
Learning Forward Advocacy
Events are unfolding rapidly. Stay tuned to this advocacy page for the latest information.
On Wednesday, January 29, the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum rescinding a previously issued federal order demanding that federal agencies pause disbursing federal grants and loans as of 5 PM on January 28th. Under a subject line of “Rescission of M-25-13,” today’s memo instructs agency directors to consult with their general counsel if they have questions about implementing executive orders.
On Jan. 27, the White House issued the now-withdrawn memorandum, which would also require by February 7th that all agencies fill out a detailed spreadsheet that asks questions about whether federal programs allow funds to be disbursed in violation of any of several Executive Orders of the President, including Protecting the American People Against Invasion, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. Specifically, the spreadsheet requests federal agencies to review and inform the Administration whether federal programs:
• Provide federal funding to non-governmental organizations supporting or providing services, directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens
• Provide funding that is implicated by the directive to end discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities…
• Promote gender ideology
The Department of Education released clarifying information to state superintendents that “the OMB memorandum only applies to discretionary grants at the Department of Education. These will be reviewed by Department leadership for alignment with Trump Administration priorities. The temporary pause does not impact Title I, IDEA, or other formula grants, nor does it apply to Federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans under Title IV, HEA. The Department is working with OMB to identify other programs that are not covered by the memo.”
The OMB spreadsheet requires that the Department of Education review Title funds, including Title II, for compliance with the President’s Executive Orders.
A federal lawsuit challenging this OMB memorandum and seeking a Temporary Restraining Order to bar its implementation was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by four non-profit organizations.
Late on January 28th, a Federal Court in DC issued an administrative stay blocking the enforcement of the January 27 OMB memorandum until at least February 3rd.
As this story continues to develop, we will provide updates as information comes in. Questions? Contact Melinda George, Learning Forward’s Chief Policy Officer at melinda.george@learningforward.org.
Join the Learning Forward A-Team in 2025 for regular policy updates
The Learning Forward Advocacy Team is your trusted source for news and updates on federal education policy, particularly the latest news on Title II-A. Signing up for the A-Team will ensure that you receive:
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Questions? Contact Chief Policy Officer Melinda George.
Thank you for standing up for professional learning!
On December 5, 2023, more than 3300 people stood up for professional learning on advocacy day at the Learning Forward annual conference. This is a stand we must all make every day. Remember to collect and share stories of the impact of professional learning in your school or learning environment. Learning Forward wants to hear from you.
Call to Action - Save Title II-A

Members of Congress will return after Labor Day and appropriations and continued funding to keep the government open are going to be the issues front and center for every member of Congress. Now is not the time to be complacent. We need to remain vigilant in our efforts to save Title II-A. On July 18, Fred Brown issued a call to action to all educators to help save Title II-A. If you are reading this message, please take a moment to send a message to your members of Congress. Press the blue button below to get started.
Learning Forward Advocacy
Powered by Title II
Communities & members
Resources
Video: Why is educator professional learning important for students?
Need help?
Learning Forward’s Powered by Title II campaign website puts all of the information, tools, and advocacy tutorials in one easy to access online location to enable educator advocates reach their Members of Congress and help convince them to support more Title II funding. On this site, advocates will find:
- The latest news on Title II
- Background facts, stories, research, and data on Title II
- A storytelling tool to assist you in researching and explaining how Title II supports your school district
- Sample letters, talking points, tweets and more to support your advocacy
Evidence, evidence, evidence
Evidence of impact is not optional. From your ESSA plans to Title II to talking with your district superintendent, everyone wants to know when professional development is making an impact and how you know. Learning Forward is here to help. We invite you to join your peers from across the U.S. to share your successes here.
Tell us what Title II funds in your school or district, and most important, what outcomes you see as a result. Outcomes might include improved graduation rates or assessment scores, improvements for specific populations of students, or other indicators that students are experiencing more meaningful learning.
ESSA Toolkits
A New Vision For Professional Learning: A Toolkit to Help
States Use ESSA to Advance Learning and ImprovementSystems. This toolkit helps leaders leverage professional learning as
an essential tool in overcoming systemic inequities and guaranteeing
excellence for all.
Agents for Learning Toolkit: A Guide to Amplifying Teacher
Voice and Stakeholder Engagement. This toolkit suggests ways to cultivate teacher voice and agency in policy decisions and the implementation of professional learning.
This webinar, originally created for our Virtual Advocacy Day, includes advocacy strategies and tips that are applicable to any advocacy effort. Watch to hone your skills, build confidence, and get excited about being an advocate.