Education News Highlights: June 30 — July 6

From new controversial moves by the Trump administration to the link between school education and birth rates in the UK, and the upcoming launch of one of the world’s most expensive schools in Dubai — we round up the key education stories of the week in ED-EX.com’s digest.

School Funding in the U.S. Under Threat: Trump Administration Faces Backlash

As of July 1, the U.S. administration has frozen more than $6 billion in funding for supplemental K-12 education programs. The freeze affects key federal initiatives, including after-school and summer programs, migrant student support, and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. These cuts impact 33 states — including California, Oregon, and Washington — leaving local schools without tens of millions of dollars vital for operating educational and extracurricular programs.

The official reason cited is a “review of grant allocation procedures.” However, critics view the move as a politically motivated effort to weaken the educational social infrastructure. Children’s clubs, summer camps, migrant centers, and ESL programs — essential for hundreds of thousands of students and their families — are now at risk. Several states are preparing lawsuits, and experts have called the decision “legally questionable,” warning of long-term negative consequences for the national education system.

NACIQI Meeting Delayed: Resource Allocation or Political Maneuvering?

The U.S. administration has postponed the summer session of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), originally scheduled for July, to October 2025. A key item on the agenda is the reauthorization of the Middle States Commission, which accredits major institutions such as Columbia University. Critics claim the delay could be an attempt to exert political influence over the committee — by October, the terms of six of its 18 members will expire, allowing new appointments to potentially sway the re-accreditation outcome.

NACIQI members, higher education experts, and university representatives argue that the postponement appears less about logistics and more about politics. Chairwoman Zakia Smith Ellis expressed concern over potential efforts by the administration to steer the committee in a politically aligned direction. While the Department of Education maintains the decision is not politically driven, anxiety over possible interference in the accreditation process remains high.

UK Pushes for Climate Education Across All School Subjects — and It’s Linked to Birth Rates

In the UK, the Climate Change Network — affiliated with the National Education Union — is urging the government to integrate climate education into all school subjects, not just science. The goal is to help students better understand the climate crisis and cope with growing “climate anxiety,” which affects between 38% and 52% of young people, according to The Lancet and The Cool Down project.

“Climate anxiety is influencing young people’s decisions about becoming parents — and that’s why it needs to be addressed through curriculum reform,” said Paul Atkin, a spokesperson for the network. He argues that the upcoming curriculum review this autumn should prioritize embedding climate literacy across disciplines — including humanities, maths, languages, and the arts — to ensure students grasp both the nature of the crisis and ways to respond to it.

The proposal is backed by research showing that anxiety about climate change can either motivate action or lead to disengagement if students lack tools and support. An interdisciplinary approach, the network says, would not only build knowledge but also promote adaptive skills, systems thinking, and long-term resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

Pearson and Google Launch Joint AI Initiative for Schools

Pearson has announced a long-term strategic partnership with Google Cloud to bring AI-powered tools into K–12 education. Using Vertex AI, including models like Gemini and LearnLM, the project aims to personalize learning paths, tailor instruction to each student’s pace, and support teachers with real-time data and adaptive tools.

The initiative includes several core components:

• Personalized learning: AI assistants will adjust tasks and help keep students engaged.
• Teacher support: Using BigQuery analytics, educators can track student progress and adapt lessons accordingly.
• Scalable digital content: New learning materials will be generated using tools like Veo and Imagen by Google.
• Responsible AI use: The partnership emphasizes ethical technology design and the protection of student data privacy.

Pearson CEO Omar Abbosh stated that AI can help shift education away from “one-size-fits-all” models, making it more flexible and engaging for every student.

Teachers Must Co-Design AI Tools, Not Just Use Them, Experts Say at ISTELive 2025

At ISTELive 25 + ASCD 2025 in San Antonio, education leaders emphasized that teachers should be co-creators of AI tools, not just end users. The goal: ensure that AI technologies used in schools are ethical, reliable, and effective for learning.

“Educators need the opportunity to help shape the technology — not just consume it,” said Wyman Khuu, Head of Learning Engineering at the nonprofit Playlab.ai. He stressed the strategic importance of direct teacher involvement in AI development, especially as the tools increasingly impact classroom experiences.

Experts warned that many current AI tools fail to reflect student needs, often leading to "hallucinations" — inaccuracies or unreliable outputs. In response, teachers are already using Playlab.ai to build, share, and improve their own classroom apps collaboratively. This co-design model puts educators at the center of the process, fostering better tools tailored for real educational environments.

England to Open Hundreds of Nursery Units in Schools This September

Starting in September 2025, around 200 new nursery units will open across England, hosted in repurposed classrooms within existing primary schools. The initiative will create about 4,000 new early years places, with plans to scale up to 6,000 once all 300 targeted sites are operational.

The government has allocated £370 million (approx. $470 million) for the expansion, including £37 million in capital grants. Thanks to 30 hours of free childcare per week, parents are expected to save up to £7,500 ($9,500) annually, with an additional £450 in savings from free breakfast clubs offered before the school day starts.

The program is especially critical in underserved areas like the North and Midlands, where early years provision has been lacking. By converting underused school space, the initiative aims to provide affordable, high-quality childcare — while helping working families stay in the workforce.

New York's Empire State Arts Scholarship Expands Year-Round Access

The Empire State Arts Scholarship — once limited to summer — is now available year-round for students in grades 5–12 across New York State. The program provides financial support for participation in extracurricular and summer arts programs.

Depending on household need, the scholarship covers 10% to 90% of tuition for courses in visual arts, music, theater, dance, digital media, and other creative fields. It is open to students enrolled in public or charter schools, and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Funding is available twice a year — once during the school term and again in summer — making it a flexible, ongoing support for creative learning opportunities across the state.

Dubai’s GEMS: One of the World’s Most Expensive Private Schools Set to Open in 2025

Dubai is preparing to open one of the world’s most elite private schools: the GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI). Scheduled to launch in August 2025, the school is located in Dubai Sports City and comes with a staggering $100 million (AED 367 million) price tag.

The 47,600-square-meter campus features top-tier amenities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool, a full sports complex, a 400-meter running track, an NBA-standard basketball court, and a Premier League-grade football pitch — which, conveniently, also serves as a helipad. A thoughtful touch, perhaps, for busy parents who simply can’t be delayed by traffic.

The school will initially enroll students from FS1 (ages 3–4) through Year 6 (ages 10–11), following the UK national curriculum, with plans to expand through Grade 12. Class sizes will remain small — just 16–20 students per class — to ensure personalized instruction.

Tuition ranges from $31,500 to $41,400 per year for lower and middle grades, reaching up to $56,600 annually for upper years. That makes GEMS one of the most expensive private day schools globally, rivaling top-tier U.S. and Swiss institutions. However, early applicants can save: founding families will receive a 20% tuition discount for 2026.