The Latest

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    kasto80 via Getty Images
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    The top K-12 conferences to attend in 2026

    Whether you’re looking to brush up on leadership best practices, school policy or the latest ed tech innovations, these events are a great place to start.

    Updated 22 hours ago
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    Shutterstock / Robert Kneschke

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    Sponsored by Smart Care

    Preventative maintenance: The key to keeping K-12 cafeterias safe, efficient and ready to serve

    Why preventative maintenance is critical for safe, reliable K-12 cafeteria operations.

  • Rep. Tim Walberg sits in front of a microphone while speaking.
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    Heather Diehl via Getty Images
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    10 bills introduced to codify outsourcing of federal education programs

    Supporters say the Republican-led proposals would help “right-size” the Education Department, while opponents predict inefficiencies.

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    Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Chronic absenteeism continues to vex school systems

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from students with disabilities in general classrooms to state AI laws.

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    BY THE NUMBERS

    For chronic absenteeism, pandemic recovery is possible but still uncommon

    Just 13% of districts studied by a Johns Hopkins center were able to rebound to pre-pandemic levels by the 2024-25 school year.

  • Three adults sit on chairs on a stage. They are talking. A purple screen is behind them.
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    Permission granted by Patrick Siren/WhyNotMedia
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    Governors call on states to support locally driven K-12 solutions

    Collaborations between states and districts can help improve student outcomes, the governors of Maryland and Wyoming say.

  • Donald Trump speaks while signing an executive order at his desk.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Education Department targets Equity Assistance Centers again

    A proposed rule would rescind regulations for the program, which the agency says would allow it to “explore other means” of delivering those services.

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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 young students’ reading progress to new state laws mandating district policies, what did you learn from our recent stories?

  • A student interacts with an AI chatbot on a cellphone while studying with a calculator, notebook, and digital tablet on a desk.
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    Getty Images
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    4 more states require districts to adopt AI policies

    At least one state has gone as far as to prohibit artificial intelligence’s use for grading, discipline or other high-stakes decisions.

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    pixdeluxe via Getty Images
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    Education Department eyes changes for measuring racial disparities in special education

    The agency plans to amend the Equity in IDEA rule, worrying some advocates concerned about racial inequities in special education.

  • A view of a person's hand assembling multiple rows portioning meals to be served out on individual serving trays.
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    Getty Images
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    Access to free school meals under threat, think tank warns

    The Center for American Progress warns that legislative cuts to safety net programs could prevent Community Eligibility Provision participation.

  • A waving student leans out of a school bus
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    Retrieved from Montgomery County Public Schools.
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    Another K-12 admissions policy lawsuit appealed to the Supreme Court

    If accepted, a ruling could impact other cases challenging diversity efforts in major urban school systems, such as those in New York, Boston and Philadelphia.

  • This is a painting of George Washington and his men crossing the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War, created by Emanuel Leutze in 1851.
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    Retrieved from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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    Connecting the dots between visual art and literacy skills

    Having students interpret visual art can strengthen analytical and interpretive skills for reading, veteran English educator Carol Jago says.

  • Dollar bills and finance and banking on digital stock
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    Getty Images
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    How can schools improve financial literacy?

    An American Bankers Association executive said more public-private partnerships and hands-on experiences are crucial.

  • https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/live-coverage-west-virginia-v-b-p-j-scotus-arguments
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    Retrieved from American Civil Liberties Union on July 06, 2026
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    Supreme Court’s transgender athletics decision: What districts need to know

    Whether Title IX permits transgender students to play on sports teams aligning with their gender identity is among the gray areas that may be settled by future cases.

  • Two young students are on the floor in a classroom reading a book.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Reading progress has stalled for youngest learners, DIBELS tests show

    This is the first time since the 2020–21 school year that early reading readiness has failed to improve year over year, according to test-provider Amplify.

  • The outside of the U.S. Department of Education building is shown with the wording "U.S. Department of Education"
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    Inside the Education Department’s interagency agreements

    The most recent moves outsource various special education and civil rights activities to the departments of Health and Human Services and Justice.

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    Getty Images
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    STUDY HALL

    Here’s what you need to know about key topics shaping K-12

    We’ve gathered past installments of our explainer series in one place to help you stay on top of the must-know information on key topics.

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    StockPlanets via Getty Images
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    More students with disabilities learning in general education classrooms

    A GAO report finds 42 states and the District of Columbia increased the share of students with disabilities in general education classes.

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    Fintan Trimble via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: A landmark Supreme Court ruling and a major testing company acquisition

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from “misconceptions” at the Education Department to Texas’ curriculum change.

  • A photograph fom an altitude of about 500 feet shows an aerial view of bridges, downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch.
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    Getty Images
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    St. Louis Public Schools could close up to a third of its schools

    The preliminary proposal comes as the Missouri school district has seen enrollment decline sharply by 58.5% in a 34-year period.

  • A student types on a computer while using a generative AI chat.
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    Getty Images
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    Where chatbots fit in the curriculum conversation

    Use of the AI-powered tools to boost students’ writing and studying skills comes with advantages and disadvantages.

  • Two flags fly in the wind on a pole outside. The background is a clear blue sky with clouds
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Education groups sue for access to nearly $2B in research funds

    A lawsuit claims the Education Department and the Office of Management and Budget are withholding the funds unlawfully.

  • A teacher sits down with two elementary school students while working through a colorful puzzle and worksheet activity at a classroom table.
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    Getty Images
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    ‘Professional degree’ list is expanded. But education still didn’t make the cut.

    The designation, which now extends to nursing and other programs, doubles the federal student loan cap to $200,000 for graduate degrees.

  • Protesters for and against transgender athletes competing in women's sports gather outside the Supreme Court on January 13, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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    Heather Diehl via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court says schools can separate athletics based on ‘biological sex’

    The ruling addresses a long controversial divide on how schools approach transgender student inclusion in athletics.

    Updated June 30, 2026
  • The U.S. Capitol dome appears in the background behind two trees.
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    Tom Brenner via Getty Images
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    House passes Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act

    The bill would update the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act to apply to teens up to age 17. But critics say it leaves out a crucial enforcement measure.