Overview

In the opening of President Donald Trump’s second term, a series of sweeping executive actions have sent shockwaves through the federal government’s involvement in K–12 education—canceling research contracts, enacting mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, and doubling down on a commitment to dismantle the department entirely. New guidance expands federal oversight to include curricula on diversity, equity, and inclusion, while formula programs that allocate the bulk of federal education dollars remain so far untouched. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon has stated the “final mission” of the department is to restore state and local authority over public schools. What does all this mean for the future of America's children and their education? How do these shifts impact educators? What do they mean for the future of federal education policy? Our expert panel will discuss these critical issues and more.

Host: Martin West, Academic Dean and Shattuck Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Speakers include:

• Brian Gill, Senior Fellow, Mathematica
• Catherine Lhamon, Former Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education
• Neal McCluskey, Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute
• Andrew J. Rotherham, Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Bellwether

Event Attendance & Registration

Askwith Education Forums are accessible, free, and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Registration is required. On-site registration will be available.

Seating is first-come, first-seated. Once Askwith Hall reaches capacity, guests will be redirected to overflow seating. We recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes early for seating, to engage with the community, and to enjoy light refreshments before the Forum.

Note: This is an in-person event and will not be livestreamed. Please visit the Harvard Education YouTube channel for recordings of past forums and webinars.

An invitation to speak at the Harvard Graduate School of Education does not imply an endorsement of the speaker’s views or values by HGSE, Harvard University, or members of its community.