Latest news with #EducationAgencies
The Hill
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
New York Republican urges Trump to restore funding for after-school programs
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is urging President Trump to restore federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which provides funding for before- and after-school programs, including those in his district. The administration is withholding more than $6 billion in federal funds for after-school and summer programs that was included in the government funding bill signed by Trump on March 15. Officials say it's part of a review to ensure the programs align with White House priorities. Trump also proposed cutting the funding in fiscal year 2026, which begins on Oct. 1. Lawler wrote that the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program 'is deeply aligned with your Administration's goals to return power to education authorities, instead of Washington, DC bureaucrats. State Education Agencies are fully responsible for administering the grant, providing each community with the opportunity to distribute funding where it is most needed.' 'Further, 21st Century Community Learning Centers are a perfect example of what happens when we take the federal government out of education – outcomes are better. Students that participate in these programs have been found to have better attendance records, are more engaged in their classes, and see improvements in their academic performance, including in reading and math,' he added. According to the After School Alliance, 21st CCLC supports 10,000 local programs that serve almost 1.4 million children nationwide. It was allocated more than $1.3 billion for fiscal year 2025. States participating in this program get funds based on their shares of Title 1 low-income students. A spokesman for the White House's Office of Management and Budget said the freeze 'is an ongoing programmatic review of education funding' and no decisions have yet been made. 'Initial findings show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda. In one case, NY public schools used English Language Acquisition funds to promote illegal immigrant advocacy organizations. In another, Washington state used funds to direct illegal immigrants towards scholarships intended for American students. In yet another, School Improvement funds were used to conduct a seminar on 'queer resistance in the arts,'' they added. According to a May 2025 study by the After School Alliance, 4 in 5 Republicans support greater investments in after-school programs, and 8 and 10 Republicans say it's an 'absolute necessity.' 'Afterschool and summer learning programs are an American success story. The Trump Administration's decision to withhold FY25 afterschool funding is a stunning betrayal,' wrote the After School Alliance in a statement. 'Withholding these funds will cause lasting harm to students and families, and to our education system, our future workforce, and our economy. If these funds are not released very soon, we will quickly see more children and youth unsupervised and at risk, more academic failures, more hungry kids, more chronic absenteeism, higher dropout rates, more parents forced out of their jobs, and a less STEM-ready and successful workforce as our child care crisis worsens dramatically,' they continued.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Learning Genie Unveils First AI Curriculum Agent at ASU-GSV
SAN DIEGO, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking move to transform PreK–12 curriculum development, Learning Genie has launched Curriculum Genie—the world's first AI-powered curriculum agent that allows educators to create standards-based, localized curriculum units with 21st-century skills embedded in just 8 minutes. Already trusted by nearly 300 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) nationwide, Curriculum Genie empowers educators to generate complete units that include student slides, quizzes, culturally responsive content, and Portrait of a Graduate-aligned learning goals—ensuring instruction is both personalized and future-ready. Curriculum Genie aligns with state standards while embedding Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure equitable access for all learners. It introduces pedagogical best practices and can serve as a job-embedded professional development companion—empowering educators to personalize instruction for diverse student populations. "Curriculum Genie is revolutionizing curriculum development by giving educators the power to turn on student agency and empower students to co-create dynamic, meaningful learning experiences together. Teachers who adopted Curriculum Genie shared that their students 'want to learn' instead of 'having to learn,'" said Dr. Gene Shi, CEO and co-founder of Learning Genie. "This innovation saves teachers time while equipping students with the critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability they need to thrive in the 21st century." Industry Testimonials Matt Miller, Author of Ditch That Textbook, remarked: "Learning Genie builds full, detailed units—not just lesson plans—with all the components teachers need. It still takes hours with many other AI tools, but this streamlines the whole process in minutes." Jon Corippo, Co-founder of EduProtocols, added: "The most promising tool I've seen to instantly create engaging units relevant to students. Teachers can finally get their weekends back." Addressing Educators' Biggest Challenges Curriculum Genie tackles the most pressing challenges educators face today. By automating lesson planning and aligning content with state standards, it reduces the burden on teachers, freeing up valuable time to focus on student engagement and instruction—helping prevent burnout. Unlike traditional one-size-fits-all curricula, Curriculum Genie adapts to local needs, ensuring lessons reflect district priorities and community context. This customization not only lowers curriculum costs for districts but also enhances instructional relevance. Additionally, Curriculum Genie strengthens instruction through the seamless integration of formative assessments, allowing educators to monitor student understanding and adjust their teaching to keep all learners on track. Bridging AI, Student Voice, and Real-World Skills One of Curriculum Genie's most innovative features is its ability to co-create curriculum with students by giving them meaningful choices in their learning journey. This approach enhances engagement while developing self-regulation and critical thinking skills—essential for future success. Each unit is also seamlessly aligned with LEA's Portrait of a Graduate framework, fostering the development of life-ready competencies that prepare students for real-world challenges and opportunities. Get Started with Curriculum Genie for Free Today Educators can begin transforming their unit and lesson planning immediately—for free: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Learning Genie Sign in to access your portfolio
