Denise Forte
@deniseedtrust.bsky.social
President & CEO of EdTrust, a mom, a Blue Devil, a fierce advocate for education equity.
Catch Augustus this afternoon on NewsNation as he discusses fair school funding and responds to a new Michigan bill proposing to eliminate school-based property taxes for residents without children in public schools.
January 16, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Catch Augustus this afternoon on NewsNation as he discusses fair school funding and responds to a new Michigan bill proposing to eliminate school-based property taxes for residents without children in public schools.
At a time when affordability is front and center, the resumption of wage garnishment to pay for student loans in default may transform problems of affordability into full-blown crises for millions across the country.
https://edtru.st/3ZcphuK
https://edtru.st/3ZcphuK
Student loan borrowers face major changes to repayment options, loan limits this year
Student loan borrowers are about to see some of the practical changes the Trump administration is making to the system that will affect their borrowing capabilities and mon...
edtru.st
January 15, 2026 at 9:07 PM
At a time when affordability is front and center, the resumption of wage garnishment to pay for student loans in default may transform problems of affordability into full-blown crises for millions across the country.
https://edtru.st/3ZcphuK
https://edtru.st/3ZcphuK
Public funds should be exclusively invested in public services, including public schools. Vouchers drain funds from public schools and fail to address the educational needs of students, especially students historically underserved in public and non-public school settings.
https://edtru.st/49m8n2X
https://edtru.st/49m8n2X
EdTrust Comment Urges State Discretion, Strong Transparency and Accountability for New Federal School Voucher Program
EdTrust comments on the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service's request for comment on the implementation of the new federal school voucher program
edtrust.org
January 14, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Public funds should be exclusively invested in public services, including public schools. Vouchers drain funds from public schools and fail to address the educational needs of students, especially students historically underserved in public and non-public school settings.
https://edtru.st/49m8n2X
https://edtru.st/49m8n2X
EdTrust-Midwest's great work on teacher diversity and improving the teacher pipeline was highlighted by The Detroit News.
https://edtru.st/4qTOR3H
https://edtru.st/4qTOR3H
Michigan's teacher diversity remains low despite improvements, aid boost
A new report from EdTrust Midwest shows only 11.3% of Michigan teachers were people of color last year, compared to 40% of the student population.
www.detroitnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:00 AM
EdTrust-Midwest's great work on teacher diversity and improving the teacher pipeline was highlighted by The Detroit News.
https://edtru.st/4qTOR3H
https://edtru.st/4qTOR3H
What happens when you fire essential civil rights investigators and ignore legitimate complaints from students and families?
•Racial epithets with impunity
•Unfair disciplinary targeting
•Racial bullying
This refusal to investigate is part of Jim Crow 2.0.
hechingerreport.org/probes-into-...
•Racial epithets with impunity
•Unfair disciplinary targeting
•Racial bullying
This refusal to investigate is part of Jim Crow 2.0.
hechingerreport.org/probes-into-...
Probes into racism in schools stall under Trump
Parents say racist incidents are going unchecked after the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights retreated from investigating schools in Lubbock County, Texas.
hechingerreport.org
January 13, 2026 at 6:14 PM
What happens when you fire essential civil rights investigators and ignore legitimate complaints from students and families?
•Racial epithets with impunity
•Unfair disciplinary targeting
•Racial bullying
This refusal to investigate is part of Jim Crow 2.0.
hechingerreport.org/probes-into-...
•Racial epithets with impunity
•Unfair disciplinary targeting
•Racial bullying
This refusal to investigate is part of Jim Crow 2.0.
hechingerreport.org/probes-into-...
"Iowa’s approval drew backlash from education groups. Allison Socol, a vice president [at EdTrust], said it will 'divert federal funding away from students with the greatest needs,' including English learners and those who benefit from after-school programs."
https://edtru.st/3Ngtqev
https://edtru.st/3Ngtqev
Trump officials loosen strings on federal education money for Iowa. More states could follow
The Trump administration is giving Iowa more power to decide how it spends its federal education money.
edtru.st
January 8, 2026 at 9:10 PM
"Iowa’s approval drew backlash from education groups. Allison Socol, a vice president [at EdTrust], said it will 'divert federal funding away from students with the greatest needs,' including English learners and those who benefit from after-school programs."
https://edtru.st/3Ngtqev
https://edtru.st/3Ngtqev
"Today, the U.S. Department of Education took the first step in dismantling those protections by approving a waiver for Iowa that would allow the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) to divert federal funding away from students with the greatest needs."
https://edtru.st/4qmDQry
https://edtru.st/4qmDQry
Iowa’s New Waiver Approval Puts English Learners and After-School Programming at Risk
Statement from EdTrust Vice President of P-12 Policy, Practice & Research, Allison Socol, Ph.D.
bit.ly
January 7, 2026 at 9:47 PM
"Today, the U.S. Department of Education took the first step in dismantling those protections by approving a waiver for Iowa that would allow the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) to divert federal funding away from students with the greatest needs."
https://edtru.st/4qmDQry
https://edtru.st/4qmDQry
Early indications are that the Trump administration will stop governors who seek to craft programs that best fit the needs of their states and families.
