Educators across the country are navigating one of the most uncertain moments in recent history. Between policy changes, political tensions, funding cuts, and growing pressure inside and outside the classroom, it’s no surprise that many are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and unsure of what comes next. Here is a clear, honest look at what’s happening in education right now, what these changes mean for you, and how you can stay grounded, informed, and empowered in the face of uncertainty.
What’s Happening in Education Right Now?
The U.S. education system is in a period of profound transition, and educators are feeling the pressure from all sides. These shifts are affecting not only what happens in classrooms, but also how educators are supported, valued, and empowered in their roles.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The End of Federal Pandemic Relief Funding
Federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds, which were introduced to help schools recover from the COVID-19 crisis, are expiring during the 2024–2025 school year. Many districts were already in a financially tough spot, and the loss of this temporary support is making things even harder. As districts adjust to the funding gap, they are being forced to make tough decisions, including reducing staffing, scaling back certain programs, and cutting professional development resources.
2. A New Political Agenda Targeting Public Education
Public education is becoming increasingly politicized at both the federal and state levels. One recent example: a presidential executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. While the order lacks the legal authority to fully eliminate the department without Congress, it signals a significant shift that is already impacting federal staffing, resources, and the systems that support educators.
The Department of Education plays a vital role in providing civil rights protections, funding oversight, and technical assistance. As those supports are threatened or stripped away, educators may face more confusion, fewer safeguards, and less guidance particularly in schools that rely heavily on federal resources.
This growing instability is creating anxiety and tension in classrooms across the country, especially for educators committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
3. Deepening Inequities in Access and Support
Federal protections for historically marginalized students including students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and students of color are being quietly rolled back. Key offices, such as the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, have lost capacity due to staff cuts and policy shifts. As a result, there are currently fewer systems in place to investigate or enforce equity in schools. Educators working in high-need communities may face increased pressure with fewer resources and less structural support, deepening long-standing disparities.
4. Evolving Teaching as a Profession
This moment is challenging for educators in every sense, emotionally, professionally, and politically. Many are navigating tough decisions about how to sustain their work and well-being amid shifting policies, diminishing support, and growing public scrutiny.
At the same time, it’s also a moment of possibility. Educators across the country are reconnecting with their values, becoming advocates, and reimagining their role in creating classrooms rooted in care, equity, and connection. This is a time not just to endure, but to help shape what comes next.
What This Means for You, And How to Prepare.
This moment calls for clarity, courage, and care, and for returning to what grounds you: your values, your purpose, your people.
Here are five ways to reconnect, reclaim your power, and move forward with intention:
1. Stay Informed, Without Carrying It All
Understanding the shifts in policy and funding is important. But you don’t have to carry the weight of it all on your own. Stay aware of how changes impact you and your students, while also focusing on the actions you can take without trying to fix everything alone.
2. Use Your Voice – It Matters
This is a moment that calls for educator advocacy. Talking to your school board, voting in your local elections, joining a professional organization, and simply sharing your story are all ways that your voice can shape the future. The people making decisions about education need to hear directly from educators like you.
But here’s the key: you don’t have to do everything. In fact, you’ll make the most impact and conserve your energy by focusing on one thing you care deeply about. Maybe it’s protecting SEL curriculum. Maybe it’s student mental health. Maybe it’s preserving funding for arts or wellness programs. Whatever it is, choose that one thing and show up for it with consistency and heart.
Advocacy can look like organizing a wellness initiative at your school or even running for office. What matters is that you take the step that’s right for you and know that it matters.
3. Reclaim Your Purpose
When systems feel unstable, returning to your “why” can be a powerful anchor. Why did you become an educator? What kind of classroom do you want to create, regardless of policy? Your values, your presence, and your commitment to care are more powerful than passing headlines.
4. Prepare for the Future of Education, Even if It’s Not Fully Here Yet
Even as SEL, wellness, and trauma-informed practices face pushback, they remain core to the long-term evolution of education. Human-centered educators – those who teach with empathy, connection, and self-awareness – will be the ones leading the way forward. By investing in practices that nourish you and your students, you’re preparing to shape the future of education, not just survive the present.
5. You Deserve to Be Well
You are not a machine. You’re a human being doing deeply personal, meaningful work. Your mental and emotional health matter. Whether it’s taking a few breaths between classes, setting clearer boundaries, or giving yourself time to rest, caring for yourself is an act of leadership. Prioritize time for your well-being throughout your day.
You Are Not Alone, and You Matter.
In this moment of uncertainty, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to be tired. But never forget: your work, your care, and your voice matter deeply. You are holding so much for your students, school, and community. And you deserve to be held, too.
Systems may shift. Policies may change. But what education truly needs will not: it needs educators who lead with love. Who stay grounded in their values. Who show up with integrity and care. That’s you.
Across the country, there is a powerful community of educators navigating these same challenges, holding onto their purpose, and rising together, even when the way forward feels unclear.
You are not alone. Keep breathing. Keep showing up. And remember: your voice matters.
