The Latest

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    Illuminate Education reaches settlement with FTC over 2021 data breach

    The FTC alleged the ed tech company knew of multiple security vulnerabilities a year before a breach exposed 10 million students’ personal information.

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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 landmark education law’s 50th anniversary to new research on funding shifts in public schools, what did you learn from our recent stories?

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    IDEA at 50: How the landmark law changed education

    The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has led to innovations for all students, but key factors could hinder further progress.

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    When should students begin learning about AI?

    Regardless of how early students begin, experts agree that its crucial to make sure students understand how the tech works, not just how to use it.

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    Take note: Annotation can provide a powerful tool for reading, writing

    The practice can improve reading comprehension, analytical ability and communication skills, one researcher says.

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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr on December 01, 2025
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    McMahon marks IDEA’s 50th anniversary with Virginia school visit

    The government won’t take "its foot off of the gas pedal" on IDEA compliance or monitoring, says Kimberly Richey, acting assistant secretary of OSERS.

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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    Public school funding nears $1 trillion, Reason Foundation finds

    Average annual per-student costs grew 36% across local, state and federal sources between 2002 and 2023 after adjusting for inflation.

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    How to combat misinformation and disinformation in the classroom

    Socratic questioning is among strategies educators can use to prompt students to think critically and become more media-savvy, experts say.

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    What would education’s omission as a ‘professional degree’ mean?

    The field reportedly didn’t make the cut in a proposal under consideration by the Education Department regarding federal loan limits for graduate students.

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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr on November 26, 2025
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    Education Department outsourcing is unlawful, amended lawsuit claims

    The agency says it wants to improve efficiencies for K-12 and higher education funding and services.

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    Permission granted by CR Marketing
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    Deep Dive // IDEA AT 50

    Teacher shortages hinder special education progress. What are the solutions?

    "When we fail to fully staff our classrooms, we fail to deliver on the promise of a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities," says one educator.

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    Schools grapple with whooping cough as 2025 outpaces last year’s peak numbers

    Preliminary reports from the CDC, as well as state and local agencies, suggest a significant increase in U.S. pertussis numbers — particularly in Texas.

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    ‘Aztecs Read’ initiative sparks fluency, proficiency in Missouri charter

    Despite lacking a librarian, the school engaged its high English learner population with classroom libraries, author visits and reading challenges.

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    Permission granted by Erick Salazar
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    Deep Dive // IDEA AT 50

    How IDEA sparked innovations for students with — and without — disabilities

    The landmark law has become the catalyst for legions of innovative practices and tools to make learning more accessible.

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    Ceri Breeze via Getty Images
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    Austin ISD is closing 10 schools amid enrollment challenges

    The closures will mostly impact elementary schools and are set to save the Texas district $21.5 million.

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    Column // LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    How a small Oregon district turns data into action

    A streamlined approach helps Umatilla School District make sense of the numbers and ease data anxiety, says Superintendent Heidi Sipe.

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    Photo illustration by Andrew Harnik/K-12 Dive; photograph by Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    DOJ targets college access for undocumented students in 6th lawsuit

    The lawsuits are related to policy changes that could impact dual enrollment and high school students' access to career and technical education programs.

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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Fallout from the Education Department’s breakup

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from 8th grade algebra to the latest legal pushes on religion in schools.

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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr.
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    Education Department breakup divides K-12 community

    Supporters say the interagency agreements will reduce federal bloat. Critics worry educational opportunities for students will be lost.

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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Special educators, disability advocates form united front to protect IDEA

    The 850-member coalition supports keeping special education programming at the Education Department, saying moving it would put IDEA services at risk.

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    Retrieved from Ben Gamla Charter School on November 19, 2025
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    Another religious school to apply for public charter status in Oklahoma

    The effort by a Jewish school comes on the heels of a Supreme Court case involving a Catholic virtual school that had applied to become a public charter.

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    Hands-on learning provides an opportunity to engage students with both hard and soft skills

    One expert advises educators to start small with a few community partners when implementing these experiences.

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    How California ensured cultural responsiveness in early literacy screenings

    The state prioritized inclusivity for English learners in the tools it uses to screen for reading difficulties, a university researcher says.

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    More Texas school districts ordered to take down Ten Commandments displays

    The temporary order by a federal judge said a Texas law’s requirements to put up the Ten Commandments in every classroom violates the First Amendment.

  • 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 another shakeup at the Education Department to growth in Arizona’s universal school choice program, what did you learn from our recent stories?