K-12 education

Trump Admin Cuts $7B in Education Funding, Schools Face Uncertainty

The Trump administration has announced it will withhold nearly $7 billion in K-12 education funds approved by Congress, sparking criticism from lawmakers and education advocates. The withheld funds include money for English learners, migrant farmworker children, teacher training, and after-school programs. The administration claims the move is part of a review due to alleged misuse of funds, though documentation has not been provided. States and organizations are challenging the decision, citing it as an illegal impoundment that will negatively impact schools and students.

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18 Million Filipino High School Grads Functionally Illiterate: A Systemic Failure

A Senate hearing revealed alarming data from the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS): 18 million Filipino junior and senior high school graduates (2019-2024) are functionally illiterate. This means they lack the comprehension skills to understand simple text, despite completing their basic education. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Education to address this crisis proactively, ensuring all students achieve functional literacy before graduation. The findings corroborate earlier studies highlighting a severe learning crisis in the Philippines.

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