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Posts by Paige Shoemaker DeMio

An event flyer for a virtual briefing hosted by the Center for American Progress.

Event Title: Virtual briefing: Federal and State Policy Outlook for Community Colleges

Description: Explore how community colleges are adapting to new federal and state policies and what frameworks can best support student success.

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

The flyer features headshots and professional titles for five individuals:

Madison Weiss (Moderator): Senior Policy Analyst, Higher Education, Center for American Progress.

Jonathan Elkin (Panelist): Director of Government Relations, Association of Community College Trustees.

Kathryn Gimborys (Panelist): Manager of Government Relations, American Association of Community College Colleges.

Veronica Goodman (Panelist): Senior Director, Workforce Development Policy, Center for American Progress.

Morgan Polk (Panelist): Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Education & Labor, New America.

An event flyer for a virtual briefing hosted by the Center for American Progress. Event Title: Virtual briefing: Federal and State Policy Outlook for Community Colleges Description: Explore how community colleges are adapting to new federal and state policies and what frameworks can best support student success. Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET The flyer features headshots and professional titles for five individuals: Madison Weiss (Moderator): Senior Policy Analyst, Higher Education, Center for American Progress. Jonathan Elkin (Panelist): Director of Government Relations, Association of Community College Trustees. Kathryn Gimborys (Panelist): Manager of Government Relations, American Association of Community College Colleges. Veronica Goodman (Panelist): Senior Director, Workforce Development Policy, Center for American Progress. Morgan Polk (Panelist): Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Education & Labor, New America.

Join CAP and the Community Colleges Coalition on April 15th to explore how community colleges are adapting to new federal and state policies and what frameworks can best support their continued success. https://ampr.gs/4stfcGi

1 week ago 7 3 0 2
What the cost of the Iran war could cover if used differently
Select services and how many more people they could support with funding equivalent to what is being spent on Iran war

Table with 6 columns and 6 rows.
People covered by Medicaid for a year	Children receiving free school lunch for a school year	People housed in Section 8 for a year	Children covered for year of child care	Adults with free tuition at community college for a two-year associate degree
$25 billion
Estimated likely cost of war as of March 26, 2026
3,106,000	29,614,000	3,147,000	1,780,000	2,865,000
$200 billion
Reported likely request for additional war funding
24,850,000	Every child in the United States, with >$170B left over	Every eligible person, with >$60B left over	14,237,000	22,917,000
One 30,000-pound bomb	625	5,925	625	350	575
One Tomahawk missile	275	2,600	275	150	250
One THAAD missile	1,575	15,050	1,600	900	1,450
One Patriot interceptor	500	4,850	525	300	475

What the cost of the Iran war could cover if used differently Select services and how many more people they could support with funding equivalent to what is being spent on Iran war Table with 6 columns and 6 rows. People covered by Medicaid for a year Children receiving free school lunch for a school year People housed in Section 8 for a year Children covered for year of child care Adults with free tuition at community college for a two-year associate degree $25 billion Estimated likely cost of war as of March 26, 2026 3,106,000 29,614,000 3,147,000 1,780,000 2,865,000 $200 billion Reported likely request for additional war funding 24,850,000 Every child in the United States, with >$170B left over Every eligible person, with >$60B left over 14,237,000 22,917,000 One 30,000-pound bomb 625 5,925 625 350 575 One Tomahawk missile 275 2,600 275 150 250 One THAAD missile 1,575 15,050 1,600 900 1,450 One Patriot interceptor 500 4,850 525 300 475

New from me: by the end of the week, the war in Iran will likely have cost $25 billion, with Trump poised to ask for $200 billion more

Below is a writeup, but the meat of it is this table, which shows what an equal amount of funding could cover domestically
www.americanprogress.org/article/by-t...

3 weeks ago 524 288 17 18
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By the End of the Week, the Trump Administration’s War in Iran Will Likely Have Cost $25 Billion The administration reportedly plans to request another $200 billion to fund the war in Iran. What could that much money buy instead?

The Trump administration reportedly plans to request another $200 billion to fund the war in Iran. What could that much money buy in a year instead?

- Cover 24.8M people on Medicaid
- Feed school lunch to every child in the U.S.
- Cover child care for 13.2M children

https://ampr.gs/4lKFtxS

3 weeks ago 18 9 2 0
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© 2024 Popular Democracy.  All Rights Reserved.

