Online Reporter Caucus: Understanding the New K-12 Education Landscape

As President Donald Trump works to reshape the nation’s schools to align with his policy priorities and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, reporters must consider how to respond to the deluge of news and what it means for the communities they cover. 

The administration has taken many actions affecting K-12 education – major cuts to staff, research and data collections at the U.S. Department of Education; revocation of COVID-relief spending extensions; termination of teacher-preparation grants; directives to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs; and threats to withhold federal funding, among others.  

How do reporters prioritize what to cover? How do they explain the potential impact of these federal actions for a local audience? How do they respond to the news while avoiding speculation, particularly given the uncertainty created by mounting legal challenges? 

The Education Writers Association will bring reporters together on Thursday, May 8 at 1 p.m. Eastern to answer these questions, make sense of the policy changes and discuss how best to cover the rapidly evolving K-12 education landscape. 

At a virtual caucus meeting, reporters will get important context from a national reporter closely following developments at the federal level and a local reporter working to explain what these moves mean for states and school districts. Attendees will discuss how to approach reporting on federal actions, localize a national story and investigate the actual impact on schools. Share strategies, brainstorm and get advice in small-group discussions. 

This virtual caucus meeting is open only to active EWA journalist members. Register today to participate.