Leadership

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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    ‘Immediate harm’: Education Department withholds $6.2B from schools

    Title funding for English learners, after-school programs and professional development are among the allocations unavailable to districts and states.

    By • July 1, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How would Trump’s FY 26 budget plan reshape special education?

    The White House says its IDEA budget proposal would be less complex and more effective. Critics worry about cuts and reduced accountability.

    By • June 30, 2025
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    Trendline

    Learning Loss

    Our latest K-12 Dive Trendline takes a closer look at how educators are addressing learning loss, as well as achievement trends and developments. 

    By K-12 Dive staff
  • This is a headshot of Alex Marrero, superintendent of Denver Public Schools in Colorado.
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    Permission granted by Denver Public Schools
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    Column // LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    For Denver superintendent, community is key in transforming schools

    Alex Marrero outlines an ambitious plan to improve schools facing state intervention — and he wants to ensure all stakeholders are heard.

    By • June 27, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

    From California’s lawsuit against the Justice Department to new research on children’s well-being, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • June 13, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How to turn hope into action for student success

    An Illinois superintendent shares how she uses a strategic system built on habits, optimism, passion and excellence.

    By Brandi Kelly • June 10, 2025
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Children’s well-being shows both progress and setbacks, Kids Count finds

    The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation report found higher graduation rates and lower childhood poverty. However, more teens are not in school or working.

    By • June 9, 2025
  • Kimberly Richey speaks into a microphone, sitting behind a placard bearing her name
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    Retrieved from U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions.
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    3 takeaways from OCR nominee’s Senate confirmation hearing

    Kimberly Richey, who served as acting head of the Office for Civil Rights in the first Trump administration, addressed questions on higher caseloads, Title IX and more.

    By • June 5, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Literacy is McMahon’s top priority. Senators ask, where’s the money?

    The education secretary also answered questions about FY26 proposals for mental health, civil rights, college access and where this year's spending stands.

    By • Updated June 6, 2025
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    Just_Super via Getty Images
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    Column // LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    How a Tennessee district is using AI to close literacy gaps

    The technology is helping Sumner County teachers provide more direct attention to students, says Director of Schools Scott Langford.

    By • May 28, 2025
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    Fly View Productions via Getty Images
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    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.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • May 21, 2025
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    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.

    By • May 15, 2025
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    Permission granted by Nicole Ashton
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    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.

    By • May 12, 2025
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    Permission granted by National Pathways Initiative
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    What’s needed to strengthen career and college pathway commitments?

    Leaders from education, business, government and politics say career exposure in K-12 and higher ed is needed to meet workplace demands.

    By • May 12, 2025
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    Permission granted by Westbury Union Free School District
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    Opinion

    The Women of Westbury: How a district diversified leadership and strengthened schools

    With women holding 93% of administrative roles, Superintendent Tahira DuPree Chase’s New York district is bucking trends and seeing impressive results.

    By Tahira DuPree Chase • May 2, 2025
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    What’s next for the registered teacher apprenticeship movement?

    To keep high-quality programs running, it's crucial to have sustainable financing and to amplify district and state voices.

    By • April 30, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    States have the tools to improve literacy — now they need to use them

    Most states have forged the resources to make meaningful literacy progress and must now implement them, two experts write.

    By Bob Wise and Javaid Siddiqi • April 21, 2025
  • Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pictured standing at a podium.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Governors tout career and technical education in 2025 State of States

    An analysis of their talks finds funding, teacher recruitment and retention, and student achievement to be other common threads.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • April 17, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Bills in Congress detail path to closing the Education Department

    More attention in Congress is being directed toward the federal agency’s future as Trump calls for its closure.

    By • April 14, 2025
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    States sue to recover ESSER extended spending allowances

    Tutoring, after-school programming and facility improvements have already been canceled, and layoffs are likely due to the lost funding, says the lawsuit.

    By • April 11, 2025
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    Retrieved from National Park Service.
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    Title I at 60: The debate continues

    Some want to change the formula-based program, a cornerstone of Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty, into a block grant.

    By • April 11, 2025
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    States, lawmakers push back on ‘abrupt and chaotic’ reversal of COVID funds

    The Education Department ended ESSER late liquidation, months after many states had received preapproval from the Biden administration.

    By • April 10, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    House committee advances ‘gender ideology’ bills

    Proposals seek to end what Republicans say is gender indoctrination in schools. Democrats say the bills are harmful to transgender students.

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Linda McMahon arrives to the U.S. Department of Education's building in Washington, D.C., for her first day in office.
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    US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    ‘Let’s shake it up’: McMahon defends massive cuts at Education Department

    The U.S. secretary of education spoke at the ASU+GSV Summit in California about the rapid changes the Trump administration is making to the agency.

    By Natalie Schwartz • April 8, 2025
  • President Donald Trump stands next to Linda McMahon while holding the executive order in the White House.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump changes put school districts at financial risk, Moody’s says

    States are unlikely to fill gaps left by the federal government cuts, leaving districts with a "limited menu of options,” per the sector forecast.

    By • April 8, 2025
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    sshepard via Getty Images
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    Do superintendents seem younger? It’s not your imagination.

    A recent AASA survey also finds that superintendent pay continues to lag behind inflation rates, increasing just 2% year over year.

    By • April 7, 2025