Policy & Legal

  • U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is pictured speaking into a podium next to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice.
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    How are Trump efforts to cut funding under Title IX holding up in court?

    The administration's approach to civil rights enforcement, which included Justice Department lawsuits, is hitting roadblocks a year later.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
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    Lack of federal funding hindering school meal programs, superintendents say

    Some 40% of leaders said they had to pull funding from elsewhere, including academic programming, to cover the cost of feeding students.

    By • Sept. 24, 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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    Retrieved from U.S. Government Accountability Office.
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    Facility problems led to 3.5M lost school days, GAO says

    Water intrusion, extreme temperatures, indoor air quality and structural problems forced schools to close the most in the 2024-25 school year. 

    By Robert Freedman • Sept. 24, 2026
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    More school closure decisions likely ahead for the 2026-27 school year

    Large districts including Los Angeles Unified School District are facing enrollment and budget concerns as classes resume.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Judge vacates anti-DEI directive that led to teacher training grant cuts

    A federal judge ruled the Education Department directive and its cancellation of hundreds of millions in funds for teacher training programs was unlawful.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
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    Retrieved from Des Moines Public Schools.
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    Iowa’s largest district appoints new superintendent one year after former leader’s ICE arrest

    Matt Smith had served as interim superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools since September 2025, his second time doing so since 2022-23.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
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    1 in 4 elementary school teachers say students use devices for main lessons

    Almost all elementary teachers say students use devices in the classroom, and two-thirds of teachers overall would support going paper-based instead.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
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    Week In Review: Rising Leaders and falling turnover

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from changes to a federal data collection to discussions at a Reagan Institute summit.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
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    Universal school meal reversals take toll on student behavior, focus, study finds

    The findings published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior come amid growing fears that new policy changes could further hinder access.

    By • Sept. 18, 2026
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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

    From academic gains to the latest development in a major K-12 lawsuit, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 18, 2026
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    K-8 reading scores see ‘sizable’ post-COVID gains in latest NWEA data

    After years of stalled progress, researchers see promise for schools' pandemic recovery, the assessment and research group said.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
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    A summer of AI bans in schools

    Public concerns are growing over artificial intelligence use in schools as districts call for more resources to successfully and safely implement the tech.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
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    Kate Tornone/K-12 Dive
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    What could the end of EEO-5 reporting mean for school districts?

    The Trump administration has said the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's employee demographic data collection may be discriminatory.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Have teacher turnover rates declined since COVID?

    Amid an overall dip, turnover is higher in high-poverty schools and special education, a six-state analysis from Education Resource Strategies shows.

    By • Sept. 16, 2026
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Education Department not transparent about RIF cost or effectiveness, former employees say

    The agency said it will continue to return education to the states despite lawsuits, investigations and scrutiny over its layoffs. 

    By • Sept. 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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    Cellphone ban enforcement may be waning over school year

    Some policies may be lightening as students find workarounds and teachers become less vigilant, according to findings published by The Brookings Institution.

    By • Updated Sept. 17, 2026
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    Week In Review: Putting PISA in perspective

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from research on pre-K discipline to AI’s growing presence in schools.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
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    Measure ed tech by more than screen time, American Psychological Association says

    The APA’s recommendations follow a growing wave of school districts banning or limiting screen time and artificial intelligence in classrooms nationwide.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Frank O. Bowman III stand at a House Homeland Committee hearing
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    Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
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    Appellate court clears way for Oklahoma divisive concepts law

    A divided three-judge panel ruled that it saw “no vagueness” in the concepts barred by the curriculum law, which plaintiffs argued was “overbroad.”

    By • Sept. 11, 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 U.S. standings in international rankings to a tech company’s agreement on AI use in schools, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
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    April Story via Getty Images
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    ‘Zero positive outcomes’ from harsh preschool discipline, report says

    The Children's Equity Project highlights Head Start performance standards for prohibiting corporal punishment, seclusion and other negative practices.

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
  • A person is standing behind a microphone. A banner behind the person reads, Reutring Education to the States
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr.
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    Shrinking Education Department offers state decision-making playbook

    The resource encourages states to take greater ownership of problem-solving and finding effective solutions to challenges.

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
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    Teachers unions announce AI safety agreement with Microsoft

    The legally enforceable protections require the company to safeguard student and teacher data and will be available to all districts nationwide Nov. 1.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
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    Naphat_Jorjee via Getty Images
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    What is AI’s role in the special education dispute resolution process?

    A technical assistance center has issued a parents guide for best practices — and cautions — for using AI in special education disagreements with schools.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: A historic social media settlement’s youth mental health implications

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from potential school closures in Portland to major AI pushback in two districts.

    By • Sept. 8, 2026