Policy & Legal


  • In a crowd of protesters, one person holds up a sign with a melting snowman that says "Melt ICE."
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    Michael Santiago via Getty Images
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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 Jan. 29, 2026
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    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 Jan. 29, 2026
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    Kyle Little via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 29, 2026
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    Valerii Apetroaiei via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 28, 2026
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    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 Jan. 28, 2026
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    Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 28, 2026
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    Fly View Productions via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 27, 2026
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    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 27, 2026
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    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 Jan. 26, 2026
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    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 Jan. 26, 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 enrollment challenges to a bipartisan budget proposal, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By Jan. 23, 2026
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    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
  • A mental cabinet that has fire damage is open and inside are school lunch boxes.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 23, 2026
  • Donald Trump holds up a hat as he signs an executive order while sitting at his desk in the Oval Office
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    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 Jan. 22, 2026
  • A door opens to an empty classroom with chairs flipped upside down on top of desks.
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    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 Jan. 22, 2026
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    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 Jan. 21, 2026
  • People are walking outside on a sidewalk with the U.S> Capitol dome in the distance. On the sidewalk is a sign reading, "Closed due to federal government shutdown."
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 20, 2026
  • An adult sits at a small desk on a stage in a room, holding a pen and writing on a paper. Rows of children are sitting at individual desks behind the adult.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    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 , , , Jan. 20, 2026
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 20, 2026
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    Samuel Corum via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 16, 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 school meal beverages to U.S. Department of Education investigations, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By Jan. 16, 2026
  • A teacher guides three young students using tablets in a classroom.
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    Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 15, 2026
  • A young bearded teacher is seated on a desk and talking with a diverse group of teenage students seated in a circle in a classroom.
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    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
  • A student is pictured sitting at a desk in a classroom holding a cellphone under the desk. Only the student's middle body is shown.
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    StockPlanets via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 15, 2026
  • 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 Jan. 14, 2026