Policy & Legal
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Anti-ICE student walkouts are expected Friday. What are schools doing?
K-12 leaders are advised to speak with student organizers before any planned walkouts while keeping students safe and school settings uninterrupted.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 29, 2026 -
STAFFED UP
How the child care crisis could strain teacher retention
Rising costs and fewer federal resources for the child care industry present more professional obstacles for teachers who are parents of young children.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 29, 2026 -
Philadelphia proposes closing 20 schools in $2.8B facilities plan
The move comes as the district has seen a slight increase in overall enrollment but ongoing drops in its traditional public schools.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 29, 2026 -
Senators debate whether school choice harms or helps public schools
Supporters of private school choice tout opportunities to innovate, while critics worry about the financial stability of public schools.
By Kara Arundel • Jan. 28, 2026 -
Deep Dive
3 trends that will shape ed tech in 2026
School districts will need to be more critical of ed tech tools as vendors face more aggressive accountability demands this year, say K-12 tech experts.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 28, 2026 -
Schools could see the script flipped on who files discrimination complaints
A lawsuit filed on behalf of White students over a Los Angeles integration plan could be the tip of the iceberg, education attorneys warn.
By Naaz Modan • Jan. 28, 2026 -
Should dyslexia be its own IDEA category? These bipartisan bills say yes
Supporters say the change would improve dyslexia identification practices, but critics worry it could delay interventions and lead to misidentification.
By Kara Arundel • Jan. 27, 2026 -
Private school choice could ‘undermine’ special education gains, COPAA says
A new report recommends that states inform parents of any education and civil rights that may be lost if they participate in a private school choice program.
By Kara Arundel • Jan. 27, 2026 -
Week In Review: Bipartisan agreement reached on Ed Dept funding plan for FY26
We’re rounding up last week’s news, from natural disaster best practices to policy and legal trends to watch this year.
By Roger Riddell • Jan. 26, 2026 -
STUDY HALL
What you need to know about private school choice
State-led programs that use taxpayer funds for private school tuition have expanded rapidly. A new federal program will add even more options.
By Kara Arundel • Jan. 26, 2026 -
POP QUIZ
Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news
From enrollment challenges to a bipartisan budget proposal, what did you learn from our recent stories?
By Roger Riddell • Jan. 23, 2026 -
Opinion
For students with disabilities, the Office for Civil Rights is often the last line of defense
Efforts to shutter the Education Department threaten to sever lifelines that protect students furthest from privilege and opportunity, writes one expert.
By Jennifer Coco • Jan. 23, 2026 -
Natural disasters will happen. What to do before — and after — one strikes your school.
NWEA’s playbook suggests that schools develop a recovery plan and build relationships with community groups before any severe climate event occurs.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 23, 2026 -
Education Department halts effort to implement controversial anti-DEI letter
The agency dropped its appeal of a court ruling against guidance aimed at ending race-based programs in schools.
By Naaz Modan • Jan. 22, 2026 -
Tracker
As student enrollment declines, a look at public school closures
We’re tracking districts’ plans to shutter or consolidate schools amid enrollment pressure from falling birthrates and growing school choice.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 22, 2026 -
Deep Dive
4 education legal and policy trends to watch in 2026
From civic education advocacy to religious public schools, here’s what K-12 leaders can expect in the legal and policy spheres.
By Naaz Modan • Jan. 21, 2026 -
Bipartisan K-12 budget proposal would stall gutting of Education Department
Senate and House leaders reject Trump administration plans to outsource management of Education Department programming.
By Kara Arundel • Jan. 20, 2026 -
Deep Dive
Trump 2.0: A sea change for K-12
From Education Department downsizing to a variety of legal battles, take a month-by-month look at how the federal approach to K-12 has shifted.
By Kara Arundel , Anna Merod , Naaz Modan , Roger Riddell • Jan. 20, 2026 -
Week In Review: School shootings drop and SCOTUS hears trans athletics cases
We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a slew of new Title IX probes to debates over tech in schools.
By Roger Riddell • Jan. 20, 2026 -
Senators discuss school tech limits amid youth mental health crisis
Two witnesses went so far as to suggest curbing 1:1 device rollouts in a Thursday Senate committee hearing.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 16, 2026 -
POP QUIZ
Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news
From school meal beverages to U.S. Department of Education investigations, what did you learn from our recent stories?
By Kara Arundel • Jan. 16, 2026 -
House hearing: Is now a good time to regulate AI in schools?
House education committee members found consensus on student risks, though Republicans raised concerns about hindering innovation.
By Anna Merod • Jan. 15, 2026 -
Opinion
How can we create the conditions to inspire young leaders to say ‘yes’ to teaching careers?
Innovative staffing models may be part of the solution, writes the executive director of Teach For America Bay Area in California.
By Beatrice Viramontes • Jan. 15, 2026 -
Poll shows most teens oppose classroom cellphone bans
Despite teens’ perceptions, states and districts say the restrictions lead to better teacher satisfaction and improved school climate.
By Kara Arundel • Jan. 15, 2026 -
Retrieved from U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions.
Education Department launches 18 Title IX transgender athlete investigations
The new string of investigations into some public schools and colleges comes on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the issue this week.
By Naaz Modan • Jan. 14, 2026