Policy & Legal

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    House subcommittee debates best way to protect children online

    Lawmakers are calling for urgency on the issue, having introduced 19 bills to safeguard minors on the internet and social media.

    By • Dec. 3, 2025
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    IDEA at 50: How the landmark law changed education

    The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has led to innovations for all students, but key factors could hinder further progress.

    By , • Dec. 3, 2025
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

    K-12 Dive has gathered some a selection of our best coverage from 2025 so far 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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    Treasury, IRS seek comments on federal school choice program

    The agencies are seeking input into policies for scholarship-granting organizations that will distribute the funds contributed by taxpayers.

    By • Dec. 3, 2025
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    Illuminate Education reaches settlement with FTC over 2021 data breach

    The FTC alleged the ed tech company knew of multiple security vulnerabilities a year before a breach exposed 10 million students’ personal information.

    By • Dec. 2, 2025
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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    Public school funding nears $1 trillion, Reason Foundation finds

    Average annual per-student costs grew 36% across local, state and federal sources between 2002 and 2023 after adjusting for inflation.

    By • Dec. 2, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr on December 01, 2025
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    McMahon marks IDEA’s 50th anniversary with Virginia school visit

    The government won’t take "its foot off of the gas pedal" on IDEA compliance or monitoring, says Kimberly Richey, acting assistant secretary of OSERS.

    By • Dec. 1, 2025
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    What would education’s omission as a ‘professional degree’ mean?

    The field reportedly didn’t make the cut in a proposal under consideration by the Education Department regarding federal loan limits for graduate students.

    By • Dec. 1, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr on November 26, 2025
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    Education Department outsourcing is unlawful, amended lawsuit claims

    The agency says it wants to improve efficiencies for K-12 and higher education funding and services.

    By • Nov. 26, 2025
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    Schools grapple with whooping cough as 2025 outpaces last year’s peak numbers

    Preliminary reports from the CDC, as well as state and local agencies, suggest a significant increase in U.S. pertussis numbers — particularly in Texas.

    By Lara Ewen • Nov. 26, 2025
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    Permission granted by Erick Salazar
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    Deep Dive // IDEA AT 50

    How IDEA sparked innovations for students with — and without — disabilities

    The landmark law has become the catalyst for legions of innovative practices and tools to make learning more accessible.

    By • Nov. 25, 2025
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    Permission granted by CR Marketing
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    Deep Dive // IDEA AT 50

    Teacher shortages hinder special education progress. What are the solutions?

    "When we fail to fully staff our classrooms, we fail to deliver on the promise of a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities," says one educator.

    By • Nov. 25, 2025
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    Ceri Breeze via Getty Images
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    Austin ISD is closing 10 schools amid enrollment challenges

    The closures will mostly impact elementary schools and are set to save the Texas district $21.5 million.

    By • Nov. 24, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Fallout from the Education Department’s breakup

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from 8th grade algebra to the latest legal pushes on religion in schools.

    By • Nov. 24, 2025
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    Photo illustration by Andrew Harnik/K-12 Dive; photograph by Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    DOJ targets college access for undocumented students in 6th lawsuit

    The lawsuits are related to policy changes that could impact dual enrollment and high school students' access to career and technical education programs.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025
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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 another shakeup at the Education Department to growth in Arizona’s universal school choice program, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Nov. 21, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr.
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    Education Department breakup divides K-12 community

    Supporters say the interagency agreements will reduce federal bloat. Critics worry educational opportunities for students will be lost.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Special educators, disability advocates form united front to protect IDEA

    The 850-member coalition supports keeping special education programming at the Education Department, saying moving it would put IDEA services at risk.

    By • Nov. 20, 2025
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    Retrieved from Ben Gamla Charter School on November 19, 2025
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    Another religious school to apply for public charter status in Oklahoma

    The effort by a Jewish school comes on the heels of a Supreme Court case involving a Catholic virtual school that had applied to become a public charter.

    By • Nov. 20, 2025
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    More Texas school districts ordered to take down Ten Commandments displays

    The temporary order by a federal judge said a Texas law’s requirements to put up the Ten Commandments in every classroom violates the First Amendment.

    By • Nov. 19, 2025
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    How California ensured cultural responsiveness in early literacy screenings

    The state prioritized inclusivity for English learners in the tools it uses to screen for reading difficulties, a university researcher says.

    By Ed Finkel • Nov. 19, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court won’t hear football prayer loudspeaker case

    Its rejection comes on the heels of another case in 2022 that allowed school staff to engage in prayer with students in some situations.

    By • Nov. 19, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Education Department outsources program management to other agencies

    The interagency agreements will shift management of six of the department’s programs, including elementary and secondary education, to other agencies.

    By • Updated Nov. 18, 2025
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    Special educator shortages demand tailored solutions, study says

    Researchers find that state and local policies need to target not only attrition but also the reasons behind turnover.

    By Lara Ewen • Updated Nov. 18, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski / Staff via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Education Department activities resume

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from special education concerns to enrollment woes.

    By • Nov. 17, 2025
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    4nadia via Getty Images
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    Lessons learned from Arizona’s universal school choice program

    The state’s universal private school choice program grew 633% between 2021-22 and 2024-25, equaling about 7% of the state’s school population last year.

    By • Nov. 17, 2025