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Mark Lieberman

@marklieberman.bsky.social

2.6K followers 195 following 250 posts

K-12 school finance reporter for @edweek.org and proud member of @edweekunion.bsky.social. mlieberman@educationweek.org Signal: malieberman.25

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Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

New: The Trump administration is using a mechanism widely viewed as illegal to cancel nearly $100 million Congress appropriated for college-level foreign-language instruction and to support migrant farmworkers seeking GEDs and college degrees. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump, Bucking Congress Yet Again, Cancels $100 Million for Education

A "pocket rescission" hits programs for migratory farmworkers and college-level language instruction.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

New: The Trump administration is using a mechanism widely viewed as illegal to cancel nearly $100 million Congress appropriated for college-level foreign-language instruction and to support migrant farmworkers seeking GEDs and college degrees. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump, Bucking Congress Yet Again, Cancels $100 Million for Education

A "pocket rescission" hits programs for migratory farmworkers and college-level language instruction.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Austin Slaughter @austinslaughter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The Institute of Education Sciences has 28 days to spend $180 million--a quarter of its annual budget--to avoid violating the Impoundment Control Act I'm placing my bets on most of this money getting spent in legally questionable ways that are not consistent with congressional intent

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

New: With one month left in the fiscal year, the Education Department's research arm has to spend 24% of its annual budget. By late August in pre-Trump 2.0 years, that figure was never higher than 10%. During Trump 1.0, it was never higher than 2%. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Ed. Dept. Risks Letting $180 Million for Research Expire as Deadline Looms

Spending by the agency's research arm has lagged most significantly compared with previous years.

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Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Cara Jackson @carajackson.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I was an evaluator on a SEED grant that DOGE cancelled. @marklieberman.bsky.social has captured the chaos DOGE created so well here. One of the wildest things about this is ED justifying the cancellation by saying they wanted to focus on career pathways. Teacher preparation *is* a career pathway.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

New from me and @caitlynnpeetz.bsky.social: Dozens of Head Start programs across the country are in turmoil as HHS indefinitely stalls the grant competition that would enable their next long-term round of funding. www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Head Start Providers Struggle as Trump Admin. Holds Up Funding Competitions

At least 85 Head Start providers serving more than 39,000 children across 38 states are in limbo.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

New from me and @caitlynnpeetz.bsky.social: Dozens of Head Start programs across the country are in turmoil as HHS indefinitely stalls the grant competition that would enable their next long-term round of funding. www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Head Start Providers Struggle as Trump Admin. Holds Up Funding Competitions

At least 85 Head Start providers serving more than 39,000 children across 38 states are in limbo.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

"Cross’ employees ultimately got paid with university funds for the rest of the week after the cancellation. Eventually they lost their jobs altogether. Two suffered anxiety attacks that landed them in the emergency room. Several no longer work in education." www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Cut Their Education Grants. Here’s What Happened Next

Grantees whose work ground to a halt last year lament broken promises and abandoned projects.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

In a typical year, the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights would have spent two-thirds of its budget by June 30. This year, by June 30, half the annual budget remained unspent. That money expires Sept. 30 if it doesn't get spent by then. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump's Education Department Is Letting Tens of Millions of Dollars Expire

Education Week found the agency didn't spend its full budget last year and appears on track to do so again.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

New: The Education Department last year let $75M expire without spending it, including $21M for staff salaries, $20M for mental health grants, and $14M for civil rights. During the previous 10 years, the agency let just $9 million total expire from the same accounts. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump's Education Department Is Letting Tens of Millions of Dollars Expire

Education Week found the agency didn't spend its full budget last year and appears on track to do so again.

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Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

New w/ @laurainegl.bsky.social: The Trump administration last month abruptly canceled $143 million for teen pregnancy prevention programs in 25 states. Now nonprofit staffers and high-schoolers are losing their jobs and schools are cutting programming: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

School Pregnancy Prevention Efforts Shut Down as Trump Emphasizes Abstinence

The administration has canceled funding for more than 50 teen pregnancy prevention programs.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

New w/ @laurainegl.bsky.social: The Trump administration last month abruptly canceled $143 million for teen pregnancy prevention programs in 25 states. Now nonprofit staffers and high-schoolers are losing their jobs and schools are cutting programming: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

School Pregnancy Prevention Efforts Shut Down as Trump Emphasizes Abstinence

The administration has canceled funding for more than 50 teen pregnancy prevention programs.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

david i. backer @schooldaves.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT @derekgottliebphd.com and I are doing a podcast where we take requests and yap about your school budget kerfuffles. It's called "Budget Committee!" and we're dropping episodes soon. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1lzV...

podcasts.apple.com

Budget Committee!

