This week, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Gavin Grimm, a transgender teen who sued his school district in Virginia for the right to use the bathroom associated with the gender with which he identifies. In sending the case back to the lower court for review, the Supreme Court also vacated the appeals court's order in Mr. Grimm's favor. The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit will now be faced with the task of determining whether Title IX rules allowing for the provision of "separate toilet, locker rooms and shower facilities on the basis of sex" can be extended to provide protections for transgender students.
With only one Republican in opposition, Senate Republicans voted Thursday to repeal regulations associated with the Every Student Succeeds Act. Similar legislation was passed by the House of Representatives last month. President Trump has signaled that he will sign the resolution, which will preserve ESSA, but nullify certain regulations and give more power over how ESSA is implemented to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. States are watching this issue closely, since ESSA implementation plans are due at the Department of Education in the next few weeks. These plans require states to detail ways they will reach their most at-risk subgroups of students, including students with disabilities, minorities, and students from low-income households.
In their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Congressional Republicans have proposed shifting Medicaid allotments to block grants. This would decrease the amount of funding states receive to support vulnerable populations, including payments to schools for certain medically necessary services that are provided to students through through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
On Wednesday, the Senate voted to overturn a regulation designed to ensure that new public school teachers are ready for the classroom by requiring states to issue annual ratings for their teacher preparation programs. The House voted to overturn the regulation earlier, and President Trump has indicated that he will sign it.
The National PTA held their annual Legislative Conference in Arlington, VA, this week. Representatives from every state attended to listen, learn, and discuss a variety of education issues.
What You Can Do:
- Call your local school district and ask whether they have a policy protecting transgender students' rights. If not, encourage the creation of one.
- Several states have legislation pending regarding bathroom access in schools. Check to see if your state is on the list. If they are, call your state representatives to ask them to vote NO on limiting bathrooms to the sex specified on one's birth certificate.
- Are you a Kentucky resident? Do you know one? House Bill 520, which allows charter schools in Kentucky for the first time, recently passed the House of Representatives. The bill does not require that charter schools hire state-certified teachers, and it allows the authorization of an unlimited number of charter schools. The bill is currently in the Senate, and the Governor has said he will sign the bill. Take action today by signing a letter to your local officials against the bill or by calling your state representatives.
Questions to Ask Your Member of Congress:
- Will you support a state action to protect a transgender student's right to use the bathroom of their choice in a public school?
- Will you oppose the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, especially changes to Medicaid allotments, which threat to cut funding from the most vulnerable populations in our public schools?
- Education Policy Working Group, RISE Stronger
Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Education Policy Working Group at [email protected]