Federal judge orders Trump administration to unblock pandemic...

The Associated Press´ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP´s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Education Department to undo a freeze on the last of the U.S. relief money given to schools to help students recover academically from the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 28, Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a letter to school officials saying she had moved the deadline up - to that very day. She said the department would consider releasing some funds, but only on a project-by-project basis. Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has unilaterally cut education funding and downsized the Education Department, reading comprehension 1st grade worksheets leading to numerous legal challenges. The Trump administration also cut teacher-training programs that helped rural schools combat educator shortages and has threatened to withhold funding from schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Nearly all that money had been spent, but some school districts received deadline extensions that gave them additional time to use it. Districts spent it on things like after-school tutoring, summer school, social workers, college counselors, library books and renovations to make school buildings safer.