For non-educators, contact your Members of Congress here! secure.ngpvan.com/UOAkenNHsUCT...

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
URGENT: Restore School Protections from Immigration Enforcement in the DHS Bill — Contact Congress NOW

Congress needs to hear from us loud and clear: don't agree to any DHS budget that allows ICE activity at schools, ever.

Contact your Members of Congress to demand they restore protections for students and their families: action.e4e.org/protect-scho...

2 months ago 7 5 1 0
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Fragmenting the U.S. Department of Education Creates Chaos for Rural Students Superintendent's view: Multiple lines of authority, blurred accountability and conflicting priorities will interrupt essential funding and services.

I am honored to know and collaborate w/Dr. Steven Johnson, a small town rural superintendent in ND. As Steven explains in his latest op-ed, breaking up ED will interrupt funding & services, wreaking havoc on student outcomes - especially for rural students.

www.the74million.org/article/frag...

3 months ago 2 1 0 0
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Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children

The administration's reckless overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule will put America’s children at greater risk of preventable disease and death. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...

3 months ago 14 9 2 0
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How To Increase the Retention of Early Career Teachers A 2025 CAP survey of early career teachers sheds light on the experiences and factors that assisted or hindered their persistence in the field.

As a former educator, I know the challenges early career teachers face. But a strong education system needs a strong teacher workforce. We surveyed new teachers across the country to better understand what they need to stay in the field.

Read more:
www.americanprogress.org/article/how-...

4 months ago 2 3 0 0
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Moving Federal Education Programs Will Create More Bureaucracy, Not Less The Trump administration is unlawfully using interagency agreements to continue its piecemeal dismantling of the Department of Education.

Don’t miss my new piece for @americanprogress.bsky.social on how the Trump admin’s use of interagency agreements is illegal and meant to further dismantle the Department of Education, creating more bureaucracy, not less, and harming schools and students 👇🏼

www.americanprogress.org/article/movi...

4 months ago 5 5 0 0
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The youth mental health crisis in the US is rising, & it impacts kids as young as infancy. As the OBBBA is implemented, that crisis will worsen. Programs like #HeadStart can help mitigate families' struggles through its wraparound supports. To learn more: www.americanprogress.org/article/head...

4 months ago 2 1 0 0
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6 Ways States Can Protect Vaccine Access While the Trump Administration Dismantles the Federal System As the federal government dismantles the country’s vaccine infrastructure, the burden of ensuring access to vaccines for flu, measles, and more is shifting to states.

As the federal government dismantles the national vaccine infrastructure, the burden to protect and preserve access to lifesaving vaccines increasingly falls on states. Read 6 ways states can, and already are, taking action to fill the void. www.americanprogress.org/article/6-wa...

5 months ago 14 14 0 0
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The Trump Administration’s Recent Special Education Layoffs Will Have Major Long-Term Impacts on Disabled Children and Students The Trump administration unlawful layoffs during the federal shutdown, in coordination with its policy changes and budget cuts, are intended to lead to closure of the Department of Education, leaving ...

The Trump admin's unlawful layoffs during the federal shutdown, in coordination with policy changes & budget cuts, are intended to lead to closure of the Dept. of Education—leaving disabled students with fewer services and protections.

New from me & @seemiaroll.bsky.social:

5 months ago 18 19 0 1
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The Trump Administration’s Latest Staffing Cuts at the Department of Education Threaten Children’s Success Across the Country Cuts to staff at the Department of Education threaten the federal government’s long-term ability to ensure equal access to education for all, including children with disabilities.

The Trump administration’s recent cuts to staff at the Department of Education threaten the federal government’s long-term ability to ensure equal access to education for all.

Read more: www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...

5 months ago 1 1 0 0
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The Trump administration slashed the Department of Education's workforce by nearly 50%—this is a direct attack on 50 million students. @pbshoemaker.bsky.social breaks down the numbers behind these cuts:

5 months ago 15 11 0 2
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Many Districts Will Lose Federal Funds Until the Shutdown Ends And if federal layoffs go through, the Ed. Dept. would lack staff to send out the funds afterward, too.

While Republicans continue to keep the government shutdown, students are facing the consequences. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

6 months ago 0 0 0 0
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Trump’s “Compact” With Colleges Will Put University Presidents in Legal Jeopardy The White House’s proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is unconstitutional, unlawful, and will put universities and their administrators at direct risk from a politicized Justi...

