{"id":20871,"date":"2026-04-03T16:58:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T22:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/?p=20871"},"modified":"2026-04-03T16:58:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T22:58:27","slug":"u-s-department-of-education-newsletter-march-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/2026\/04\/03\/u-s-department-of-education-newsletter-march-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Department of Education Newsletter – March 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Message from the Secretary<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Happy National Reading Month! As we celebrate the magic of reading, the sharpening of critical thinking, and the opening of pathways to opportunity, we also honor the incredible determination of America\u2019s students in their pursuit of education. They are the bedrock of our great Nation, and their growing love of reading and learning is unmatched. As Secretary, I remain steadfastly committed to ensuring every child receives the foundational literacy skills needed to master complex ideas, pursue bold dreams, and become the future leaders of this exceptional nation.<\/p>\n

This dedication flows directly from our national heritage. From the earliest days of our Republic, reading was a revolutionary force\u2014colonists devoured pamphlets, newspapers, and essays that awakened a thirst for liberty and armed ordinary citizens with the ideas that built a free nation. Generation after generation, Americans have risen through that same hunger for knowledge and informed citizenship. With our 250th anniversary on the horizon, this is the perfect moment to draw fresh inspiration from those who read deeply, think boldly, and forged the principles that still define us.<\/p>\n

March also marks my one-year anniversary since I was sworn in as Secretary of Education, an honor I carry with me every day. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, and I have seen firsthand the impact when parents are unburdened by arbitrary federal mandates and can once again reassert themselves as the sole decision makers of their child\u2019s educational future. It is truly the honor of a lifetime to serve as Secretary of Education, and I look forward with excitement to all we will continue to accomplish together in our shared mission in making education great again!<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n

Wins of the Month<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n

The Department’s Office for Civil Rights Opens Two New Probes into Harvard University for Continued Discrimination on Campus<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 23rd, the Department’s Office for Civil Rights opened two new investigations into Harvard University for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.The probes examines whether Harvard has continued using illegal race-based preferences in admissions, defying the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. OCR will also investigate ongoing antisemitic harassment on campus and Harvard\u2019s alleged failure to protect Jewish students. Harvard has 20 calendar days to comply or face enforcement action, including possible referral to the Department of Justice.<\/p>\n

The Department Announces Plan to Downsize Footprint in Washington, D.C. and Save Taxpayers Over $4.8 Million Annually<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 26th, the Department announced a prudent step to save hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars and further reduce the federal education bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and General Services Administration Administrator Edward C. Forst announced that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will move out of the Lyndon B. Johnson headquarters building, and that the building will go to a better-suited tenant: the Department of Energy. ED will relocate to 500 D Street SW, saving taxpayers approximately $4.8 million annually in operating costs and eliminating wasted space in a building that is roughly 70% vacant. The Department plans to move later this year.<\/p>\n

The Department Celebrates More Than 10 Million FAFSA\u00ae Forms Complete and Additional Transparency Measures<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 26th, the Department celebrated the more than 10 million 2026\u201327 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA\u00ae) forms that have been successfully completed by students and parents and processed by Federal Student Aid. This represents a 17 percent and 487 percent increase on the number of applications completed at this point in time during the last two cycles, respectively. This milestone follows the earliest FAFSA form launch in history, reversing years of mismanagement and delay by the Biden Administration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

March Action Timeline<\/h2>\n

March 2:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department Announces Regional Semifinal Locations for the Presidential 1776 Award.<\/p>\n

March 5:<\/strong>\u00a0Secretary McMahon and Secretary Kennedy Celebrate Medical School Commitments to Increase Nutrition Training for Future Doctors.<\/p>\n

March 5:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department Initiates Title IX Investigation into Wisconsin School District Over Alleged Use of Women\u2019s Restrooms by Biological Men<\/p>\n

March 9:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department Issues Proposed Rules to Implement Working Families Tax Cuts Act\u2019s Workforce Pell Grants.<\/p>\n

March 13:\u00a0<\/strong>The Department’s Office for Civil Rights Concludes Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado Has Violated Title IX.<\/p>\n

March 17:<\/strong>\u00a0The Departments of Education and Labor Announce First Grant Competition Under Postsecondary Education Partnership.<\/p>\n

March 18:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department’s Office for Civil Rights Concludes D.C. Public Schools Discriminates Against Students with Disabilities.<\/p>\n

March 19:<\/strong>\u00a0The Departments of Education and Treasury Announce Historic Federal Student Assistance Partnership.<\/p>\n

March 21:<\/strong>\u00a0Secretary McMahon\u2019s Gives Commencement Address for The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding.<\/p>\n

March 23:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department’s Office for Civil Rights Opens Two New Probes into Harvard University for Continued Discrimination on Campus.<\/p>\n

March 24:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department’s Office for Civil Rights Issues Letter of Impending Enforcement to San Jose State University on Title IX Compliance.<\/p>\n

March 26:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department Celebrates More Than 10 Million FAFSA\u00ae Forms Complete and Additional Transparency Measures.<\/p>\n

