Times of India

Denver Public Schools is resisting a US Department of Education ruling that its all-gender bathrooms violate Title IX protections. The department, under the Trump administration, has demanded changes within 10 days or threatened enforcement actions, including possible loss of $10 million in federal funding. DPS has not yet decided whether to revert the restrooms but continues to support LGBTQ+ students, criticising the investigation for lacking legal basis and on-site review.

The Trump administration has directed 40 US states, the District of Columbia, and five territories to remove references to "gender ideology" from federally funded sex education materials or risk losing $81 million in grants. The funding supports vulnerable adolescents, including LGBTQ+ groups. California has already lost $12 million in funding. The move has drawn criticism from state officials and medical organisations, while conservative states have expressed support, as reported by the Associated Press.

The University of Chicago is implementing a $100 million budget reduction to address a $288 million structural deficit in 2024. The plan spans faculty hiring, graduate programs, administrative roles, and capital projects, while pausing several PhD and master’s admissions. Amid workforce reductions, the university aims to grow undergraduate enrollment, balancing fiscal discipline with academic priorities in a challenging financial landscape.

The concept of “back to school” has transformed in America, evolving from a rigid, calendar-bound ritual to a flexible, student-centered experience. Families increasingly choose charter schools, online academies, and microschools, yet inequities in funding limit access. True reform requires policies that follow students, ensuring equity, innovation, and opportunity, heralding a new era of education focused on potential, choice, and adaptability.

A new WalletHub study, highlighted by Newsweek, ranks the top 10 hardest-working states in America for 2025. North Dakota leads with near-total employment and long workweeks, followed by Alaska, South Dakota, Texas, and Hawaii. Virginia, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Maryland, and Nebraska complete the list, each reflecting a distinctive yet unyielding culture of productivity and perseverance.

The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) will begin online counselling for undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD admissions on September 2, 2025, following delays after CUET UG results were announced on July 4. The first round of seat allotment is scheduled for September 15–17. Administrative delays have caused uncertainty, pushing many students to seek alternative admissions in private and state universities.

The habit of reading for pleasure is rapidly disappearing among students worldwide. From the US and UK to India, digital distractions, early screen exposure, academic pressures, and eroded family reading routines are replacing books with phones and apps. Research from Stanford and Harvard highlights declining fluency, attention, and critical thinking, underscoring urgent cognitive, social, and educational consequences.

Across the United States, teachers are spending hundreds to thousands of dollars from their own pockets to supply classrooms, particularly in high-needs schools. Rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and delayed federal funding have intensified the burden. While crowdfunding and modest stipends help, educators continue to subsidize essential materials, highlighting systemic inequities and the hidden financial labor sustaining public education.

More than 300 Texas school districts and charter schools are planning to adopt the state-approved Bluebonnet curriculum, which combines traditional reading and math instruction with biblical references. While many districts cite alignment with state standards and funding incentives as reasons, critics warn the program glosses over historical realities and risks imposing religious content, sparking debate over academic rigor and inclusivity.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has extended the NEET UG 2025 Round 1 seat resignation deadline to September 3, 2025, 5:00 PM, allowing candidates to withdraw their allotted seats without losing the security deposit. Additionally, 13 new Disability Centres have been added to support PwD candidates, with the portal open until September 5 for certificate generation.

The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights found Denver Public Schools in violation of Title IX for converting sex-segregated restrooms into all-gender facilities and allowing access based on gender identity. The ruling cited risks to female students’ safety, privacy, and equal access, prompting a proposed Resolution Agreement to restore sex-designated restrooms and enforce compliance with federal law.

Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab has banned American soft drinks, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, from its campus. Announced by Chancellor Ashok Kumar Mittal, the move responds to the US doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50%. Framed as part of a modern ‘Swadeshi 2.0’ campaign, the ban encourages students and citizens to prioritise Indian products, echoing the 1905 Swadeshi movement.

Under President Trump, US school districts with programmes supporting Black students face federal scrutiny, labelled as “illegal D.E.I.” Chicago’s Black Student Success Plan and Evanston’s antiracism training are under investigation for allegedly violating civil rights laws. The administration argues these efforts discriminate against other groups, sparking legal battles over race-conscious education policies and their future across the country, as reported by the NY Times.

The US Department of Health and Human Services, alongside the Department of Education, is urging medical schools to enhance nutrition education across all stages of training. Spearheaded by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the initiative seeks to address chronic disease through preventative care. With support from bipartisan lawmakers and academic experts, the proposal emphasises the integration of nutrition competencies in medical education and collaboration with dietitians, aiming to close gaps in current physician training.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has released the admit cards for the September 2025 CA Foundation examinations. Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official e-services portal, eservices.icai.org, using their SSP ID and password. Exams are scheduled for September 16, 18, 20, and 22, while Intermediate and Final exams follow earlier dates.

Iowa's public universities face scrutiny as a new policy mandates faculty to present "both sides" of controversial topics, raising concerns about academic freedom. Following DEI bans and proposed restrictions on course content, the Board of Regents' policy is seen as a chilling effect on educators, potentially leading to self-censorship and watered-down debate.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) released the Round 2 KCET 2025 provisional seat allotment results on August 29, 2025. Candidates can check and download their allotment status via the official portal, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Following the announcement, aspirants can revise preferences for courses like Engineering, Architecture, Pharmacy, B.Sc Nursing, and allied health programmes before the final seat allotment is published.

Railway aspirants are in for a wait as the RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT 1 Result 2025 is expected only in September, according to media reports. The CBT 1 exam, held from June 5–24, featured 100 questions with negative marking. Results, scorecards, and cut-offs will be available on regional RRB websites, determining eligibility for CBT 2 and subsequent recruitment stages.

The NBEMS has released the NEET PG 2025 scorecard and final answer key for medical graduates pursuing postgraduate courses in India. Candidates can download their scorecards from the official portal using their credentials. The scorecard, available for a limited time, is essential for counseling and admission processes, subject to eligibility verification.

While India celebrates its digital advancements, a significant digital divide persists in education. Although more schools now have computers and electricity, over a third lack computers and internet access. This disparity hinders the implementation of the National Education Policy's digital vision and leaves many students behind in an increasingly AI-driven world, widening the inequality gap.