NEW: The "compact" the Trump administration proposed to 9 universities earlier this month is a dangerous trap -- not only would the deal cede significant control over colleges, but it would open them and their leaders up to great legal risk.

www.americanprogress.org/article/trum...

6 months ago 19 14 0 1
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Public Education Under Threat: 4 Trump Administration Actions To Watch in the 2025-26 School Year As public K-12 schools across the country face increasing threats from federal policies and actions, state and local leaders should prepare to respond.

As public K-12 schools across the country face increasing threats from the Trump administration's policies and actions, state and local leaders should prepare to respond. @pbshoemaker.bsky.social and Weadé James explain:

7 months ago 10 3 0 0
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"If you're not visiting a classroom, if you're not visiting a school building [...] you're not doing your job." Lawmakers need to meet with, listen to, and learn from the people they're meant to represent.

7 months ago 168 41 5 6
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Had an amazing time chatting with Dr. Joan Lombardi & other amazing speakers about the impact of extreme heat on young children, & what actions we need to take now to protect them amid federal climate rollbacks.

Full convo here: www.americanprogress.org/events/reach...

7 months ago 1 1 0 0
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As @cccllc.bsky.social explains, it will take a whole-of-society response to ensure our children are protected from the impacts of extreme heat and have the save future they deserve.

To learn more, watch a recording of our recent event: www.americanprogress.org/events/reach...

7 months ago 6 3 0 0
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Extreme heat is more than just an inconvenience in classrooms—it is a barrier to students' ability to focus and learn. Our schools deserve better and must be equipped to properly combat extreme heat.

8 months ago 24 14 0 0

Just pointing out that she’s mentioned the number 47 three times already, so that’s something to keep in mind… #TSTheLifeOfAShowgirl

8 months ago 0 0 0 0
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It's not too late to register for our webinar today! 📣

@pbshoemaker.bsky.social & I will be joined by a truly all-star panel of advocates & leaders to talk about how we can protect young children from extreme heat, & you won't want to miss it.

rsvp2.americanprogress.org/reachingaboi...

8 months ago 1 2 0 0
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Want to know more about the impacts of federal funding decisions on local public schools? Join us for a virtual event next week with local leaders discussing the impact of these decisions and how state and local leaders can mitigate harm.

RSVP today: www.americanprogress.org/events/back-...

8 months ago 6 5 0 0
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I'm hosting an event tomorrow alongside the incredible @haileygibbs.bsky.social! Join us for a discussion on the impacts of extreme heat on children, current threats to climate progress, and ways state & local leaders can protect our youngest.

RSVP here! www.americanprogress.org/events/reach...

8 months ago 2 1 0 0
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Excited to share that I've teamed up with @pbshoemaker.bsky.social & a bunch of brilliant people to host what's sure to be a great chat on Aug 13 @ 12:30pm ET re: how to protect kids from extreme heat amid federal rollbacks on climate prog. Come join us!
rsvp2.americanprogress.org/reachingaboi...

8 months ago 3 2 0 0
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Scorching temperatures and the roll back of federal protections put children at risk. Join us for a virtual event discussing the impacts of extreme heat on children and how state, local, & community leaders can protect those most vulnerable.

RSVP today: www.americanprogress.org/events/reach...

8 months ago 0 0 0 0
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Attention educators and policymakers ‼️ As students head back to school this month, the Class of 2025 is sharing their message on strengthening public education. Watch the full event: www.americanprogress.org/events/class...

8 months ago 15 8 0 0
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Trump’s FY 26 budget plan would worsen rural schools’ challenges, analysis finds Lower funding would exacerbate issues including teacher recruitment and lack of access to advanced classes, the Center for American Progress finds.

Trump’s actions and recommendations for K-12 education harm rural students and leave them with less.

I talked with K-12 Dive to lay out what’s at stake: www.k12dive.com/news/trumps-...

9 months ago 0 0 0 0
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Fact Sheet: What To Know About the Child Care for Working Families Act The Child Care for Working Families Act would make child care more accessible and affordable, promote high-quality care options, and support child care workers.

This Admin is stripping services from children & families. @pattymurray.bsky.social & @bobbyscott.house.gov know how critical it is to invest in our kids + families - that’s why they just reintro’ed the Child Care for Working Families Act.
www.americanprogress.org/article/fact...

9 months ago 5 4 0 0