Policy & Legal: Page 2

  • A large metal bell sits in the courtyard in front of the U.S. Department of Education building.
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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    OCR opens race, disability discrimination probe into Wisconsin district

    From mascots to admissions, the Trump administration is scrutinizing alleged race-based policies and practices in school districts across the country.

    By • May 29, 2025
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    Retrieved from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
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    Texas advances bills for Bible, Ten Commandments in public schools

    A set of bills awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature are among the latest in a wave of state legislation nationwide testing the separation of church and state.

    By • May 29, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    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
  • Students rally in front of the U.S. Department of Education, with one speaking into a microphone
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    Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Lawmakers, judge push back on Education Department’s gutting, citing inefficiency

    In a letter earlier this month, Democratic lawmakers highlighted funding delays in programs including Title I-A and the Rural Education Achievement Program.

    By • May 29, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Trump administration moves to slash education civil rights efforts

    Equity Assistance Centers — created during desegregation to help schools address issues like bullying and prejudice — are among programs facing cuts.

    By • Updated May 30, 2025
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Judge dismisses ‘reading wars’ lawsuit against famed literacy specialists

    The order cited the difficulty of determining educational malpractice in the case that challenged the lack of phonics in reading instruction.

    By • May 28, 2025
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    SeventyFour via Getty Images
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    Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP could hinder student access to free school meals

    Under the House’s proposed cuts, schools could see fewer federal dollars go toward universal meal efforts like CEP and statewide programs.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • A school building is seen against a blue sky. On the building are the words Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology 6560
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    Retrieved from Fairfax County Public Schools.
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    Education Department investigates Virginia school’s admissions policy for discrimination

    The federal review began after the state found "reasonable cause" that Fairfax County Public Schools violated the Virginia Human Rights Act and Title VI.

    By • May 27, 2025
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Private school choice opponents say tax plan harms public schools

    The proposed Educational Choice for Children Act would pay a 100% tax credit to people who donate toward public, private and religious school expenses.

    By • May 27, 2025
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    Is federal support waning for registered teacher apprenticeships?

    Advocates question the Trump administration’s workforce priorities amid the Labor Department’s cancellation of a $12 million contract to accelerate the model.

    By • Updated May 30, 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 Linda McMahon’s FY 2026 budget hearing to the cost of chronic absenteeism, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • May 23, 2025
  • Students gather to protest outside the U.S. Department of Education headquarters. One student is in the center and has a megaphone.
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    ‘A shell of itself’: Federal judge pauses efforts to wind down Education Department

    Public school supporters praise the ruling, while the agency promises to immediately challenge the preliminary injunction.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • People are holding signs outside the U.S. Supreme Court building. The signs read "Free to learn"
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Oklahoma religious charter remains blocked in SCOTUS split

    The deadlock upholds a state supreme court ruling that the virtual charter’s creation would violate Oklahoma's constitution and the First Amendment.

    By • Updated May 22, 2025
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    3 things to know from Linda McMahon’s FY 2026 testimony

    The education secretary fielded questions on Capitol Hill about school choice, literacy achievement and closing the Education Department.

    By • May 21, 2025
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    ivan-balvan via Getty Images
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    College student charged in connection with PowerSchool data breach

    A 19-year-old in Massachusetts agreed to plead guilty for allegedly hacking and extorting the company for $2.85 million after stealing student and teacher data.

    By • May 21, 2025
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    Photo by Justin Sullivan/Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    School districts’ cost recovery options for facility rentals could expand in California

    AB 503 would restore an expanded definition of “direct costs” eligible for recovery through facility rental fees, which could help shore up district finances.

    By Brian Martucci • May 21, 2025
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    Permission granted by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
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    California agrees to include religious schools as special education placements

    Plaintiffs say the settlement is a "win for religious liberty," but public school advocates are concerned about the use of tax dollars for religious education.

    By • May 20, 2025
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    Toshe_O via Getty Images
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    Despite growth, average teacher salaries lag behind inflation

    Adjusted for inflation, teachers are making 5% less on average than a decade ago, according to a report from the National Education Association.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • May 19, 2025
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    BrianAJackson via Getty Images
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    Legal defense fund will seek to fill gap left by OCR reduction

    Set to launch in the fall, the fund backed by National Center for Youth Law aims to defend students’ rights in court and track civil rights data.

    By • May 19, 2025
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    phi2 via Getty Images
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    How much does chronic absenteeism cost communities?

    A study of how attendance, discipline and other factors impact economics in California offers insights for school communities nationwide.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • 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 this week’s K-12 news

    From district lawsuits against PowerSchool to a potential federal school choice tax incentive, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • May 16, 2025
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    JuSun via Getty Images
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    Data breach reporting lags in education sector, study finds

    The sector reportedly takes an average of 4.8 months to report attacks — higher than for business, government and healthcare.

    By • May 15, 2025
  • People are holding signs outside the U.S. Supreme Court building. The signs read "Free to learn"
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    3 takeaways from House debate on charter schools

    Lawmakers discussed what makes a high-quality charter and the role federal legislation can play during a Wednesday subcommittee hearing.

    By • May 15, 2025
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    Dmitry Nogaev via Getty Images
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    Tennessee’s largest school district sues PowerSchool over data breach

    Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ federal lawsuit against the ed tech giant is among the latest that have been filed by over 100 other districts nationwide.

    By • May 15, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Federal private school choice program advanced by House committee

    Other K-12 education expenses, such as tutoring and therapies, would also be supported under the Republican-endorsed tax credit initiative.

    By • May 14, 2025
  • A view of a person's hand assembling multiple rows portioning meals to be served out on individual serving trays.
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    STUDY HALL

    What is the Community Eligibility Provision?

    Here’s how the federal program works to help high-poverty schools and districts serve free meals to all students.

    By • May 14, 2025