Money talks and students walk in this week's edition of the education news roundup.
National student march
In Washington, D.C., and around the world today, young people and their families and supporters march in support of gun safety. The web site for the march, led by survivors of February's shooting in Parkland, Fla., lists more than 800 separate events including in Israel, Argentina and Finland.
Celebrities have chipped in to help the cause as well: Lin Manuel-Miranda and Ben Platt released a song ahead of the march. Common, Ariana Grande and Vic Mensa are set to perform in Washington.
Follow NPR's live coverage of the march.
DeVos grilled on Capitol Hill
Betsy DeVos spoke before a House committee on Tuesday to defend her department's budget request, which had included a 5 percent cut.
The education secretary came under harsh criticism from Democrats on a variety of issues, such as this from Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut: "You are turning your back on public schools ... You stand up for debt collectors rather than college students struggling to pay back loans. You favor reducing government oversight of private, for-profit schools with bad track records. You're undermining sexual assault policies on college campuses."
Spending bill adds money for education, safe schools
Despite DeVos's request to cut the federal education budget, the bipartisan omnibus spending bill signed Friday includes nearly $4 billion in new education funds. There's a 14 percent increase in funding for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and more federal student aid. Plus more money for low-income students, students with disabilities and preschoolers.
The students marching this weekend might be happy to hear about a $47 million increase in funds for school climate, mental health and other violence interventions that have been shown to make schools safer.
National report: Most states shortchange poor students
The Education Law Center, a policy and advocacy group, has released the latest edition of its School Funding Report Card. The report finds that the gap in per-pupil spending between the highest and lowest-funded states is growing. It also finds that only 11 states have progressive funding systems that direct more money to high-poverty districts. This is down from a high of 22 states in 2008.
Teens, using screens, find a political voice
After Parkland, the nation seems to be watching teenagers find a political voice both online and off. A new study from the graduate school of education at the University of California, Riverside, finds a relationship between online participation and political action. "Young people who were more active online (non-politically) in 2013," the study says, "were more likely than others to become politically active two years later."
Parents use social media to keep tabs on tweens
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