We apologize for being tardy to Homeroom today, Class! While we don't have a parent note, we do have trending education news to share with you! Let's focus in, because policy changes are coming fast, loud, and confusing. First, more labor unions representing educators join the AFT in their lawsuit against the federal Department of Education. The lawsuit follows the federal department's release of a Dear Colleague letter on February 14th outlining threats to funding for schools engaged in "DEI" efforts. Through the uncertainty, we agreed that we should focus on the effects, not the bluster. And now we see effects, as the department cancels hundreds of millions of dollars in grants for teacher apprenticeship programs. In response, eight state Attorneys General, including Wisconsin's Josh Kaul, filed suit. Because this isn't how we help students.

So, there's a lot here. We urge you to focus past the dogwhistle of "DEI." This is a targeted attack on poor communities and on public schools. We'll be back on Wednesday and Friday with more hopeful podcasts!

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