Ewa Obatuase

New America Announces a National Commission on Learning Ecosystems New America announces a National Commission on Learning Ecosystems that will examine how place-based models of learning can improve public education and help children, youth, and families thrive.

Today, we’re coming together to share lessons and scale what works for kids and communities.

Read how our new commission aims to create an abundance of learning opportunities that all connect to and strengthen each other.

⭐ 🔄 ⭐

Immigrants are my neighbors, friends, family members, and business owners. This Valentine’s Day, we must take action to stand up for them and ensure they are treated with humanity and dignity.
#ToImmigrantsWithLove #IStandWithImmigrants

OPINION: Colleges must start treating immigration-based targeting as a serious threat to student safety and belonging   - The Hechinger Report On college campuses, many young people are learning to police one another through immigration-based targeting rather than learn alongside one another. Our schools are not prepared for this. Here’s wha...

📣OPINION: Colleges must start treating immigration-based targeting as a serious threat to student safety and belonging

#edusky 

hechingerreport.org/opinion-coll...

Immigration enforcement is driving away early childhood educators In addition to workers facing detainment or deportation, many people are staying home to avoid situations where they may encounter ICE.

Immigration enforcement is driving away early childhood educators hechingerreport.org/immigration-...

Teachers can help raise their voices for immigrant students and push back on the negative portrayals of U.S. immigrants 🗣️.

Apply to this paid @tcfdotorg.bsky.social fellowship and learn how. Link here: bit.ly/EVENFellows2026

#immigrantstudents #teacherleadership #edusky

Promotional poster for New America announcing that applications for the Class of 2027 Fellows are now open. Features icons representing a microphone, a game controller, and other entities, with a deadline to apply by February 2, 2026.

🚀 The application for the 2027 Class of New America Fellows is now open!

Writers, journalists, filmmakers, and creators shaping the public conversation with big, bold stories—we want to hear from you. Apply by Feb 2.

📝 https://go.newamerica.org/apply-new-america-fellows-5

McMahon Says “Clock Is Ticking” on Education Department Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.

McMahon is expected to sign agreements at 2p that could move responsibilities of the office for civil rights, postsecondary education, special education, and elementary education to other departments.

www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

RCUSA is outraged by the White House’s Presidential Determination on refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2026, which sets the refugee admissions goal at a devastatingly low 7,500 – the lowest ever set in the 45-year history of the USRAP

See RCUSA's full statement here: rcusa.org/news-and-med...

Cosmetology Without Accountability: Failures of a Beauty School Accreditor Accreditation is a system built to protect students and taxpayers, but NACCAS has turned it into a shield for failing beauty schools.

My latest for @educationwork.newamerica.org: My investigation with @antoinetteflores.bsky.social into how NACCAS, a beauty school accreditor, allows colleges with violations to keep accessing federal aid. Many fail to disclose sanctions to students.
🔗 www.newamerica.org/education-po...

"Banning immigrant children from early education opportunities will have a detrimental impact on society as a whole."

CC: @lesvillegs.bsky.social
www.newamerica.org/education-po...

OPINION: Student-parents belong on college campuses. So do their children Over 3 million student-parents across the nation are pursuing higher education. Colleges should make them — and their families — feel welcome.

I love how one student parents decision to push back against an exclusive campus policy made an impact for other student parent graduates after her 👏🏾👏🏾: hechingerreport.org/opinion-stud...

Cutting Barriers: Addressing the Challenges of Parenting Students in Cosmetology Programs Parenting students are often overlooked in postsecondary education. Here’s how cosmetology programs can improve how they support them.

➡️ Check out my new piece that discusses the unique challenges parenting students experience and how beauty schools can support their success: www.newamerica.org/education-po...

🧵:3/3

Despite their overwhelming presence in the industry, parenting students are often overlooked and offered little support toward their cosmetology licensing journey, but it doesn't have to remain that way.

🧵:2/3

Today is the last day of #StudentParentMonth, a month to celebrate and reflect upon the roughly one in five students in America’s postsecondary education system who are caring for children.

Did you know that in beauty schools, that number jumps to one in three?
#edusky

🧵:1/3

Earnings Threshold 101 video

Students go to college to boost their earnings. But what happens when schools fall short? Our latest animated video explains the new earnings threshold and why it matters. 🎥

🚨Another neg reg session is coming up this fall, and we’re pushing for short-term credentials that help students succeed. Too many programs fail to deliver, so we need guardrails to ensure short-term Pell only goes to programs that truly work.

Trump “Chipping Away” at DACA and Other Protections Dreamers and their advocates say the Trump administration has launched a multifront attack on DACA and benefits historically extended to noncitizens.

"When are we going to draw a line and fight back and stand up for academic freedom and stand up for what these institutions have pledged, which is to educate everyone and to ensure that everyone has access to an equitable education?” –– Gaby Pacheco 🔥
#edusky

www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Immigration Enforcement on Campuses: What You Need To Know - Presidents' Alliance This FAQ provides answers to common questions related to federal immigration enforcement on campuses. It outlines institutional obligations in the event of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (IC...

