currently @EdProgress | former educator | @OhioU & @Glenn_college alumna | was once described as “a little woman with a big presence” | opinions are my own
We can't solve the teacher shortage without first respecting the profession.
🧵1/ When I decided to leave the classroom, I knew the people would be the part I missed the most. Both the students and the incredible staff I was lucky enough to work with.
As enrollment in community college continues to grow, policymakers are considering how to support college affordability and workforce alignment.
Join CAP and the Community Colleges Coalition on April 15th to explore how community colleges are adapting to new federal and state policies and what frameworks can best support their continued success. ampr.gs/4stfcGi
ALT An event flyer for a virtual briefing hosted by the Center for American Progress.
Event Title: Virtual briefing: Federal and State Policy Outlook for Community Colleges
Description: Explore how community colleges are adapting to new federal and state policies and what frameworks can best support student success.
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
The flyer features headshots and professional titles for five individuals:
Madison Weiss (Moderator): Senior Policy Analyst, Higher Education, Center for American Progress.
Jonathan Elkin (Panelist): Director of Government Relations, Association of Community College Trustees.
Kathryn Gimborys (Panelist): Manager of Government Relations, American Association of Community College Colleges.
Veronica Goodman (Panelist): Senior Director, Workforce Development Policy, Center for American Progress.
Morgan Polk (Panelist): Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Education & Labor, New America.
Congress needs to hear from us loud and clear: don't agree to any DHS budget that allows ICE activity at schools, ever.
Contact your Members of Congress to demand they restore protections for students and their families: action.e4e.org/protect-schoo…
I am honored to know and collaborate w/Dr. Steven Johnson, a small town rural superintendent in ND. As Steven explains in his latest op-ed, breaking up ED will interrupt funding & services, wreaking havoc on student outcomes - especially for rural students.the74million.org/article/fra…
As a former educator, I know the challenges early career teachers face. But a strong education system needs a strong teacher workforce. We surveyed new teachers across the country to better understand what they need to stay in the field.
Read more: americanprogress.org/article…
This year marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA—a landmark law that ensured millions of disabled students would receive quality education. Yet, that promised education is at risk today with a federal funding gap of over $38 billion.
ALT A black and white photograph of two young boys, one wearing glasses, sitting and listening attentively in a classroom setting. A yellow banner across the top reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) turns 50 this year. The law ensured disabled kids would have access to public schools and promised funding for schools to make it possible." The source is cited at the bottom.
ALT A photo of a young boy wearing glasses, giving a high-five to an unseen adult hand. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "IDEA serves children as young as infancy and toddlerhood through its Part C early intervention services. But administrative and funding barriers mean only about half who qualify are enrolled." The source is cited at the bottom.
ALT A graphic illustrating a classroom setup with several gray desks and chairs, and a few yellow desks and chairs highlighted in the middle. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "During the 2022–23 school year, 7.6 million students between the ages of 3 and 21 received special education services through IDEA. That’s three out of every 20 public school students." The source is cited at the bottom.
ALT A photo of a young girl in a pink shirt sitting in a wheelchair and looking directly at the camera, leaning on a table in a classroom. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "Vouchers = fewer protections for children The use of vouchers harms students with disabilities by resulting in the forfeiture of nearly all federal protections and the loss of guaranteed special education services." The source is cited at the bottom.
Lots of reporting on SNAP getting the details wrong.
SNAP is not set to run out of money on November 1. There’s money in the contingency fund to pay benefits.
The Trump admin is illegally refusing to deliver benefits on November 1, despite having funding to pay benefits.
The Trump admin's newest staffing cuts at ED leave virtually no one to oversee programs that improve academic achievement & promote equal access for students w/disabilities, raising serious concerns about how funds will be distributed and monitored. 1/5
americanprogress.org/article…
The Office for Civil Rights (which enforces civil rights laws in K-12 schools, managing tens of thousands of complaints a year) faces an 80% cut since the start of this year. If these cuts are upheld, wait times for assistance and case resolution will dramatically increase. 4/5
These cuts are unacceptable. They threaten the government's ability to ensure equal access to education for all and will severely limit the resources schools, students, and families can access. 5/5
The Trump administration’s recent cuts to staff at the Department of Education threaten the federal government’s long-term ability to ensure equal access to education for all.
Read more from @pbshoemaker & Weadé James: americanprogress.org/article…
The Trump administration slashed the Department of Education's workforce by nearly 50%—this is a direct attack on 50 million students. @pbshoemaker breaks down the numbers behind these cuts:
The stories told within this piece are such powerful reflections of the strength of rural educators, the importance of rural public schools, and the risks they face as private school voucher programs expand. Hear more from rural Texas educators in the link below!
As public K-12 schools across the country face increasing threats from the Trump administration's policies and actions, state and local leaders should prepare to respond. @pbshoemaker and Weadé James explain: americanprogress.org/article…
Tune in & check out the full convo with @JamesSkoufis & others re: what state & local leaders can & should do to ensure their constituents are protected from extreme heat - esp young children! First step: get out there & meet them.
americanprogress.org/events/…
"If you're not visiting a classroom, if you're not visiting a school building [...] you're not doing your job."
Lawmakers need to meet with, listen to, and learn from the people they're meant to represent.
"If you're not visiting a classroom, if you're not visiting a school building [...] you're not doing your job."
Lawmakers need to meet with, listen to, and learn from the people they're meant to represent.