The Latest

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

    From academic gains to the latest development in a major K-12 lawsuit, what did you learn from our recent stories?

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    A summer of AI bans in schools

    Public concerns are growing over artificial intelligence use in schools as districts call for more resources to successfully and safely implement the tech.

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    San Francisco ethnic studies courses tied to academic, attendance gains

    Students who took ethnic studies saw a GPA increase of 0.17 points, with the largest gains being in math and science, researchers found.

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    Wildlife biology centers can be valuable hands-on science resources

    One such center in South Carolina that houses birds of prey offers learning opportunities ranging from conservation to policy and governance.

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    Education Department not transparent about RIF cost or effectiveness, former employees say

    The agency said it will continue to return education to the states despite lawsuits, investigations and scrutiny over its layoffs. 

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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Have teacher turnover rates declined since COVID?

    Amid an overall dip, turnover is higher in high-poverty schools and special education, a six-state analysis from Education Resource Strategies shows.

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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Superintendent turnover returns to pre-pandemic levels among 500 largest districts

    After rising during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, turnover has slowed to 17.4% as mid-career exits in particular have decreased.

    Updated 5 hours ago
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    Cellphone ban enforcement may be waning over school year

    Some policies may be lightening as students find workarounds and teachers become less vigilant, according to findings published by The Brookings Institution.

    Updated Sept. 17, 2026
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    Appellate court clears way for Oklahoma divisive concepts law

    A divided three-judge panel ruled that it saw “no vagueness” in the concepts barred by the curriculum law, which plaintiffs argued was “overbroad.”

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    Measure ed tech by more than screen time, American Psychological Association says

    The APA’s recommendations follow a growing wave of school districts banning or limiting screen time and artificial intelligence in classrooms nationwide.

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    Week In Review: Putting PISA in perspective

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from research on pre-K discipline to AI’s growing presence in schools.

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    Shrinking Education Department offers state decision-making playbook

    The resource encourages states to take greater ownership of problem-solving and finding effective solutions to challenges.

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    ‘Zero positive outcomes’ from harsh preschool discipline, report says

    The Children's Equity Project highlights Head Start performance standards for prohibiting corporal punishment, seclusion and other negative practices.

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    What is AI’s role in the special education dispute resolution process?

    A technical assistance center has issued a parents guide for best practices — and cautions — for using AI in special education disagreements with schools.

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    Teachers unions announce AI safety agreement with Microsoft

    The legally enforceable protections require the company to safeguard student and teacher data and will be available to all districts nationwide Nov. 1.

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    K-12 satisfaction in 4 charts

    Gallup data shows record-low sentiment among Americans in 2026, but parents were more likely to rate schools positively.

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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 U.S. standings in international rankings to a tech company’s agreement on AI use in schools, what did you learn from our recent stories?

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    From science to screen time: 4 key takeaways from the latest PISA results

    Amid reading declines that included a 14-point drop for the U.S., researchers are looking at the role digital learning and AI may have played.

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    How a Milwaukee private school tripled early grade reading proficiency

    Leaders at Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy credit a structured literacy model that dates back to the 1930s for the dramatic gains.

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    Opinion

    Not enough students know about work-based learning opportunities

    Proving the effectiveness of paths such as apprenticeships can help students know their options, writes an Urban Institute senior fellow. 

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    Deep Dive

    Education Department’s latest civil rights data redacts hundreds of LGBTQ+ entries

    The agency quietly released results of the Civil Rights Data Collection for the 2023-24 school year, but redacted data on nonbinary students’ experiences.

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    Utah district reports critical thinking boost amid AI deployment

    Jordan School District officials advise setting intentional boundaries and having students use the tech as a “thought partner” rather than a content creator.

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    Week In Review: A historic social media settlement’s youth mental health implications

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from potential school closures in Portland to major AI pushback in two districts.

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    Opinion

    The GAO’s new inclusion report says the quiet part out loud: It’s about adult mindsets.

    The leader of the Center for Learner Equity says inclusion works when every adult in the school owns every child's success.

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    LAUSD restricts all students from using AI tools

    The ban is being implemented for the 2026-27 school year as the nation's second-largest school system reviews its artificial intelligence policies.