March 26:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department Announces Plans to Downsize Footprint in Washington, D.C. and Save Taxpayers Over $4.8 Million Annually.<\/p>\n

March 27:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department Announces Next Steps for Borrowers Enrolled in the Unlawful SAVE Plan.<\/p>\n

March 31:<\/strong>\u00a0The Department Initiates Title IX Investigation into New Hampshire School District Over Alleged Use of Girls-Only Spaces by Biological Men.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Secretary McMahon and Secretary Kennedy Celebrate Medical School Commitments to Increase Nutrition Training for Future Doctors<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n

On March 5th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Education convened leaders from 53 of the nation\u2019s top medical schools to announce commitments to require meaningful nutrition training for future doctors beginning in the next academic year. The president of the American Medical Association Dr. Bobby Mukkumala, the president of the Association of American Medical Colleges Dr. David Skorton, the president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Dr. Robert Cain, and the president of the University of Nebraska system Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined Secretary Kennedy and Secretary McMahon to celebrate this milestone at HHS.<\/p>\n

The medical schools, representing 31 states, will provide at least 40 hours of nutrition education, or implement a 40-hour competency equivalent, for students starting in the fall of 2026. These agreements reflect the Trump Administration\u2019s commitment to support nutritional education and today the medical education community stepped up to address this need.<\/p>\n

For more information see this\u00a0fact sheet<\/a><\/u>, including the list of\u00a0participating medical schools<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

News from the States<\/h2>\n

Georgia Legislature Sends \u2018bell to bell\u2019 Cell Phone Ban Bill to the Governor’s Desk<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Georgia Senate unanimously passed a measure that would ban cellphone use on campus for high school students from the morning bell until the dismissal bell, known as a \u201cbell to bell\u201d ban.<\/p>\n

Kentucky Legislature Overrides Beshear’s Veto of Education Grants Fueled by US Tax Credit<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kentucky\u2019s legislature overrode Gov. Andy Beshear\u2019s veto of a bill that would opt the state into President Trump\u2019s historic Education Freedom Tax Credit, the largest federal expansion of education freedom in history.<\/p>\n

Wyoming Governor Signs Literacy Bill that Advocates Declare \u2018a win for Wyoming children<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 6th, Gov. Mark Gordon signed Senate File 59 into law. The bill ensures every Wyoming K-12 student develops strong literacy skills through evidence-based instruction, intervention, and teacher training, preventing struggling readers from falling behind.<\/p>\n

University of Northern Iowa Adds Two New Artificial Intelligence Majors<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The University of Northern Iowa is launching two new bachelor\u2019s degree programs in artificial intelligence through its Wilson College of Business and College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences. The programs will train students in AI tools and applications, preparing them for careers across multiple fields.<\/p>\n

Missouri Senate Looks to Fully Ban Controversial Reading Instruction System<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

After legislation prohibiting three-cueing as a primary instructional method passed last year, legislators are now aiming for an outright ban.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Homeroom Blog: Forming the Imagination of Students<\/h2>\n

By: Samuel J. Klumpenhouwer, Ph.D., Educator, Saint Martin’s Academy<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Electric fans and open windows alleviate the muggy air filling the classroom. The school\u2019s academic building is located near the swine pen, on the far end of the farm, and the students enjoy greeting the surly boar caged outside as they walk into my class. They arrive well dressed in blazer and tartan tie, greeting their teacher with eye contact and well wishes. One time a young lad trotted in with a three-foot rat snake wrapped around his arm, which he had caught while finishing chores in the chicken shed. Unsure how to respond, I let it slide. Given that it was non-venomous, that the other students were not distracted, and that the lad was able to take detailed notes with his right hand while the snake coiled around his left, I started my lecture on the Merovingian dynasty.<\/p>\n

The scene comes from\u00a0St. Martin\u2019s Academy<\/a><\/u>, an all-boys boarding high school in Fort Scott, Kansas. The fledgling school is now in its eighth year and draws its student body from a copious pool of applicants living across the country. Along with a six-hour regimen of academic study followed by two hours of exhausting athletics, the seventy students spend their days engaged in abundant chores and ample free play.<\/p>\n

Read more.<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

U.S. Departments of Education and Treasury Announce Historic Federal Student Assistance Partnership<\/h2>\n

On March 19th, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced the Federal Student Assistance Partnership to enhance the administration of Federal student aid programs, mitigate the continuing fallout and cost to taxpayers from the Biden Administration\u2019s mismanagement of the Federal student loan portfolio, and facilitate the return of defaulted borrowers to repayment.<\/p>\n

Currently, ED\u2019s student loan portfolio stands at nearly $1.7 trillion with fewer than 40 percent of borrowers in repayment and almost 25 percent of borrowers in default. Student loan debt is roughly twice the size of\u00a0all American university endowments combined<\/a><\/u>\u00a0and is larger than either our nation\u2019s\u00a0cumulative credit card debt<\/a><\/u>\u00a0or cumulative auto debt. ED was never intended to operate what would be the\u00a0fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States<\/a><\/u>, distributing over $100 billion each year in Federal student loans and grants.<\/p>\n

