Andrew Ujifusa

Trump administration cancels millions in grants to NYC schools over transgender policies After NYC officials missed a Trump administration deadline to scrap policies designed to protect transgender students, the federal government canceled millions in grant funding.

Trump administration cancels NYC magnet school funding over transgender student policies: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

The biggest education funding cut Trump wants that you might not know about After cutting various federal resources for English language acquisition, Trump is also pushing to eliminate all K-12 funding for it. Congress is split on the idea so far. Supporters say such work sho...

“​​There would be a civil rights lawsuit.” www.chalkbeat.org/2025/09/23/t...

Trump administration to cancel funding if NYC does not alter guidelines for trans students The Trump administration is now demanding that NYC change its policies by Tuesday night or else risk losing millions in grant funding for a handful of public schools.

"The Trump administration demanded that New York City scrap policies designed to protect transgender students by Tuesday evening or it will discontinue millions in grant funding earmarked for magnet schools." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

NYC educators are pushing the joys of ‘distraction-free’ schools over fears of ‘cellphone ban’ NYC educators and mental health professionals are trying to help students adjust to school without cellphones. Just don’t call it a ban, they advise.

"Jessica Chock-Goldman spotted about 20 students huddled in the courtyard during lunch. Her first thought: a student had smuggled in a cellphone. ... She approached the group and made a surprising discovery. They were marveling at a baby bird." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

This is my last week at the Wall Street Journal.

I'll be returning to Chalkbeat to launch a new section focused on the big ideas and debates in American education. More on this soon!

You can sign up to keep following my work here:
www.chalkbeat.org/newsletters/...

NY lawmakers demand investigation into charter school rally, alleging coercion After a major charter school rally, two state senators are calling for an investigation into whether schools pressured families, staff, and students to attend.

"A day after families and leaders from over 200 charter schools marched across the Brooklyn Bridge, powerful state lawmakers demanded an investigation into the event, saying they believed it was an inappropriate political rally." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Gov. Mike Braun says Indiana could suspend or revoke teachers’ licenses for Charlie Kirk posts “Political violence threatens our democracy, but so does censorship,” said a Thursday statement from the Indiana State Teachers Association.

Indiana teachers could have their licenses suspended or revoked for posts about Charlie Kirk: www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2025...

The feds press Chicago Public Schools to end Black student initiative and transgender student guidelines The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights wrote to the district to say it is withholding funding from the Magnet School Assistance Program. It wants the district to abolish its Black Stude...

"The Trump administration says it will withhold some federal funding from Chicago Public Schools." www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

After Charlie Kirk's assassination, what teachers say faces a new kind of scrutiny Charlie Kirk’s death has led to investigations of teachers for their social media posts and calls for a crackdown on inappropriate speech. But his assassination has also highlighted uncertainty about ...

"Districts are spending less time on professional development to help teachers guide students through discussions of contentious issues ... In 2018, more than half of school districts in politically mixed areas conducted such training. By 2022, it was just a third." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/09/17/c...

Dylan Lopez Contreras speaks about what it’s like to be a student in ICE detention “I feel both physically and mentally drained,” Dylan said, “but I’m still holding on.”

“This unjust detention has frustrated and paralyzed my education and effort momentarily,” Dylan said. “But it won’t make me give up on working hard toward my educational goals.” www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025... via @chalkbeat.org

She feels undocumented children take Head Start from kids like hers. Trump was listening. Trump’s new rule barring undocumented immigrants from Head Start unfairly punishes families and weakens the social safety net, advocates say. The president has tapped into widespread beliefs that undo...

She believes undocumented immigrants may be taking seats from citizens like her son.

“Are you going to go out and treat all of your coworkers to lobster and champagne … and come home and tell your child, ‘Oh sorry, I don’t have food for you’?” www.chalkbeat.org/2025/09/15/t... via @chalkbeat.org

Trump Canceled Millions for Special Education Teacher Training. What's Next? More than $30 million for teacher training and parent resources will no longer flow as scheduled.

The Ed Department cancelations jeopardize more than $30 million worth of federally funded efforts in 14 states to help educators better serve students with disabilities. 1/2

www.edweek.org/teaching-lea... #edusky #specialeducation #teachers Story by @marklieberman.bsky.social

"Testing officials estimate that 33% of students from the class of 2024 were ready for college-level math, down from 37% in 2019, even as more students said they intended to go to college." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/09/09/n...

Social media plays a big role in Indianapolis youth gun violence Since 2018, over one-third of gun homicides involving Indianapolis youth have involved social media in some form. When school classmates can watch each other fighting over Instagram, it can lead to an...

“That little kid got murk’d, I had to put him on a shirt,” Wells sang, referencing slang for murder, according to the affidavit. “I shot his body, made him twerk.” www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2025...

Chicago public school enrollment dropping again, early data show Based on preliminary data, the decreases are steepest in charter and majority Black schools.

