationship skills. Long-term outcomes, such as social detachment, personal growth, and anxiety and depression, were assessed after 15 years. Results indicate that few bereaved youth are resilient across all domains, and many show no resilience. Certain resilient trajectories predict outcomes 15 years after the baseline assessment. For example, experiencing resilience in academic skills and low internalizing problems in the initial surveys was linked to improved mental health, grief, and control over life outcomes. In contrast, children who showed resilience in the grief domain when initially surveyed experienced fewer negative impacts of grief 15 years later.  These findings suggest the importance of interventions to support grieving youth across several domains, which will later impact mental health and life outcomes. 

The Washington Post: Services Cut. Staff Laid Off. New Trump Cuts Hit Schools in 11 States, D.C.
The U.S. Department of Education canceled some Full-Service Community Schools grants in mid-December, affecting programs in 11 states and Washington, D.C. The funding ended due to the Trump administration’s concerns that the grantees included diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in their programs. The five-year grant focused on transforming schools into community schools. The $168 million in funding supported several programs, such as after-school clubs, dental exams, and parenting classes. One program affected, Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration, in New Haven, Connecticut, enrolls mostly Spanish-speaking and low-income students. The school lost its care coordinator and many after-school programs due to the funding cuts. To support their after-school arts program, a local nonprofit stepped in to fund the rest of the school year and continue to provide services. The governor approved emergency state funding to support community schools in some Connecticut cities through the next school year.  

Higher Ed Dive: ‘We’re Now Seeing the Results’: Education Department Officials Tout FAFSA Progress
Applications for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have increased, with families reporting high satisfaction with the newly improved process. Eight million students have submitted the 2026-27 form, which was launched a week before the deadline on September 24. Legislation passed in 2021, called the FAFSA Simplification Act, pared down the number of questions students needed to answer from over 100 to 36. More students are also now eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award compared to last year, due to legislation to expand Pell eligibility. The FAFSA has a 96% satisfaction rate, and 92% of families reported it took them a reasonable time for them to complete. Additionally, the average wait time for the call center is under one minute. Previously, the system inaccurately flagged applicants as fraudulent. Now, the Education Department is working on ways to improve the identity verification process and avoid burdening families who are seeking aid. 

K-12 Dive: Since E-Rate Expansion Cuts, Schools Make Difficult Choices on Hotspots

In September, the Federal Communications Commission repealed the portion of the E-rate program that helped schools and libraries receive discounts for students to access the internet in their homes and neighborhoods through school bus-based Wi-Fi and internet hotspots. The school bus Wi-Fi and hotspot effort aimed to lessen the “homework gap” for students who were unable to access the internet and, therefore, unable to complete their homework. Low-income students in urban and rural schools have been heavily impacted by a lack of internet access, which educators consider a “lifeline” for many students. For example, in California’s Fresno Unified School District, only 24% of students had access to reliable internet. Many school districts already spent money on hotspots and will not receive the expected federal reimbursements, impacting budgets, and schools will have to find other funding sources to continue the program. The Fresno district will continue to provide students needed access to the internet at an annual cost of around $50,000 for Wi-Fi on school buses. 

See also: Fresno Unified Elementary Students Must Return Laptops as District Shifts Focus to In-Class Use

The Hechinger Report: Easy A’s, Lower Pay: Grade Inflation’s Hidden Damage 

Preliminary results from a research study found that grade inflation is linked to worse academic outcomes, employment prospects, and future earnings. The researchers examined students at the Los Angeles Unified School District, with graduation rates at 50%, and schools in Maryland, where graduation rates exceeded 90%. In both settings, students taught by lenient graders—defined as teachers who gave higher grades to students than expected compared to students’ other academic performance—did worse later in high school. Students in Maryland were less likely to attend college or be employed. They also earned less money in their career; the economic cost of one lenient grader (between the difference of giving a student a B or B-plus) is linked to a classroom losing about $160,000 in lifetime earnings. While the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, the results indicate that supporting students to improve their academic abilities, rather than inflating grades, can lead to improved outcomes post-high school. 

K-12 Dive: Solving for Success: DC’s Citywide Effort to Boost Math Achievement

Schools in Washington, D.C. have taken strides to boost student math achievement through investments in curriculum and increased support to teachers. This year, fourth-grade math scores increased by ten percent compared to 2022. City-wide efforts to improve math scores include increasing per-pupil funding, boosting teacher salaries, acquiring high-quality classroom materials, and enhancing professional development opportunities. Friendship Chamberlain Elementary School, a school in the Friendship Charter School network, had the highest math and reading proficiency rates in the city. One advantage of the charter school network is that the grade-level math instruction is consistent across schools, making it easier for students who switch schools to know what is expected of them in the classroom and to maintain progress. Other schools practice looping, where teachers stay with students for multiple years, which has also led to teachers’ increased understanding of student needs. 
See also: How 12th Grade Math & Reading Scores Have Changed Over Time