Policy & Legal: Page 2

  • Young students sit on the ground outside near playground equipment. A teacher is standing looking at the children. Everyone is wearing face masks.
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    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 • Jan. 28, 2025
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    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    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 • Jan. 28, 2025
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    Trendline

    Equity in Education

    From early learning to high school, the pandemic impacted equity at all levels of K-12, from persistent and widening achievement gaps to uneven access to school meals.

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    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 • Jan. 27, 2025
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    Tero Vesalainen via Getty Images
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    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
  • Students with backpacks and an adult are walking toward the side of a yellow school bus. The bus doors are open and students are going inside the bus.
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    stockbusters via Getty Images
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    Special education formal disputes see notable increases

    CADRE's data doesn't dig into the reasons for the increases, but experts point to special education teacher shortages as one possible explanation.

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
  • Kousisis, racial preferences, supreme court
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    SCOTUS to hear Oklahoma religious charter school case

    The case over what would be the nation’s first religious public charter school could set precedent for access to public funds.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
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    The image by U.S. Department of State (IIP Bureau) is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Trump’s Education Department nixes DEI initiatives and guidance

    The agency also said it has canceled contracts and placed employees tasked with leading diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on paid leave.

    By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 24, 2025
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    Evgen_Prozhyrko via Getty Images
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    Education Department rescinds Biden-era book ban guidance

    The agency's Office for Civil Rights also dismissed 11 related complaints and eliminated the position of book ban coordinator.

    By • Jan. 24, 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 presidential directives to new chronic absenteeism data, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
  • Two sisters lean on each other as they sit on the front steps of their home, which is now in rubble from the Southern California wildfires.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    How schools can prepare for trauma response amid California wildfires

    A number of organizations are rallying to provide support for student and staff mental well-being alongside other emergency services.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
  • Three young children are sitting at a desk. They are wearing aprons and have paint and paper on the desk. They are holding paint brushes.
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    lostinbids via Getty Images
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    Head Start programs under interim management struggle with staff and safety issues

    HHS agrees to monitoring and reporting improvements after a GAO study that raised operational concerns.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
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    rarrarorro via Getty Images
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    In Ten Commandments case, Louisiana faces pushback from federal judge

    Oral arguments in Roake v. Brumley repeatedly saw H.B. 71’s constitutionality under the First Amendment called into question.

    By • Jan. 23, 2025
  • AI litigation, hiring bias
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    Vertigo3d via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Watch for these 4 AI trends in classrooms in 2025

    School and district leaders are likely to see an uptick in special education tools, localized approaches to guidance and more.

    By • Jan. 23, 2025
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    lakshmiprasad S via Getty Images
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    FTC finalizes COPPA rule to strengthen children’s data protection

    The final rule requires parents to opt into third-party targeted advertising on behalf of their children and omits an exception for ed tech providers.

    By • Jan. 23, 2025
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    izusek via Getty Images
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    PowerSchool data breach brings claims of negligence, poor cyberhygiene

    The K-12 software company is facing legal pushback and criticism following a cyberattack that impacted a still unknown number of districts.

    By • Jan. 22, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    How Trump’s Day 1 actions could affect K-12

    New directives took aim at Biden-era efforts to increase educational access for underrepresented students and strengthen LGBTQ+ protections. 

    By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 22, 2025
  • Donald Trump sits at a desk in the Oval Office. A person is standing next to the desk. There are several folders on the desk.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Schools no longer protected from immigration raids

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security lifted the practice of avoiding immigration enforcement at locations where students gather.

    By • Updated Jan. 22, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Despite dip, chronic absenteeism remains stubbornly high at 28%

    Attendance Works recommends student engagement and decision making based on data analysis to boost attendance.

    By • Jan. 21, 2025
  • Donald Trump addresses a crowd
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    What to watch in K-12 as Trump kicks off 2nd term

    The potential expansion of school choice and less federal bureaucracy has some hopeful as the presidency transfers to Donald Trump.

    By K-12 Dive staff • Jan. 21, 2025
  • The exterior of a white stone building with windows is shown. The words U.S. Department of Education is on the side of the building.
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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    OCR complaints, resolutions increased under the Biden administration

    The Office for Civil Rights resolved 14% more complaints than under the first Trump administration, according to a report released Thursday.

    By • Jan. 21, 2025
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    Perry Spring via Getty Images
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    SCOTUS to hear case on LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum opt-outs

    Justices will determine whether parents’ First Amendment rights are violated when they can’t opt children out of instruction that runs counter to their religious beliefs.

    By • Jan. 17, 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 a major ed tech data breach to a former principal's lawsuit over deepfakes, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
  • A Black woman in a blue jacket and statement glasses speaks in front of a blue background with an American flag
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    In historic move, SEIU rejoins AFL-CIO

    Both unions include chapters representing school service workers, and AFL-CIO includes the American Federation of Teachers among its affiliates.

    By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 16, 2025
  • An overhead view of two students holding trays with sandwiches as they wait in line in a cafeteria.
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Unpaid school meal debt continues nearly decade-long rise

    School Nutrition Association data shows the median unpaid meal debt hit $6,900 per district in 2024, up 26% from the previous year.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
  • A handful of young students are in a room with desks. They are looking at one computer monitor on the desk that also has other computer monitors
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    State ed tech leaders call for ‘universal connectivity’ to help students learn on and off campus

    A new SETDA report raises concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, digital skills gap and sustained funding for ed tech initiatives.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025