Weekly Update

_{Students at Hamlin Elementary are silhouetted against the screen of a traveling planetarium. Federal support has allowed the South Dakota Discovery Center to update the exhibit to give the impression of flying through space. Credit: Anya Kamenetz for The Hechinger Report}

A museum takes students on flights to the stars. Future trips are in question

The Institute of Museum and Library Services was established in 1996, combining previously separate programs. The small agency became the largest source of federal funding for museums and libraries, last year awarding $266.7 million in program grants, research and policy development across all 50 states. IMLS awarded the South Dakota Discovery Center about $45,000 in 2023 to upgrade this traveling planetarium.

But students around the state may be waiting a long time for the next upgrade.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in mid-March calling for the agency to be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” Mass firings followed.

On May 1, the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., issued a temporary restraining order to block the agency’s dismantling, followed on May 6 by a second federal judge finding the dismantling of this and two other agencies unconstitutional. On May 20, the American Library Association reported that employees are returning to work and some grants have been restored.

Education Department misses key deadline for delivering statistics report

Congress mandates annual ‘Condition of Education’ digest by June 1.

We're award winning!

We’re thrilled to share that The Hechinger Report won six awards from the Education Writers Association last week at its national conference.

Our team won for an investigation into school discipline, a story on a superintendent who was shown the door after making big gains with English learners, and our podcast with GBH, College Uncovered. Our video and print coverage of the ripple effects from the fall of affirmative action won two awards. Early childhood reporter Jackie Mader also received a beat reporting award.

Reporting, writing, editing and producing this journalism was a huge effort and we are proud to be recognized.

Readers make our cradle-to-career education coverage possible. Please consider supporting our not-for-profit, independent journalism. No gift is too small.

So much for saving the planet. Climate careers, and many others, evaporate for class of 2025

The Trump administration is disrupting career paths for new graduates hoping to work in climate and sustainability, international aid, public service and the sciences.

📣 Listen up

Episode 8 of season 4 of College Uncovered, a podcast from The Hechinger Report and GBH News, is out now. 

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Talk to us about Tuition Tracker

Our Tuition Tracker website helps students, parents and educators research the true cost of a college degree. This interactive tool is used in thousands of classrooms nationwide.

We know this website has value — and we are committed to keeping this tool free for all to use. Help us make TuitionTracker.org even better by filling out this short survey. A few minutes of your time will make a difference in the lives of young people. (Extra credit: Share the website and survey link with a friend!)