The Latest

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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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

    From fiscal “red flags” to artificial intelligence in school HR, what did you learn from our recent stories?

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    Only 2 large school districts are without fiscal ‘red flags,’ analysis finds

    The nation’s 100 largest districts averaged 2.4 out of 8 concerning indicators — the worst performance at any government level, the Reason Foundation said.

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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    HHS to create national autism ‘elopement’ alert

    Advocacy groups and researchers suggest measures to prevent children from wandering away from school or caregivers and into harm's way.

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    District HR leaders: Keep humans in decision-making as AI’s presence grows

    With artificial intelligence gaining steam in school districts, some human resource leaders also say the technology can help them be more efficient.

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    Retrieved from Forney ISD.
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    This Texas effort to prevent schools from ‘passing the trash’ could go nationwide

    A federal initiative has so far led to over $14,000 in civil penalties in one district and criminal charges against two of its former educators.

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    Should Algebra 1 and geometry be blended into one course?

    While a blended approach can reinforce connections across mathematics, NCTM President Latrenda Knighten warns educators must do so with care.

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    Arturo Holmes / Staff via Getty Images
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    How a genocide education program equips California educators with skills, resources

    A summer program hosted by the Jewish Family and Children’s Services helps teachers gain knowledge needed to meet a state curriculum mandate.

    Updated Aug. 26, 2026
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    The emerging promise of teacher apprenticeship programs

    About four years into the effort to address teacher shortages, two recent studies reveal apprenticeships may be successful in recruiting local educators.

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    3 special education funding strategies states can use to support districts

    A K-12 funding expert with the American Institutes for Research says state special education funding systems need to be evidence-based and student-focused.

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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Feds to propose H-1B fee that would stack with controversial $100K payment

    Employers should expect litigation against the new fee once it is finalized, a source told HR Dive, similar to what occurred after last year’s fee was announced by President Donald Trump.

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    Permission granted by House Education and Workforce Committee
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    Education Department proposal would make it easier to end grants

    The move would give the agency broad authority to end grants, including “for convenience,” after such approaches have led to legal disputes.

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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    3 ways states can support innovative high school principals

    Gaps between new school models’ demands and principals’ preparation "can undermine even the best-designed models," says a NASBE report.

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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Education Department issues Dear Colleague letters on discipline, tech use

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from an E-rate proposed rule to the latest on Ten Commandments laws.

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    Education Department goes to ed tech’s defense in new guidance

    A Dear Colleague letter said recreational and educational technology use are not synonymous — while also acknowledging screen time concerns.

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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    Judge deals blow to Trump administration’s gutting of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

    An "abstinence-only approach" led to "unreasonable or unexplained" grant cancellations, said the judge, but he stopped short of reinstating funds.

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    Jatuporn Tansirimas via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Greater Head Start flexibility will empower program leaders

    Policy changes under the Trump administration will improve quality and access, write two top federal officials.

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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Efforts to keep ICE off of school grounds ramp up

    Immigration enforcement activities on or around schools remain a concern for many educators at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

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    How would Head Start programs fare if federal standards are pared down?

    Under state standards, metrics like adult-to-child ratios and accessibility would worsen, according to a Children’s Equity Project analysis.

    Updated Aug. 20, 2026
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    OCR calls on schools to ‘stop racial balancing’ in new discipline guidance

    A Dear Colleague letter said weighing discipline policies' racial outcomes and making decisions based on them is race discrimination under Title VI.

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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    How ‘The Odyssey’ opens doors to storytelling and historical perspectives

    The Greek epic’s box office success can provide an inroad for students to understand how people have used myth to explain the world around them.

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    Learning to craft personal statements requires dedicated time, encouragement

    Educators should also be wary of artificial intelligence when teaching students to write high-stakes items like college essays or cover letters, experts say.

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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Kindergarten vaccine rates continue downward trend

    The National Association of School Nurses says it's "deeply concerned" with the Trump administration's goal to reform the childhood vaccine schedule.

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    Mike Simons / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Ten Commandments law appealed to Supreme Court

    Justices are set to consider two cases out of Texas that aim to block such laws, which have regained momentum in recent years.

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    FCC opens comment period on E-rate’s future

    E-rate, which provides discounted internet services to build connectivity for schools, gave $10.5 billion to districts between 2021 and 2025.

  • Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles sits at a table with younger students
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    Retrieved from Houston Independent School District.
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    Houston ISD stays at B rating in 2025-26

    Three years into Texas’ takeover of the district, one of its most troubled schools has risen from seven consecutive F ratings to its first-ever A.