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Vol. 73 No. 8
FEBRUARY 20 - 26, 2025
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A trip to learn from leaders in education By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Courtesy Wantagh School District
Wantagh High School Principal Paul Guzzone said he was looking forward to learning from global educators at the Nobel Prize Teacher Summit next month, and hoped to bring new ideas back to benefit Wantagh High School students.
Wantagh High School Principal Paul Guzzone will travel to Stockholm, Sweden, next month, where he will attend the weeklong Nobel Prize Teacher Summit 2025 and share his school’s accomplishments with leading educators from around the world. T h e a n nu a l s u m m i t b r i n g s together educators from more than 30 countries to meet Nobel laureates, scientists and activists to discuss key issues in education. Guzzone was one of two Long Island administrators chosen to attend the event, hosted by the Nobel Prize CoNTiNued oN PaGe 6
State officials, educators warn of funding crisis for schools Districts could lose millions they need if U.S. Department of Education shuts down, experts say By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
State officials and local educators are raising concer ns over President Trump’s proposal to close the U.S. Department of Education, warning that such an action could threaten federal funding for key student programs. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Feb. 4 that he w a n t e d t o s h u t d ow n t h e department by executive order but acknowledg ed that he would need support from Congress and teachers’ unions.
School district leaders say the proposal could disrupt critical federal grants that support students and educators. Levittown Public Schools Superintendent Todd Winch said the plan raises serious concerns, particularly for programs that help low-income students and those with disabilities. Established in 1979, the D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c at i o n oversees federal education funding, enforces civil rights laws in schools, and collects student performance data. It administers Title I grants to support low-income students,
funds special education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, and provides Pell Grants for low-income college students. The department also supports school improvement programs, mental health initiatives and after-school activities. The State Education Department criticized Trump’s recent executive orders on public education, calling them ineffective and contrary to federal law. Federal legislation, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and IDEA, has
long protected historically underserved students, according to the state department’s website. “Our children cannot thrive in an environment of chaos; they need steady and stable leadership that we will endeavor to provide,” a statement on
the state department’s website read. Following Trump’s remarks, state officials voiced concer ns over the potential impact. On Feb. 9, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand joined union leaders, elected officials, students and parents at a news conferCoNTiNued oN PaGe 9