It’s time to invest more — not less — in our public education system.
https://edtru.st/4jATrBp
It’s time to invest more — not less — in our public education system.
https://edtru.st/4jATrBp
Private school choice threatens public school experiences, says EdTrust CEO
Public funding for students and schools must be protected to preserve equitable learning opportunities, Denise Forte writes.
edtru.st
January 5, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Early indications are that the Trump administration will stop governors who seek to craft programs that best fit the needs of their states and families.
It’s time to invest more — not less — in our public education system.
https://edtru.st/4jATrBp
It’s time to invest more — not less — in our public education system.
https://edtru.st/4jATrBp
Meeting the Moment: EdTrust in MA released a new brief on the state of math instruction.
Districts must adopt high-quality math curricula across districts and increase the availability of well-prepared educators who can deliver rigorous, grade-level instruction.
https://edtru.st/4rZESeB
Districts must adopt high-quality math curricula across districts and increase the availability of well-prepared educators who can deliver rigorous, grade-level instruction.
https://edtru.st/4rZESeB
The State of Math Instruction: Equity, Access, and Outcomes
This research brief illuminates two foundational pillars of effective math education in Massachusetts: the adoption and implementation of high-quality math curricula, and the availability of educators...
edtru.st
December 18, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Meeting the Moment: EdTrust in MA released a new brief on the state of math instruction.
Districts must adopt high-quality math curricula across districts and increase the availability of well-prepared educators who can deliver rigorous, grade-level instruction.
https://edtru.st/4rZESeB
Districts must adopt high-quality math curricula across districts and increase the availability of well-prepared educators who can deliver rigorous, grade-level instruction.
https://edtru.st/4rZESeB
Diverse teacher workforces = improved test scores, fewer absences, higher graduation and college enrollment rates, and increased student-teacher trust.
EdTrust-Midwest met the moment with a new report showing a path forward to build a strong and diverse teacher workforce.
https://edtru.st/49cT9Nv
EdTrust-Midwest met the moment with a new report showing a path forward to build a strong and diverse teacher workforce.
https://edtru.st/49cT9Nv
Hope and Hard Work Ahead: Building a Strong and Diverse Teacher Workforce for Michigan’s Students - The Education Trust - Midwest
SummaryEvery Michigan student deserves access to a strong and diverse teacher workforce. And all teachers should be highly-trained and…
midwest.edtrust.org
December 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Diverse teacher workforces = improved test scores, fewer absences, higher graduation and college enrollment rates, and increased student-teacher trust.
EdTrust-Midwest met the moment with a new report showing a path forward to build a strong and diverse teacher workforce.
https://edtru.st/49cT9Nv
EdTrust-Midwest met the moment with a new report showing a path forward to build a strong and diverse teacher workforce.
https://edtru.st/49cT9Nv
I had the privilege to testify before Sen. Hirono’s forum on illegal efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
Stripping students of civil rights, destabilizing millions of student borrowers, and pushing privatization must be stopped.
https://edtru.st/4pIzYAU
Stripping students of civil rights, destabilizing millions of student borrowers, and pushing privatization must be stopped.
https://edtru.st/4pIzYAU
Dismantling Education: What the Trump Administration’s Illegal Attacks on Federal Programs Mean for Students, Families, and Educators
EdTrust President and CEO Denise Forte provided testimony in a Senate spotlight forum on the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education
edtrust.org
December 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I had the privilege to testify before Sen. Hirono’s forum on illegal efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
Stripping students of civil rights, destabilizing millions of student borrowers, and pushing privatization must be stopped.
https://edtru.st/4pIzYAU
Stripping students of civil rights, destabilizing millions of student borrowers, and pushing privatization must be stopped.
https://edtru.st/4pIzYAU
EdTrust’s Qubilah Huddleston: “For the states that have recently universalized, like Texas and Tennessee and other states that could soon see vouchers as a result of the federal program, they need to view Florida as a cautionary tale of what happened.”
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
How Florida lost track of 30,000 students, a ‘cautionary tale’ for vouchers
The state’s auditor general found “a myriad of accountability problems” in the nation’s largest voucher program.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
EdTrust’s Qubilah Huddleston: “For the states that have recently universalized, like Texas and Tennessee and other states that could soon see vouchers as a result of the federal program, they need to view Florida as a cautionary tale of what happened.”
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to help the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) celebrate 20 years of supporting educational equity through data.
