Tell us about your school district’s rising leaders

We want to hear about the leaders driving innovation in your schools for our fifth annual spotlight on assistant principals and district administrators.

As attention spans shrink, 4 ways educators can keep students engaged

Incorporating active learning techniques like check-in questions and breaks can help ground students amid distractions.

California agrees to include religious schools as special education placements

Plaintiffs say the settlement is a "win for religious liberty," but public school advocates are concerned about the use of tax dollars for religious education.

How can school leaders smooth student transitions to middle, high school?

Consistent and constant information about what to expect is key to easing students’ uncertainty as they take their next academic step, experts say.

School districts’ cost recovery options for facility rentals could expand in California

AB 503 would restore an expanded definition of “direct costs” eligible for recovery through facility rental fees, which could help shore up district finances.

Specialized charter schools need to ensure inclusive practices, report says

While these schools can tailor instruction for specific disabilities, they must also provide inclusive opportunities, the Center for Learner Equity says.

Trump signs Take It Down Act, making illicit deepfakes a criminal act

The bipartisan measure takes aim at sexually explicit images generated by artificial intelligence, an issue increasingly impacting students and schools.

Updated May 19, 2025

Despite growth, average teacher salaries lag behind inflation

Adjusted for inflation, teachers are making 5% less on average than a decade ago, according to a report from the National Education Association.

Legal defense fund will seek to fill gap left by OCR reduction

Set to launch in the fall, the fund backed by National Center for Youth Law aims to defend students’ rights in court and track civil rights data.

How much does chronic absenteeism cost communities?

A study of how attendance, discipline and other factors impact economics in California offers insights for school communities nationwide.

Head Start turns 60: Alumni reflect on lifelong impact of early learning

Three former students share how the preschool program benefited them, and how they’ve stayed connected to Head Start via careers in education.

Head Start from 1965 to today

We take a look back at the highs and lows of the federal preschool program’s 60 years of serving young children from low-income families.

Data breach reporting lags in education sector, study finds

The sector reportedly takes an average of 4.8 months to report attacks — higher than for business, government and healthcare.

3 takeaways from House debate on charter schools

Lawmakers discussed what makes a high-quality charter and the role federal legislation can play during a Wednesday subcommittee hearing.

Tennessee’s largest school district sues PowerSchool over data breach

Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ federal lawsuit against the ed tech giant is among the latest that have been filed by over 100 other districts nationwide.

Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From district lawsuits against PowerSchool to a potential federal school choice tax incentive, what did you learn from our recent stories?

Federal private school choice program advanced by House committee

Other K-12 education expenses, such as tutoring and therapies, would also be supported under the Republican-endorsed tax credit initiative.

States lead the charge in expanding private school voucher programs

Texas and other states have enacted new voucher laws, while the Trump administration and Republicans are supporting efforts at the federal level.

Drawing connections between art and science can improve academic outcomes

Schools like East Marion Elementary in Mississippi have found arts integration benefits both test scores and social skills.

‘Significant momentum’ for computer science curriculum

High schools in 32 states are now required to offer at least one computer science course, according to a Code.org Advocacy Coalition report.

What is the Community Eligibility Provision?

Here’s how the federal program works to help high-poverty schools and districts serve free meals to all students.

AP calculus or AP statistics? It depends on the student

More equitable access to advanced math will have broader impact than the specific pathway students take, a study finds.

​​​​​​Pandemic reopened previously closed STEM gap for girls

While boys' enrollment in 8th grade algebra rebounded by 2024 to pre-pandemic levels, girls' enrollment has not, suggesting the pandemic undid decades of progress.

No quick fix: How can schools make real change to overcome student underachievement?

A 22-year-old program at the University of Virginia helps school districts find ways to improve student learning based on local circumstances.

PowerSchool data breach leads to school extortion attempts

A threat actor has contacted multiple school districts demanding payments related to student and staff data stolen in a December breach.