AI tutor access alone doesn’t equate to student gains, study says

In two districts analyzed by Stanford University, students’ average weekly use of one such tutor was 2.18 minutes and 5.23 minutes, respectively.

By Anna Merod • June 18, 2026

What will the Justice Department OCR agreement mean for schools?

Concerns include the agency’s capacity to handle the volume of civil rights complaints and the impact on schools' relationship with federal oversight.

By Naaz Modan • June 18, 2026

Explore the 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

The Education Dept now has 14 interagency agreements. Here are the changes.

The department says the partnerships with six other federal agencies reduce federal bureaucracy. Critics claim they add confusion.

By Kara Arundel • June 17, 2026

Illinois passes law defining play-based learning

The state is among a handful to officially adopt such a definition, delineating both guided play and student-initiated play for young learners.

By Ed Finkel • June 17, 2026

Indiana becomes 3rd state to gain ESEA waiver

The U.S. Education Department says the move will cut red tape and spur innovation, but critics worry it will hurt transparency and equity.

By Naaz Modan • June 16, 2026

Despite fewer exit plans, teacher stress, burnout still high

Though teacher turnover appears to be on the decline, Rand Corp. finds wage gaps and stress rates remain issues for the profession.

By Anna Merod • June 16, 2026

DOJ deems EEOC’s disparate impact discrimination guidelines unconstitutional

The push against disparate impact liability has been a focus of the Trump administration, including by the Education Department.

By Ginger Christ • June 16, 2026

Supreme Court rejects second student speech case in a week

In a dissent, Justice Samuel Alito urged the court to consider taking up a future case to clarify the limits of school speech.

By Naaz Modan • June 15, 2026

Week In Review: Proposed Ed Department cuts and school nurse burnout

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from more federal scrutiny of districts’ LGBTQ+ policies to mixed signals on students’ academic gains.

By Anna Merod • June 15, 2026

Trump administration appeals ruling against $100K H-1B visa fee

The fee has caused concern among higher education experts that it would hamper colleges’ ability to recruit foreign scholars and instructors. 

By Natalie Schwartz • June 12, 2026

NYC schools face public pressure to pause AI use for 2 years

Student data privacy was cited as a key concern in a letter to the city’s mayor and school chancellor from 29 members of city council.

By Anna Merod • Updated June 12, 2026

Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

From proposed Education Department budget cuts to new reading data from the Nation’s Report Card, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Anna Merod • June 12, 2026

4 California districts face DOJ reviews over LGTBQ+ policies

San Francisco Unified School District is among systems under scrutiny for parental notification and transgender inclusion policies.

By Naaz Modan • June 11, 2026

OCR launches DEI probe into Denver-area school district

The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights cites teacher training and a parent committee as examples of alleged "rampant racially-discriminatory programming."

By Naaz Modan • June 11, 2026

DC Public Schools leads nation in academic recovery. Here’s why.

A focus on strategic planning and programming drove impressive gains in the nation’s capital, writes outgoing chancellor Lewis Ferebee.

By Lewis Ferebee • June 10, 2026

Federal agencies propose mandatory E-Verify participation for grant recipients

The rule would provide an “additional safeguard” to existing employment eligibility requirements, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget.

By Ryan Golden • June 10, 2026

Children’s well-being has worsened — particularly in education

Among four indicators tracked by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, education saw the sharpest decline between 2019 and 2024.

By Anna Merod • June 9, 2026

Over half of teachers say AI is harming students’ critical thinking

In addition to highlighting educators’ concerns on student AI use, a poll by NPR and Ipsos found that 3 in 5 teachers use AI on the job.

By Anna Merod • June 9, 2026

Trump’s $100K fee for H-1B visas struck down

A federal judge ruled that the fee amounted to an unlawful tax on the visa program for highly skilled workers. 

By Natalie Schwartz • June 8, 2026

School nurses face unstable work conditions and burnout, report says

As district budget cuts become more common, nurses are more likely to face layoffs, said the board president of the National Association of School Nurses.

By Anna Merod • June 8, 2026

Week In Review: Private school trends and the state of attendance

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from the FCC’s E-rate review to another Education Department lawsuit.

By Roger Riddell • June 8, 2026

How Maryland’s governor is tackling education challenges

From underinvestment to staffing concerns, Wes Moore says the state’s K-12 woes cannot be pinned on the pandemic alone.

By Anna Merod • June 5, 2026

Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

From a Federal Communications Commission announcement to a Philadelphia Phillies high school program, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Roger Riddell • June 5, 2026

Senators demand answers over closed Office of English Language Acquisition

The U.S. Department of Education shuttered the office last month to "ensure better alignment of programs" for English learners.

By Naaz Modan • June 4, 2026

1 in 5 students are chronically absent, analysis finds

The share of “extreme” chronic absenteeism has fallen from 41% in 2021-22 to 23% in 2024-25, according to a 31-state analysis.

By Anna Merod • June 4, 2026