August 2025 Education Briefs

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   1. Major Changes to the SAT & Minor/Moderate Changes to the the ACT

   
   

   ACT-Quick Take: Starting in April 2025 (online) and September 2025 (paper and online), the ACT is getting a bit shorter, the Science section is now optional, and the Superscore calculation will focus only on English, Math, and Reading.

   For the full details from the source, visit the official ACT site: ACT Test Changes & Enhancements.

   
   

   SAT-Quick Take: The SAT has gone fully digital. It’s shorter, adaptive, allows a calculator on the entire math section, and integrates modern digital tools; all designed to make testing smoother and more secure.

   Want the complete rundown from the source? Check out: College Board’s Digital SAT Overview.

   
   

2. $6.8 Billion in Federal Education Funds Restored

Big news for schools across the country: after a lawsuit from several states, the Trump administration agreed to release $6.8 billion in federal education funds. This money supports after-school programs, summer learning, teacher training, and services for English learners. For many districts, this means programs that were on hold can now move forward.🔗 Read more from The Guardian

3. Montana Extends Schooling for Students with Disabilities

Families in Montana just won a major victory. A federal court ruled that students with disabilities can remain in public school until age 22 instead of being forced to leave at 19. This gives students extra time to learn, prepare for work, and build independence before aging out of the system.🔗 Read more from Times of India Education

4. AI-Powered Private School Opens in Virginia

A new private school called Alpha School has opened in Northern Virginia, and it’s already sparking debate. The school charges $65,000 a year and does not use traditional teachers. Instead, children in grades K to 3 use adaptive AI software for their academics and spend the rest of their day in workshops led by adult “guides.” The model is bold, but parents are asking whether it’s the future of learning or just an experiment.🔗 Read more from The Washington Post

5. Sex Education Programs Face Funding Cuts

The Department of Health and Human Services has told 46 states and territories to remove any mention of gender identity and pronouns from federally funded sex education programs. If they don’t comply within 60 days, they could lose more than $81 million in funding. This decision has already led to conflict in states that refuse to make the changes.🔗 Read more from Reuters

6. Colleges Warned About Foreign Threats to Research

The Department of Education, along with several national security agencies, released new guidance to help colleges and universities protect their research. The guidance points to threats like espionage, cyberattacks, and attempts to improperly recruit students and faculty. Schools are being urged to put stronger protections in place.🔗 Read more from the U.S. Department of Education

7. Parents’ Rights Investigation in Massachusetts

The Department of Education is investigating Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts. The district reportedly gave students a sensitive survey about topics like gender identity, even though some parents had opted their children out. Officials are reviewing whether this violated federal law that protects parental rights.🔗 Read more from the U.S. Department of Education

8. New Data Collection on College Admissions

The National Center for Education Statistics has been instructed to collect more detailed information on how colleges handle admissions. The move comes after concerns that race could be improperly factored into admissions decisions. The new data will be used to increase transparency and oversight in the admissions process.🔗 Read more from the U.S. Department of Education