In light of several recent deadly outbreaks of E. coli that led to a recall of ground beef from major supermarkets, U.S. Rep. George Miller the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier this month to investigate the risk of contaminated beef from the commercial market entering the school meal programs. This would be part of an investigation GAO launched at Miller’s request last year into the safety of meat served in school cafeterias.

Representative John Kline and Senator Mike Enzi announced Thursday that they are introducing bipartisan legislation to extend the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA). This effort, like the original legislation, would maintain stability in the student loan market, providing students and colleges with confidence in the uninterrupted availability of federal student loans in the face of an ongoing global credit crunch. It also would help those schools opting to remain in the student loan program of their choice.

Last week, congressional democrats refused to increase funding for special education programs, arguing that Congress has not been diligent in fully funding its portion of expenses under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Congress is currently considering the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2009, which would require public schools to define categories in their discipline policies such as “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.”

Is it okay to pray in school? That’s the question many ask every year and now, thanks to a demonstration by 400 students at Pace High School in Florida, we may have an answer.

The student demonstration was the culmination of a six-month battle with the ACLU about prayer during school activities. When the students were told they were banned from praying or saying anything religious at the graduation ceremony, they rebelled in protection of their free speech rights by remaining standing during the ceremony to recite the Lord’s Prayer.