Policy & Legal
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BY THE NUMBERS
Teacher salaries average $74.5K nationally. Is it enough?
Inflation continues to eat away at the salary gains teachers have made in recent years, a new National Education Association report finds.
By Anna Merod • April 28, 2026 -
Inside the new math wars: Navigating division over teaching approaches
A new guide from the Center on Reinventing Public Education’s explains the divisions shaping the “science of math” — as well as areas of agreement.
By Kara Arundel • April 28, 2026 -
Explore the Trendlineâž”
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TrendlineTop 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 -
Supreme Court won’t hear gender support plan case
The petition for high court review came from parents who argued that the LGBTQ+-inclusivity measure violated their 14th Amendment rights.
By Naaz Modan • April 27, 2026 -
Week In Review: Web accessibility rules and federal school choice
We’re rounding up last week’s news, from limits on tech in schools to the latest on book challenges.
By Roger Riddell • April 27, 2026 -
STAFFED UP
How is the STEM teacher pipeline faring in high-need schools?
Raising teacher pay and investing in a federal scholarship program could help with recruitment and retention, research suggests.
By Anna Merod • April 27, 2026 -
OCR launches antisemitism probe into New York City schools
The Title VI investigation grew out of complaints over seminars conducted by a pro-Palestinian teachers' group, the U.S. Education Department said.
By Naaz Modan • April 24, 2026 -
POP QUIZ
Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news
From extended web accessibility deadlines to a Supreme Court case on universal pre-K, what did you learn from our recent stories?
By Anna Merod • April 24, 2026 -
2025 broke record for censorship: Less than 3% of book challenges came from parents
Groups or government officials initiated 92% of challenges, and two-thirds overall ended in removals, according to an American Library Association report.
By Naaz Modan • April 23, 2026 -
LAUSD imposes screen time limits starting in 2026-27
One Los Angeles Unified School District board member said the policy curbing technology use in schools will “help lead the nation” on similar efforts.
By Anna Merod • April 22, 2026 -
Texas can require schools to display 10 Commandments, 5th Circuit says
The decision is a win for conservatives who have sought to incorporate religion in public schools — and brings the issue one step closer to the Supreme Court.
By Naaz Modan • April 22, 2026 -
27 states want to opt into federal school choice program
States are awaiting rules defining a formal process to join the program, which is set to launch Jan. 1, 2027.
By Kara Arundel • April 22, 2026 -
Arkansas law boosted teacher pay — and retention
Research from the University of Arkansas, however, warns that the impacts from these raises will “fade over time” if they’re not sustained.
By Anna Merod • April 21, 2026 -
SCOTUS takes up whether preschools can exclude children of gay parents
Plaintiffs say Colorado’s universal pre-K program requiring equal access to enrollment despite sexual orientation is religious discrimination.
By Naaz Modan • April 20, 2026 -
Schools get another year to comply with web accessibility deadlines
Reactions were mixed to the U.S. Department of Justice’s extension for digitally accessible content managed by state and local government entities.
By Kara Arundel • April 20, 2026 -
A Texas district closed 2 schools. How innovation made it a smoother process.
Donna Independent School District credits the launch of its innovative academies for helping parents adjust to two elementary schools closing.
By Anna Merod • April 20, 2026 -
POP QUIZ
Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news
From a district saving money by “vibe coding” to new Education Department priorities, what did you learn from our recent stories?
By Anna Merod • April 17, 2026 -
OCR investigating Texas district’s plan to move special education class
OCR will look into whether the New Home Independent School District violated Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
By Kara Arundel • April 16, 2026 -
5 ways schools can reduce chronic absenteeism and boost student engagement
Culturally relevant teaching and strong family connections are two ways schools are increasing attendance, says a University of Oregon report.
By Kara Arundel • April 16, 2026 -
Should the Bible be part of public school curriculum? The momentum is building.
A push for Bible instruction may become the next wave of curriculum policies sweeping through the nation, as more states consider such legislation.
By Naaz Modan • April 15, 2026 -
Inside Trump’s 3.5% budget boost for special education
The FY27 budget proposal, however, would make changes that have advocates concerned about accountability and federal supports.
By Kara Arundel • April 15, 2026 -
The Education Department released new priorities for key programs. Here’s what to know.
The agency is showing an increased interest in allocating resources to career and workforce readiness, educator training, literacy and artificial intelligence.
By Naaz Modan • April 14, 2026 -
How the Education Department will prioritize AI in awarding grants
A new final rule details a broad set of AI initiatives that will be given more weight in the agency’s discretionary funding programs.
By Anna Merod • April 14, 2026 -
Layoffs, hiring freezes pick up in districts amid declining enrollment
From Boston to San Francisco, districts are planning for sweeping staff reductions as superintendents face tightening budgets.
By Anna Merod • April 14, 2026 -
Appeals court OKs parts of Iowa’s sweeping anti-LGBTQ law
The decision is a blow to free speech and civil rights advocates, who have said such laws are discriminatory and lead to self-censorship in schools.
By Naaz Modan • April 13, 2026 -
First grants announced under Labor Dept elementary and secondary ed partnership
The two grant competitions cover literacy in high-need areas and incentives for performance-based compensation for teachers and school leaders.
By Naaz Modan • April 10, 2026