Policy & Legal

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    The top K-12 conferences to attend in 2027

    For educators looking to gain best practices on leadership, classroom tech, curricula, policy and more, these events offer a variety of options.

    By , • Oct. 6, 2026
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    Retrieved from Screenshot: Rep. Gwen Moore/YouTube.
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    Rules fuel debate over who benefits from the federal school choice plan

    Opponents say the program is tilted to benefit private school students. Supporters say it has the potential to raise billions of dollars for students.

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

    K-12 Dive has gathered some a selection of our best coverage as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: A slew of new K-12 policies and guidance

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from teacher pay incentives to a federal demand to “defend the spend.”

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
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    Progress to reduce chronic absenteeism slows nationwide

    Despite the concerning trend, Iowa and Rhode Island are among states where attendance experts see success.

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
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    Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    K-12 cases to watch during the Supreme Court’s 2026-27 term

    In the term that begins Oct. 5, justices will weigh hot-button issues related to Title IX and the separation of church and state.

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
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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 details on the new federal school choice program to a court helping clear the way for a religious public charter school, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    IRS proposes rule for groundbreaking school choice program

    The controversial program is estimated to provide $26 billion in taxpayer contributions annually for education expenses for public and private school students.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    How many states are embracing strategic teacher pay policies?

    State policies incentivizing teachers in hard-to-staff subjects and schools could help districts spend “smarter,” the National Council on Teacher Quality says.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    Natalia Lebedinskaia via Getty Images
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    Cross-sector collaboration needed to address homeless student barriers, researchers say

    Trends in four states show consistency across the educational disparities homeless students face, per a series of reports from UCLA.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Education Department wants grantees to ‘defend the spend’

    Officials say written justifications will add accountability, but some administrator associations are concerned the additional layer will lead to funding delays.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    Can 3-year degrees boost the teacher pipeline?

    Arizona State University is offering a shorter teacher pathway this fall with a goal of removing financial barriers for students aspiring to enter the profession.

    By • Sept. 30, 2026
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    Kyle Mazza/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AP

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    Federal anti-swatting guidance calls for better preparation by schools

    The Education and Justice departments pointed to trauma and lost instructional time caused by false threats to campuses.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
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    Drew Angerer / Staff via Getty Images
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    Education Department takes 2024 Title IX rule off the books

    The move formalizes court decisions that had already blocked the Biden administration's anti-sex discrimination rule protecting LGBTQ+ students.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
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    10'000 Hours via Getty Images
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    Chronic absenteeism calculation unreliable at federal level, GAO says

    The federal watchdog recommends better alignment of counts for enrolled and chronically absent students.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
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    Week In Review: Are more closures and consolidations on the table?

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from schools’ facility woes to challenges facing meal programs.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
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    Retrieved from United States District Court Western District of Oklahoma.
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    Federal court clears way for first religious public charter school

    The decision in favor of a Jewish organization's school follows years of setbacks in a similar case for a Catholic school.

    By • Sept. 25, 2026
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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 the vacating of an Education Department anti-DEI directive to potential school closures in 2026-27, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 25, 2026
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    Retrieved from U.S. Government Accountability Office.
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    Facility problems led to 3.5M lost school days, GAO says

    Water intrusion, extreme temperatures, indoor air quality and structural problems forced schools to close the most in the 2024-25 school year. 

    By Robert Freedman • Sept. 24, 2026
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    Lack of federal funding hindering school meal programs, superintendents say

    Some 40% of leaders said they had to pull funding from elsewhere, including academic programming, to cover the cost of feeding students.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
  • U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is pictured speaking into a podium next to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice.
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    How are Trump efforts to cut funding under Title IX holding up in court?

    The administration's approach to civil rights enforcement, which included Justice Department lawsuits, is hitting roadblocks a year later.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
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    More school closure decisions likely ahead for the 2026-27 school year

    Large districts including Los Angeles Unified School District are facing enrollment and budget concerns as classes resume.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Judge vacates anti-DEI directive that led to teacher training grant cuts

    A federal judge ruled the Education Department directive and its cancellation of hundreds of millions in funds for teacher training programs was unlawful.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
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    Retrieved from Des Moines Public Schools.
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    Iowa’s largest district appoints new superintendent one year after former leader’s ICE arrest

    Matt Smith had served as interim superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools since September 2025, his second time doing so since 2022-23.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
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    Week In Review: Rising Leaders and falling turnover

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from changes to a federal data collection to discussions at a Reagan Institute summit.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
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    1 in 4 elementary school teachers say students use devices for main lessons

    Almost all elementary teachers say students use devices in the classroom, and two-thirds of teachers overall would support going paper-based instead.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026