FBI foils ransomware network that targeted school districts

The Hive ransomware ring received over $100 million in ransoms since 2021 by attacking school districts, hospitals and critical infrastructure globally.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 27, 2023

Pop Quiz: Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From new K-12 cybersecurity guidance to an expansive preschool initiative in Hawaii, what did you learn from this week's stories?

By Anna Merod • Jan. 27, 2023

CISA: K-12 cybersecurity change falls on leaders, not just IT staff

A report mandated by the K-12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021 calls for multi-factor authentication, strong training programs and partnerships to raise awareness.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 26, 2023

Los Angeles school system shifts timeline of ransomware attack

Post-breach investigations are complex. The timeline and scope of damage inflicted often change as investigations unfold.

By Matt Kapko • Jan. 24, 2023

NYC schools restrict the use of ChatGPT, with some exceptions

New York City Public Schools blocked the AI chatbot districtwide as some question the technology’s role in the classroom.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 11, 2023

HMH to acquire nonprofit NWEA

NWEA's MAP Growth assessment schedules and tools will not be affected by the acquisition, the organizations said.

By Kara Arundel • Updated Jan. 11, 2023

Cyberattack forces Iowa’s largest school district to cancel classes

The scope of the cyber incident at Des Moines Public Schools is still unknown as the district works to recover its network.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 11, 2023

Seattle Public Schools sues social media companies amid youth mental health crisis

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok played a major role in harming students’ mental health, the district’s lawsuit claims.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 11, 2023

Meta calls for increased regulation of child safety online

The social media giant wants more coordinated action after its first-ever Youth Safety and Well-Being Summit.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Jan. 11, 2023

Louisiana superintendent calls for removing TikTok from school devices

TikTok’s “lack of data privacy measures are extremely concerning,” said the state’s superintendent of education in a memo advising schools to ban the app.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 10, 2023

Nearly all ed tech apps share students’ personal information

A study by Internet Safety Labs found 79% of apps reviewed could access student location data.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 9, 2023

Teaching students about AI without breaking a school budget

Effective learning tools that focus on how AI works can be affordable and sometimes woven into any class subject, one expert says.

By Lauren Barack • Jan. 4, 2023

8 K-12 trends to watch in 2023

Academic recovery, family engagement, cyberthreats and school security concerns are among challenges coming at school leaders from all sides.

By Roger Riddell , Naaz Modan , Kara Arundel , Anna Merod • Jan. 4, 2023

Ransomware hit US schools at steady rate in 2022

The true numbers are likely much greater. Not all incidents are publicly disclosed or claimed as such by threat actors on the dark web.

By Matt Kapko • Jan. 4, 2023

Little Rock School District approves $250K payment in ransomware settlement

Federal agencies including the FBI discourage paying ransoms in such cyberattacks as there is no guarantee victims’ files will be recovered.

By Anna Merod • Dec. 16, 2022

FCC seeks public comment on its role in school cybersecurity

The agency is asking for feedback on how its E-rate program could expand to cover cybersecurity improvements, such as advanced firewalls.

By Anna Merod • Dec. 15, 2022

Will the FCC reevaluate E-rate’s role in school cybersecurity protections?

In a letter to the agency, Rep. Doris Matsui said the FCC should revisit its “abilities and limitations” to combat cybersecurity threats in schools. 

By Anna Merod • Dec. 13, 2022

3 steps to building a strong digital transformation strategy for your school

It’s now essential that educational institutions develop robust plans that make technology implementation successful and support the best learning outcomes for every student.

By Coby Gurr, General Manager, Education Software, Lenovo • Dec. 12, 2022

How can schools ensure learning is accessible for all?

Designing curricula to address the variety of distinct learning needs for every student can be challenging, but a number of tools and approaches are available.

By Lauren Barack • Dec. 7, 2022

Question of the Month: How do you approach sharing news about student successes on social media?

From telling communities about their schools’ accomplishments and stories to informing followers about opportunities, four school leaders detail strategies.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 7, 2022

The biggest K-12 stories of 2022 — so far

These topics resonated the most with school and district leaders in the first 11 months of 2022.

By K-12 Dive Staff • Dec. 5, 2022

Under ASCD-ISTE merger, what’s in store for teacher training resources?

ISTE CEO Richard Culatta, who will head the resulting nonprofit, said members can expect more focus on professional development and leadership training. 

By Anna Merod • Dec. 5, 2022

North Dakota wants to set the precedent for statewide cybersecurity education

State leaders hope to train all citizens to be cyber-educated as they plan to propose legislation in 2023 to require courses for graduation.

By Anna Merod • Nov. 30, 2022

Lessons In Leadership: What’s it like leading a district accountable to federal, state and tribal law?

With a deep understanding of challenges facing tribal families, Quincy Natay has raised standards and achievement in Chinle Unified School District.

By Roger Riddell • Nov. 30, 2022

These 4 pillars support effective school cybersecurity strategy

In a world where cybercriminals only need to get lucky once, districts should focus on mitigation, communication, training and remediation.

By Jim Corns • Nov. 23, 2022