Policy & Legal

  • A student, whose shown on the side of their head, has a hearing device in their ear. There is a desk with a laptop in front of the person and a cellphone in their hand.
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    Student cellphone limits raise concerns over disability rights

    Advocates say screen time limits could hinder access to general curriculum for students with disabilities.

    By • Sept. 19, 2024
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    Are schools communicating their AI policies to students well enough?

    Some 37% of teens said they were unsure if their school had developed rules on AI use, according to a Common Sense Media survey.

    By • Sept. 18, 2024
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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 2024 so far as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

    By K-12 Dive staff
  • A close-up photo of a person vaping.
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Stronger enforcement needed against youth e-cigarette use

    An Illinois principal writes that vaping companies that target their products to teens often receive little more than a warning letter. 

    By Marcus Belin • Sept. 18, 2024
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    Littleny via Getty Images
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    Aging infrastructure, budget constraints weigh on K-12 facilities teams

    Older buildings in need of repairs face stagnant capital improvement budgets and need plans for preventive maintenance and more, IncidentIQ says.

    By Joe Burns • Sept. 17, 2024
  • Protestors wearing religious garb hold signs that read "Let Parents Parent"
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    Courtesy of Becket Law
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    Will the Supreme Court hear Maryland LGBTQ+ curriculum opt-out case?

    The lawsuit brings into question whether the First Amendment allows parents to remove their child from instruction they say opposes their religion.

    By • Sept. 16, 2024
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    $26M Talkspace contract with NYC stirs student data privacy concerns

    Privacy advocates say the free telehealth counseling service is asking teens to disclose personal and sensitive information when signing up.

    By • Sept. 16, 2024
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    South Carolina Supreme Court deals blow to private school scholarships

    Though other services can still be covered under the state’s new education savings account program, private school tuition cannot.

    By • Sept. 13, 2024
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

    Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

    From districts’ use of ESSER funds to growing pushback against a state education leader, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 13, 2024
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    ImagineGolf via Getty Images
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    They shoot, they score: High school sports participation at all-time high

    The rising popularity of girls flag football and continued growth in girls and boys wrestling are contributing to record high school sports involvement, says NFHS.

    By • Sept. 13, 2024
  • A student sits on the stairs inside alone. The student has one hand to their forehead and the other hand is holding a cellphone.
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    Jatuporn Tansirimas via Getty Images
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    Parents push back on school cellphone bans

    Some 78% of parents surveyed by the National Parents Union want their children to have cellphone access in case of an emergency.

    By • Sept. 12, 2024
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    fizkes via Getty Images
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    Women lead just 30% of large school districts

    White men continue to hold the largest portion of superintendencies at 44%, according to data from ILO Group.

    By • Sept. 12, 2024
  • A student wearing a face mask sits on the steps in a school building staring ahead as other students walk around.
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Mental health services least accessible for students most likely to seek them

    A new study finds poor mental health is linked to higher chronic absenteeism, which 14 states committed this week to reducing by 50%.

    By • Sept. 11, 2024
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    Photo illustration: Industry Dive; Joe Readle/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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    Tracker

    Where the 2024 presidential candidates stand on K-12 issues

    From Title IX to chronic absenteeism, we examined the candidates’ campaign websites, past statements, party platforms and more.

    By , , , • Sept. 11, 2024
  • Male teenager holds a smoked e-cigarette in his hand while sitting during recess in a hidden corner with his friends at school
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    charinporn thayot/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    CDC finds student e-cigarette use at lowest level in a decade

    An FDA official called the decline in vaping a “monumental public health win” but noted there is still work to be done in curbing its use.

    By • Sept. 10, 2024
  • Top Oklahoma education official Ryan Walters speaks at a podium with his hand raised
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    Retrieved from Superintendent Ryan Walters.
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    Oklahoma lawmakers question state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ leadership

    The Republican education leader is facing pushback from state officials in his own party over spending concerns and interactions with district leaders.

    By • Sept. 9, 2024
  • Three people are in a classroom. One person is sitting at a desk with an open laptop. The person in the middle is wearing a face mask and waving to the laptop. The third person is standing looking at the laptop.
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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    Was ESSER funding successful? Superintendents say it’s hard to generalize

    The top spending approach for the last allocation is expanded learning time, but 15% of districts say they need more time to liquidate, an AASA survey finds.

    By • Sept. 9, 2024
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    Jessica McGowan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Apalachee High School shooter’s father charged in connection to mass shooting

    The charges against Colin Gray come as more parents are facing liability in connection with mass shootings committed by their children.

    By • Sept. 6, 2024
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

    Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

    From chronic absenteeism strategies to a growing number of ransomware incidents impacting education, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 6, 2024
  • An empty plate is in focus at a table. In the blurred background, an adult and child are sitting at the same table.
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    Food insecurity among children rises for 2nd year

    Annual USDA data shows the proportion of children who were food insecure slightly increased from 8.8% to 8.9% between 2022 and 2023.

    By • Sept. 6, 2024
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    FCC announces application window for $200M cybersecurity pilot

    The commission encouraged schools to apply early for the funds, which will range from $15,000 to $1.5 million based on a per-student formula.

    By • Sept. 5, 2024
  • Law enforcement stands outside of Georgia's Apalachee High School
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    Megan Varner via Getty Images
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    4 dead, 9 injured after mass shooting at Georgia’s Apalachee High School

    Two teachers and two students were killed, and a 14-year-old high school student is in custody, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.

    By • Sept. 4, 2024
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    We’re education researchers, and we stand with the education justice movement

    Community organizers, educators and families are standing up to education censorship in a variety of ways, two New York University researchers write.

    By Rhea Almeida and Parker Foster • Sept. 4, 2024
  • The outside of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. is shown on a close day. People are walking on the sidewalk in front of the building.
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    Michigan accuses OCR of ‘legal gymnastics’ in Section 504 proceeding

    The state injects the Loper decision in its latest filing, saying OCR is relying on "dated and unpersuasive precedent" to make its case.

    By • Sept. 4, 2024
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    Americans’ satisfaction with K-12 education rises from record low

    A 55% majority still report they are dissatisfied with the quality of schools this year, recent Gallup polling shows.

    By • Sept. 4, 2024
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    Publishing giants challenge book removals in Florida schools

    A lawsuit alleges state law is leading to books that aren’t obscene being removed under the guise of “pornography,” violating the First Amendment.

    By • Sept. 3, 2024