Federal judge halts layoffs, anti-DEI measures at Head Start

Mass cuts and prohibitions on diversity, equity and inclusion put the program in an “impossible situation,” District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez wrote.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 8, 2026

6 trends to watch for K-12 in 2026

Enrollment concerns, growing school choice competition, data privacy and new federal policy priorities are among a slew of challenges facing public schools.

By Kara Arundel , Anna Merod , Naaz Modan • Jan. 8, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

K-12 Dive has gathered some a selection of our best coverage from 2025 so far as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

By K-12 Dive staff

Iowa first state awarded ESEA waiver under Trump administration

While some say the waiver will reduce federal red tape, others are concerned about lowered standards and less accountability.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 8, 2026

DOL clarifies FMLA’s stance on travel time, school closure in opinion letters

While the law protects time spent traveling to appointments, it doesn’t encompass stops for unrelated activities, the labor department noted.

By Emilie Shumway • Jan. 8, 2026

New dietary guidelines: More protein, fewer ultra-processed foods

School meals must eventually align with federal nutrition standards informed by the Trump administration's 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 7, 2026

Should schools reveal students’ LGBTQ+ identity to parents? Teachers to ask the Supreme Court to decide

A legal battle in California could determine whether parental notification of student pronoun and name changes is constitutional.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 7, 2026

14M children lived in households with food insecurity in 2024

The Trump administration announced last year that the USDA would no longer produce future “redundant, costly” reports on household food insecurity.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 7, 2026

Texas Education Agency sued over probes into teachers’ Charlie Kirk posts

Commissioner Mike Morath urged superintendents in September to report teachers who were critical of Kirk on social media, Texas AFT said.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 6, 2026

CDC, following Trump’s orders, weakens US stance on childhood vaccinations

In a drastic decision made outside of its typical review process, the agency declared it would recommend 11 childhood shots going forward, down from 17.

By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 6, 2026

Trump can order employers to pay extra H-1B fee, court holds

President Donald Trump can impose the $100,000 fine under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s “exceedingly broad language,” a judge ruled.

By Laurel Kalser • Jan. 6, 2026

Can schools handle federal calls for fewer ultra-processed foods?

Some 95% of school nutrition directors are concerned about the financial sustainability of their meal programs, School Nutrition Association data shows.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 6, 2026

Lawsuits challenge $60M cancellation of community schools grants

The complaints from the American Federation of Teachers and three state attorneys general cite the funds’ impact on rural and low-income communities.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 5, 2026

Private school choice threatens public school experiences, says EdTrust CEO

Public funding for students and schools must be protected to preserve equitable learning opportunities, Denise Forte writes.

By Denise Forte • Jan. 5, 2026

Tracking the Supreme Court’s impact on K-12 schools

We’ve gathered cases since the high court’s 2019-20 term to measure the justices’ footprint in schools.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 5, 2026

Final Exam: Test yourself on the past year’s K-12 news

From the downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education to a data breach that impacted over 60 million students, what did you learn from our stories in 2025?

By Anna Merod • Dec. 23, 2025

Cancellation of mental health grants ruled unlawful

A federal judge required the Education Department to reinstate the grants in 16 states and barred the agency from issuing new priorities for the programs. 

By Kara Arundel • Dec. 22, 2025

NAEP innovations on track despite NCES layoffs

The Education Department said it "continues to pursue cutting-edge innovations" and that NAEP will be administered primarily on school devices next year.

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 22, 2025

What changed — or not — for K-12 staffing in 2025?

Between enrollment and budget challenges and the Trump administration targeting anti-DEI staffing policies, districts navigated rocky terrain this year.

By Anna Merod • Dec. 22, 2025

Week In Review: K-12 Dive Awards and AI’s march in curriculum

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a report on teens’ pronoun usage to milk in school lunches.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 22, 2025

Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down controversial social studies standards

The standards were already on pause, but the court ruled this week that the state board of education violated the law in creating and adopting them. 

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 19, 2025

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

From a federal lawsuit against teacher diversity efforts to school closures and mergers in Cleveland, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Anna Merod • Dec. 19, 2025

Fewer than half of transgender, nonbinary youth report others use their pronouns

Data released by The Trevor Project shows a lower suicide risk for students whose pronouns were used. In some states, policies make it a challenge.

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 18, 2025

Trump celebrates returning education to the states in national address

While 2025 has come with major changes to the K-12 landscape, the president remained silent on what’s in store for 2026.

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 18, 2025

Republicans say sports could stem school, gun violence as Democrats push back

In a hearing on Tuesday, lawmakers disagreed over whether sports was an effective school safety measure in the wake of recent school shootings.

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 17, 2025

Congress passes bill allowing schools to offer whole milk, nondairy options

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was sent to President Donald Trump’s desk after the House approved the bipartisan legislation Monday.

By Anna Merod • Dec. 17, 2025