Under the new interagency agreement, Treasury will assume operational responsibility for collecting on defaulted Federal student loan debt and provide operational support to ED\u2019s efforts to return borrowers to repayment. In subsequent phases, Treasury will work to provide operational support over non-defaulted Federal student loan debt, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, while also seeking opportunities to provide operational support to FSA\u2019s other functions.<\/p>\n

For more information, view the Federal Student Assistance Partnership fact sheet\u00a0here<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

What’s Next? Steps for Borrowers Enrolled in the Unlawful SAVE Plan<\/h2>\n

On March 27th, the Department began issuing guidance to all borrowers enrolled in the unlawful \u2018Saving on a Valuable Education\u2019 (SAVE) Plan, directing them to exit the plan and enter a legal federal student loan repayment plan. The guidance will be sent to the 7.5 million borrowers who enrolled in the illegal SAVE Plan based on the false promise of \u201cstudent loan forgiveness\u201d and artificially low monthly payments.<\/p>\n

The SAVE Plan was the Biden Administration\u2019s third and final attempt at mass student loan forgiveness and was blocked repeatedly by federal, district, and appellate courts. Estimates suggest the illegal SAVE Plan would have cost taxpayers more than\u00a0$342 billion\u00a0<\/a><\/u>over 10 years. Earlier this month, a court ended the illegal SAVE Plan by approving a settlement between the Department and the State of Missouri, which was\u00a0announced<\/a><\/u>\u00a0in December. As part of the joint settlement, the Department will not enroll any new borrowers in the illegal SAVE Plan, deny any pending applications, and move all SAVE Plan borrowers into legal repayment plans.<\/p>\n

Starting July 1, 2026, federal loan servicers will begin sending notices to affected borrowers, instructing them to select and enroll in a legal repayment plan within a 90-day period. Borrowers who do not transition within their specific 90-day window will be automatically placed into either the Standard Repayment Plan or the new Tiered Standard Plan. Those who wish to switch sooner may contact their servicer at any time to begin the process.<\/p>\n

Next Steps<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Department, through its Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), will provide support to the more than 7.5 million borrowers currently enrolled in the defunct SAVE Plan. Starting today, FSA will email borrowers to inform them that the SAVE Plan has ended and help them select a new, legal repayment plan to put them on a path to a sustainable financial future while safeguarding the interests of American taxpayers. Borrowers will have ample time to select a new, legal repayment plan and resume repaying their federal student loans.<\/p>\n

Additional information about the approved settlement is available at\u00a0StudentAid.gov\/courtactions<\/a><\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Applying for a Legal Income-Driven Repayment Plan\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

All borrowers enrolled in the defunct SAVE Plan will need to apply for a legal repayment plan. Applying for a legal income-driven repayment (IDR) plan is quick and easy if borrowers provide consent for the Department to obtain their federal tax information directly from the Internal Revenue Service. By providing consent, the Department can process a borrower\u2019s IDR application faster and eliminate the need for a borrower to manually upload their income information.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Changes to Student Loan Repayment<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Department is working on implementing the student loan repayment provisions included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. This once-in-a-generation law created a new IDR plan, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), and a new Tiered Standard Plan that will be available to borrowers on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

Under RAP, a borrower\u2019s monthly payment is based on that borrower\u2019s income and number of dependents. This provides borrowers with more affordable monthly payments while maintaining their repayment obligations. Unlike existing IDR plans, RAP ensures that borrowers who make full, on-time monthly payments will be shielded from runaway interest and are able to make progress toward reducing the principal balance on their loan.<\/p>\n

The new Tiered Standard Plan will offer fixed terms \u2013 10, 15, 20, or 25 years \u2013 based on a borrower\u2019s total outstanding loan balance, giving borrowers with higher debt lower monthly payments and more time to repay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

U.S. Departments of Education and Labor Announce First Grant Competition Under Postsecondary Education Partnership<\/h2>\n

On March 17th, the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) issued the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 competition for the Talent Search Program, a grant aimed at helping students pursue high-quality postsecondary education or training, including Registered Apprenticeships. The awards will be issued on DOL\u2019s GrantSolutions, a grants management platform. These actions further align the postsecondary and workforce education programs of ED and DOL and will position DOL as the central hub for America\u2019s postsecondary education and workforce development programs.<\/p>\n

This announcement kicks off ED\u2019s FY 2026 grant competition for the Federal TRIO Programs, with additional competitions to follow later this spring and summer. This step\u00a0follows<\/a><\/u>\u00a0ED\u2019s staff detail earlier this year, as the agencies work together to better coordinate Federal postsecondary and workforce education programs.<\/p>\n

For more information on this year\u2019s Talent Search grant competition, see\u00a0here<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Message from the Secretary Happy National Reading Month! As we celebrate the magic of reading, the sharpening of critical thinking, and the opening of pathways to opportunity, we also honor the incredible determination of America\u2019s students in their pursuit of education. They are the bedrock of our great Nation, and their growing love of reading […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/93"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20871"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20874,"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20871\/revisions\/20874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}