Headlines in Higher Ed: Week of July 21st, 2025
ED layoffs proceed, school supply cost surge, and admissions shifts in assessing civility
Supreme Court Ruling Clears Path for Ed Dept Layoffs
The U.S. Supreme Court has given Education Secretary Linda McMahon approval to move forward with firing nearly half of the Department of Education’s staff, leaving about 2,200 of its previous 4,130 employees. The ruling, issued without a full written explanation, overturns a lower court’s injunction that had blocked the layoffs. McMahon praised the court’s decision, saying it would help restore the “greatness of the United States education system. The three liberal justices filed an 18-page dissent, arguing that the ruling enables the executive branch to weaken vital educational services and bypass legal limits.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
The ruling has sparked backlash from unions, educators, and policy experts who worry that the department cannot meet its legal obligations with such a reduced staff. Already, the agency has reportedly struggled with financial aid support, delayed major funding programs for low-income and rural districts, and released only partial reports on national education data. Although the ruling doesn’t change much (affected workers have been locked out since March), terminations are now official. By not outright eliminating the department, supporters argue that the administration is within the law, but many view these changes as its quiet dismantling. Critics also took issue with the lack of explanation in the Supreme Court’s order, calling for more transparency in decisions with such broad consequences nationwide.
Rapid Recap
📕 Columbia Complies with New Antisemitism Definition Critics say it could limit free speech as the embattled university cedes to demands in an effort to restore federal funding.
🔍 ED Launches Investigates Foreign Money at University of Michigan According to a review of the school’s foreign reports, tens of millions of dollars were not fully reported, which prompted the full investigation.
🙋♂️ Florida Greenlights New College Accreditor Florida has approved a new college accrediting group backed by Governor DeSantis, who has complained that existing accreditors are “woke.”
🎒 Parents Shop Early as School Supply Prices Surge This year’s back-to-school season is being hit by rising prices and new U.S. tariffs on imports like backpacks, shoes, and school supplies. Go on…
Parents Shop Early as School Supply Prices Surge
According to the National Retail Federation, a record 67% of shoppers had already begun buying items by early June, generally out of fear that prices will climb even more. While several big-name retailers are offering discounts and price holds to ease the pressure, experts say the full effect of tariffs hasn’t hit shelves yet. Stocking up early has, for now, helped avoid passing price hikes onto consumers, but that buffer may disappear by late summer. Supply prices are up 30% over the past five years, and analysts expect back-to-school costs to rise 12-15% on average. With families planning to spend an average of $858 this year, the season has become a balancing act between inflation, policy shifts, and smart budgeting.
Colleges Rethinking Ways to Measure Civility in Admissions
A recent New York Times opinion piece highlights how elite colleges are experimenting with new ways to assess civility in admissions, especially in the wake of student protests and political polarization on campus. One emerging trend is the “disagreement question,” a popular essay prompt asking applicants to reflect on a time they engaged with someone who held a different opinion. While meant to encourage thoughtful dialogue, many students feel pressured to play it safe and avoid controversial topics. In response, several schools are adopting a new approach in partnership with Schoolhouse.world, a platform co-founded by Khan Academy’s Sal Khan. Through their Dialogues program, students participate in structured online debates on sensitive issues and rate one another on traits such as empathy, humility, and curiosity. Starting this fall, schools including UChicago, MIT, and Vanderbilt will accept Dialogue portfolios as part of the admissions application. Advocates see this as a more authentic way to evaluate students’ interpersonal and communication skills, though critics warn it may still advantage those with access to coaching or preparation.
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