The Latest

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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 the release of updated dietary guidelines to another potential K-12 case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, what did you learn from our recent stories?

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    Retrieved from Thomas More Society on January 06, 2026
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    Should schools reveal students’ LGBTQ+ identity to parents? Teachers to ask the Supreme Court to decide

    A legal battle in California could determine whether parental notification of student pronoun and name changes is constitutional.

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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    New dietary guidelines: More protein, fewer ultra-processed foods

    School meals must eventually align with federal nutrition standards informed by the Trump administration's 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

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    How to reacclimate students after winter break

    Taking time to reestablish routines — and perhaps forge new ones — can help educators engage learners as school resumes.

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    xavierarnau via Getty Images
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    Challenges persist for CTE programs, report finds

    Some 40% of programs struggle to find employer partnerships, and 66% of CTE leaders say students lack awareness of options, YouScience data shows.

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    BY THE NUMBERS

    14M children lived in households with food insecurity in 2024

    The Trump administration announced last year that the USDA would no longer produce future “redundant, costly” reports on household food insecurity.

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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Lawsuits challenge $60M cancellation of community schools grants

    The complaints from the American Federation of Teachers and three state attorneys general cite the funds’ impact on rural and low-income communities.

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    Can schools handle federal calls for fewer ultra-processed foods?

    Some 95% of school nutrition directors are concerned about the financial sustainability of their meal programs, School Nutrition Association data shows.

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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    FEDERAL RIFS

    Government abandons RIFs impacting Education Department employees during shutdown

    Here’s a timeline tracing the Trump administration's efforts to slash the U.S. Education Department's workforce.

    Updated Jan. 5, 2026
  • U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary (L), National Institutes of Health Director Jayanta Bhattacharya (2nd-L), Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2nd-R) and Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley (R), signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on May 05, 2025 in Washington, DC
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    CDC, following Trump’s orders, weakens US stance on childhood vaccinations

    In a drastic decision made outside of its typical review process, the agency declared it would recommend 11 childhood shots going forward, down from 17.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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    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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

  • 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

    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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    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.

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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.

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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.