Policy & Legal
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Supreme Court upholds Tennessee ban on youth gender-affirming care
Some 26 states have passed bans on gender-affirming care for children since 2021, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
By Susanna Vogel • June 18, 2025 -
Majority of high schoolers say they don’t feel prepared for post-graduation
In a survey, about half of students said they’ve never had a job or internship, and more than a third said they’ve never gone for a college visit.
By Carolyn Crist • June 18, 2025 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Stock Photo via Getty ImagesTrendlineAttendance and Absenteeism
Our latest K-12 Dive Trendline takes a closer look at chronic absenteeism’s impact on schools and where educators are seeing success with attendance.
By K-12 Dive staff -
How immigration raids impacted school attendance in 5 California districts
A Stanford analysis of schools in California’s Central Valley found a 22% rise in student absences it attributed to an increase in local immigration enforcement.
By Anna Merod • June 18, 2025 -
Do states have ‘statutory right’ to data, guidance from Education Department?
The agency is asking the Supreme Court to allow its reduction in force — even as its laid-off employees remain on administrative leave.
By Naaz Modan • June 17, 2025 -
Teacher pension debt spurs ‘hidden’ cuts for schools, survey says
Since 2001, pension costs have ballooned 220% while K-12 budgets have risen just 33%.
By Anna Merod • June 17, 2025 -
Why did the Energy Department issue a Title IX rule?
The proposed athletics rule would rescind a prior requirement on coed sports tryouts — but only for schools receiving Energy Department grants.
By Kara Arundel • June 16, 2025 -
States balance supports and discipline to address troubling student behaviors
A host of proposals and new laws aim to allow or ban corporal punishment, remove violent students from classrooms, and restrict preschool suspensions.
By Kara Arundel • June 16, 2025 -
Debate intensifies over national school choice proposal
Those denouncing the plan say it would harm public schools. Proponents contend it would help more students thrive through educational opportunities.
By Kara Arundel • June 13, 2025 -
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 Anna Merod • June 13, 2025 -
Unanimous SCOTUS ruling raises schools’ liability in disability cases
The decision in favor of a student with epilepsy overturns a higher burden of proof for students and families in disability disputes.
By Naaz Modan • Updated June 12, 2025 -
For more consumers, back-to-school shopping starts now
Many parents consider this year to be “financially challenging” or “stressful,” in part due to price hikes, according to a survey.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 12, 2025 -
Over 1,200 California K-12 staff laid off so far before the new school year
The sweeping layoffs were reported by the California Teachers Association and come as districts statewide face budget challenges and declining enrollment.
By Anna Merod • June 12, 2025 -
California ed chief tells Trump: ‘Keep your hands off our kids’
Incidents including a flash-bang grenade-induced lockdown and a 4th grader's removal to Texas have the state's schools on high alert.
By Naaz Modan • June 11, 2025 -
Former school district facilities chief directed $2M in HVAC work to shell company, DA alleges
The former Lawrence Union Free School District facilities director resigned after reportedly steering money to himself with the help of an accomplice.
By Robert Freedman • June 11, 2025 -
House lawmakers find consensus on benefits of school cellphone bans
State and district policies have led to lower student discipline rates, better teacher retention and more effective instructional time, witnesses told a subcommittee.
By Anna Merod • June 10, 2025 -
California sues Justice Department over threats on transgender sports policy
The federal agency warned some school districts last week that they faced "legal liability" if they followed California law.
By Naaz Modan • June 10, 2025 -
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 Kara Arundel • June 9, 2025 -
Virginia enacts ban on school cellphone use, limits on social media
In Florida, a similar, stricter law banning social media use for children under 14 years old hit a roadblock in district court.
By Anna Merod • June 6, 2025 -
POP QUIZ
Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news
From the Education Department’s latest budget proposal to a visa appointment pause’s impact on K-12, what did you learn from our recent stories?
By Anna Merod • June 6, 2025 -
Retrieved from U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions.
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 Naaz Modan • June 5, 2025 -
Trump administration appeals pause on Education Department cuts to SCOTUS
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that efforts to reduce the agency's workforce must stop while the dispute works its way through the courts.
By Kara Arundel • Updated June 6, 2025 -
How can states improve math prep for teachers?
Alabama was the only state to earn a “strong” rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality for its strategy to improve math instruction.
By Anna Merod • June 5, 2025 -
Trump pause on visa appointments worries districts relying on foreign teachers
Though the disruption is expected to be temporary, one rural leader fears it will delay her new hires from arriving in the U.S. in time for the new school year.
By Anna Merod • June 4, 2025 -
Every state except one publishes chronic absentee data online
Still, only 17 states break that data down by grade, making it difficult to detect when chronic absenteeism is elevated in a particular age group.
By Naaz Modan • June 4, 2025 -
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 Kara Arundel • Updated June 6, 2025