What's On My Mind: Policy & Pedagogy

How Project 2025 is Changing Education in America | Policy Pulse

Bryce Allen — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:31:05 GMT

Last Updated: November 7, 2025

Project 2025 needs no introduction. The policy platform behind the second Trump Administration has been working its way through the United States government, unraveling the social democratic order that protects the rights of the nation’s most targeted citizenry and rewriting the country into an image contrary to its professed ideals as the beacon for democracy around the world. Nowhere is this being felt more than in the education sector.

Project 2025 has a chapter dedicated to the United States Department of Education. From rolling back affirmative action policies to ordering the dismantling of the entire department itself, Project 2025 seeks to fulfill the vision that Republicans have held onto since the very inception of the department itself. They seek to control the narrative that gets told about America and its history—and they seek to manipulate our nation’s children to do so.

This article is your go-to reference for everything Project 2025 is doing to unravel the nearly fifty-year-old federal education system. We’ll be providing you with:

The latest updates on policy initiatives and executive orders that seek to fulfill the Project 2025 agenda
Tips on what to watch for in your local communities and in the rhetoric of your local, state, and federal elected officials
Action steps for how to combat the implementation of the Project 2025 policies
A list of organizations and individuals to support that are fighting against Project 2025 every day, for the education sector and beyond

Much of what we’re monitoring is listed in the Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership manuscript. And while we could index and keep a running checklist of our own, we at Policy & Pedagogy believe that the Project 2025 Tracker by RusticGorilla is the most accurate status tracker of how our government has been fulfilling its vision. Our resources here will build on their daily analysis with concrete action plans to keep Project 2025 from succeeding.

Together, let’s fight for an education that will truly transform our children into the adults this nation so desperately needs.

Education Policy & Agenda Item Watchlist

Source: Project 2025 Tracker | Department of Education – Rustic Gorilla

The elimination of the PLUS loan program.
The elimination of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
The elimination of the Department of Education.
The elimination of the GEAR-UP program.
The elimination of Title I funding.
The elimination of the National Education Association’s congressional charter.
Bans on teaching subjects related to race and gender in public schools.
A federal “Parents’ Bill of Rights.”
Cuts to all entities that disagree with the notion of “parental rights”1
A monetary cap on indirect funding to colleges and universities.
Permitting states to opt out of federal programs and repurpose the funds for “any lawful education purpose.”
The conversion of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding into “no-strings” block grants.
The authorization of states to recognize accreditation agencies.
The authorization of states to act as accreditation agencies.
The privatization of the federal student loan portfolio.
The creation of the private right of action in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment.

Project 2025 Education Agenda Items Completed

Source: Project 2025 Tracker | Department of Education – Rustic Gorilla

October 13, 2025:
- Rescind the equity-related regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
July 4, 2025:
- Reverse efforts towards student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans.
March 12, 2025:
- Ceased all Title VI disparate impact investigations by closing most civil rights offices.
January 31, 2025:
- Rescind Title IX policies that strengthen prosecution efforts for sexual assault and discrimination cases.
January 29, 2025:
- Increased federal funding for school choice programs.
- Provide tax credits for private schools.
January 20, 2025:
- Establish guidelines that position “sex” as a biological fact, abandoning the prior Title IX definition of sex: “sexual orientation and gender identity.”2
- Rescind the “non-binary” option in civil rights data collected from schools.

What Can You Do? | Action Roadmap

As an everyday, ordinary citizen, you have a few options at your disposal to make a difference in your region’s schools:

Vote

Keep track of and remember to vote in the primary and general elections in your state, especially when the members of your local school board are up for election.

There are elections happening every year. Always stay informed. Always stay registered.

Check your voter registration every year and months before every election. Your votes are powerful. If they weren’t, then people wouldn’t be trying to restrict your right to vote.

Civil Protest & Outreach

Identify your local politicians and school boards. Then find their websites and review their schedules. Your politicians will hold town halls. Your school boards will hold school board meetings. Both are events accessible to the public; both will give you opportunities to address or confront the individuals deciding the policies for your region.

Also, stay up to date on large-scale protests being held in your area and which organizations are organizing them. No Kings is an example of an organization holding regular civil protests across the country. There is nothing more American than civil disobedience.

