Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Aug 31

I’m honored. Happy to join your class via Zoom.

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Josh Cowen @joshcowenmi.bsky.social · Aug 28

For my part:

I won’t be conceding K-12 school policy to Trump, DeVos and those pushing predatory lending-type school voucher schemes that give parents false hope.

Instead: there’s hard work and investment ahead to renew public schools—and I’m ready to do it.
@derekwblack.bsky.social

8 20

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Jennifer Berkshire @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social · Aug 31

Spotted at Barbara's Books in downtown Chicago. The Education Wars is in excellent company!

2 3 42

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jul 3

Hard to overstate how far off the historic rails the fed commitment to public ed has gone: Offices shuttered. Programs for students eliminated, including mental health. Money withheld, including for rural schools. Persistent threats. Now, new budget pumps billions into private school vouchers.

The Senate Passed a Federal Voucher Program. What's in It?

The measure would create a national program funding private school tuition through tax credits, though states would have to opt in.

www.edweek.org

7 8

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jul 3

Hard to overstate how far off the historic rails the fed commitment to public ed has gone: Offices shuttered. Programs for students eliminated, including mental health. Money withheld, including for rural schools. Persistent threats. Now, new budget pumps billions into private school vouchers.

The Senate Passed a Federal Voucher Program. What's in It?

The measure would create a national program funding private school tuition through tax credits, though states would have to opt in.

www.edweek.org

7 8

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 27

I’ve studied Jim Ryan’s work for 20 yrs. He’s one of the nation’s foremost legal minds. He’s also incredibly even handed—a “progressive” who co-authored work w/ Federalist Society scholar. I’d take his judgment over Trump admin any day of the week. /1

Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign

www.nytimes.com

1 4 22

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 27

Another example of the administration transgressing the “fixed star in our constitutional constellation…that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.” /2

1 2 2

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 27

Ryan would be the first one at the table and listening intently if the admin was making demands that fell within its legal authority. /3

2 2

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 27

Ryan would be the first one at the table and listening intently if the admin was making demands that fell within its legal authority. /3

2 2

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 27

Another example of the administration transgressing the “fixed star in our constitutional constellation…that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.” /2

1 2 2

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 27

I’ve studied Jim Ryan’s work for 20 yrs. He’s one of the nation’s foremost legal minds. He’s also incredibly even handed—a “progressive” who co-authored work w/ Federalist Society scholar. I’d take his judgment over Trump admin any day of the week. /1

Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign

www.nytimes.com

1 4 22

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 11

I might add that the federal courts consistently held that private biases cannot serve as the excuse to, for instance, refuse to desegregate schools or offer housing to individuals with disabilities. 2/2

1 4

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 11

National Park Service is asking visitors to identify "any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans." So basically the subjective & biased perspective of the few will dictate the objective facts the many receive. 1/

National Park signage encourages the public to help erase negative stories at its sites

The Department of the Interior is requiring the National Park Service to post signs nationwide by June 13 asking visitors for feedback on any information they feel misrepresents American history.

www.npr.org

3 13 23

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 2

This budget is either ill intended or ignorant. If Congress block grants education funds, states and districts will use that flexibility to reduce the amount they spend on education over the next few years.

Trump's Education Budget Calls for Billions in Cuts, Major Policy Changes

The proposal includes a plan to eliminate 18 existing grant programs and replace them with one funding stream.

www.edweek.org

1 6 6

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · Jun 2

This budget is either ill intended or ignorant. If Congress block grants education funds, states and districts will use that flexibility to reduce the amount they spend on education over the next few years.

Trump's Education Budget Calls for Billions in Cuts, Major Policy Changes

The proposal includes a plan to eliminate 18 existing grant programs and replace them with one funding stream.

www.edweek.org

1 6 6

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Jack Schneider @jackschneider.bsky.social · May 30

In the latest episode of @haveyouheard.bsky.social we talk with the always-inspiring @derekwblack.bsky.social about education, the law, and democracy.

#199 Dangerous Learning, Dangerous Times

Legal scholar Derek Black is a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s anti-DEI crusade, arguing that the effort to impose what he calls ‘loyalty oaths’ on schools is blatantly unconstitutional. Bl

soundcloud.com

4 7

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Tim @timmypi.bsky.social · May 29

New @haveyouheard.bsky.social episode out with @derekwblack.bsky.social!

This is going to be a good one. Can't recommend Black's books enough

open.spotify.com/episode/1ddU...

2 5

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Jennifer Berkshire @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social · May 29

Hard to believe that @haveyouheard.bsky.social is closing in on 200 episodes... Our latest, starring @derekwblack.bsky.social on what's really driving the Trump assault on public education and what we can do about it, is one of my faves soundcloud.com/haveyouheard...

#199 Dangerous Learning, Dangerous Times

Legal scholar Derek Black is a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s anti-DEI crusade, arguing that the effort to impose what he calls ‘loyalty oaths’ on schools is blatantly unconstitutional. Bl

soundcloud.com

1 4 8

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · May 29

I believe in America. I believe in public schools. I believe a family ought to be able to live on a week’s worth of work. And I believe politicians who chase unconstitutional agendas that do nothing to advance those things should promptly lose their jobs.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott plans to sign Ten Commandments bill after Senate approval

The legislation would require the religious text to be displayed in all public school classrooms. The Republican governor has said: "Let's get this bill to my desk. I'll make it law."

www.nbcnews.com

3 10

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · May 29

I believe in America. I believe in public schools. I believe a family ought to be able to live on a week’s worth of work. And I believe politicians who chase unconstitutional agendas that do nothing to advance those things should promptly lose their jobs.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott plans to sign Ten Commandments bill after Senate approval

The legislation would require the religious text to be displayed in all public school classrooms. The Republican governor has said: "Let's get this bill to my desk. I'll make it law."

www.nbcnews.com

3 10

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · May 22

Public schools will remain public. In what would have been the most consequential school case since the days of Brown v Board, the Court sides with sanity on the question of whether states must allow churches to run charter schools.

Supreme Court blocks Oklahoma from launching taxpayer-funded religious charter school

The Supreme Court on Thursday, in a 4-4 ruling, said Oklahoma cannot create the nation's first religious charter school funded directly with taxpayer dollars.

abcnews.go.com

3 10

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · May 22

Public schools will remain public. In what would have been the most consequential school case since the days of Brown v Board, the Court sides with sanity on the question of whether states must allow churches to run charter schools.

Supreme Court blocks Oklahoma from launching taxpayer-funded religious charter school

The Supreme Court on Thursday, in a 4-4 ruling, said Oklahoma cannot create the nation's first religious charter school funded directly with taxpayer dollars.

abcnews.go.com

3 10

Reposted by Derek W. Black

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · May 22

Patriotic & classical education are the labels through which conservatives have counteracted woke education w/ their own extreme right version of history & hero worship. The US Dept. of Ed just announced them as official priorities for new charter school grants. 1/

How Trump’s School Priorities Will Shape New Ed. Dept. Grants

The Department of Education on Tuesday announced the priorities it will use to award competitive grants.

www.edweek.org

2 6 5

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · May 22

And since the Dept. is going through the normal motions of public comment, I encourage you to make your voice heard in opposition. You can find instructions at the top of this notice: public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-09093.pdf

public-inspection.federalregister.gov

3 3

Derek W. Black @derekwblack.bsky.social · May 22

It ought to go w/o saying that the US Department of Education has no business funding political ideology in public schools, but I say it anyway for posterity’s sake. And since the Dept. is going through the normal motions of public comment, I encourage you to make your voice heard in opposition. 2/

1 3 4