Education Podcast · Getting (Closer) to the Bottom of Your District's Finances

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

"For the 27 years I worked at OMB, it never occurred to any OMB staff that a president or OMB director would do what Trump and Vought are doing." www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education: See All the Affected Programs

We're tracking federal education funding that Trump's federal budget office has stalled.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

New: Education and transparency advocates are suing Trump's OMB and Education Department, arguing they're illegally withholding hundreds of millions of dollars Congress appropriated for education research programs. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Schools Lay Off Staff as Lawsuits Challenging Federal Grant Cuts Continue

Recent lawsuits have challenged federal grant cuts affecting special education and English-learner teachers.

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Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

The White House Office of Management and Budget is still withholding more than $2 billion Congress appropriated in February for competitive Education Department grant programs. More than $1 billion will expire in three months if nothing changes. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education: See All the Affected Programs

We're tracking federal education funding that Trump's federal budget office has stalled.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

NEW: The Education Department told advocates this morning that special education programs will move to the Department of Health and Human Services, AND civil rights enforcement for schools and colleges will move to the Department of Justice. www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Education Department Moves Special Ed. and Civil Rights to Other Agencies

Special education programs help schools serve more than seven million K-12 students with disabilities nationwide.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

The latest: The White House/OMB is still blocking $2 billion in Congressionally approved education funds. More than $1 billion could expire in four months. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education: See All the Affected Programs

We're tracking federal education funding that Trump's federal budget office has stalled.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Zahava Stadler @zahavastadler.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

So grateful to @marklieberman.bsky.social and @edweek.org for keeping careful track of this. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education: See All the Affected Programs

We're tracking federal education funding that Trump's federal budget office has stalled.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Cara Jackson @carajackson.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

🚨 "More than $1 billion of the currently unapportioned Education Department funds will expire and return to the Treasury if OMB doesn’t release the money in the next four months." by @marklieberman.bsky.social www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education: See All the Affected Programs

We're tracking federal education funding that Trump's federal budget office has stalled.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

New: The White House is blocking more than $2 billion Congress appropriated in February for K-12 and higher education. Here's a list of all 34 affected programs: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education: See All the Affected Programs

We're tracking federal education funding that Trump's federal budget office has stalled.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

New: The White House is blocking more than $2 billion Congress appropriated in February for K-12 and higher education. Here's a list of all 34 affected programs: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education: See All the Affected Programs

We're tracking federal education funding that Trump's federal budget office has stalled.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

EdSource Guild @edsourceguild.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

🚨 EDSOURCE GUILD IS ON STRIKE! 🚨 Today—Thursday, May 14—EdSource Guild is on a one-day work stoppage due to the unilateral changes to our insurance and the lack of progress on key contract issues. PLEASE DO NOT CROSS OUR PICKET LINE AND VISIT @edsource.org TODAY! actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

EDSOURCE GUILD IS ON STRIKE TODAY, MAY 14, 2026. For 16 months, we have worked for a contract. Now, management has unilaterally changed health benefits without negotiation.

WHY WE'RE STRIKING TODAY

"A fair contract for journalists is how we ensure the quality and sustainability of the reporting our communities count on. We care deeply about this work and the gravity of this action is meant to reflect that. We sincerely hope that management chooses to take our right to bargain and the content of our proposals seriously moving forward." -Thomas Peele, EdSource investigative reporter and EdSource Guild co-chair

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The White House is holding up funds for Education Department grants including: -Alaska Native Ed. -Arts Ed. -Civics Ed. -Comprehensive Centers -Community Schools -Native Hawaiian Ed. -Promise Neighborhoods -Ready to Learn -SEED/TQP/TSL for teacher training -and more: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Holds Back $2 Billion for Education Grants. What Will Happen Next?

The White House is keeping congressionally approved money locked up through a little-known process.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

New: Trump's OMB is withholding more than $2 billion Congress approved in February for K-12 and higher education. Advocates and experts weigh in on what this means and whether it's time to panic: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Holds Back $2 Billion for Education Grants. What Will Happen Next?

