May 25, 2025

Jovana Mugosa for NPR

Well, Dear Readers, it finally happened.

On Thursday, the news gods threw a tantrum and opened up a swirling vortex of education news so unfathomably deep that I may have stared too long into the abyss and lost a piece of myself. Whoops! So, instead of our usual newsletter format this week, where we preference one story, I’m going to fill your cart with all kinds of edu-stories. Better put on your eclipse glasses:

First, the piece we’d been planning on highlighting this week: House Republicans passed their big, beautiful reconciliation bill on Thursday. It includes a first-of-its-kind national school voucher plan that would put the federal government in the business of helping to send students to private religious schools nationwide.

I went down a deep rabbit hole trying to explain how the tax credit-based program would work, given that direct funding to religious schools would violate the Constitution. I also dug through the research on vouchers – from their academic impacts on students to civil rights concerns over kids with disabilities. You can find it all here.

Second, while we’re navigating the thorny brambles of government funding religious education, the great Nina Totenberg reported on a rare 4-4 deadlock in the U.S. Supreme Court that essentially blocked a move by the state of Oklahoma to create a publicly-funded, Catholic charter school. That chestnut’s over here.

But that’s not all! On Thursday, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction, blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to unwind the U.S. Department of Education. The judge also ordered the administration to reinstate the more than 1,300 department employees it terminated as part of a reduction-in-force in March. The department says it will immediately appeal the ruling. That story’s here.

Finally, comes the latest news in the Trump administration’s battle with Harvard. On Thursday, it announced it would revoke the school’s ability to enroll international students, of which it currently hosts nearly 7,000 – more than a quarter of its student body. Harvard called the move “unlawful” and on Friday morning, filed a lawsuit. A few hours later, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's move. You can find our latest on that one here.

*Deep breath.

I hope you have a restful Memorial Day weekend, full of friends and family, maybe a bit of charcoal in your nose, and that sweet, sweet smell of swimming pool chlorine.

— Cory Turner, Correspondent, NPR Ed

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And here's something to make you smile...

Kermit the Frog speaks during University of Maryland's commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in College Park, Md. Riley Sims/University of Maryland

'Leap together,' Kermit the Frog says in address at the University of Maryland graduation.

"As you prepare to take this big leap into real life, here's a little advice — if you're willing to listen to a frog," the beloved Muppet said. "Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side, because life is better when we leap together."

(I’m not crying, I’m cutting onions, I swear!)

Read the whole story.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the long weekend.

– The NPR Ed team

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