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James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: ‘It makes a lot of sense to look into modernising how exam results are handled and any moves to cut bureaucracy and costs are welcome. However, pupils will still receive a hard copy, and schools will continue to open as normal on results day to welcome pupils and give advice (pictured: a DfE prototype for the new 'Education Record' app) WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. government said on Tuesday it will review an incident at the University of Washington in which pro-Palestinian protesters occupied a university building while demanding the school cut ties with Boeing over its contracts with the Israeli military.

Pepe Di'Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'The Education Record app represents a positive step forward in making greater use of digital technology in education and will bring benefits to students, schools and colleges.  Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has unilaterally cut education funding and downsized the Education Department, leading to numerous legal challenges.

The Trump administration also cut teacher-training programs that helped rural schools combat educator shortages and has threatened to withhold funding from schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs. On March 28, Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a letter to school officials saying she had moved the deadline up - to that very day. She said the department would consider releasing some funds, but only on a project-by-project basis.

"The Task Force's review is in response to the eruption of antisemitic harassment and violence that occurred Monday, May 5 at UW's campus in Seattle," the U.S. Education Department, Health Department and General Services Administration said in a statement. The Trump administration has threatened universities with federal funding cuts over pro-Palestinian campus protests against Israel's military assault on Gaza following Palestinian Hamas militants' October 2023 attack in Israel.

The university said on Tuesday thirty pro-Palestinian protesters who occupied the building late on Monday were arrested, and charges of trespassing, property destruction and disorderly conduct would be referred to prosecutors. Education minister Stephen Morgan said: ‘It is high time exam records were brought into the 21st century, and this pilot will allow schools and colleges to focus on what they do best: teaching the next generation rather than being bogged down in bureaucracy.' The administration of President Donald Trump labeled the incident as antisemitic activity.

While it praised the university and law enforcement officials for their response, it urged the school to take enforcement actions and make policy changes. He added: ‘We believe this will reduce administrative burdens on schools, and in the future could also be utilised by parents of younger children to support transition from primary to secondary school.' Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly conflates their criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza with antisemitism and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

Nearly all that money had been spent, but some school districts received deadline extensions that gave them additional time to use it.