Policy & Legal: Page 11

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    Deep Dive

    States, lawmakers push back on ‘abrupt and chaotic’ reversal of COVID funds

    The Education Department ended ESSER late liquidation, months after many states had received preapproval from the Biden administration.

    By • April 10, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    House committee advances ‘gender ideology’ bills

    Proposals seek to end what Republicans say is gender indoctrination in schools. Democrats say the bills are harmful to transgender students.

    By • April 9, 2025
  • High school students are dropped off for school and begin walking into the building. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    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
  • Anti-affirmative action activists with the Asian American Coalition for Education protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building on June 29, 2023 in Washington, DC.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Education Department’s DEI order postponed as case pends

    Several states have rebuked the certification requirement, which threatens to cut federal education funds over DEI initiatives. 

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Linda McMahon arrives to the U.S. Department of Education's building in Washington, D.C., for her first day in office.
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    US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    ‘Let’s shake it up’: McMahon defends massive cuts at Education Department

    The U.S. secretary of education spoke at the ASU+GSV Summit in California about the rapid changes the Trump administration is making to the agency.

    By Natalie Schwartz • April 8, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    The Education Department’s approach to civil rights enforcement is changing. Here’s how.

    Rapid and targeted investigations, outside agency involvement and federal funding cuts may be the new norm for schools.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • President Donald Trump stands next to Linda McMahon while holding the executive order in the White House.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump changes put school districts at financial risk, Moody’s says

    States are unlikely to fill gaps left by the federal government cuts, leaving districts with a "limited menu of options,” per the sector forecast.

    By • April 8, 2025
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    "Fourth Street School" by Freekee is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Ousted Milwaukee school facilities chief had lost parents’ trust over lead abatement

    Community groups had been calling for facilities director Sean Kane’s dismissal for what they said was a failure to act on risks and follow safe practices.

    By Robert Freedman • April 8, 2025
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    Avosb via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court maintains freeze on teacher training grants

    The case in question involves the agency’s February announcement to cancel $600 million in “divisive” teacher preparation grants. 

    By • April 6, 2025
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Head Start imperiled by HHS cutbacks, advocates say

    The agency's overhaul has sparked concerns about access, affordability and safety for the program serving preschoolers from low-income families.

    By • April 4, 2025
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    ‘New sheriff in town’: DOJ to enforce anti-trans Trump orders

    A joint Title IX Special Investigations Team will shift some civil rights investigations and enforcement from the Education Department to the Justice Department.

    By • April 4, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

    From rescinded funds to one state’s curriculum controversy, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • April 4, 2025
  • Public school district administrators pour balloons representing the sports drink Powerade over their superintendent's head following a public speech.
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    Permission granted by Springfield Public Schools
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    AASA '25

    Here’s how Missouri’s largest district rallied its community to boost attendance

    With a pandemic-era order sunsetting and funding at stake, Springfield Public Schools used consistent strategy — and a little Powerade — to gain buy-in.

    By • April 4, 2025
  • Several people are seen outside the U.S. Department of Education headquarters during a protest. Two people with their backs to the camera are sitting in wheelchairs. One sign reads "Protect Students Protect Public Schools." Another sign says "Our Schools Are Not For Sale."
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Special education cuts will have ‘immense harm,’ Democrats say

    Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are seeking answers about impacts on students with disabilities and proposing full funding for IDEA.

    By • April 3, 2025
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Districts encouraged to use Title I flexibility for school choice

    Existing federal formula grants under Title I can be used to help parents choose access to advanced courses, CTE and tutoring, the Education Department says.

    By • April 2, 2025
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    Spencer Platt / Staff via Getty Images
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    Teacher with PTSD entitled to accommodation under ADA, 2nd Circuit says

    On remand, a New York school district might demonstrate that the 15-minute break the teacher requested wasn’t reasonable, the court noted.

    By Laurel Kalser • April 2, 2025
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    Laurence Dutton via Getty Images
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    House panel weighs AI’s pitfalls, potential as Education Dept cuts loom large

    Innovating with artificial intelligence in schools remains exciting to some lawmakers, while others fear deepening inequities.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • A close-up short of Linda McMahon in a crowded room.
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    Tierney L. Cross via Getty Images
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    McMahon: Lack of transparency on ‘ideological indoctrination’ violates FERPA

    Withholding information such as a student's gender transition violates parents' rights and could result in lost funding for schools, the education secretary said.

    By • April 1, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Education Department cancels ESSER spending extensions

    The move shocked some education leaders in states where previously approved funds had been spent and were awaiting federal reimbursement.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • Police put up crime scene tape at Perry High School in Iowa following a school shooting on January 4, 2024.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    School shooting database slashed in Trump downsizing

    Amid an overall increase in school shootings, experts have lamented the lack of a federal database and rely on such research projects for information. 

    By • March 31, 2025
  • Senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren converse during a Senate Banking Committee hearing.
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    Kayla Bartkowski / Staff via Getty Images
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    Democratic senators call for probe of Trump Education Department cuts

    Eleven lawmakers say efforts to shutter the agency and transfer its responsibilities will “interrupt and degrade” essential programs and services.

    By • March 28, 2025
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    Courtesy of Eagle Eye Networks
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    Sensors help building operators detect vaping

    The sensors can also monitor temperature, humidity and CO2 levels to make air quality easier to manage, the manufacturer says.

    By Robert Freedman • March 28, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

    Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

    From Trump's plan to change federal special education operations to a report on the state of school infrastructure, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • March 28, 2025
  • A high school student waits in line holding a tray of food before being served at a high school cafeteria.
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    As USDA scraps a $600M local food program, an Arizona district looks to next steps

    Without the expected federal funds from the Local Food for Schools program, Tucson Unified School District will have to offset the costs.

    By • March 28, 2025
  • While wearing masks, a teacher speaks with a student in a school hallway in front of billboard that reads "welcome back."
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    The key moments that shaped school response to the pandemic

    Take a look back on the events that unfolded for educators after COVID-19 was declared a national emergency in March 2020. 

    By • March 27, 2025
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    E-rate’s future hangs in the balance as Supreme Court hears arguments in universal service case

    At question is whether Congress and the FCC violated the Constitution by granting power to a private nonprofit company.

    By • March 26, 2025