Curriculum

  • Three high school theater students share notes on a performing arts center stage.
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    The play’s the thing: How peer-to-peer mentoring in theater builds SEL skills

    Student theater can be a gold mine for promoting mentorship, confidence and creativity in a rushed, screen-oriented culture, one expert says.

    By Ed Finkel • Jan. 21, 2026
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    bluestocking via Getty Images
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    Maine teacher makes math relevant with ‘fun-tivities’

    This high school educator is engaging students with a mix of inquiry-based digital projects and hands-on activities.

    By Ed Finkel • Jan. 21, 2026
  • Explore the Trendline➔
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    "Freshman Orientation" by Phil Roeder is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Trendline

    Social-Emotional Learning

    Our latest K-12 Dive Trendline takes a closer look at how educators are addressing social-emotional learning amid pushback from policymakers and ongoing demand from employers.

    By K-12 Dive staff
  • An adult sits at a small desk on a stage in a room, holding a pen and writing on a paper. Rows of children are sitting at individual desks behind the adult.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Trump 2.0: A sea change for K-12

    From Education Department downsizing to a variety of legal battles, take a month-by-month look at how the federal approach to K-12 has shifted.

    By , , , • Jan. 20, 2026
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    What can US schools learn about AI education from their Chinese counterparts?

    Schools in China are fast equipping students to work with the emerging tech, ILO Group CEO Julia Rafal-Baer said after a recent visit.

    By Ed Finkel • Jan. 14, 2026
  • A teenage girl stands in front of her middle school class to present information.
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    How ‘open mic’ activities can improve writing, social skills

    Involving students in planning and fostering a supportive environment can encourage even the most reticent to participate, one expert says.

    By Ed Finkel • Jan. 14, 2026
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    Week In Review: From Head Start to Texas teachers, K-12 hits the courtroom

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, including ESEA waivers and key trends to watch in 2026.

    By • Jan. 12, 2026
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    Deep Dive

    6 trends to watch for K-12 in 2026

    Enrollment concerns, growing school choice competition, data privacy and new federal policy priorities are among a slew of challenges facing public schools.

    By , , • Jan. 8, 2026
  • Five students are sitting close together at a table. They have pens and markers in their hands and they are writing on a sheet of paper on the desk.
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    How to reacclimate students after winter break

    Taking time to reestablish routines — and perhaps forge new ones — can help educators engage learners as school resumes.

    By Ed Finkel • Jan. 7, 2026
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    xavierarnau via Getty Images
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    Challenges persist for CTE programs, report finds

    Some 40% of programs struggle to find employer partnerships, and 66% of CTE leaders say students lack awareness of options, YouScience data shows.

    By Ed Finkel • Jan. 7, 2026
  • An adult sits at a small table with young students in a classroom. On the table is paper and Play-doh.
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    andresr via Getty Images
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    Pre-K teachers speak out about AI, instructional materials, training and pay in surveys

    Rand research indicates teachers of young students want and need more training in ed tech, curricula and supporting diverse learners.

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
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    LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    5 lessons learned from top school administrators in 2025

    We’re highlighting key insights on ed tech adoption, remediation services, community engagement and more from this year’s conversations.

    By • Jan. 2, 2026
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

    Final Exam: Test yourself on the past year’s K-12 news

    From the downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education to a data breach that impacted over 60 million students, what did you learn from our stories in 2025?

    By • Dec. 23, 2025
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    NAEP innovations on track despite NCES layoffs

    The Education Department said it "continues to pursue cutting-edge innovations" and that NAEP will be administered primarily on school devices next year.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
  • AI powers big data analysis and automation workflows, showcasing neural networks and data streams for business.
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    Week In Review: K-12 Dive Awards and AI’s march in curriculum

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a report on teens’ pronoun usage to milk in school lunches.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
  • Top Oklahoma education official Ryan Walters speaks at a podium with his hand raised
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    Retrieved from Superintendent Ryan Walters.
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    Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down controversial social studies standards

    The standards were already on pause, but the court ruled this week that the state board of education violated the law in creating and adopting them. 

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
  • Two students work with an artificial intelligence-enabled mannequin in a healthcare career education program.
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    Permission granted by Baldwin Union Free School District
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    AI brings medical ‘manikins’ to life for New York district’s students

    Students in a Baldwin Union Free School District health science program are gaining real-world experience working with realistic training robots.

    By Ed Finkel • Dec. 17, 2025
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    Georgia district creates AI ambassadors with ‘train the trainer’ initiative

    The model is helping a suburban Atlanta district’s small instructional technology staff to scale artificial intelligence professional development.

    By Ed Finkel • Dec. 17, 2025
  • A superintendent greets elementary students outside of their school as they arrive on a fall morning.
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    Permission granted by Iowa City Community School District
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    Dive Awards

    Superintendent of the Year: Matt Degner, Iowa City Community School District

    This district leader focuses on making academic programs unique as he strives to set his school system apart at a time of growing competition for students.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
  • A principal is pictured standing among students, speaking to them as they use an embroidery machine in a commercial art course.
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    Permission granted by Pierre Orbe
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    Dive Awards

    Principal of the Year: Pierre Orbe, DeWitt Clinton High School

    One educator’s unplanned detour from medical school into education led to a turnaround for one of New York City’s most storied high schools.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Permission granted by Beaverton School District
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    Dive Awards

    District of the Year: Beaverton School District

    The Oregon district has taken career and technical education, dual language programming and cost-saving school transportation to new heights.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Dive Awards

    The K-12 Dive Awards for 2025

    Whether they’re driving postsecondary pathways, district marketing strategies or school turnarounds, these leaders are raising the bar for K-12.

    By , • Dec. 16, 2025
  • a young student with ponytails has their back to the camera and is facing a wall of shelves with multicolor books
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    Week in Review: Book ban litigation and students’ online privacy protections

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from OCR employees’ return-to-work to the impact of summer school participation.

    By • Dec. 15, 2025
  • A photo illustration of a circle encompassing a question mark, pencil, and scantron test.
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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 data on summer school impacts to the Supreme Court denying an education-related case, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • Four students are laying on their stomachs outside on the grass. They are looking at a book in front of them.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Summer school boosts math — but not reading — achievement, NWEA finds

    The analysis says summer school literacy instruction shouldn't be abandoned, but “more work is needed” to identify effective program approaches.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
  • two students are low to the ground looking at vegetation. The student closest to the camera holds a magnifying glass, a notebook and pencil.
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    The scientific method: It’s not just for science anymore

    The same exercises in logic and reason can extend to assignments in the social sciences, humanities and more.

    By Ed Finkel • Dec. 10, 2025