I transitioned to a new job this week. It’s amazing. Continuing my long-standing tradition of never writing about my day job, that’s all I will say about it. I’m also barred from discussing my oldest guy’s big adventure plans, even though we’re very proud of him. The younger guy had a health setback last week but is back at school. 

If Ian’s health is okay and he can return to college this fall, I might be an empty nester this fall. I aspire to be an empty nester, though I will be super weepy about it. 

It’s Friday, so five quick posts are coming your way.

Department of Education No More

Today, the president signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. If he can’t get congressional approval to eliminate the department, he’ll fire everyone until McMahan is the last remaining employee. The wrestling lady will sit at a desk in an empty building, doing crossword puzzles. 

During his speech today, Trump used NAEP figures to justify eliminating the Department of Education. He said, 70 percent of students can’t read or write on grade level! All that is true. Last week, he eliminated the IES department, which administers the NAEP exam, so that’s perhaps the last time we’ll have that kind of information about student progress. Cutting the IES department was one of his stupider moves. Firing the quant guys is never a smart decision. 

Was Trump able to make this bold move because he was backed by parents who were disgruntled by excessive school closures during COVID? I get it. I’m still disgruntled. 

Trump repeatedly stressed funding for special education, high-poverty schools, and Pell Grants for low-income students. We’ll see. Last week, the wrestling lady didn’t know what IDEA was.

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