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India Today
19-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Trump freezes $6 billion in public school funds right before school year begins
The Trump administration has made a sweeping pause and reduction in federal education funding, withholding more than USD 6 billion in grants just weeks before the new school year starts. This is likely to hit public school education hard even though it does not directly affect private schools or higher education funds are not general education budgets of states, but federal grants that public school systems rely on to run specific programmes, particularly those serving low-income, rural, or special needs students. They are critical for after-school programmes, teacher training, English-language learning and student support, are now under review by the Office of Management and move puts significant strain on state and local districts already planning their academic budgets. According to ABC News, a terse memo issued on June 30 confirmed that no grant award notifications would be issued 'prior to completing that review.'The delay comes mere days before millions of students return to classrooms, raising fears among educators and policymakers that key services may be cut, scaled back or CHALLENGES AND CRITICISM MOUNTMore than 20 states, led by California and Connecticut, have filed lawsuits against the administration, calling the funding freeze unlawful and warning of grave harm to vulnerable students. Connecticut alone estimates a loss of USD 53.6 million for the 2025-26 academic legal action is taking place amid escalating tensions: a recent Supreme Court decision lifted a block on the administration's plan to cut nearly 1,400 staff positions at the Department of argue this move undermines civil rights enforcement and federal student-aid GRANTS PUT PRESSURE ON PROGRAMMESThe frozen funds include those for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (supporting after-school and summer programmes), adult literacy, English learner instruction, and teacher professional Week reported that USD 1.4 billion of these funds have since been approved and released, but over USD 5 billion remains advocates and local districts are warning that this sudden withholding could force cutbacks in staffing, early literacy support, and special education Lieberman of Education Week observed that an abrupt loss of Title IV-B grants, which provide after-school enrichment, puts around 1.4million children at risk, with some programmes already starting to scale ON EQUITY AND OUTCOMESCivil rights groups and educational researchers say the funding cutbacks disproportionately affect rural students, English learners, rural communities, and students with unions fear larger class sizes and stretched resources. As Becky Pringle of the NEA put it, the cuts are a 'slap in the face' for educators and including ten Republican senators, have urged the administration to restore the withheld funds, sparking a review into after-school programmes. On July 18, funding for these services was partly released, following bipartisan THIS A POLITICAL TARGETING OF BLUE STATES?While the memo issued is national, critics point out that many of the states hardest hit -- like California, New York, Connecticut, and Illinois -- lean Democrat and have traditionally been strong supporters of public education lawmakers argue that the freeze may indirectly penalise states that oppose the administration's broader education and civil rights policies, though no official link has been made AHEADadvertisementWith legal proceedings ongoing and bills pending, the future of the remaining USD 5 billion in frozen grants is must decide whether to begin the school year amid funding gaps. Critics warn the cuts could have long-lasting effects on student learning and equity, unless Congress or the courts intervene swiftly.- Ends
Japan Today
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Julian McMahon, actor who appeared in 'Fantastic Four' films and TV show 'Charmed,' has died
FILE - Julian McMahon arrives at the 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Julian McMahon, an Australia-born actor who performed in two 'Fantastic Four' films and appeared in TV shows such as 'Charmed," 'Nip/Tuck' and 'Profiler,' has died, his wife said in a statement. McMahon, 56, died peacefully after a battle with cancer, Kelly McMahon said in a statement provided to The Associated Press by his Beverly Hills, California-based publicist. 'Julian loved life," the statement said. 'He loved his family. He loved his friends He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.' McMahon played Dr. Doom in the films 'Fantastic Four' in 2005 and 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,' which came out two years later. Along with 'Charmed,' 'Nip/Tuck,' and 'Profiler,' he also had roles in the TV shows 'Home and Away,' 'FBI: Most Wanted' and 'Another World,' according to IMDB. Actress Alyssa Milano, who appeared with McMahon on 'Charmed,' mourned his death on social media, saying 'Julian was more than my TV husband.' 'Julian McMahon was magic,' Milano said. 'That smile. That laugh. That talent. That presence. He walked into a room and lit it up — not just with charisma, but with kindness. With mischief. With soulful understanding.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Daily Express
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Express
Kota Kinabalu High School hoops tourney kicks off today
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 By: GL Oh Text Size: Ewon (fifth right) accepts the invitation letter from Richard. Kota Kinabalu: The 21st Kota Kinabalu High School (KKHS) Alumni Association cum 6th Datuk Peter Chin Tet Fong Cup Basketball Championship is set to kick off today (Saturday) at the Kota Kinabalu High School Basketball Court. It has attracted a total of 14 teams – 11 men's teams to be divided into two groups and three women teams will compete in a round-robin format. Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick, who will officiate the opening ceremony praised KKHS Alumni Association for organising the annual event. 'This tournament, not only strengthen alumni ties but also promotes a healthy lifestyle and positive community development among youth that are essential in future society and the workplace 'As a minister, I believe sports is a vital bridge that connects hearts and nurtures character. I will continue to explore ways to support such constructive community initiatives, whether through community development, corporate partnerships, or youth innovation and cooperatives,' he said when the organising committee led by chairman Arthur Pang and Alumni Association chairman Richard Chong, paid him a visit on Thursday. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hans India
