This hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions examines COVID-19 and going back to school safely. Opening statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Lamar Alexander, Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and (2) Honorable Patty Murray, Ranking Member, a U.S. Senator from the State of Washington.…

Investing in community colleges is a central part of the Biden administration's education agenda, with the goal of strengthening America's middle class and opening the benefits of education to all Americans. CCRC has conducted 25 years of research on how community colleges can more effectively educate students and set them up to successfully…

Improving student achievement is a continual focus of educational and political leaders. The strategies used to impact student achievement are varied as are the results. The United States Department of Education provides grant funding to states and local educational agencies with the goal of impacting student achievement through the use of…

President Donald Trump has instructed U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education" using her authority to "the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law." As Secretary McMahon considers such steps, she has already indicated that…

Purpose: This study systematically reviews the China's progress in lifelong education (LLE) policies, theories, and practices in the 40 years since its reform and opening-up and provides several guidelines for developing LLE going forward. Design/Approach/Methods: This study analyzes the characteristics of LLE in China through a review of its…

In spring 2020, New America and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) partnered on a year-long research project to understand the effect of the confluence of the pandemic, economic crisis, and racial reckoning on America's colleges and universities. We interviewed over 100 college leaders from across higher education…

This article explores how the implementation of the education reform led by the federal government in México (2012-2018) took place in rural disadvantaged contexts and, specifically, in schools where an anti-establishment union movement has been developing for several decades. Based on semi-structured interviews and classroom-focused ethnographic…

In May 2025, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conducted a national survey of financial aid professionals to understand how the March 2025 reduction in force (RIF) at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA)--along with related federal directives to dismantle ED--are…

The Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 was meant to unlock the secret to upward economic mobility by granting more Americans the chance to obtain a college degree. Nonetheless, the originators failed to recognize how this dramatic shift in federal higher education policy would affect generations to come. Today the federal government originates or…

To effectively prepare students for their futures, they must be at the center of their learning experiences. Creating equitable learner-centered education systems requires fundamental system-wide shifts. These shifts are vital to unlock active, engaged, competency-based education (CBE) for all learners, which the learning sciences tell us is key…

There is a disparity between suburban and rural school achievement, with rural schools often performing lower on academic measures such as reading. Regardless of a student's geographic location, they should receive a high-quality education. There are rural schools in the State of Illinois, despite their location, that have overcome odds and have…

This study identifies, analyses and categorises educational and training (ET) initiatives implemented by local and regional authorities (LRAs) across the European Union (EU). LRAs' responsibility in education and training varies importantly among Member States, but the evidence gathered through this study tells a story of active contribution of…

In July 2025, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conducted a second national survey of financial aid administrators to assess how the March 2025 reduction in force (RIF) at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA)--along with broader efforts to dismantle ED--are continuing…

During 1980, many Western countries launched public administration reforms. These reform waves also blew over to many Asian countries. With the advent of globalization and the rise of knowledge-based society, education and innovation are regarded as the driving forces behind social and economic growth and development. To enhance the national…

By exploring how liberalism is at work through a federally driven effort to improve academic achievement in schools serving youth of color and those from low-income communities, this article attempts to advance an understanding of the mechanisms that reify structural inequity in urban schools. Based on both a critical analysis of School…