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Decades-long study highlights how early preschool gains for Black boys can fade without sustained support.
Trump administration’s proposed 2026 education budget includes major cuts and consolidations.
Immigration fears are driving families out—and draining student enrollment in U.S. schools.
Research & Practice
The Hechinger Report: Long-Running Preschool Study Shows Challenges that Black Boys Face in Sustaining Positive Gains
In the Abecedarian Project, researchers examined the impact of high-quality childcare for Black children in North Carolina. Children were enrolled in the longitudinal study during early childhood and participated until their mid-40s. They were divided into two groups: participants who received individualized educational games focused on social-emotional learning and language, and non-participants who did not experience the program. Participants in the program experienced higher IQ and reading scores compared to the non-participant group. This trend was consistent for both Black men and women. However, the positive impacts of the program faded over time for men; by the time male participants reached their mid-40s, the program’s efficacy decreased, and they had the same test results as those in the non-participant group. Follow-up research to examine this gender gap in adulthood was eliminated this year as part of the National Science Foundation cuts for educational equity research. Researchers and policymakers continue to advocate for programs that would focus on supporting Black boys from infancy to adulthood amid federal funding changes.
Society for Research in Child Development: Developments in Children’s Evaluations of and Reasoning About Disability‐Related Accommodations
A new study from the Society for Research in Child Development investigates children’s perception of their peers’ disability accommodations. Children ages five through nine were presented with fictitious students, their physical or cognitive disability, and what accommodations they received. Children rated each accommodation based on its fairness. Results indicate that older children believed all accommodations were fairer compared to the younger children, which may be due to increased exposure to disabilities or a differing conceptualization of accommodations. Additionally, children who viewed accommodations as a necessity believed them to be more fair, while accommodations as a desire were perceived as less fair. The research indicates the importance of educators addressing student accommodations in the classroom.
Policy
K-12 Dive: Education Department Eyes Program Cuts, Consolidations in FY26 Budget Plan
The Trump administration’s 2026 budget for the U.S. Department of Education proposes a 15.3% cut to the agency’s current funding. The administration states that the purposes of the proposed changes are to limit federal oversight and increase power to families, schools, and states. The proposed K-12 Simplified Funding Program would merge 18 existing grants into one $2 billion grant program. Programs supporting teachers and school leaders, English Language Learners, and full-service community schools are recommended to lose funding. Conservative education organizations applaud the efforts, asserting that the changes would bring needed benefits directly to students. Liberal organizations raise concerns that funding cuts will impact all schools, affecting student outcomes, health and wellbeing, and school staffing. In the coming weeks, Congress will debate the FY26 budget.
K-12 Dive: Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP Could Hinder Student Access to Free School Meals
Federal funding to SNAP and Medicaid may be cut as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed in the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate. The proposed bill aims to reduce funding and increase work requirements and eligibility certification frequency, which would impact millions of families’ access to SNAP and Medicaid benefits. This would also impact students’ access to food during the school day because SNAP and Medicaid enrollment are used to determine students’ eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, and certification for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows schools to serve universal free school meals. CEP participation rates have increased nationwide by 19% compared to last year, and half of the National School Lunch Program schools use CEP to serve free meals to their students. If fewer students are enrolled in SNAP or Medicaid, fewer communities would use the CEP, and school budgets for meals would decline. In addition, families will need to provide proof of need for subsidized school meals if the bill passes.
Around the Nation
The Hechinger Report: They Crossed the Border for Better Schools. Now, Some Families are Leaving the US
Across the country, thousands of immigrants are choosing to “self-deport” in response to fear created by the Trump administration. Many of these immigrants chose to come to the United States because of the appeal of U.S. schools and the advantages of their children learning English. As more families leave the country, school district attendance has plummeted. This trend is impacting schools in Denver, where attendance has fallen by 3-4.7% after Trump’s inauguration. Eight other states experienced similar declines in their attendance, including Massachusetts. While self-deportation explains some of the decline, immigrant students also have lower attendance due to fear of ICE raids. Countries whose citizens are returning after living in the U.S. have noted the increase in passport requests and birth registrations. Experts believe that the decrease in students will have ramifications for school budgets for districts with large immigrant populations, who will have more difficulty supporting the students who remain.
The 74: Many States Picked Diploma Pathways Over HS Exit Exams. Did Students Benefit?
In 2019, Washington state education leaders created the multiple pathways model, which provides alternative options for students to prepare for college, a career, or the military. The program has increased the number of graduates in the past four years; however, this trend is different across demographic groups. For the Class of 2023, one in five seniors did not have a pathway before graduation. They were more likely to be Native Americans, English Language Learners, or students with disabilities. White and Asian students had higher enrollment in the college-preparation pathway, which focuses on math and English. It can also be challenging for smaller and rural schools to offer multiple pathways to graduation because they may provide fewer classes to their students. As states have eliminated state-wide tests as a requirement to graduate, there are now over 100 ways to graduate from high school. While these options provide more tailored possibilities to students based on interests and abilities, the approach creates additional considerations for specific demographic groups and school types.
USA Today: Tiny Taste Testers Sample Food for School Meals. What Will Cut the Mustard?
Students from Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey attended the Fuel Up Food Expo, where they tasted foods that can be added to their school cafeteria menus. The program was hosted by the American Dairy Association North East, and students voted by different emojis to identify their favorite vendor offerings. The organizers then make recommendations to the school nutrition directors based on the students’ preferences. Foods served at the event represented many cultures and were nutritious for both breakfast and lunch. The goal of the expo is to emphasize the importance of asking for youth opinions; because many students who attended are from low-income families and receive most of their meals at school, the event was designed to obtain student input and engagement in building school menus.
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