EdTrust's vital partnership with DQC makes sure every student is seen and that we use data to drive transformational change for all the students we serve.
EdTrust's vital partnership with DQC makes sure every student is seen and that we use data to drive transformational change for all the students we serve.
December 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to help the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) celebrate 20 years of supporting educational equity through data.
EdTrust's vital partnership with DQC makes sure every student is seen and that we use data to drive transformational change for all the students we serve.
EdTrust's vital partnership with DQC makes sure every student is seen and that we use data to drive transformational change for all the students we serve.
I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to partner with The Century Foundation's Angela Hanks to explain the latest steps to dismantle the Department of Education and the risks to higher education.
https://edtru.st/4a9Pm4v
https://edtru.st/4a9Pm4v
Trump's Plan for ED Is Chaotic, Not Efficient (opinion)
The Department of Labor is not prepared or equipped to take over key postsecondary programs.
www.insidehighered.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to partner with The Century Foundation's Angela Hanks to explain the latest steps to dismantle the Department of Education and the risks to higher education.
https://edtru.st/4a9Pm4v
https://edtru.st/4a9Pm4v
Sometimes you see something that you just know cannot be true. That is the case of a recent poll that suggested teachers want the type of whitewashed “patriotic education” being pushed by the Trump administration.
https://edtru.st/48GJBZD
https://edtru.st/48GJBZD
Reported Support of “Patriotic Education” By Teachers Needs More Investigation
An EdWeek article cites flawed research on what type of history teachers, parents, and Americans want their children to learn
edtrust.org
December 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Sometimes you see something that you just know cannot be true. That is the case of a recent poll that suggested teachers want the type of whitewashed “patriotic education” being pushed by the Trump administration.
https://edtru.st/48GJBZD
https://edtru.st/48GJBZD
One-in-five of college students are parents and disproportionately women, Black, Latino, first-generation, and from low-income backgrounds.
Congress must reauthorize CCAMPIS to make sure every student parent has the chance to succeed in school.
https://edtru.st/3KMN2WO
Congress must reauthorize CCAMPIS to make sure every student parent has the chance to succeed in school.
https://edtru.st/3KMN2WO
December 9, 2025 at 6:35 PM
One-in-five of college students are parents and disproportionately women, Black, Latino, first-generation, and from low-income backgrounds.
Congress must reauthorize CCAMPIS to make sure every student parent has the chance to succeed in school.
https://edtru.st/3KMN2WO
Congress must reauthorize CCAMPIS to make sure every student parent has the chance to succeed in school.
https://edtru.st/3KMN2WO
Arizona is a flashing red warning sign that vouchers are not a golden ticket to opportunity for all.
• Per pupil funding that rates 49th in the country.
• The 2nd most crowded class sizes in the country.
• A teacher retention crisis.
• The 2nd worst student-to-counselor ratio in the country.
• Per pupil funding that rates 49th in the country.
• The 2nd most crowded class sizes in the country.
• A teacher retention crisis.
• The 2nd worst student-to-counselor ratio in the country.
December 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Arizona is a flashing red warning sign that vouchers are not a golden ticket to opportunity for all.
• Per pupil funding that rates 49th in the country.
• The 2nd most crowded class sizes in the country.
• A teacher retention crisis.
• The 2nd worst student-to-counselor ratio in the country.
• Per pupil funding that rates 49th in the country.
• The 2nd most crowded class sizes in the country.
• A teacher retention crisis.
• The 2nd worst student-to-counselor ratio in the country.
Please read Allison Socol's blog for the anniversary of IDEA.
"Those of us who believe that a just society is one that includes full participation of all people must fight to keep the promise we made 50 years ago to students with disabilities and their families."
https://edtru.st/4rewM1b
"Those of us who believe that a just society is one that includes full participation of all people must fight to keep the promise we made 50 years ago to students with disabilities and their families."
https://edtru.st/4rewM1b
Remembering IDEA — and Fighting to Keep its Promise to Students with Disabilities
EdTrust marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA, which guaranteed millions of students with disabilities the right to education and the services they need to learn
edtrust.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Please read Allison Socol's blog for the anniversary of IDEA.