Run for Office

Consider running for your local school board, state legislature, or federal legislature. The organization, Run for Something, has a plethora of resources to help you run for the elected office of your choosing.

Outreach Checklist

In order to effect change at the ground level, you need to know who your elected officials are and the territories that they cover. Professional lawyer, Leeja Miller, has created a Local Politics Cheat Sheet that will serve as a foundational guide so that you always know:

Which Congressmen represent you at the state and federal levels
Which school district you fall under, and who your school board members are
Which political parties are most active in your state
When your local, state, and federal officials will be up for election

Reading Resources

Organizations & Individuals to Support

Adrienne Cobb (RusticGorilla): Author of Project 2025 Tracker and KeepTrack, an independently run news website dedicated to documenting the forces shaping American politics.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The ACLU has been fighting for the civil and human rights of American citizens and immigrants since the early 20th Century. From combating centuries-long racial inequities in our schools to defending the rights of LGBT students nationwide, the ACLU is challenging injustice wherever it persists in our judicial system, electoral system, and incarceration system to ensure that this nation lives up to its creed to seek “liberty and justice for all.”
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE): FIRE has been fighting to protect the First Amendment rights of American citizens since 1999. They are the front-runners challenging book bans in primary and secondary schools and defending the free speech rights of students on college campuses across the country.
Leeja Miller: Leeja Miller is a Minnesota lawyer who, since 2020, has provided her legal and political expertise as a lens to discuss American political news as a professional content creator. Miller has provided a plethora of accessible resources that help ordinary people become politically engaged citizens.
No Kings: No Kings has positioned itself as one of the most prominent organizers of nonviolent protests and displays of civil disobedience in the age of Trump-era politics. Their mission is simple: to provide the outlet and resources necessary to practice one of the United States’ foundational principles—that we are a democracy, not a monarchy, and no man is above the law.
Run for Something: Since 2017, Run for Something has made it its mission to recruit and support young progressives to run for political office. They provide tactical and strategic support, mentorship, and resources to help guide candidates on their way to becoming the next congressman, governor, or senator of their local community. Since their founding, they have helped elect over 600 candidates from every walk of life—from activists to doctors to college students.

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Project 2025 Tracker lists those as “states, cities, counties, school board[s], principals, and teachers.”

Has been challenged and blocked by federal courts in at least 26 states, thus leaving the prior 2020 Title IX Rule intact.

Get Ready to Vote! – Everything You Need to Know for the 2025 General Election | Action Roadmap

Bryce Allen — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:31:42 GMT

The time has finally come for the 2025 general elections! Whether you took part in this year’s primary elections or not, the time has come to make your voice heard and help decide the direction your community takes moving forward.

In this article, I’m going to walk you step by step through the process of getting ready for the elections in your area.

Is There An Election Coming Up in Your Area?

The first step is to know if there’s an election coming up and where those elections will be. The elections will occur in two stages, with a primary election for candidates of a given political party (typically in May) and a general election across all political parties (typically in November).

You can discover if there’s an election in your state or county by searching for the official websites of your state and local government. Those websites will offer specific information on the election dates, polling locations, and registered candidates.

If you’re unable to identify where your government resources are, you can also check out Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia is a nonprofit resource to inform ordinary people about recent and ongoing events in American politics.

Using Ballotpedia’s Simple Ballot Lookup tool, you can look up information about the upcoming elections in your area, giving you all of the links you need to help you register and prepare to vote. You will be informed of what positions are being elected, what ballot initiatives are being proposed, and when the votes will be cast.

Are You Registered to Vote?

Once you can confirm that there will be an election in your region, it is important to verify that your voter registration is up to date and that you have filled out an application for the upcoming election.

How elections will be handled will vary from state to state. It is vital that you confirm your registration yourself when you know an election is coming up. Even if you’ve voted in a recent election (including the most recent primary election), it is never a bad idea to ensure that you’re still on the voting rolls, so that you are not surprised on Election Day by not being allowed to vote.

To register to vote in your region or to update your voting registration, go to Vote.gov and follow their instructions. You will then be directed to the proper voter registration portals to register to vote in your state and local elections. After that, you can also find information on how to apply to obtain an absentee/mail-in ballot to vote without having to wait until Election Day.

Make a Plan to Vote

Once you’ve gone through the registration process, the next step is to make a plan for how you will cast your ballot.

