Policy & Legal: Page 2

  • The exterior building of Wisconsin's state capitol on a sunny day.
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    Districts, parents sue Wisconsin Legislature over K-12 funding formula

    Plaintiffs say failure to keep up with inflation has led to program and staff cuts at the cost of providing all children "a sound basic education."

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
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    eranicle via Getty Images
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    DOJ: ‘Shocking overuse’ of restraint, seclusion in Missouri district

    A two-year probe finds more than 300 students were secluded almost 4,000 times and nearly 150 students were restrained 777 times.

    By • Feb. 24, 2026
  • High school students are dropped off for school and begin walking into the building. Explore the Trendline➔
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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
  • An adult is in a classroom and is sitting at a table holding the letter "O" and curving their mouth into an O. A young student is in front of the adult with their back to the camera.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Special education enrollment keeps growing. These 3 graphics show how.

    Autism, developmental delay and multiple disabilities marked the fastest growing IDEA disability categories between 2023 and 2024.

    By • Feb. 24, 2026
  • School bus driving past a Ten Commandments display
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    Mike Simons / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Appeals court voids Louisiana Ten Commandments injunction

    The law can move forward after a federal appeals court said a decision without the context of actual text displays would be "guessing.”

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
  • Two children and adult walk on a street near the U.S. Capitol building. There is snow on the ground and the adult is holding a sled.
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    Heather Diehl via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Congress green-lights education interagency agreements — with reservations

    The Education Department has nine such agreements with other agencies, including the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
  • A branch covered in ice is seen in a close-up view. A snow covered street is seen in the background
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    Brett Carlsen via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Humanizing the superintendency, and lost instruction due to winter weather

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from the end of a 60-year-old desegregation case to a Texas district's proposal to close 12 schools.

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
  • Alberto Carvalho speaks while sitting at a table during a school board meeting.
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    Retrieved from YouTube.
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    Los Angeles schools to issue RIF notices to 657 staff

    The decision to send RIFs to central office staff comes as the district faces an $877 million budget deficit and sharp enrollment declines.

    By • Feb. 20, 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 Houston’s school closure proposal to a January storm forcing districts to make up lost instructional time, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 20, 2026
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr.
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    Education Department has yet to respond on support for schools affected by ICE, Democrats say

    House Democrats inquired last year about supports for mental health, chronic absenteeism and other challenges amid increased immigration enforcement.

    By • Feb. 19, 2026
  • A blue flag that says "Department of Justice" waves in front of the agency's building.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Justice Department expands footprint in K-12 civil rights issues

    The agency is joining a race discrimination lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified School District and launching Title IX probes in three Michigan districts.

    By • Feb. 19, 2026
  • Elementary school students raise their hands as they sit at their desks in a classroom with their teacher asking a question in front of them.
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    How can districts and states sustain teacher apprenticeship programs?

    Leveraging local teacher vacancy funds or federal grants are among options available, said speakers in a National Center for Grow Your Own webinar.

    By • Feb. 19, 2026
  • A commercial area is pictured in Dyersburg, Tenn.
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    Retrieved from Tennessee State Govenrment on February 18, 2026
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    60-year-old Tennessee school desegregation case comes to an end

    The order is the latest dismissed by the Trump administration, which said it “has no legitimate reason” to continue monitoring Dyersburg City Schools.

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
  • A handful of children are playing in the snow. Some are playing football while others are in a pile on the ground.
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    Al Drago via Getty Images
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    As districts thaw, how are they making up for lost learning?

    January’s snow and ice storms affected school districts in about 40 states. Several factors can determine if and when to make up instruction days.

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
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    Artistic Operations via Getty Images
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    Houston ISD eyes plan to close 12 schools

    Aging infrastructure and declining enrollment were cited as reasons in the Texas district’s proposal. 

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
  • Three Black teachers sit at student desks in a school classroom during a professional development session.
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    The image by Allison Shelley/EDUimages is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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    Week In Review: Strategic staffing models and DC’s math gains

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from Title IX resolutions to the impact of E-rate expansion cuts.

    By • Feb. 17, 2026
  • An aerial view shows protesters dressed in red spelling standing in formation to spell out "For our students, strike" on a beach.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Historic San Francisco USD teacher strike ends with tentative agreement

    United Educators of San Francisco reached a deal with the district on raises for staff, full family healthcare benefits and sanctuary protections.

    By • Feb. 13, 2026
  • A photo illustration of a circle encompassing a question mark, pencil, and scantron test.
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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 a large teacher strike to new Education Department guidance for using title funds, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 13, 2026
  • A modern wireless pocket 4g wi-fi modem sits on a wooden desk.
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    Since E-rate expansion cuts, schools make difficult choices on hotspots

    After the FCC pulled back coverage for school bus Wi-Fi and hotspots, K-12 leaders are scrambling to connect students without home internet.

    By • Feb. 13, 2026
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    Trump secures legal victory on anti-DEI directives

    The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals let two executive orders stand that target diversity, equity inclusion in the education sector and elsewhere.

    By Natalie Schwartz , • Feb. 11, 2026
  • Aaron Lemon-Strauss
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    Natalie Schwartz/K-12 Dive
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    ‘We’re now seeing the results’: Education Department officials tout FAFSA progress

    Satisfaction is up and wait times are short, an agency official told the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ legislative conference.

    By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 11, 2026
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How special educators can help students when ICE comes to town

    Special educators in St. Paul, Minnesota, are turning to COVID-19-era resources to help some impacted students access learning virtually.

    By • Feb. 11, 2026
  • A large group of protesters stand together holding signs. One large sign in the center of the crowd says "We solve for X. Can you solve teacher pay?"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    San Francisco USD educators strike over raises amid budget constraints

    United Educators of San Francisco’s strike closed schools for a second day as negotiations on raises, workloads and healthcare benefits continue.

    By • Feb. 10, 2026
  • Facade of Oklahoma Veterans Memorial and the state's Supreme Court Building
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    Oklahoma rejects application for Jewish public charter school

    Ben Gamla, the organization behind the charter proposal, says it plans to sue over the decision.

    By • Feb. 10, 2026
  • A demonstrator wearing an American flag shirt holds a protest sign saying "No Boys In Girls Sports"
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    Tamir Kalifa / Stringer via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Trump’s OCR resolved no K-12 sexual harassment, assault complaints in 2025, data shows

    The Education Department contends "it has restored commonsense safeguards against sexual violence by returning sex-based separation in intimate facilities."

    By • Feb. 10, 2026
  • Two school teachers talk with each other at the front of a classroom as one sits down at a desk on the left and the other holds a laptop on the right.
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    Education Department embraces team-based staffing in new guidance

    The agency is encouraging the use of certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds for differentiated pay and grow-your-own programs.

    By • Updated Feb. 10, 2026