Category: Commonplace

Mental Health, Teacher Pay, and School Choice: What’s Missing in Governors’ Education Plans?

Across the country, governors have laid out ambitious education plans for 2025—but have they missed the mark on boosting student achievement? While state leaders from both parties broadly agree on increasing education funding, supporting student well-being, and enhancing career pathways, few have directly addressed declining academic performance. FutureEd’s analysis reveals significant bipartisan commitments, including strengthening teacher pay and addressing youth mental health, yet highlights stark ideological divides over school choice and the role of diversity initiatives in education.

With federal pandemic-relief funds drying up, previously celebrated interventions like tutoring and enrichment programs are fading into the background. As governors debate whether school choice initiatives or stricter academic standards will drive student improvement, educators wonder: Are we missing an opportunity to place learning at the heart of education policy?

Education Under Attack? Why the ‘Unitary Executive’ Fight Matters for Schools

Unitary executive theory might sound like dry political jargon, but it’s at the heart of debates reshaping how the American government—and potentially education policy—functions. Despite some sensational headlines, the theory doesn’t aim to eliminate the three-branch structure of government; rather, it emphasizes the president’s control over the executive branch, specifically around the ability to remove officials. But why should educators and policymakers care?

Education policy, like other areas managed by specialized agencies, often depends on a certain degree of political independence to ensure expertise rather than short-term politics drive decisions. Agencies like the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) and the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) are designed precisely with this independence, with leadership terms deliberately spanning multiple presidential administrations.

However, under the Trump administration, these agencies face new challenges as unitary executive theory pushes the boundaries of presidential power. Recent moves by the administration, including contract cancellations and the politically motivated dismissal of key appointees, suggest a test of how far executive authority can stretch.

Why does this matter for education? If the independence of agencies like IES and NAGB is compromised, education policy could increasingly become a political football, undermining long-term, evidence-based educational improvement. For educators and policymakers alike, understanding this debate isn’t just about constitutional theory—it’s about safeguarding the stability and integrity of our educational institutions.

“He won’t be a dictator, unless our republic completely crumbles…”

You have to wonder how politicians live with themselves. Eight short years ago, current Secretary of State Marco Rubio talked with Jake Tapper about Trump and his first presidential run.

This video is on Rubio’s own account, so I won’t be surprised if it disappears soon.

From the video:

Look, I think people are going to have to make up their mind. I can tell you this. No matter what happens in this election, for years to come, there are many people on the right, in the media, and voters at large that are going to be having to explain and justify how they fell into this trap of supporting Donald Trump, because this is not going to end well one way or the other. He’s going to be the nominee, and he’s going to lose. Or, he’ll have thrown this party into its most chaotic and divisive period ever. And that’s unfortunate because the Republican Party is the home of the limited government free enterprise movement in America. And if it crumbles or divides or it splits apart, it’ll be very difficult to elect candidates that hold those views at any level of government until we can bring the party back together.

Profund words, sir. Maybe you should go back and hear them again yourself.

What Happens if Google Loses Chrome?

You may not know it, but Google has been part of an ongoing DOJ antitrust case.

According to the most recent filings, Google may be forced to fully divest itself of the Chrome web browser.

Imagine waking up to a web without Chrome. With Google potentially losing control of the world’s most popular browser—used daily by 3.4 billion people—the ripple effects could be profound, especially in education.

Schools relying heavily on Chromebooks could face immediate disruption.

This shift could usher in a new era of innovation. Education-focused browsers or open-source platforms might emerge, enhancing student privacy, accessibility, and user experience. Educators could rethink their technology strategies, potentially adopting more flexible and privacy-centric tools like Mozilla Firefox or exploring open platforms like Brave.

Change at this scale is rarely comfortable, but it often accelerates growth. The key question isn’t whether schools can handle the disruption—it’s how creatively and effectively they adapt.

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Reaches Schools, Sparking Fear and Protests

Trump’s rollback of protections keeping ICE out of schools has advocates warning of fear and chaos in classrooms. Protests erupted after 11-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza’s suicide, allegedly linked to bullying over her family’s immigration status.

Meanwhile, conservative states push to ban undocumented kids from schools, despite a Supreme Court ruling protecting their right to education. With Florida law enforcement seeking ICE powers, schools are becoming the next battleground in Trump’s immigration war.

Learning to Make Big Mistakes in Public

My high school band director had a saying that has stuck with me through decades of life and learning:

“If you’re going to make a mistake, make it big enough so we can fix it.”

Creating something new—whether it’s music, writing, or an engaging lesson—is an act of courage. It’s tempting to play it safe, to stick to what’s tried and true. But growth lives on the edge of discomfort, when you commit fully, knowing it might not work out.

When mistakes are small, they’re easy to hide and ignore. But when they’re bold, obvious, and impossible to overlook, they become powerful learning tools. They point directly to where growth needs to happen.

Teachers, learners—don’t fear the wrong notes. Fear silence. Make your mistakes loud, clear, and brave. Then roll up your sleeves and fix them, publicly and proudly.

Because that’s where authentic learning begins.

Tennessee Moves to Kick Out Undocumented Kids from Public Schools—Even at the Risk of Losing Federal Funding

Tennessee lawmakers just voted to advance a bill turning public schools into immigration checkpoints. The GOP-led Senate Education Committee approved a measure to verify students’ immigration status and bar those who can’t prove legal residency unless they pay tuition—despite warnings that it could cost the state federal funding and violate the Civil Rights Act.

At least three Republicans joined the lone Democrat in opposing it, but the bill still moves forward, setting up a legal and ethical disaster.