The Latest

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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump can order employers to pay extra H-1B fee, court holds

    President Donald Trump can impose the $100,000 fine under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s “exceedingly broad language,” a judge ruled.

  • Loper decision ending Chevron deference doctrine
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    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
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    Tracker

    Tracking the Supreme Court’s impact on K-12 schools

    We’ve gathered cases since the high court’s 2019-20 term to measure the justices’ footprint in schools.

  • Two people are shown seated next to each other at a table in a large room. One person is talking and other people are seated in rows behind them.
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    Courtesy of U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono
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    Opinion

    Private school choice threatens public school experiences, says EdTrust CEO

    Public funding for students and schools must be protected to preserve equitable learning opportunities, Denise Forte writes.

  • An adult sits at a small table with young students in a classroom. On the table is paper and Play-doh.
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    andresr via Getty Images
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    Pre-K teachers speak out about AI, instructional materials, training and pay in surveys

    Rand research indicates teachers of young students want and need more training in ed tech, curricula and supporting diverse learners.

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    bymuratdeniz via Getty Images
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    Cancellation of mental health grants ruled unlawful

    A federal judge required the Education Department to reinstate the grants in 16 states and barred the agency from issuing new priorities for the programs. 

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    LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    5 lessons learned from top school administrators in 2025

    We’re highlighting key insights on ed tech adoption, remediation services, community engagement and more from this year’s conversations.

  • A person walks in front of the exterior of the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Education.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    NAEP innovations on track despite NCES layoffs

    The Education Department said it "continues to pursue cutting-edge innovations" and that NAEP will be administered primarily on school devices next year.

  • Top Oklahoma education official Ryan Walters speaks at a podium with his hand raised
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    Retrieved from Superintendent Ryan Walters.
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    Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down controversial social studies standards

    The standards were already on pause, but the court ruled this week that the state board of education violated the law in creating and adopting them. 

  • An illustration of a student looking into an empty outline of a teacher in a classroom.
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    What changed — or not — for K-12 staffing in 2025?

    Between enrollment and budget challenges and the Trump administration targeting anti-DEI staffing policies, districts navigated rocky terrain this year.

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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

    Final Exam: Test yourself on the past year’s K-12 news

    From the downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education to a data breach that impacted over 60 million students, what did you learn from our stories in 2025?

  • AI powers big data analysis and automation workflows, showcasing neural networks and data streams for business.
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    Getty Images
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    Week In Review: K-12 Dive Awards and AI’s march in curriculum

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a report on teens’ pronoun usage to milk in school lunches.

  • President Donald Trump stands at a podium in the White House, surrounded by Christmas decor.
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    Retrieved from The White House on December 18, 2025
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    Trump celebrates returning education to the states in national address

    While 2025 has come with major changes to the K-12 landscape, the president remained silent on what’s in store for 2026.

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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Dive Awards

    The K-12 Dive Awards for 2025

    Whether they’re driving postsecondary pathways, district marketing strategies or school turnarounds, these leaders are raising the bar for K-12.

  • The LGBTQ+ pride flag flies in the hands of an activist.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Fewer than half of transgender, nonbinary youth report others use their pronouns

    Data released by The Trevor Project shows a lower suicide risk for students whose pronouns were used. In some states, policies make it a challenge.

  • A photo illustration of a circle encompassing a question mark, pencil, and scantron test.
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

    Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

    From a federal lawsuit against teacher diversity efforts to school closures and mergers in Cleveland, what did you learn from our recent stories?

  • A principal is pictured standing among students, speaking to them as they use an embroidery machine in a commercial art course.
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    Permission granted by Pierre Orbe
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    Dive Awards

    Principal of the Year: Pierre Orbe, DeWitt Clinton High School

    One educator’s unplanned detour from medical school into education led to a turnaround for one of New York City’s most storied high schools.

  • Rep. Walberg speaks nto a microphone
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    Retrieved from House Committee on Education & Workforce.
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    Republicans say sports could stem school, gun violence as Democrats push back

    In a hearing on Tuesday, lawmakers disagreed over whether sports was an effective school safety measure in the wake of recent school shootings.

  • A superintendent greets elementary students outside of their school as they arrive on a fall morning.
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    Permission granted by Iowa City Community School District
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    Dive Awards

    Superintendent of the Year: Matt Degner, Iowa City Community School District

    This district leader focuses on making academic programs unique as he strives to set his school system apart at a time of growing competition for students.

  • An aerial view of a child's hands holding a glass of milk on a wooden table.
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    Getty Images
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    Congress passes bill allowing schools to offer whole milk, nondairy options

    The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was sent to President Donald Trump’s desk after the House approved the bipartisan legislation Monday.

  • Two students work with an artificial intelligence-enabled mannequin in a healthcare career education program.
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    Permission granted by Baldwin Union Free School District
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    AI brings medical ‘manikins’ to life for New York district’s students

    Students in a Baldwin Union Free School District health science program are gaining real-world experience working with realistic training robots.

  • A group of teachers listen to a speaker.
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    Getty Images
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    Georgia district creates AI ambassadors with ‘train the trainer’ initiative

    The model is helping a suburban Atlanta district’s small instructional technology staff to scale artificial intelligence professional development.

  • Six students carrying backpacks are walking down a hallway in a school. Their backs are to the camera and light is coming in through a window.
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    Valerii Apetroaiei via Getty Images
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    Feds announce early opt-in process for new federal school choice program

    The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service said more details on the process, which doesn’t yet have a deadline, are on the way.

  • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a keynote at the RSAC conference in San Francisco.
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    Eric Thayer via Getty Images
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    State AGs launch third lawsuit seeking to block Trump’s H-1B order

    The plaintiffs alleged public schools, university-level research institutions and healthcare systems could be harmed by a $100,000 fee on all new visas.

  • An adult and a young students are sitting at a table. In front of them are figures created with Play-doh
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    Permission granted by Beaverton School District
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    Dive Awards

    District of the Year: Beaverton School District

    The Oregon district has taken career and technical education, dual language programming and cost-saving school transportation to new heights.

  • A landscape perspective shows Cleveland's skyline.
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    Getty Images
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    Cleveland Metropolitan School District to close or merge 29 schools by 2026-27

    The district’s board approved the change in the face of declining enrollment — to the tune of about 50% fewer students over the past two decades.