"Those of us who believe that a just society is one that includes full participation of all people must fight to keep the promise we made 50 years ago to students with disabilities and their families."
https://edtru.st/4rewM1b
"Those of us who believe that a just society is one that includes full participation of all people must fight to keep the promise we made 50 years ago to students with disabilities and their families."
https://edtru.st/4rewM1b
For Day 4 of our recognition of IDEA, I want to celebrate special education teachers, as well as general educators broadly, for the critical role they serve. A high-quality educator is essential for delivering the targeted supports and resources each student needs.
https://edtru.st/3ELYzCA
https://edtru.st/3ELYzCA
Preparing Inclusive Classrooms for Success
As inclusion grows within our classrooms, policymakers must better equip general education teachers while also increasing retention of special education teachers
edtrust.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
For Day 4 of our recognition of IDEA, I want to celebrate special education teachers, as well as general educators broadly, for the critical role they serve. A high-quality educator is essential for delivering the targeted supports and resources each student needs.
https://edtru.st/3ELYzCA
https://edtru.st/3ELYzCA
For Day 3 of our recognition of IDEA, I want to highlight how discipline systems continue to fail to support students with disabilities by perpetuating bias, neglecting legal mandates, and relying on punitive measures.
https://edtru.st/4kkkWiP
https://edtru.st/4kkkWiP
Unfair Punishments: How School Discipline Disproportionately Targets Students with Disabilities
The failure of discipline systems violates the rights of students with disabilities and leads to injustices in education outcomes
edtru.st
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
For Day 3 of our recognition of IDEA, I want to highlight how discipline systems continue to fail to support students with disabilities by perpetuating bias, neglecting legal mandates, and relying on punitive measures.
https://edtru.st/4kkkWiP
https://edtru.st/4kkkWiP
Meeting the Moment: Today our own Wil Del Pilar, Ph.D., testified before the House’s Committee on Education & Workforce on The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs.
https://edtru.st/4i7DPVm
https://edtru.st/4i7DPVm
November 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Meeting the Moment: Today our own Wil Del Pilar, Ph.D., testified before the House’s Committee on Education & Workforce on The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs.
https://edtru.st/4i7DPVm
https://edtru.st/4i7DPVm
Today, the Trump administration began the process of selling off the Department of Education for parts...The law is clear: only Congress can dismantle the Department of Education.
https://edtrust.org/press-room/dismantling-of-the-department-of-education-fails-students/
https://edtrust.org/press-room/dismantling-of-the-department-of-education-fails-students/
November 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Today, the Trump administration began the process of selling off the Department of Education for parts...The law is clear: only Congress can dismantle the Department of Education.
https://edtrust.org/press-room/dismantling-of-the-department-of-education-fails-students/
https://edtrust.org/press-room/dismantling-of-the-department-of-education-fails-students/
Since it became law, IDEA has significantly reduced chronic absenteeism among students with disabilities and, more generally, brought more students with disabilities into public education. But more must be done.
https://edtrust.org/blog/how-educators-can-support-chronically-absent-students/
https://edtrust.org/blog/how-educators-can-support-chronically-absent-students/
How Educators Can Support Chronically Absent Students
About 16 million students are chronically absent — these rates are particularly high for students with disabilities and students of color
edtrust.org
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Since it became law, IDEA has significantly reduced chronic absenteeism among students with disabilities and, more generally, brought more students with disabilities into public education. But more must be done.
https://edtrust.org/blog/how-educators-can-support-chronically-absent-students/
https://edtrust.org/blog/how-educators-can-support-chronically-absent-students/
Sunday, November 29th signifies 50 years of IDEA, the law supporting the rights of students with disabilities. This week I want to highlight the experiences of students with disabilities, and the critical role IDEA plays in delivering essential services and protections.
https://edtru.st/4oOyQvk
https://edtru.st/4oOyQvk
The Power of Perception: A Tale of Two Different Educational Experiences
To address inequities within student discipline, schools must move away from zero-tolerance discipline systems, which are not responsive to students
edtru.st
November 17, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Sunday, November 29th signifies 50 years of IDEA, the law supporting the rights of students with disabilities. This week I want to highlight the experiences of students with disabilities, and the critical role IDEA plays in delivering essential services and protections.
https://edtru.st/4oOyQvk
https://edtru.st/4oOyQvk
State and federal policymakers take note of Thrive Scholars.
By combining academic rigor with personalized college and career guidance and preparation, alongside robust data collection and outcome tracking, we can transform lives and enhance the value of a college degree.
https://edtru.st/3JDuuYG
By combining academic rigor with personalized college and career guidance and preparation, alongside robust data collection and outcome tracking, we can transform lives and enhance the value of a college degree.
https://edtru.st/3JDuuYG
Real Support, Real Success: One Postsecondary Pathway Program That’s Working
Thrive Scholars uses proven interventions to enhance access, persistence, and completion rates for first-generation, under-resourced students.
edtrust.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
State and federal policymakers take note of Thrive Scholars.
By combining academic rigor with personalized college and career guidance and preparation, alongside robust data collection and outcome tracking, we can transform lives and enhance the value of a college degree.
https://edtru.st/3JDuuYG
By combining academic rigor with personalized college and career guidance and preparation, alongside robust data collection and outcome tracking, we can transform lives and enhance the value of a college degree.
https://edtru.st/3JDuuYG