Policy & Legal

  • The LGBTQ+ pride flag flies in the hands of an activist.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Fewer than half of transgender, nonbinary youth report others use their pronouns

    Data released by The Trevor Project shows a lower suicide risk for students whose pronouns were used. In some states, policies make it a challenge.

    By • Dec. 18, 2025
  • President Donald Trump stands at a podium in the White House, surrounded by Christmas decor.
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    Retrieved from The White House on December 18, 2025
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    Trump celebrates returning education ‘back’ to the states in national address

    While 2025 has come with major changes to the K-12 landscape, the president remained silent on what's in store for 2026.

    By • Dec. 18, 2025
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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 2025 so far as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

    By K-12 Dive staff
  • Rep. Walberg speaks nto a microphone
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    Retrieved from House Committee on Education & Workforce.
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    Republicans say sports could stem school, gun violence as Democrats push back

    In a hearing on Tuesday, lawmakers disagreed over whether sports was an effective school safety measure in the wake of recent school shootings.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
  • An aerial view of a child's hands holding a glass of milk on a wooden table.
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    Getty Images
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    Congress passes bill allowing schools to offer whole milk, nondairy options

    The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was sent to President Donald Trump’s desk after the House approved the bipartisan legislation Monday.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
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    Eric Thayer via Getty Images
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    State AGs launch third lawsuit seeking to block Trump’s H-1B order

    The plaintiffs alleged public schools, university-level research institutions and healthcare systems could be harmed by a $100,000 fee on all new visas.

    By Ryan Golden • Dec. 17, 2025
  • Six students carrying backpacks are walking down a hallway in a school. Their backs are to the camera and light is coming in through a window.
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    Valerii Apetroaiei via Getty Images
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    Feds announce early opt-in process for new federal school choice program

    The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service said more details on the process, which doesn’t yet have a deadline, are on the way.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
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    eranicle via Getty Images
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    Bill in Congress aims to ban seclusion, limit restraint in schools

    In addition to improving student safety, the reintroduction of the Keeping All Students Safe Act would increase transparency and oversight.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
  • A superintendent greets elementary students outside of their school as they arrive on a fall morning.
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    Permission granted by Iowa City Community School District
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    Dive Awards

    Superintendent of the Year: Matt Degner, Iowa City Community School District

    This district leader focuses on making academic programs unique as he strives to set his school system apart at a time of growing competition for students.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Dive Awards

    The K-12 Dive Awards for 2025

    Whether they’re driving postsecondary pathways, district marketing strategies or school turnarounds, these leaders are raising the bar for K-12.

    By , • Dec. 16, 2025
  • A principal is pictured standing among students, speaking to them as they use an embroidery machine in a commercial art course.
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    Permission granted by Pierre Orbe
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    Dive Awards

    Principal of the Year: Pierre Orbe, DeWitt Clinton High School

    One educator’s unplanned detour from medical school into education led to a turnaround for one of New York City’s most storied high schools.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Cleveland Metropolitan School District to close or merge 29 schools by 2026-27

    The district’s board approved the change in the face of declining enrollment — to the tune of about 50% fewer students over the past two decades.

    By • Dec. 15, 2025
  • a young student with ponytails has their back to the camera and is facing a wall of shelves with multicolor books
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    Olha Romaniuk via Getty Images
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    Week in Review: Book ban litigation and students’ online privacy protections

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from OCR employees’ return-to-work to the impact of summer school participation.

    By • Dec. 15, 2025
  • U.S. flag flies above the Department of Justice building
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    DOJ targets teacher diversity efforts in lawsuit against Minnesota schools

    The lawsuit challenges the district’s agreement with its teachers union, which includes diversity efforts such as recruiting and retaining Black men.

    By • Dec. 15, 2025
  • Two students sit together on a running track outside while eating from their lunch boxes.
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    Getty Images
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    After-school meal participation still below pre-COVID levels, FRAC finds

    Data shows 1.26 million students were served after-school supper on an average school day in October 2024.

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump calls for federal policy framework preempting state AI laws

    The move comes as Big Tech pushes back against local AI regulation while pouring billions into building out AI infrastructure and deploying new products.

    By Makenzie Holland • Dec. 12, 2025
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    House subcommittee advances 18 bills to protect minors online

    Two of the key proposals, KOSA and COPPA 2.0, will move forward to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for a vote.

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

    Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

    From data on summer school impacts to the Supreme Court denying an education-related case, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • A teacher sits at a desk while virtually instructing students through a laptop. The teacher is in an empty classroom with rows of chairs flipped upside down on top of students' desks.
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    School reopenings after pandemic linked to decreased mental health challenges

    District leaders should weigh infection risk and the need for socialization and other school resources in closure decisions during future crises, a study says.

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • Linda McMahon arrives to the U.S. Department of Education's building in Washington, D.C., for her first day in office.
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    US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Education Department distributes more than $208M in new mental health grants

    The new funds come after the agency controversially revoked up to $1 billion under the same programs from recipients that incorporated DEI efforts.

    By • Dec. 11, 2025
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    School violence: An educator’s painful and promising 50-year perspective

    Though there’s no quick fix for school violence, educators can work to prevent it by keeping in mind “5 B’s,” a crisis intervention expert writes.

    By Stephen Sroka • Dec. 11, 2025
  • A poster of the "Trump Gold Card" is seen as President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on September 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    H-1B visa applicants will now have their social media scrutinized

    The move is the latest measure from President Donald Trump’s administration to make the immigration process more stringent.

    By Caroline Colvin • Dec. 10, 2025
  • Four students are laying on their stomachs outside on the grass. They are looking at a book in front of them.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Summer school boosts math — but not reading — achievement, NWEA finds

    The analysis says summer school literacy instruction shouldn't be abandoned, but “more work is needed” to identify effective program approaches.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
  • A drawing on a chalkboard depicting the female and male signs for public bathrooms.
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    Getty Images
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    DOJ joins Loudoun County transgender student inclusion lawsuit

    The case involves two Christian high school boys who were suspended after complaining about a transgender student in their locker room.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
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    Education Department adds ‘lower earnings’ warning to FAFSA

    The agency will warn students when they’ve indicated interest in a college whose graduates have relatively low incomes.

    By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 9, 2025
  • Image of a librarian's hands as she sorts through a pile of children's books that are out of focus.
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    Supreme Court turns down book ban case

    The case would have been the first on book bans to be heard in over four decades and is part of a cascade of similar lawsuits.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025