April 2025 delivered a high-stakes wave of federal policy decisions, legal showdowns, and pivotal funding battles impacting K-12 education — especially for students with disabilities and AI-driven learning. Here’s your essential policy round-up:
President Trump Issues Sweeping Executive Orders on School Discipline, Civil Rights, and AI Education:
On April 23, President Donald Trump signed several Executive Orders (EOs) poised to reshape educational and civil rights policy:
- “Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies” directs the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue Title VI guidance within 30 days, enforcing race-neutral school discipline policies and authorizing penalties for non-compliance.
- “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy” seeks to eliminate the long-standing disparate impact standard in civil rights enforcement, limiting action to cases of intentional discrimination — a much harder claim to prove. It also directs federal agencies to repeal related regulations and identify conflicting state laws. The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) responded critically to both EOs.
- “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth” aims to promote AI literacy and teacher training but favors private vendor-driven solutions while depending on federal grants — despite past efforts by this administration to cut them.
IDEA Full Funding Act Reintroduced with Strong Advocacy from NCLD:
The IDEA Full Funding Act (S.1277, H.R.2598) was reintroduced in the 119th Congress by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Rep. GT Thompson (R-PA). This bill proposes fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) over a 10-year glidepath, increasing federal support from 10% to the originally promised 40%.
NCLD and other advocates are pushing for increased IDEA funding in the FY 2026 appropriations bill, supported by a public letter from the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities.
USED’s “DEI Ultimatum” for Federal Funding Temporarily Blocked:
In early April, the USED Office for Civil Rights issued a controversial Dear Colleague letter threatening to withhold federal funds from states and districts failing to certify that they had eliminated “illegal DEI programs.” Several states refused, and on April 24, federal judges temporarily blocked USED’s authority to enforce the certification requirement for IDEA and other grants.
Major Court Battles Reshaping Disability Rights and School Funding:
- Permitting Religious Charter Schools; On April 30, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will hear Oklahoma Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond — two landmark cases determining whether charter schools can legally be operated as religious institutions. NCLD joined an amicus brief warning this could divert public funds from traditional public and charter schools and erode disability services.
- Rights to Sue Schools for Discrimination: In A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, currently before the Eighth Circuit, a ruling in favor of the district could sharply restrict families’ ability to sue schools under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Center for American Progress provided an in-depth analysis of the case and its stakes for students with disabilities.
- Teacher Training Grants Eliminated: In a narrow 5-4 ruling on April 4, the Supreme Court permitted the administration to terminate Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) and Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grants, both key programs for elevating educator effectiveness. NCLD previously filed amicus briefs defending these grants.
- Section 504 Lawsuit Dropped: A lawsuit filed by 17 states in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas challenging the constitutionality of Section 504 was voluntarily dismissed in late April, ending a direct legal threat to long-established disability protections.
Final Thought:
From disruptive executive orders to consequential legal decisions, April 2025 marked a turning point in U.S. education and disability policy. The months ahead will see continued battles in Congress, the courts, and federal agencies that will shape AI education, civil rights enforcement, and IDEA funding for years to come.
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