The Heritage Foundation's Center for Education Policy has released new commentary and research focusing on education reform, school choice, and critiques of current educational institutions and policies, including the Department of Education and teachers' unions.
Recent K-12 commentary highlights opposition from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and National Education Association President Becky Pringle to President Donald Trump’s federal tax credit boosting school choice, urging Democratic governors to keep funds within traditional public school systems. The Foundation also advocates for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, noting its downsizing and efforts by some senators to halt reforms. Additionally, commentary addresses proposed Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) reforms in Arizona, urging lawmakers to prioritize families' interests.
Further K-12 discussions include limiting special advantages for teachers' unions, critiques of the Head Start program's effectiveness, and concerns raised by a Kentucky State Auditor's report on Jefferson County Public Schools. An Indiana watchdog audit of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices in K-12 schools is presented as a model for other states.
In higher education, the Foundation criticizes the American Psychological Association for allegedly pushing progressive bias on college campuses. A new book, "Higher Education in America: It's Worse than You Think," edited by Kevin D. Roberts, explores economic, bureaucratic, and ideological challenges facing universities, offering solutions to reclaim American higher education.
The 2026 Index of Culture and Opportunity, published by The Heritage Foundation, includes chapters by experts on education trends such as high school graduation rates, 12th-grade proficiency, the surge in school choice, and student loan debt. A report on "Right-Sizing the U.S. Department of Education Before Closure" details interagency agreements for federal education programs, ensuring the continuation of Title I, IDEA, and civil rights enforcement even as the department moves towards closure under a second Trump Administration.