06-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Krishna Pradeep's 21st Century IAS Academy to Honor UPSC Rankers and Launch U3 Scholarship Test
Krishna Pradeep's 21st Century IAS Academy will host a grand felicitation ceremony on June 8, 2025, at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Hyderabad, celebrating UPSC 2024 rankers. Esteemed guests, including Justice N.V. Ramana and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, will attend. The event features interactive sessions with toppers and the launch of the 'U3 Scholarship Test,' offering lifetime access to UPSC prep resources. Celebrating 21 years of excellence, the academy also unveils the 'Free for Female' initiative, offering free coaching to 50 top female aspirants—empowering future leaders and promoting gender equality in civil services.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion: What Employers Want, Project-based Learning Can Deliver
Dear high school and college students, Are you a good communicator? Can you effectively lead a team of your peers? Can you think critically about issues, ask questions, and find solutions to complex problems? If so, we're looking for you. Apply now if you can show evidence of teamwork, creativity, and a strong work ethic. We don't need 'good test-takers' or the highest GPA. No experience? No problem. We will train you. We want employees who know how to learn, think, and lead. We want employees with the skills to help our company succeed both now and in the future. Are you up for the challenge? Sincerely, Every Industry in America Today's education system fails to adequately prepare many students for college and the workforce. One survey found less than a quarter of high school graduates believe their schooling prepared them for life after graduation. Meanwhile, employers want candidates with '21st Century Skills,' but are coming up short. In recent years, however, there has been a promising shift as many states re-evaluate how to prepare students for the world. Twenty states and hundreds of districts have created 'Portraits of a Graduate' outlining the skills students should have by graduation such as communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Meanwhile, the landscape of K-12 assessments is also shifting. Last year when New York set a timeline to eliminate the requirement that students pass the Regents Exam in order to graduate, it joined a growing number of states that have ended reliance solely on exit exams as a condition of graduation. Instead, states are increasingly embracing measures such as performance-based assessments which measure both what students know and whether they can apply that knowledge. These students demonstrate their skills through completing a project or performing a certain activity, which can include. essays, portfolios or research papers. With the right support, these changes can effectively prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow. We have seen this happen in schools that have taken a project-based learning approach to instruction and assessment. For instance, the rural Adair County School District in Kentucky launched an initiative to help students build skills outlined in the state's portrait of a graduate and create a 'culture of inquiry.' In one project, high school English and business classes, led by teachers Amy South and JR Thompson, worked together to research local industries and community businesses, interview business owners, analyze marketing strategies and develop comprehensive plans for promoting the community and its local businesses to outsiders. As part of the process, students were introduced to the concept of a 'strong hook' to capture interest and then divided into two teams. Each team worked collaboratively to propose a value proposition and refine their marketing strategies. They were then required to pitch their ideas and plans, ultimately narrowing down their focus to two distinct community projects. They presented their final pitches live to a jury, which selected one — a Marketing Day Vendor Fair — to be implemented in the community. The project culminated in students hosting an event at the high school showcasing local businesses The Thomas Edison CTE High School in Queens, New York, is currently a mentor school for the New York State Department of Education, training other schools to develop performance-based assessments. It uses a project-based learning model in which students engage in real-world and personally meaningful projects. It developed a framework and 'essential skills' rubric that assesses both how well students know the content and whether they can demonstrate essential skills of communication, collaboration, feedback and reflection, design thinking and professionalism. Related These are just two examples of schools that are leading the way in making sure students are prepared for the world by the time they graduate. We need more stories like this. Instead of focusing on cuts to education, we need to continue the momentum happening in New York and elsewhere by supporting and growing these innovative programs. We call on parents, caregivers, students, schools, districts, boards of education, policy makers and government agencies to focus on these key areas to ensure the momentum continues and the changes last Professional development and capacity building: Institutions must ensure all teachers have ample time for professional development around performance-based curriculum and assessments as well as ongoing professional support. Buy-in at all levels is required in order to strengthen the system and build the capacity needed to make the shift toward building and measuring real-world skills. Funding: Re-defining student success — and how to assess it — will require investment. State leaders must ensure that there is funding to provide the staffing, training, curriculum and resources to support implementing performance-based assessments. Stakeholder alignment: K-12 schools, local industries and higher education institutions must be aligned on which skills are important for career and college readiness. Communications: Some students may resist performance-based assessments because they have learned how to navigate the current system and do well on tests. Communicating effectively to students and families will help to shift mindsets and make the process smoother. Change is slow, but worth it. It will take persistence. There must be a willingness from all involved to hold the line and know it might take 10 years for this new way of assessing student learning to fully take hold. We are experiencing a rare opportunity to change education and improve student success. This work must be intentional, evidence-based, and supported at all levels. We implore education leaders, policy makers, schools, districts and communities to lay the groundwork now to ensure students have a successful future and can respond to the 'letter to high school and college graduates' with a resounding 'Yes.'