On your state and local governments’ websites, you’ll find information on local polling places. Find one that’s nearest to you and make a plan for how you’re going to get there during voting hours. If you know other people eligible to vote in your area, consider giving them a ride to your polling place as well or tag along with them.

When filing/updating your voter registration, you may have also opted to vote via mail-in/absentee ballot. This ballot will arrive at your home shortly before Election Day via the postal service.

Once received, carefully follow your ballot’s instructions and reseal your completed ballot in the provided envelopes. After this, place a stamp on your envelope and either take your envelope to your local post office or place it in a USPS collection box in your neighborhood.

Conclusion - The Rest is Up to You

Taking the time to vote is the most essential component for taking action in a democratic society. It allows our voices to be heard and is the first step to manifesting the change we want to see in our communities and in our country.

Keep this article as a handy resource throughout the election season and share it with those around you who need to get registered to vote.

For every couple of people you refer to us, you can earn up to a six-month subscription to our paid newsletter for FREE!

Refer a friend

For more articles on education and political advocacy, subscribe to our free Substack newsletter!

School Board Election Primaries Set for May 20, 2025! - What You Must Know | Action Roadmap

Bryce Allen — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:29:32 GMT

One of the best ways to make a difference in your local schools is to participate in electing the members of your local school board. Just as important as the elections of the president of your congresspeople, elections for school board members are an integral step in helping to decide the direction of education in your city and county.

In this article, I’m going to walk you step by step through the process of getting ready for school board elections in your area.

Is There An Election Coming Up in Your Area?

Are You Registered to Vote?

How elections will be handled will vary from state to state. It is vital that you confirm your registration yourself when you know an election is coming up. Even if you’ve voted in a recent election, it is never a bad idea to ensure that you’re still on the voting rolls, so that you are not surprised on Election Day by not being allowed to vote.

The cutoff to register for most 2025 primary elections is May 5, 2025. To register to vote in your region or to update your voting registration, go to Vote.gov and follow their instructions. You will then be directed to the proper voter registration portals to register to vote in your state and local elections. After that, you can also find information on how to apply to obtain an absentee/mail-in ballot to vote without having to wait until Election Day.

Make a Plan to Vote

Once you’ve gone through the registration process, the next step is to make a plan for how you will cast your ballot.

When filing/updating your voter registration, you may have also opted to vote via mail-in/absentee ballot. This ballot will arrive at your home shortly before Election Day via the postal service.

Conclusion - The Rest is Up to You

Keep this article as a handy resource throughout election season and share it with those around you that need to get registered to vote.

For every couple of people you refer to us, you can earn up to a six-month subscription to our paid newsletter for FREE!

Refer a friend

For more articles on education and political advocacy, subscribe to our free Substack newsletter!

Welcome to Policy & Pedagogy!

Bryce Allen — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:35:33 GMT

Who We Are

Policy & Pedagogy is an initiative to break down critical education policy changes in the United States, learn from the success stories of ordinary citizens who've made a difference, and provide step-by-step action plans you can implement immediately in your community.

What We Do

We analyze emerging education policies, research, and innovative teaching methods and help you:

Understand complex policy changes without needing a law degree
Learn proven advocacy tactics from regular people who've already succeeded
Save hours of research with ready-to-use email templates and scripts
Know exactly which actions will have the biggest impact this week
Build confidence to engage effectively with school boards and representatives

What to Expect

1. Policy Pulse

We distill complex education policy shifts from across the nation into a clear snapshot.

2. Success Spotlight

Learn how ordinary citizens have successfully navigated similar policy changes. These real-world examples show exactly how small groups created meaningful change through strategic advocacy.

3. Action Roadmap

We also provide tactical roadmaps showing exactly which actions to take for maximum impact. These aren't generic suggestions—they're specific, timely, and proven effective.

Our goal is to provide content that is accessible, actionable, and thought-provoking. We believe that a well-informed and active citizenry is the backbone of a strong society. We want to help ordinary people interact more easily with educators and policymakers to create meaningful change in our education systems.

Have ideas for topics you'd like us to cover? Do you have questions about education policies affecting your community? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us at policy-pedagogy@whatsonmymind.net with suggestions and tips.

Thank you for being part of this important conversation.

The Policy & Pedagogy Team