K-12 facilities need $90B to close maintenance, capital investment shortfall

Schools should be spending 7% of their budgets on facilities, but they’re not close to that, according to the 2025 State of Our Schools report.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 14, 2026

Supreme Court weighs thorny issues in state transgender athlete bans

Liberal and conservative justices weighed what a Title IX decision would mean for other areas of education, like remedial classes for underperforming boys.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 13, 2026

Character.AI, Google agree to mediate settlements in wrongful teen death lawsuits

The lawsuits “are tragic reminders” that AI chatbots aren’t safe for minors seeking emotional support, says a media safety expert.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 13, 2026

Supreme Court to hear arguments in transgender student athlete cases

Justices on Tuesday will weigh whether Title IX protects transgender athletes or bans them from participating on teams aligning with their gender identity.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 12, 2026

Increasing rates of student loneliness present challenge for schools

One researcher suggests stronger support for social-emotional learning is needed to address the issue for all students.

By Ed Finkel • Jan. 12, 2026

Week In Review: From Head Start to Texas teachers, K-12 hits the courtroom

We’re rounding up last week’s news, including ESEA waivers and key trends to watch in 2026.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 12, 2026

School shootings dropped in 2025. Here’s what to know for 2026.

With school shootings reaching their lowest count in five years at 233, a school safety expert urges realistic prevention practices in the new year.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 12, 2026

Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

From the release of updated dietary guidelines to another potential K-12 case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Anna Merod • Jan. 9, 2026

Federal judge halts layoffs, anti-DEI measures at Head Start

Mass cuts and prohibitions on diversity, equity and inclusion put the program in an “impossible situation,” District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez wrote.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 8, 2026

DOL clarifies FMLA’s stance on travel time, school closure in opinion letters

While the law protects time spent traveling to appointments, it doesn’t encompass stops for unrelated activities, the labor department noted.

By Emilie Shumway • Jan. 8, 2026

6 trends to watch for K-12 in 2026

Enrollment concerns, growing school choice competition, data privacy and new federal policy priorities are among a slew of challenges facing public schools.

By Kara Arundel , Anna Merod , Naaz Modan • Jan. 8, 2026

Iowa first state awarded ESEA waiver under Trump administration

While some say the waiver will reduce federal red tape, others are concerned about lowered standards and less accountability.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 8, 2026

New dietary guidelines: More protein, fewer ultra-processed foods

School meals must eventually align with federal nutrition standards informed by the Trump administration's 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 7, 2026

Should schools reveal students’ LGBTQ+ identity to parents? Teachers to ask the Supreme Court to decide

A legal battle in California could determine whether parental notification of student pronoun and name changes is constitutional.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 7, 2026

14M children lived in households with food insecurity in 2024

The Trump administration announced last year that the USDA would no longer produce future “redundant, costly” reports on household food insecurity.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 7, 2026

Texas Education Agency sued over probes into teachers’ Charlie Kirk posts

Commissioner Mike Morath urged superintendents in September to report teachers who were critical of Kirk on social media, Texas AFT said.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 6, 2026

CDC, following Trump’s orders, weakens US stance on childhood vaccinations

In a drastic decision made outside of its typical review process, the agency declared it would recommend 11 childhood shots going forward, down from 17.

By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 6, 2026

Trump can order employers to pay extra H-1B fee, court holds

President Donald Trump can impose the $100,000 fine under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s “exceedingly broad language,” a judge ruled.

By Laurel Kalser • Jan. 6, 2026

Can schools handle federal calls for fewer ultra-processed foods?

Some 95% of school nutrition directors are concerned about the financial sustainability of their meal programs, School Nutrition Association data shows.

By Anna Merod • Jan. 6, 2026

Lawsuits challenge $60M cancellation of community schools grants

The complaints from the American Federation of Teachers and three state attorneys general cite the funds’ impact on rural and low-income communities.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 5, 2026

Tracking the Supreme Court’s impact on K-12 schools

We’ve gathered cases since the high court’s 2019-20 term to measure the justices’ footprint in schools.

By Naaz Modan • Updated Jan. 14, 2026

Private school choice threatens public school experiences, says EdTrust CEO

Public funding for students and schools must be protected to preserve equitable learning opportunities, Denise Forte writes.

By Denise Forte • Jan. 5, 2026

Final Exam: Test yourself on the past year’s K-12 news

From the downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education to a data breach that impacted over 60 million students, what did you learn from our stories in 2025?

By Anna Merod • Dec. 23, 2025

NAEP innovations on track despite NCES layoffs

The Education Department said it "continues to pursue cutting-edge innovations" and that NAEP will be administered primarily on school devices next year.

By Naaz Modan • Dec. 22, 2025

Cancellation of mental health grants ruled unlawful

A federal judge required the Education Department to reinstate the grants in 16 states and barred the agency from issuing new priorities for the programs. 

By Kara Arundel • Dec. 22, 2025