Policy & Legal: Page 4

  • 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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    Deep Dive

    ‘Death by 1,000 cuts’: Districts, states challenge Education Department civil rights enforcement

    The agency and its funding recipients usually collaborate to resolve civil rights complaints. However, that’s changing under the Trump administration.

    By • Oct. 2, 2025
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    The image by Massimo Catarinella is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    A growing number of state bills target sex education, report says

    Of more than 650 state-level bills on the topic, nearly a quarter sought to pare back or remove access, a SIECUS report found.

    By Ed Finkel • Oct. 1, 2025
  • 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 from 2025 so far as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

    By K-12 Dive staff
  • People are in the foreground looking toward the setting sun in the horizon and the Washington Monument.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    How the federal government shutdown affects K-12

    Grant-making activities and OCR investigations will cease during the shutdown, but school systems will still be able to draw down most funds.

    By • Oct. 1, 2025
  • Conference attendees listen to a session in a convention center meeting room.
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    kasto80 via Getty Images
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    The top K-12 conferences to attend in 2026

    Whether you’re looking to brush up on leadership best practices, school policy or the latest ed tech innovations, these events are a great place to start.

    By K-12 Dive staff • Oct. 1, 2025
  • The outside of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. is shown on a close day. People are walking on the sidewalk in front of the building.
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    John M. Chase via Getty Images
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    Education Department can cut half of OCR staff for now, appeals court rules

    The order comes as the agency was complying with a prior court order to return laid-off Office for Civil Rights staffers back to work.

    By • Sept. 30, 2025
  • A yellow school bus is parked outside. A handful of students wearing rain jackets and backpacks are getting on the bus.
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    FCC removes school bus Wi-Fi, hotspots from E-rate

    The Federal Communications Commission vote reverses a Biden administration expansion of federal discounts for internet services for schools and libraries.

    By • Updated Sept. 30, 2025
  • Chairs and desks sit in rows in a school classroom as a teacher works in the background.
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    Civil rights commissioners mixed on special educator shortage solutions

    One member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights questioned whether there was enough information to call the shortage a crisis.

    By , • Sept. 30, 2025
  • An adult and a young student stand in front of the classroom near a green chalkboard. Students seated at desk are facing them with their backs to the camera.
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Only 18 states differentiate compensation for special education teachers

    And just eight differentiate pay for English learner instructors, despite the challenge of recruiting and retaining in these high-need fields, NCTQ said.

    By • Sept. 30, 2025
  • Tweed Courthouse New York City Department of Education headquarters
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    The image by Ron Coleman is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Court revives White former NYC district administrator’s bias case over allegedly racist DEI training

    Federal courts have increasingly been asked to weigh the legality of diversity, equity and inclusion training amid a broader backlash against DEI programs.

    By Ryan Golden • Sept. 29, 2025
  • A backlit silhouette of a student wearing a cap and gown
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Unprepared graduates and superintendent stress

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from literacy for students with disabilities to our fifth annual roundup of Rising Leaders.

    By • Sept. 29, 2025
  • A student sitting at a desk in a classroom as their hands over their face.
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    Education Department brings back mental health grants

    The agency issued new priorities for the funding after having canceled the grants for not aligning with Trump administration priorities.

    By • Sept. 29, 2025
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    The 2026-27 FAFSA launches a week ahead of schedule

    U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the rollout as the earliest in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid’s history. 

    By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 26, 2025
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    School facility governance standard aims to improve fairness, boost rental revenue

    Outdated and inconsistent facilities rental policies result in some larger school districts leaving millions on the table, says one facilities rental executive.

    By Brian Martucci • Sept. 26, 2025
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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 an urgent call by school nurses to high schoolers’ readiness for the workforce, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 26, 2025
  • Seven different icons for different artificial intelligence apps display side by side on a phone screen.
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    AI ‘companions’ pose risks to student mental health. What can schools do?

    As experts warn about the prevalence of AI companions among children and teens, schools can help their students use AI tools in alternative, safer ways.

    By • Sept. 25, 2025
  • Three students are sitting in front of a panel with wires. An adult standing behind them is pointing to the panel
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    As CTE transfers to Labor Department, here’s what schools need to know

    The Trump administration said the interagency agreement will streamline services. Critics say it will add confusion and inefficiencies.

    By • Sept. 25, 2025
  • An illustration of a student looking into an empty outline of a teacher in a classroom.
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    Momentum builds in schools for team-based staffing models

    Teacher teams, where multiple educators instruct up to 100 students, are increasingly shaking up how K-12 leaders view classroom instruction.

    By • Sept. 24, 2025
  • The American flag flies above the Hawaii state flag on a pole in front of palm trees.
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    Getty Images
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    Hawaii to weigh redistricting before consolidating schools

    The state’s board of education was set to decide soon whether to conduct a consolidation study, but now alternative options are being explored first.

    By • Sept. 24, 2025
  • School bus driving past a Ten Commandments display
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    Mike Simons / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Texas districts sued for implementing Ten Commandments law

    The lawsuit comes after warnings from ACLU and others that districts could be sued even if they are not bound by recent court orders.

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
  • Several students are sitting at desks in a classroom. A teacher who is standing is leaning down to help a student on a laptop.
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    STUDY HALL

    What you need to know about least restrictive environment in IDEA

    General education classrooms should be the first consideration when determining an educational setting for a student with disabilities.

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
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    Week in review: Leaders navigate finance, equity challenges as K-12 satisfaction drops

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from improved ransomware response and recovery to the latest school nutrition policy proposals.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
  • An illustration of a spiraled arm holding an apple with loose academic elements in the background.
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    Illustration: Ivan Haidutski for Industry Dive

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    Tracker

    Rising Leaders: 10 standout assistant principals and district leaders you should know in 2025-26

    These administrators, nominated by their peers, are going above and beyond on career education, multilingual learning, artificial intelligence and more.

    Sept. 22, 2025
  • a child is sitting between a parent and doctor. The doctor just gave a shot to the child's arm and is putting a Band-Aid on the area
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    Getty Images
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    School nurses: Keep K-12 vaccine mandates

    The National Association of School Nurses says school vaccine requirements play a critical role in reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.

    By • Sept. 19, 2025
  • A person in business attire speaks into a microphone while seated at a desk.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Fired CDC director says RFK Jr. aims to change childhood vaccine schedule

    Susan Monarez told senators at a hearing Wednesday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed her out for refusing to rubber-stamp changes.

    By Delilah Alvarado • Sept. 19, 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 the past week’s K-12 news

    From more Education Department grant cuts to new data on ransomware response in schools, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 19, 2025