"Migrant students brought a modest enrollment boost the past two years ... With migrant family arrivals to Chicago waning and an immigration crackdown under the second Trump administration, that reprieve in enrollment losses appears to have been temporary." www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

Zohran Mamdani stays mum on plans to improve NYCs highest-need public schools Asked how he would improve New York City’s highest-need schools, Zohran Mamdani offered few concrete policy ideas.

"To several education advocates and observers, the response underscored that Mamdani has largely stuck to broad promises to invest in schools rather than advancing detailed ideas." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Ribbon-cutting: Trump administration abruptly ends National Blue Ribbon Schools program Many schools took enormous pride in receiving federal Blue Ribbon recognition, which began under President Ronald Reagan. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education said ending the program wo...

The Trump administration won’t be handing out any blue ribbons to schools this year. www.chalkbeat.org/2025/09/04/b... #edusky

Ribbon-cutting: Trump administration abruptly ends National Blue Ribbon Schools program Many schools took enormous pride in receiving federal Blue Ribbon recognition, which began under President Ronald Reagan. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education said ending the program wo...

The National Blue Ribbon Schools program is no more: www.chalkbeat.org/2025/09/04/b...

Chicago’s mayor really wanted CPS to take out a high-cost loan. The school board said no. The Chicago Board of Education adopted a $10.2 billion budget for 2025-26 after weeks of political jostling. Officials fought over whether the district should take out a high-cost loan to make a pensi...

"The mayor has pressed the district to make the payment and borrow, and Thursday’s vote made for a surprise repudiation from a board on which he appeared to hold sway." www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

All-gender restroom at Denver’s East High violates Title IX, Trump administration finds President Trump has made targeting protections for LGBTQ students a key part of his second term. Denver Public Schools says it is determining its next steps.

All-gender restroom at Denver’s East High School violates Title IX, Trump administration finds: www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202...

‘I revert back to the pain’: New Orleans educators reflect on Katrina after 20 years One remembered floating corpses. Another recalled kids living without their parents. And getting laid off couldn’t keep a determined math teacher and football coach away from the city’s students.

Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, Chalkbeat spoke with five New Orleans educators about surviving the storm, teaching in Katrina’s wake, and how they understand the seismic changes to the city’s school system.
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/08/28/n...

40 states could lose federal funds for sex ed if they keep gender identity in curriculum The Health and Human Services Department told 40 states to remove references to gender identity from their federally funded sex education programs. When California refused to comply, the agency termin...

"Withholding federal funds to punish states for teaching about gender identity is yet another way the Trump administration has sought to control what young people learn." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/08/26/t... #edusky

CPS debt exceeds the value of the Chicago Bears by billions. How can it dig out? The most recent U.S. Census Bureau data also shows CPS owes more than $28,000 per pupil, up from roughly $17,000 a decade earlier. City and school district officials are fighting over whether CPS shou...

CPS will use about $395 million in state revenue meant for teacher and staff salaries, textbooks, and more to pay off debt. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

Is this the end of Indianapolis Public Schools as we know it? Indianapolis Public Schools enrollment is declining. Charter schools have secured bipartisan support and funding wins. And lawmakers are keen to see structural changes to IPS. Will the district go the...

If the district continues to lose 3.7% of its students per year, Griffith said, “Then in 20, 25 years there will not be a district.” www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2025...

CPS debt exceeds the value of the Chicago Bears by billions. How can it dig out? The most recent U.S. Census Bureau data also shows CPS owes more than $28,000 per pupil, up from roughly $17,000 a decade earlier. City and school district officials are fighting over whether CPS shou...

Chicago Public Schools' outstanding debt is roughly the same size as its annual budget: almost $10 billion. The district owes more per student than it spends per pupil in many of its schools. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

Is this the end of Indianapolis Public Schools as we know it? Indianapolis Public Schools enrollment is declining. Charter schools have secured bipartisan support and funding wins. And lawmakers are keen to see structural changes to IPS. Will the district go the...

With well under half of students in Indianapolis Public Schools borders actually going to IPS-run schools, is the district going the way of New Orleans after Katrina? www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2025...

New: The Trump administration is now targeting race-neutral efforts to achieve racial diversity. This marks a striking shift from what some opponents of affirmative action had previously argued. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

New Illinois law prevents students from being ticketed by police at school On Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed the law that prevents students from being ticketed by police or school resource officers at school and requires school districts and the Illinois State Board of E...

"A new law in Illinois prevents law enforcement from ticketing students at school, ending a practice that state education officials and lawmakers say disproportionately impacts students of color." www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

Colorado lawmakers seek to use school meals ballot measure to curb federal cuts Colorado’s special session will focus on filling an $800 million budget hole caused by the federal Trump budget changes.

"State lawmakers now want one of the measures to also cover the costs of federal food benefits that have been cut." www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202...

Meet Zohran Mamdani’s favorite NYC high school teacher Marc Kagan shares his memories teaching Zohran Mamdani at Bronx Science

6 takeaways from an interview with Zohran Mamdani’s favorite high school teacher: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...