Policy & Legal

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    Students feel safer in school when their concerns are heard, YouthTruth finds

    Survey findings reveal gaps between staff and student safety perceptions and the need to include student voice in preparedness.

    By • March 2, 2026
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    Week In Review: The special education population is on the rise

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from new interagency agreements to the State of the Union.

    By • March 2, 2026
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

    K-12 Dive has gathered some a selection of our best coverage as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    House hearing stresses that AI teacher training is a must

    Lawmakers expressed bipartisan interest in a larger federal role in support for AI professional development during a recent subcommittee hearing.

    By • Feb. 27, 2026
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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 new interagency agreements to student mental health supports, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 27, 2026
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    Teachers struggle to afford housing. What are districts doing about it?

    To help recruit and retain staff, more districts are stepping in to give them a break on rent — and even a leg up on home ownership.

    By • Feb. 27, 2026
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    Courtesy of Becket
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    District must pay $1.5M in Maryland opt-out case

    The settlement in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which also includes court-enforced compliance, comes after the Supreme Court ruled in parents' favor last year.

    By • Feb. 26, 2026
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    Roger Riddell/K-12 Dive/K-12 Dive
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    Q&A

    Cardona: Student mental health cannot be a ‘red or blue’ issue

    From the student suicide rate to consequences of misusing artificial intelligence, the former education secretary says the need for supports is urgent.

    By • Feb. 26, 2026
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    The Education Department’s 9 interagency agreements: What is going where

    In moves to downsize, the department is sending some K-12 and higher education programming to other agencies like Labor and Health and Human Services.

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump touts ‘we ended DEI in America’ in State of the Union

    In a speech noted for its length, the president touched on DEI, AI and transgender policies, but not on a broader education agenda.

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
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    Districts, parents sue Wisconsin Legislature over K-12 funding formula

    Plaintiffs say failure to keep up with inflation has led to program and staff cuts at the cost of providing all children "a sound basic education."

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
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    eranicle via Getty Images
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    DOJ: ‘Shocking overuse’ of restraint, seclusion in Missouri district

    A two-year probe finds more than 300 students were secluded almost 4,000 times and nearly 150 students were restrained 777 times.

    By • Feb. 24, 2026
  • An adult is in a classroom and is sitting at a table holding the letter "O" and curving their mouth into an O. A young student is in front of the adult with their back to the camera.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Special education enrollment keeps growing. These 3 graphics show how.

    Autism, developmental delay and multiple disabilities marked the fastest growing IDEA disability categories between 2023 and 2024.

    By • Feb. 24, 2026
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    Mike Simons / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Appeals court voids Louisiana Ten Commandments injunction

    The law can move forward after a federal appeals court said a decision without the context of actual text displays would be "guessing.”

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
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    Heather Diehl via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Congress green-lights education interagency agreements — with reservations

    The Education Department has nine such agreements with other agencies, including the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
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    Brett Carlsen via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Humanizing the superintendency, and lost instruction due to winter weather

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from the end of a 60-year-old desegregation case to a Texas district's proposal to close 12 schools.

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
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    Retrieved from YouTube.
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    Los Angeles schools to issue RIF notices to 657 staff

    The decision to send RIFs to central office staff comes as the district faces an $877 million budget deficit and sharp enrollment declines.

    By • Feb. 20, 2026
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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 Houston’s school closure proposal to a January storm forcing districts to make up lost instructional time, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 20, 2026
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr.
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    Education Department has yet to respond on support for schools affected by ICE, Democrats say

    House Democrats inquired last year about supports for mental health, chronic absenteeism and other challenges amid increased immigration enforcement.

    By • Feb. 19, 2026
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Justice Department expands footprint in K-12 civil rights issues

    The agency is joining a race discrimination lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified School District and launching Title IX probes in three Michigan districts.

    By • Feb. 19, 2026
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    How can districts and states sustain teacher apprenticeship programs?

    Leveraging local teacher vacancy funds or federal grants are among options available, said speakers in a National Center for Grow Your Own webinar.

    By • Feb. 19, 2026
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    Retrieved from Tennessee State Govenrment on February 18, 2026
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    60-year-old Tennessee school desegregation case comes to an end

    The order is the latest dismissed by the Trump administration, which said it “has no legitimate reason” to continue monitoring Dyersburg City Schools.

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
  • A handful of children are playing in the snow. Some are playing football while others are in a pile on the ground.
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    Al Drago via Getty Images
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    As districts thaw, how are they making up for lost learning?

    January’s snow and ice storms affected school districts in about 40 states. Several factors can determine if and when to make up instruction days.

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
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    Artistic Operations via Getty Images
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    Houston ISD eyes plan to close 12 schools

    Aging infrastructure and declining enrollment were cited as reasons in the Texas district’s proposal. 

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
  • Three Black teachers sit at student desks in a school classroom during a professional development session.
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    The image by Allison Shelley/EDUimages is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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    Week In Review: Strategic staffing models and DC’s math gains

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from Title IX resolutions to the impact of E-rate expansion cuts.

    By • Feb. 17, 2026
  • An aerial view shows protesters dressed in red spelling standing in formation to spell out "For our students, strike" on a beach.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Historic San Francisco USD teacher strike ends with tentative agreement

    United Educators of San Francisco reached a deal with the district on raises for staff, full family healthcare benefits and sanctuary protections.

    By • Feb. 13, 2026