In today’s Federal Flash, we cover the largest coronavirus aid package proposed in Congress to date to support education and childcare. Plus, two significant actions affecting private schools: a new rule from Secretary DeVos on equitable services under the CARES Act and a Supreme Court decision on the participation of religious schools in private school choice programs. 

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In today’s Federal Flash, we cover major Supreme Court rulings to protect Dreamers from deportation and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or questioning (LGBTQ) employees from workplace discrimination. We’ll also share highlights from two congressional hearings on the challenge of reopening schools and competing proposals for police reform.

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In today’s Federal Flash, we pay tribute to the life of George Floyd and countless others whose killings show how much more must be done to address systemic racism in our country. We’ll also share new recommendations for prioritizing equity in the response to COVID-19 as well as several items from the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

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The graduating Class of 2020 never would have imagined their lives would be upended by a global pandemic.

In today’s bonus episode of the Federal Flash, we’ll summarize what is, and is not, included in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s $3 trillion coronavirus relief proposal. We’ll also discuss the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) final Title IX regulations.

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It’s no secret that the current global pandemic has completely derailed many aspects of everyday life. We’re all living it. Some of the things we’ve taken for granted, from social interactions with friends, to gathering at a place of worship, to attending a local sporting event, have come to a standstill. Statewide shutdowns also have forced educators to redefine their practice, some literally overnight. For students, cancelled sports seasons and proms, postponed graduations, and the loss of instructional time and social interactions, have become their new normal. For all Americans, many facets of everyday life as we’ve known them have been completely altered. Yet, in the midst of such a drastic paradigm shift, there are some things that remain exactly the same.

In today’s Federal Flash, we have updates on three coronavirus-related issues: (1) legislation to support home internet access and close the homework gap during the pandemic; (2) a House Education Committee briefing on remote learning and education equity; and (3) new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on equitable services and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Two topics we won’t cover in this edition are the final Title IX regulations released by ED and House Democrats’ new $3 trillion proposed coronavirus relief package. Because there’s been so much news this week, we’ll cover those topics in a second, bonus edition of the Flash this week.

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Ever since Middletown Township Public Schools (New Jersey) joined the Future Ready Schools^® (FRS) network in 2015, the district has prioritized personalized learning for both its students and staff. At that time, district leaders never expected they would draw on that forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovative practices to educate students during a worldwide health crisis—or that such a crisis would reveal underlying equity issues in their district.

The quest to educate students in the K–12 and higher education systems during the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Today’s Federal Flash covers four coronavirus-related issues: (1) recommendations from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on further flexibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), (2) federal relief for state education agencies to support K–12 schools, (3) new competitive grant funding for states to “rethink” K–12 education and workforce preparation, and (4) COVID-19’s effect on completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®).

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Within forty-eight hours of closing schools to protect students, staff, and the community from the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), district leaders in Rowland Unified School District (California) (RUSD) rolled out their plan for educating students remotely.