Policy & Legal


  • False Claims Act, Wisconsin Bell
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    Supreme Court declines K-12 cases on gender support plan, race-conscious admissions

    In a dissent on the transgender-related case, two justices called the issue presented "a question of great and growing national importance."

    By Dec. 9, 2024
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    What do special education advocates anticipate from a 2nd Trump term?

    Some advocacy groups are preparing to defend the federal government's role in supporting public school students with disabilities.

    By Dec. 9, 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
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Federal judge upholds race-conscious admissions at Naval Academy

    The ruling deals a blow to Students for Fair Admissions, the group that successfully brought down these practices at civilian colleges.

    By Laura Spitalniak • Dec. 6, 2024
  • Brendan Carr stands to the left of Donald Trump, who is wearing a red hat that says "Make America Great Again."
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    What Trump’s pick for FCC chair could mean for E-rate expansion

    As a commissioner, Brendan Carr dissented against the inclusion of school bus Wi-Fi and hotspots, but it’s unclear where he would lead the program next.

    By Dec. 6, 2024
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    STUDY HALL

    What is E-rate and how does it benefit schools?

    With the FCC program’s future in legal limbo, here’s what it means for schools and libraries that use the federal funds for affordable internet connectivity.

    By Dec. 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 new math performance data to the 20th anniversary of a federal law’s last reauthorization, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By Dec. 6, 2024
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Reading wars head to court: Lawsuit claims ‘deceptive’ practices by famed literacy specialists

    The plaintiffs sold faulty curricula that “sought to diminish and even exclude” phonics instruction, two mothers claim in a suit seeking class-action status.

    By Dec. 5, 2024
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    FreshSplash via Getty Images
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    ‘No one-size-fits-all’ student cellphone policy, says Education Department

    In a new resource, the agency encourages schools, districts and states to develop policies in collaboration with families, students and educators.

    By Dec. 4, 2024
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    undrey via Getty Images
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    Math scores plummet, progress ‘erased,’ NCES reports

    Average U.S. math scores on the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study reverted to 1995 levels.

    By Dec. 4, 2024
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    Ralf Geithe via Getty Images
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    Special education teacher shortages subject of public listening session

    The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights wants to hear from educators, parents, students and community members as it develops recommendations.

    By Dec. 3, 2024
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    Permission granted by Kellyn Donahoe
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    Deep Dive

    IDEA 2004 turns 20: How the landmark reauthorization changed special education

    While gains have come for inclusion of students with disabilities, underfunding and teacher shortages remain struggles.

    By Dec. 3, 2024
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    princigalli via Getty Images
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    Education Department promotes expanded use of behavior assessments

    Students with and without disabilities can benefit from individualized interventions intended to improve classroom behaviors, new guidance says.

    By Dec. 2, 2024
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    AMAYRA via Getty Images
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    Ohio becomes latest state to restrict transgender students’ bathroom access

    Under the Protect All Students Act, K-12 and college students in the state can only use multiperson facilities aligned with their sex assigned at birth.

    By , Dec. 2, 2024
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Dive Awards

    The K-12 Dive Awards for 2024

    These leaders are achieving excellence through commitments to school culture and community, innovation, and wraparound services for students.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Why E-rate’s future is now in the hands of the Supreme Court

    The court is set to review the 5th Circuit’s decision striking down the funding mechanism for the FCC’s Universal Service Fund next year.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
  • A young student wears headphones while using a tablet device as Ector County ISD’s superintendent watches from the student’s right.
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    Permission granted by Ector County ISD
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    Dive Awards

    District of the Year: Ector County ISD

    In the past five years, the Texas district’s investments in staffing and high dosage tutoring are paying off.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
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    Trump picks Rollins to lead USDA — and thus school nutrition programs

    Like Trump’s nomination for education secretary, Rollins also comes from the right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute.

    By Sarah Zimmerman , Nov. 26, 2024
  • Topeka Public Schools student Simone Holloway stands onstage with Superintendent Tiffany Anderson at a school district event.
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    Permission granted by Topeka Public Schools
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    Dive Awards

    Superintendent of the Year: Tiffany Anderson, Topeka Public Schools

    Over the past eight years, Anderson has reimagined leadership structures, invested in teacher housing initiatives, and kept one foot in the classroom.

    By Updated Nov. 26, 2024
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    How RFK Jr. could shake up school lunches

    Trump’s HHS pick is expected to work to eliminate processed foods from school meals and push for the removal of dyes from cereals and other items.

    By David Silverberg • Nov. 26, 2024
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    Halfpoint via Getty Images
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    High school students report challenges in accessing skilled trades training

    Training programs can’t keep up with demand, which may signal a need for employer investments, a report found.

    By Carolyn Crist • Nov. 25, 2024
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    number1411 via Getty Images
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    Nation’s Report Card to debut new poverty measurement

    The metric for students’ socioeconomic status will include factors such as the number of books in homes and parents’ education levels.

    By Nov. 25, 2024
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    xavierarnau via Getty Images
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    Georgia unveils its newest private school choice program

    The Georgia Promise Scholarship is capped at 1% of public school funding and is expected to serve an estimated 21,000-22,000 students.

    By Nov. 22, 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 Trump’s education secretary pick to a class-action lawsuit’s advancement against an ed tech platform, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By Nov. 22, 2024
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    The image by U.S. Department of State (IIP Bureau) is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Education Department officially launches 2025-26 FAFSA

    Agency officials struck an optimistic tone about the release of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

    By Natalie Schwartz • Nov. 21, 2024
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    John M. Chase via Getty Images
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    How do civil rights laws apply to AI in schools?

    A new resource from the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights outlines 21 examples of how the tech could contribute to discrimination.

    By Nov. 21, 2024