The White House is keeping congressionally approved money locked up through a little-known process.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

New: Trump's OMB is withholding more than $2 billion Congress approved in February for K-12 and higher education. Advocates and experts weigh in on what this means and whether it's time to panic: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Holds Back $2 Billion for Education Grants. What Will Happen Next?

The White House is keeping congressionally approved money locked up through a little-known process.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

New: On Capitol Hill today, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said she still wants to relocate special education programs to other agencies: "“We have not made that determination yet.” www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

McMahon Still Wants to Relocate Special Ed.—And Other Budget Hearing Takeaways

The education secretary also told skeptical lawmakers that Ed. Dept. program transfers are working.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Tracy O’Connell Novick @tracynovick.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

"Experts on federal education spending said they couldn’t recall any other time in recent decades when the executive branch adjusted congressionally approved program funding levels at all—let alone to this extent." h/t @marklieberman.bsky.social for keeping on this www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Sidestepped Congress on More Than $1 Billion in Ed. Spending Last Year

Newly published documents show how the Ed. Dept. departed from Congress' plans.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

The Trump administration "reprogrammed" more than $700 million Congress appropriated last March for specific education programs. Which programs were affected? Is that legal? Will that happen again this year? Here's what we know: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Sidestepped Congress on More Than $1 Billion in Ed. Spending Last Year

Newly published documents show how the Ed. Dept. departed from Congress' plans.

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Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Some new weekend reading from me: The Trump administration took more than $1 billion Congress appropriated for education last March and either spent it differently than lawmakers prescribed, or hasn't spent it at all: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Sidestepped Congress on More Than $1 Billon in Ed. Spending Last Year

Newly published documents show how the Ed. Dept. departed from Congress' plans.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Some new weekend reading from me: The Trump administration took more than $1 billion Congress appropriated for education last March and either spent it differently than lawmakers prescribed, or hasn't spent it at all: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Sidestepped Congress on More Than $1 Billon in Ed. Spending Last Year

Newly published documents show how the Ed. Dept. departed from Congress' plans.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Daniel J. Willis @bayareadata.press · 15/04/2026

Noon today! Rally for @edsourceguild.bsky.social! Signing up for the Zoom is preferred but you people are generally pretty lazy so it'll also be streamed on YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram Live. Links are all in the Linktree thingy.

EdSource Guild Official: Instagram, Facebook, Twitch | Linktree

We are NewsGuild‬ Local 39521: The journalists of EdSource, the biggest, best source of education news in California. We still do not have a contract.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Solidarity with my fellow unionized nonprofit news workers. They deserve fair compensation and the utmost respect

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 08/04/2026

We’re on strike today! Support our fight for a fair contract by NOT visiting the @propublica.org website or engaging with ProPublica stories today. Tell ProPublica’s management you won’t cross the picket line: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

We're on strike! Don't visit propublica.org on April 8

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

New: Two months after Congress rejected all of Trump's proposed cuts to education funding, Trump is proposing many of the same cuts again. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Again Proposes Major Education Cuts in New Budget Proposal

The Trump administration again wants lawmakers to consider drastic spending cuts and program eliminations.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

EdSource Guild @edsourceguild.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

"Everyone deserves equitable pay. Yet, with my current salary, I can't pay for basic necessities *and* save for retirement *and* pay rent. The math just doesn't work out." - @emmagallegos.bsky.social

A photo of EdSource reporter Emma Gallegos with the following quote: "Everyone deserves equitable pay. Yet, with my current salary, I can't pay for basic necessities AND save for retirement AND pay rent. The math just doesn't work out."

All we're asking for is a fair contract. It's been over a year since the EdSource Guild unionized, and we still don't have a contract. Guild members are sharing why reaching an agreement on a contract now is so important. What you can do: Spread the word! Like, comment, or share this post.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Evie Blad @evieblad.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

There are at least 86 public schools named for César Chavez. They face tough, unexpected conversations about changing their names after and investigation surfaced new allegations about the labor leader. www.edweek.org/leadership/s...

Schools Named for César Chavez Face Renaming Debates After Assault Allegations

Dozens of schools named for César Chavez face decisions about renaming.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Congress approved level funding for K-12 schools. Now what? In just a few hours, I'll pose that question (and better ones) to a former Ed. Dept. official and a current school district CFO. Register here! event.on24.com/wcc/r/526832...

Congress Approved Next Year’s Federal School Funding. What’s Next?

Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

New: More federal funding disruptions like the ones that roiled schools all 2025 appear to be on the horizon. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Federal Funding Disruptions for Schools Are Far From Over

Signs are piling up that schools could experience more funding turbulence in the coming months.

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Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Disband ICE @adlangx.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Probably missed but the administration cancelled grants for Career Technical Education. These are programs to train students to be nurses, engineers, electricians, plumbers, software developers, dentists and so many other skills. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

The Trump Admin. Says It Supports Career-Tech. Ed. It Canceled CTE Grants Anyway

Nineteen projects—many in rural areas—lost funding that was helping students prepare for college and careers.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

The Trump administration has touted efforts to prepare K-12 students for the workforce. But last summer, the Education Department canceled 19 ongoing grants for school-based projects doing just that. Scoop from me and @laurainegl.bsky.social: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

The Trump Admin. Says It Supports Career-Tech. Ed. It Canceled CTE Grants Anyway

Nineteen projects—many in rural areas—lost funding that was helping students prepare for college and careers.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

The Trump administration has touted efforts to prepare K-12 students for the workforce. But last summer, the Education Department canceled 19 ongoing grants for school-based projects doing just that. Scoop from me and @laurainegl.bsky.social: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

The Trump Admin. Says It Supports Career-Tech. Ed. It Canceled CTE Grants Anyway

Nineteen projects—many in rural areas—lost funding that was helping students prepare for college and careers.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Liam Knox @liamknox.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Donald Trump is dismantling the Education Department piece by piece. Since taking office they've laid off 40% of its staff and moved billions in grant programs to other agencies. We dug into the numbers and the impact of the White House's plan: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

How to Shred the Department of Education

Republicans have been trying to dissolve the Department of Education since it was created. Under Trump, this is how they are dismantling the federal agency, step by step

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Just two hours until I share some behind-the-scenes insight from my reporting on federal education grants. Sign up for the @innovateedunyc.bsky.social webinar here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... Background: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Slashed Billions for Education in 2025. See Our List of Affected Grants

We've tabulated the grant programs that have had awards terminated over the past year. See our list.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Thursday: Come watch me talk about my efforts to track discontinued and canceled federal grants for K-12 education, courtesy of @innovateedunyc.bsky.social: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

us06web.zoom.us

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Webinar: How Many and Which Education Grants Has the Federal Government Cut? A New Tool Has the Answers. After registering, you will receive a confirmation ...

Cuts to funding for education programs have left school districts and communities across the U.S. uncertain. Thankfully, Mark Lieberman, a school finance reporter for Education Week, has released a li...

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Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

New: After 15 months of speculation over how a Republican-controlled Congress under Trump would handle education funding, we have the answer: Virtually no changes. -Level $$ for Title I, IDEA, Head Start -No new block grants -No programs or agencies eliminated www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Congress Has Passed an Education Budget. See How Key Programs Are Affected

Federal funding for low-income students and special education will remain level year over year.

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Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Washington-Baltimore News Guild @wbng.org · 04/02/2026

The Washington-Baltimore News Guild strongly condemns the layoffs announced today at The Washington Post. These cuts represent yet another blow to a newsroom that has already been pushed to its limits and a disservice to the readers who rely on The Post for rigorous, independent journalism.

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

EdWeek Union @edweekunion.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

🚨New nonprofit media union contract just dropped :) wbng.org/2026/02/03/e...

Education Week Union overwhelmingly ratifies first collective bargaining agreement - Washington-Baltimore News Guild

The unionized 50-member staff of Education Week, a national nonprofit news organization, voted overwhelmingly in December to ratify its first collective bargaining agreement with management, joining a...

Reposted by Mark Lieberman

Education Week @edweek.org · 03/02/2026

Congress Has Passed an Education Budget. See How Key Programs Are Affected: Federal funding for low-income students and special education will remain level year over year.

Congress Has Passed an Education Budget. See How Key Programs Are Affected

Federal funding for low-income students and special education will remain level year over year.

Mark Lieberman @marklieberman.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Federal grant cuts/cancellations/terminations at the following agencies in the last year have affected K-12 schools: -AmeriCorps -Ag. -Commerce -Defense -Energy -Education -HHS -DHS -DOJ -Interior -EPA -IMLS -NEA -NEH -NSF www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump Slashed Billions for Education in 2025. See Our List of Affected Grants

We've tabulated the grant programs that have had awards terminated over the past year. See our list.