As we head back to school, higher education institutions should prepare to support immigrant students and community members on campus. Check out the @presalliance.bsky.social guide, Immigration Enforcement on Campuses: What You Need To Know, to learn more. www.presidentsalliance.org/immigration-...

Why Gen Z Needs More Than Trump’s ‘Make America Skilled Again’ Empty Promises Trump promised to “Make America Skilled Again,” but slashed funding and student debt relief. Now Gen Z is pushing back and building a better future.

While we wait for Congress, Gen Z is getting to work! Check out my latest piece for @newamerica.org The Thread! www.newamerica.org/the-thread/g...

An Educator’s Checklist for Supporting Immigrant Students in Schools Schools should be safe spaces for all students. Federal law protects the right to a free public education for all students regardless of citizenship

Schools should be safe spaces for all students, regardless of immigration status.

Together with the @neatoday.bsky.social, @aft.org, @nilc.org, and other partners, TCF offers this guide for educators and other concerned advocates to protect newcomer students: go.tcf.org/checklist

"Varying Degrees" lead author Sophie Nguyen presents data insights from this year's report at New America's summer ice cream social event on July 30, 2025

Before we scoop out ice cream, researcher and report author Sophie Nguyen dives into important new data insights from the latest edition of #VaryingDegrees.

🎓 The top-line takeaway?? Even with rising costs and growing skepticism, most Americans still believe in the promise of #HigherEd.

Grant Applications for Campus Childcare Put on Hold Funding applications for programs that support low-income and adult learners typically open in May and close by the end of July. This year they have yet to be announced.

Great reporting from @jessicablake.bsky.social childcare on campus is a vital support for parenting students and this administration should be using those funds now, as Congress intended, not holding on to them.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Video: We Get There Together For too long, immigration has been used as an issue to divide working people and protect the interests of corporations, billionaires, and politicians who profit from fear and division. Our new video, ...

Across the U.S., people can't afford to pay rent, buy groceries, or see a doctor. And yet, Congress just gave ICE a budget bigger than most militaries.

-How’d we get here?
-Who benefits from keeping us divided?

A better future is still possible. Watch, learn & share ⬇️
www.nilc.org/articles/vid...

See How Much Federal Money Trump Is Holding Back From Your District Hundreds of districts will lose more than $1 million each, according to a new analysis.

Yesterday, I shared my @educationwork.newamerica.org team's district impact analysis of the $6+ billion that the Trump admin is refusing to disburse to schools (link in 2nd post). Now, @edweek.org has published our funding figures for ALL districts in the US for which we have data. Search for yours↓

We want ICE out of our Hospitals.

Ousted from Opportunity: Eviction's Adverse Impact on Parenting College Students New America partnered with the Eviction Lab to understand how eviction affects parents who are attending college while caring for children—and found it likely leads to severe negative consequences.

New brief from my colleague @econroy.bsky.social reveals how eviction has lasting, devastating effects on parenting college students—and their children. #edusky

💡 www.newamerica.org/education-po...

🆘 Congress’s big reconciliation bill puts vital programs like Medicaid and SNAP at risk, threatening the well-being of millions across the U.S.

@NewAmerica.org’s Family Economic Security and Well-Being programs consider the far-reaching consequences.

🔗 go.newamerica.org/family-feder...

Ousted from Opportunity: Eviction's Adverse Impact on Parenting College Students New America partnered with the Eviction Lab to understand how eviction affects parents who are attending college while caring for children—and found it likely leads to severe negative consequences.

ICYDK: ☝🏽 out of every 🖐🏽 undergrads is pursuing #HigherEd while also parenting a child.

In new research conducted by our policy expert @econroy.bsky.social and partners from the @evictionlab.bsky.social, our latest brief details the many parenting students who are also facing threats of eviction.

Quiz: What Does DOGE Know About You? The Department of Government Efficiency has unauthorized access to millions of Americans’ data. Take New America’s quiz to see how much of your data is at risk.

DOGE has bypassed long-standing privacy safeguards. Recently, #SCOTUS allowed #DOGE to access Americans’ Social Security data. This is not okay.

Take the Open Technology Institute's quiz to see what other elements of your sensitive information are exposed. #HandsOffMyData

OPINION: Clamping down on good, publicly available higher education data will send our system into a dark spiral Cuts to the Department of Education, including positions that involve data collection and analysis, threaten our domestic progress and could trigger a decline in the very qualities that have made Amer...

Great piece from @mitzkow.bsky.social on @hechingerreport.org on the need for publicly available highered data:
"Good data helps policymakers direct resources toward schools that drive economic impact, turning education dollars into long-term growth." #edusky hechingerreport.org/opinion-clam...