The Latest

  • A person stands at a podium. A sign on the podium reads OSEP conference 2026
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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    Education Department defends controversial special education shakeup

    The changes are the “start of a brighter future” for individuals with disabilities, Education Secretary Linda McMahon told OSEP conference attendees.

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    T.Vyc. Retrieved from Shutterstock.
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    Sponsored by McGraw Hill

    Falling back in love with books: What middle schoolers need first

    Middle schoolers aren't reading for fun anymore. Here's how to bring the joy back.

  • A logo for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is displayed on a glass window.
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Trump administration targets teen pregnancy prevention grants

    School and community partnerships to improve pregnancy and STI prevention are under threat after HHS suddenly cut 53 of 66 existing grants.

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    Sean Rayford via Getty Images
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    Schools urged to prepare for measles response

    As cases climb higher than they’ve been in three decades, health experts are providing best practices and recommendations for schools. 

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    Early evidence finds outcomes-based contracting boosts student performance

    Stronger district-vendor relationships are one benefit of contracts that tie results to compensation for products and services, a WestEd analysis finds.

  • A girl student and two boy students are shown appearing to be bored, tired and daydreaming in a classroom.
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    Opinion

    A way forward beyond America’s education stalemate

    More consideration should be given to what changes will actually help students succeed if a school struggles for years, a charter school leader writes.

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    The image by jglsongs is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Education Department stops collecting some LGBTQ+ student data

    The department will no longer include information on nonbinary students and has excluded "gender identity" from its definition of rape.

  • Group of students eating lunch in school cafeteria.
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    Miami-Dade schools no longer offering free meals districtwide

    The district offered free school meals for the past four years through the Community Eligibility Provision but no longer qualifies for the federal program.

    Updated Aug. 3, 2026
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    Week In Review: Where enrollment is and isn’t in decline

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from the impact of school closures on teacher turnover to districts’ social media lawsuits.

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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    How to mitigate teacher turnover amid school closures

    Veteran educators are among those most likely to exit, leaving leaders to rely on novice teachers at a time when students need stability and experience.

  • A person holds a gavel while sitting in front of a blurred out sign that says "Sen. Cassidy."
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    Eric Lee via Getty Images
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    Interagency agreements: Committee OKs bill to block 4 Education Department transfers

    The bill moves to the full Senate just weeks after the House introduced 10 bills that would codify some of the moves.

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    Column // LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    This New York superintendent is embracing a human-first approach to AI in schools

    As a “dot-commer” who transitioned to education, Jared Bloom brings a unique perspective to K-12 tech adoption.

  • An adult sits on the floor holding a book with back toward camera. A group of young students sit facing the adult and look at the book.
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    What factors are actually most important in learning to read?

    Visual processing and general intelligence are less important than previously believed, a study led by Texas A&M University suggests.

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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 enrollment trends to student eligibility for the new federal school choice program, what did you learn from our recent stories?

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    American support for all-day cellphone bans hits record high, survey finds

    Young adults were the least likely to support all-day school bans, but at least half of Americans age 30 or older back them. 

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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Where and why public school enrollment keeps declining

    A Bellwether analysis found that despite sweeping enrollment declines in most places, districts located on the outskirts of urban areas saw growth.

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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Mental health grants can’t be blocked — for now, judge says

    The Education Department said it intended to cancel up to $1 billion for some states despite a court order preventing its first attempt to do so last year.

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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump administration cracks down on LGBTQ+ policies via privacy laws

    Two 1970s laws have been pushed back into the spotlight after being invoked to investigate LGBTQ+ issues in schools.

  • A student with their back to the camera faces a green chalk board. On the board are math problems. The student has their hand on their head.
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    As Memphis charter schools edge up in math, one school shares its strategy

    Willingness to adapt curriculum where needed and partner with other schools has led to success at Leadership Preparatory Charter School, educators say.

  • Three students work on a robotics project in a room
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    Permission granted by Spokane Public Schools
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    Deep Dive

    Social media lawsuits could net payouts. How are districts planning?

    School systems like Spokane Public Schools are boosting extracurricular activities — and hoping payouts from litigation will sustain the investments.

  • President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, holds a gavel after signing the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act into law
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    Eric Lee via Getty Images
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    9 in 10 students expected to be eligible for Education Freedom Tax Credit

    The nation’s first and sweeping school choice program kicks in next year, when 51.7 million students are expected to be eligible, according to a report.

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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Education Department rescinds disparate impact regulations

    Civil rights advocates say students of color will be harmed by the removal of the tool used to investigate racial discrimination.

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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    DHS final rule could hinder students’ access to food, healthcare, AASA warns

    The superintendents group said allowing public benefits usage to be considered in noncitizens’ applications could have a “chilling effect” on schools.

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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    Week In Review: Former federal officials caution against Education Department transfers

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from absenteeism recovery data to a slew of new legislative proposals.

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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    2 Senate bills would undo some Education Department transfers

    A bipartisan bill would prohibit interagency agreements for various K-12 and postsecondary activities. The other addresses special education specifically.

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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    H-1B visa program hits 2027 cap

    The second Trump administration has stepped up efforts to discourage use of the program, which school leaders have used to fill crucial shortages.