Our team is always seeking the latest news in the field of education. As advocates for a quality education for ALL students, we know we have to stay up-to-date on everything that’s going on in the education spheres of our nation…from the White House to the local public school district, from new legislation to the small acts of bravery and kindness made by a single teacher, from the milestones and celebrations to the hazardous injustices affecting many of our nations students.

Here are the best stories we came across last week…because we believe you should stay up-to-date, too!

Betsy DeVos said she would visit low-performing schools. ‘Will they let me in?’ she wondered. via The Washington Post

DeVos testified before a House appropriations subcommittee on Capitol Hill and was challenged on her 2019 budget proposal — with not only Democrats but Republicans opposed to some key provisions. They also challenged her on comments she made during a recent tough “60 Minutes” interview.

During Tuesday’s House hearing, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) referred to that comment, saying, “You made a comment just recently that you haven’t visited any poor-performing schools.”

She responded: “As secretary, I have made a point of visiting schools that are doing things creatively, innovatively, out-of-the-box thinking. I think it would be important to visit some poor-performing schools. I think the question is, ‘Will they let me in?’ ”

FY18 Spending Bill: What’s Good, Bad, and Next for Equity Advocates via The Education Trust

Let’s be honest: There has been a lot of bad news in the last year. But last week, those of us who care about equity in public education got some really good news. After some last-minute drama, President Trump signed the bill funding the government through the end of September. Is the bill perfect? No. But there is a lot for us to celebrate in this bill with wins in both P-12 and higher education.

Linda Brown, Symbol of Landmark Desegregation Case, Dies at 75 via The New York Times

Linda Brown, whose father objected when she was not allowed to attend an all-white school in her neighborhood and who thus came to symbolize one of the most transformative court proceedings in American history, the school desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education, died on Sunday in Topeka, Kan. She was 75.

In 1954, in a unanimous decision, the court ruled that segregated schools were inherently unequal. The decision upended decades’ worth of educational practice, in the South and elsewhere, and its ramifications are still being felt.

One thing to read this week…

School Segregation Is Not a Myth via The Atlantic

Is school segregation getting worse?

Plenty of people say yes, including scholars, journalists, and civil-rights advocates. For the first time in years, there’s something approximating a consensus: Racially divided schools are a major and intensifying problem for American education—maybe even a crisis.

Did any of these articles particularly speak to you? We would love to know your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below: