Policy & Legal

White House plan seeks free school meals for 9M more students by 2032

The plan to expand school meal access is part of a strategy unveiled one day before the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. 

By Anna Merod • Sept. 27, 2022

California governor vetoes mandatory kindergarten bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the $268 million cost made the proposal unworkable, even if the intentions are laudable.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 27, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Equity in Education

From early learning to high school, the pandemic impacted equity at all levels of K-12, from persistent and widening achievement gaps to uneven access to school meals.

By K-12 Dive staff

4 in 10 California teachers considering leaving the classroom

In a California Teachers Association survey, educators said the top reasons they want to quit include burnout and staff shortages.

By Anna Merod • Sept. 27, 2022

ASBO ‘22: 3 best practices for crafting school tech use policies

Gauging community support and being specific about sanctions is critical to developing good guidance, said University of Dayton’s Charles Russo.

By Anna Merod • Sept. 26, 2022

Colorado faces federal civil rights complaint on enrollment for students with disabilities

The OCR complaint claims districts used flexibility under state law to deny students with disabilities enrollment in the schools of their choice.

By Naaz Modan • Sept. 26, 2022

How a New York high school is trying to limit student cellphone use

Scarsdale High School's "Off and Away for the Day" cellphone policy has received positive feedback so far from staff, parents and students.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 26, 2022

Virginia lawsuit claims bias in special education rulings

Parents suing districts in the state won less than 2% of 1,400 due process cases over the last 20 years, the complaint says.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 23, 2022

Judge blocks Texas transgender policy requiring school professionals to report parents

The lawsuit, which relates how a transgender student attempted suicide as a result of Abbott’s order, heads to trial next summer.

By Naaz Modan • Sept. 22, 2022

ASBO ’22: Ohio district CFO makes the case for wellness programs

Tracking data on wellness programs and encouraging staff to set healthy goals is key to helping districtwide initiatives move forward. 

By Anna Merod • Sept. 21, 2022

Staffed Up: How a Baltimore certification program fuels the teacher pipeline

Programs like the Baltimore City Teaching Residency have helped fill high-needs teaching roles in Baltimore City Public Schools, one district official says.

By Anna Merod • Sept. 21, 2022

Vermont issues private school funding guidance following Carson v. Makin

The guidance for public school districts instructs them to pay for students without secondary school options wishing to attend religious alternatives.

By Naaz Modan • Sept. 21, 2022

Report: Federal policy adjustments needed to support newcomer students

Removing caps on Title III immigrant subgrants and setting a federal definition of a newcomer student are among recommendations.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 21, 2022

Education leaders share academic, SEL recovery efforts in House subcommittee hearing

Analyzing data, expanding partnerships and boosting teacher pipelines are ways schools are addressing pandemic setbacks, panelists said.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 21, 2022

First GEER audits show misdocumentation of some funds

The Ed Department’s Office of Inspector General found Michigan, Oklahoma and Missouri could have better documented or monitored relief funds.

By Naaz Modan • Sept. 20, 2022

$1B federal cybersecurity grant to be distributed to states over 4 years

School districts will have access to the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, but cannot apply for this federal funding directly.

By Anna Merod • Sept. 20, 2022

With over 210K comments submitted, what did the public say about proposed Title IX changes?

The proposals received support overall from prominent educator groups, though supporters still identified areas of concern and clarification.

By Naaz Modan • Sept. 19, 2022

Report raises concern about low expectations for students with disabilities

The Advocacy Institute says states should have more ambitious goals for proficiency on state assessments.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 19, 2022

ASBO ‘22: How one rural district is on the road to electrify its bus fleet

Williamsfield Schools in Illinois expects to reduce costs by 67% once its electric school bus fleet is in full operation by FY 2024.

By Anna Merod • Sept. 19, 2022

The public comment period for Biden’s Title IX proposal is over. What’s next?

The draft received more than 200,000 comments, about double the number received for the rule Betsy DeVos moved through the regulatory process.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 19, 2022

Cardona clarifies funding priorities for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

In a letter to state leaders, the education secretary said districts with high poverty and that meet at least one of three other criteria should be prioritized.

By Naaz Modan • Sept. 16, 2022

House committee debates politicization of school reopening guidance

A Republican-led request for documents related to federal school reopening guidance was denied by the House Education and Labor Committee.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 16, 2022

House Republicans open investigation into ARP spending on ‘leftist ideology’

Republicans on two House committees asked for American Rescue Plan documents from California, New York, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 16, 2022

Justice Department appeals federal ruling against Title IX guidance

The order against the Education Department’s policies protecting LGBTQ students applies to 20 predominantly conservative states.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 16, 2022

ASBO ’22: Leaders must keep communicating ESSER funds will end

Districts should prepare to show short-term return on investment on ESSER spending ahead of the 2024 spending obligation deadline, panelists advised.

By Anna Merod • Sept. 15, 2022

New York temporarily extends special education services beyond age 21

Pandemic-related disrupted special education led to a state law that allows certain students to receive services until age 23.

By Kara Arundel • Sept. 15, 2022