Policy & Legal

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    Loss of teacher prep grants affects teacher pipeline, survey finds

    When the Trump administration cancelled grants in two key programs, some teacher candidates dropped out and others failed to enroll, research shows.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
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    skynesher via Getty Images
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    54% of state sex ed bills proposed in the first half of 2026 were restrictive

    Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia legally require sex education, but only five require a comprehensive approach to the subject.

    By • Oct. 9, 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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    Colorado’s Adams 12 district approves 6 school closures

    The Denver-area district said its enrollment has declined faster than projected, following a pattern statewide as housing costs rise and birth rates decrease.

    By • Oct. 9, 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 Trump administration warnings over school mental health screenings to new chronic absenteeism data, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
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    Mario Villafuerte via Getty Images
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    Efficient or a gutting? Head Start proposed rule polarizes commenters

    More than 40,000 commenters weighed in on the Trump administration's proposal to revamp standards for the federal early childhood program.

    By • Oct. 8, 2026
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    Retrieved from Hillsborough County School District on October 06, 2026
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    School district book bans rose further in 2025-26

    PEN America also said that over 4,500 new titles have been added to its book removal database, indicating an expansion of book restrictions.

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
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    (2025). Retrieved from Facebook/Black Bob Elementary School.
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    Kansas’ Olathe Public Schools to close 6 schools next fall

    The district pointed to falling enrollment and insufficient state special education funding in its decision. But some families are pushing back.

    By • Oct. 6, 2026
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    Trump administration threatens federal funds over mental health screenings

    The departments of Justice and Education cited school districts' "patterns of noncompliance" with FERPA and PPRA in a letter to state attorneys general.

    By • Oct. 6, 2026
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    The top K-12 conferences to attend in 2027

    For educators looking to gain best practices on leadership, classroom tech, curricula, policy and more, these events offer a variety of options.

    By , • Oct. 6, 2026
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    Retrieved from Screenshot: Rep. Gwen Moore/YouTube.
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    Rules fuel debate over who benefits from the federal school choice plan

    Opponents say the program is tilted to benefit private school students. Supporters say it has the potential to raise billions of dollars for students.

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: A slew of new K-12 policies and guidance

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from teacher pay incentives to a federal demand to “defend the spend.”

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
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    Progress to reduce chronic absenteeism slows nationwide

    Despite the concerning trend, Iowa and Rhode Island are among states where attendance experts see success.

    By • Oct. 2, 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 details on the new federal school choice program to a court helping clear the way for a religious public charter school, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
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    Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    K-12 cases to watch during the Supreme Court’s 2026-27 term

    In the term that begins Oct. 5, justices will weigh hot-button issues related to Title IX and the separation of church and state.

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    IRS proposes rule for groundbreaking school choice program

    The controversial program is estimated to provide $26 billion in taxpayer contributions annually for education expenses for public and private school students.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    Natalia Lebedinskaia via Getty Images
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    Cross-sector collaboration needed to address homeless student barriers, researchers say

    Trends in four states show consistency across the educational disparities homeless students face, per a series of reports from UCLA.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Education Department wants grantees to ‘defend the spend’

    Officials say written justifications will add accountability, but some administrator associations are concerned the additional layer will lead to funding delays.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    How many states are embracing strategic teacher pay policies?

    State policies incentivizing teachers in hard-to-staff subjects and schools could help districts spend “smarter,” the National Council on Teacher Quality says.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    Can 3-year degrees boost the teacher pipeline?

    Arizona State University is offering a shorter teacher pathway this fall with a goal of removing financial barriers for students aspiring to enter the profession.

    By • Sept. 30, 2026
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    Kyle Mazza/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AP

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    Federal anti-swatting guidance calls for better preparation by schools

    The Education and Justice departments pointed to trauma and lost instructional time caused by false threats to campuses.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
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    Drew Angerer / Staff via Getty Images
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    Education Department takes 2024 Title IX rule off the books

    The move formalizes court decisions that had already blocked the Biden administration's anti-sex discrimination rule protecting LGBTQ+ students.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
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    10'000 Hours via Getty Images
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    Chronic absenteeism calculation unreliable at federal level, GAO says

    The federal watchdog recommends better alignment of counts for enrolled and chronically absent students.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Are more closures and consolidations on the table?

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from schools’ facility woes to challenges facing meal programs.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
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    Retrieved from United States District Court Western District of Oklahoma.
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    Federal court clears way for first religious public charter school

    The decision in favor of a Jewish organization's school follows years of setbacks in a similar case for a Catholic school.

    By • Sept. 25, 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 the vacating of an Education Department anti-DEI directive to potential school closures in 2026-27, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 25, 2026