After feds intervene, Texas Education Agency says it won't enforce mask mandate ban

The Texas Supreme Court earlier this week backed Gov. Greg Abbott's ban following a letter to the state from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

By Naaz Modan • Updated Aug. 20, 2021

How are schools addressing COVID-19 quarantines for fall?

The pandemic is disrupting in-person learning for a third school year in a row, but this time, remote learning policies for quarantines aren't so clear.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 16, 2021

Explore the 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

For first time, OCR asks districts for civil rights data 2 years in a row

Analyzing the pandemic's impact on school experiences is necessary, but district leaders worry about their capacity to meet data collection requirements.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 16, 2021

Superintendents navigate fiery mask debates amid employment threats

Despite mask bans and threats to jobs, some leaders are requiring masks. They're difficult decisions one expert compared to "snow days on steroids."

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 13, 2021

More students reporting poor mental health as barrier to learning, suggest SEL support is waning

A YouthTruth survey shows female and nonbinary students increasingly mentally distressed while Black students report feeling unsafe at school. 

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 12, 2021

Report: Kindergarten entry assessments key to knowing instructional needs

A Learning Policy Institute analysis suggests measuring kindergartners' school readiness is especially critical to inform instruction after COVID-19.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 11, 2021

Threat assessments: Preventing school violence or creating student trauma?

The school safety approach is used to evaluate a student’s potential to cause school violence, but critics say the practice is discriminatory and harmful.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 10, 2021

AASA, AVID launch professional development initiative focused on instructional leadership

The initiative will connect district instruction, assessment or technology leaders to share best practices and enhance each other's growth.

By Roger Riddell • Aug. 9, 2021

School leaders brace for mask bullying in fall

Administrators in mask-optional schools plan to focus on social-emotional learning and building a culture of respect to navigate the polarizing issue.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Aug. 9, 2021

How much influence do principals say they have? A lot

Traditional public school principals reported a higher level of perceived influence over evaluating teachers than their private and charter school peers.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 4, 2021

Promising Practices: SuitUp competitions let students dive into hands-on corporate experiences

Partnerships between the schools and the nonprofit connect learners to real-life business challenges and coaching from entrepreneurs and executives.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 3, 2021

School culture built around belonging crucial for re-engaging students

With many students returning to full-time, in-person learning for the first time in 18 months, a culture of inclusion can help curb anxiety and boost achievement.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Aug. 2, 2021

Prospect of COVID-19 vaccine mandates adds tension in districts

New York City Public Schools was among the nation's first school systems to require teachers get vaccinated or face routine testing. Others may follow suit.

By Naaz Modan • July 30, 2021

How will schools take advantage of $7B FCC fund to address the homework gap?

The Emergency Connectivity Fund, which provides money for devices and connectivity for off-campus learning, has an Aug. 13 application deadline.

By Kara Arundel • July 30, 2021

Ensuring federal K-12 aid is more than a stopgap relief effort

The head of the National Association of Energy Service Companies urges the use of relief funds to modernize infrastructure for efficiency.

By Timothy Unruh • July 29, 2021

Reports: Math, reading progress slowed during first full school year of pandemic

Three separate assessment analyses show younger students, students of color and low-income students had lower rates of academic gains.

By Kara Arundel and Naaz Modan • July 28, 2021

Promising Practices: High schools, communities set visions for reforms

A grant program helped support initiatives like "Portraits of a Graduate," setting priorities for skills necessary for college and career success.

By Kara Arundel • July 27, 2021

As COVID-19 cases rise, parents continue weighing returns to in-person learning

Varying mandates around masks and other safety measures, as well as the lack of a vaccine for young children, continue to complicate the issue.

By Shawna De La Rosa • July 27, 2021

School attorneys: Heated discourse at meetings shouldn't keep boards from conducting business

The public has a right to participation and free speech, but there are steps school boards can take to set expectations for decorum at meetings.

By Kara Arundel • July 26, 2021

'We don't have big goals': Leaders call for ed transformation after COVID-19

Legislators and policymakers at a Reagan Institute event said bipartisanship needed for impactful change has been hard to come by.

By Naaz Modan • July 23, 2021

Report: 'Startling differences' in teacher licensure pass rates among states

Data suggests quality and effectiveness can also vary widely between high-performing institutions and low-performing institutions in the same state.

By Naaz Modan • July 22, 2021

Lessons In Leadership: How a superintendent tapped SpaceX to help close homework gap

With a high ELL population, Texas' Ector County Independent School District is also committed to multilingual programming and parent engagement.

By Roger Riddell • July 20, 2021

How one principal kept the shift to restorative justice time-efficient, cost-effective

Principal Zachary Scott Robbins established his school's restorative justice tribunal in response to Black students facing higher suspension rates.

By Shawna De La Rosa • July 20, 2021

NPC 2021: How can principals build, strengthen equity mindset in schools?

Philadelphia principals detailed the need for systemic change and the crucial role of a strong school community, teacher diversity and partnerships.

By Roger Riddell • July 19, 2021

NPC 2021: New Jersey school builds police relationship to curb exclusionary discipline

Cherry Hill High School West trained staff members in restorative justice approaches so conflicts can be addressed through dialogue and reflection.

By Kara Arundel • July 19, 2021