Publishing giants sue Idaho over state law enabling book bans

The plaintiffs allege HB 710 is unconstitutional and forces schools and public libraries to guess if any member of the public might object to any book.

By Roger Riddell • Feb. 6, 2025

Some Head Start programs face ‘unnecessary delays’ in access to federal grants

The slowdown is impacting 20,000 children and families as programs have to shutter or scramble for funds.

By Anna Merod • Feb. 6, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Attendance and Absenteeism

Our latest K-12 Dive Trendline takes a closer look at chronic absenteeism’s impact on schools and where educators are seeing success with attendance.

By K-12 Dive staff

Lawmakers weigh solutions to poor academic performances, college debt

Republicans at a House education hearing touted school choice and alternative career pathways as Democrats vowed to protect the Education Department.

By Kara Arundel • Feb. 5, 2025

Trump signs executive order barring transgender students from girls’ sports

During the signing ceremony, the president warned K-12 schools and colleges that they could lose federal funding if they don’t comply. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 5, 2025

House Republicans float plan to cut Community Eligibility Provision

The budget reconciliation provision would raise eligibility requirements for low-income schools and districts to serve free meals to all students.

By Anna Merod • Feb. 5, 2025

S&P predicts stable outlook for charter schools in 2025

Schools on the lower end of the rating scale are facing challenges from the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds and low attendance and enrollment.

By Briana Mendez-Padilla • Feb. 5, 2025

Expected Trump order on Education Department’s future rattles advocates

Since congressional approval is needed to shut down the agency, experts say the more likely scenario for now is a combination of budget cuts and restructuring.

By Kara Arundel • Feb. 4, 2025

K-12 cybersecurity a hot topic in state legislatures in 2024

California, Florida and Indiana enacted new laws containing cybersecurity supports for schools, an analysis from the Consortium for School Networking finds.

By Anna Merod • Feb. 4, 2025

25% uptick in student homelessness highlights the demand for school resources

Advocates say the higher rate isn't all bad. Instead, it reflects more robust identification practices and means more families can get the help they need.

By Kara Arundel • Feb. 4, 2025

The Trump administration disbanded a federal school safety board. Now what?

Education leaders stress that school safety is a bipartisan issue and are hopeful the Trump administration will continue to prioritize it.

By Anna Merod • Feb. 3, 2025

Education Department will enforce 2020 Title IX rule

A letter to K-12 schools and colleges says sex discrimination enforcement activities will only recognize two sexes — male and female.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 31, 2025

The K-12 outlook for 2025: Shifting policy, tech landscapes bring new challenges

We’ve gathered our trends to watch over the coming year in one place to help you stay ahead of the game.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 31, 2025

Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From new NAEP reading and math scores to Trump’s two major K-12 executive orders, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Anna Merod • Jan. 31, 2025

How are schools responding to immigration policy shifts?

Student attendance and the legal rights of schools and families are among concerns after schools lose "protected areas" status.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 31, 2025

The coming decline in high school graduate counts, in 5 charts

A recent forecast dove deep into the demographics and number of future traditional-aged college prospects. The news wasn’t all bad.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 30, 2025

Are uncertified teachers still the answer?

Some researchers frown upon the practice, encouraging states and districts to pursue alternative strategies for addressing teacher shortages.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 30, 2025

Trump signs executive orders prioritizing school choice, ending K-12 ‘indoctrination’

Trump’s latest orders call for the Education Department to explore options to fund school choice, while ending support for "discriminatory equity ideology."

By Anna Merod • Jan. 29, 2025

Trump administration reverses course on federal funding freeze

Agencies, including the Education Department, will still need to review their allocations for conflicts with White House executive orders.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 29, 2025

First-year college enrollment spiked 5.5% in fall 2024

The final data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center comes a week after the group retracted preliminary findings showing a decline.

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 29, 2025

Reading, math continue slide in 2024 NAEP results

Average reading scores dropped 5 points for both 4th and 8th graders from 2019 to 2024. Math scores also saw significant declines.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 29, 2025

Federal judge puts temporary freeze on Trump’s funding pause

While Title I, IDEA and Head Start funding seem unaffected by the OMB directive, policy experts and educators are seeking more guidance about the actual impact.

By Kara Arundel • Updated Jan. 28, 2025

5 policy trends to watch in 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision overturning the Chevron doctrine could see a number of K-12 policy decisions determined by the judiciary.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 28, 2025

ESSER now in rearview mirror for most districts

Tuesday’s spending deadline marks the end to federal COVID-19 emergency allocations dedicated to K-12 for most school districts.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 28, 2025

SCOTUS to hear school disability discrimination case

At issue is whether plaintiffs must prove that public school officials acted with "bad faith or gross misjudgement."

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 27, 2025

Common App data shows 5% jump in first-year college applicants

Applications grew at a faster pace in the 2024-25 cycle among students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, the company reported.

By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 27, 2025