Policy & Legal

Prior to COVID-19, states cut $600B in ed funding since Great Recession

A pair of studies from the Education Law Center adds further context to the depth of public schools' enormous financial strains.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 15, 2021

Opinion

Supporting states and schools must take priority over costly standardized testing

Learning Disabilities Association of America board members suggest ensuring the continuation of high-quality learning may require a testing pause.

By Monica McHale-Small, Bev Johns and Collin Diedrich • Jan. 08, 2021

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigns in wake of Capitol insurrection

A letter to President Donald Trump announcing her departure stated, "There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me."

By Roger Riddell • UPDATED: Jan. 8, 2021 at 10:35 a.m.

Are Biden's early education goals too ambitious?

While there’s a lot of pent-up desire to expand pre-K access, challenges exist in making President-elect Joe Biden’s plans a reality.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 06, 2021

COVID-19 pandemic highlights cracks in K-12 truancy laws

Texas is considered ahead of the curve on rethinking attendance laws, having decriminalized truancy in 2015.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Jan. 05, 2021

These 8 trends will impact schools in 2021

With the effects of multiple crises likely to linger at all levels for years to come, these key factors will influence the direction of schools in the coming year.

By Roger Riddell , Naaz Modan , Kara Arundel • Jan. 04, 2021

Survey: 60% of parents would allow their K-12 student to get COVID-19 vaccine

Democrats and parents from higher-income households are more likely to allow their child to get a vaccine when available, according to a survey from the National Parents Union.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Jan. 04, 2021

Biden nominates Connecticut schools chief Cardona as education secretary

Miguel A. Cardona was a teacher and administrator in his hometown for 20 years before rising to the role of commissioner of education.

By Kara Arundel • UPDATED: Dec. 23, 2020 at 8:32 a.m.

Is $54.3B in COVID-19 relief funding enough for K-12 schools?

The new federal funding for schools is greater than provided under the CARES Act, but Congress' refusal to provide more money to state and local governments has K-12 leaders concerned about education budget cuts. 

By Naaz Modan • UPDATED: Dec. 22, 2020 at 8:55 a.m.

CDC: Head Start is model for safe early ed programming amid COVID-19

CARES Act funding and federal flexibilities allowed centers to offer in-person learning, but not without challenges. "We are updating our plan every week," one director said.

By Kara Arundel • Dec. 21, 2020

Study: Districts could use state support in principal quality initiatives

According to RAND Corp. research, while states may be hesitating to infringe on local control, districts could benefit from support and collaboration. 

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 18, 2020

CDC report: Coronavirus mitigation efforts to reopen schools could cost up to $442 per student

With approximately 51 million pre-K through grade 12 students in the U.S., the total cost could top $22 billion.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Dec. 14, 2020

Dive Awards

Superintendent of the Year: Marlon Styles, Middletown City School District

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an Ohio superintendent took his push to close equity gaps to the national stage.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 09, 2020

How educators are tweaking grading approaches in response to the pandemic

Teachers are allowing students to revise work and stretch deadlines in attempts to fairly assess student performance this year.

By Kara Arundel • Dec. 08, 2020

ISTE 2020: Consider these 10 privacy questions when adopting ed tech

One panelist suggested educators should be even more careful with students’ personal information than with their own when adopting technology.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 03, 2020

Report: More schools trending toward integration but challenges persist

A repository of school integration efforts shows one in four students nationwide attend schools that have some racial or socioeconomic diversity policy.

By Kara Arundel • Dec. 03, 2020

Schools get creative to enroll, retain youngest students during pandemic

With preschool and kindergarten attendance dipping this year — in some areas significantly — schools are implementing multiple strategies to keep learning and funding continuing.

By Kara Arundel • Dec. 02, 2020

Tracking how the coronavirus is impacting school districts

Bureaucracy is holding up pandemic meal funds to alleviate hunger for students in need, and a growing number of teens are struggling to juggle jobs and school to support their families.

By Roger Riddell • UPDATED: Jan. 15, 2021 at 10:03 a.m.