Minneapolis school budget balanced — for now

Shrinking enrollment, higher per-pupil spending and the end of federal pandemic aid could lead to a general fund deficit in FY 2025.

By Kara Arundel • June 15, 2023

Just 1 in 4 teacher prep programs sufficiently address science of reading

Phonemic awareness is the least addressed skill of the evidence-based literacy approach, according to a review by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

By Anna Merod • June 15, 2023

Explore the 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

House committee votes to yank federal funding from schools used as migrant shelters

Supporters say sheltering migrants puts students in danger. Opponents call the measure hurtful and a distraction.

By Kara Arundel • June 14, 2023

Minnesota Department of Education exposed in global data breach

The breach used a vulnerability in software used for file transfers to access sensitive data in an apparent first for a state-level education agency.

By Anna Merod • June 13, 2023

Should states require high school students to complete the FAFSA?

Some research shows these policies boost form completions, but their impact on college attendance is less clear.

By Lilah Burke • June 13, 2023

Over 1,900 colleges not requiring SAT, ACT in admissions for fall 2023

Most of those institutions have also extended test-optional and test-free policies through fall 2024, according to new data.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • June 12, 2023

3rd graders retained in Ohio outperform students who squeaked by on promotion

These findings come as state legislators consider removing the 3rd grade retention policy.

By Anna Merod • June 12, 2023

ESSER tech purchases helped keep schools running remotely during pandemic

Some 92% of districts said they used federal COVID-19 relief dollars to buy ed tech, according to an Office of Inspector General report.

By Anna Merod • June 9, 2023

Pop Quiz: Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From a study tracking charter achievement to the federal debt deal’s impact on K-12, what did you learn from our stories the week of June 5?

By Anna Merod • June 9, 2023

Ed Dept to appoint coordinator to take on book bans nationwide

The new official will work under the department’s Office for Civil Rights and provide training on how book bans may violate federal civil rights laws.

By Anna Merod • June 8, 2023

School districts reconsider SROs in response to violence

Denver Public Schools is among the latest districts to weigh reintroducing police in school buildings with additional guidelines in place.

By Naaz Modan • June 8, 2023

Turnitin admits there are some cases of higher false positives in AI writing detection tool

The company has noticed a “higher incidence of false positives” when less than 20% of AI writing is detected in a document.

By Anna Merod • June 7, 2023

House committee condemns use of schools for migrant shelters

The resolution, approved along partisan lines, also would strip federal funding from schools that house migrants.

By Kara Arundel • June 7, 2023

Opponents of Oklahoma’s new religious charter school gear up for legal challenges

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in a 3-2 vote Monday.

By Anna Merod • June 7, 2023

Texas bill would require all schools to have armed security officers

The legislation would also require mental health training for employees who regularly interact with students.

By Naaz Modan • June 5, 2023

Arizona’s universal school voucher program could cost an estimated $900M

The state’s legislative budget committee is hesitant to accept the Arizona Department of Education’s estimates, as critics say the program will “bankrupt” the state.

By Anna Merod • June 5, 2023

4 ways to brace for school safety plan leaks following a cyberattack

Among K-12 safety and cybersecurity experts’ suggestions are storing sensitive security plans separately and balancing what’s shared publicly.

By Anna Merod • June 5, 2023

Pop Quiz: Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

From school districts suing social media companies to a delay on final Title IX rules, what did you learn from our stories the week of May 29?

By Anna Merod • June 2, 2023

Education spared from severe cuts with signing of debt ceiling deal

Nondefense programs would see flat funding in FY 2024, and the rescission of COVID-19 funds would not apply to K-12.

By Kara Arundel • Updated June 5, 2023

Texas appoints new superintendent, board for Houston ISD

The leadership change for the state’s largest district follows the announcement of a takeover in March.

By Naaz Modan • June 1, 2023

‘Wave’ of litigation expected as schools fight social media companies

Districts are joining a complaint against Meta, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, but some doubt the firms can be blamed for teens’ mental health struggles.

By Kara Arundel • June 1, 2023

More high-poverty schools tap into federal policies to serve free meals

Community Eligibility Provision participation is at an all-time high, letting more schools serve free meals to students without requiring an application.

By Anna Merod • June 1, 2023

‘Science of reading’ gains more traction with Illinois literacy mandate

Amid growing adoption for the approach in curriculum plans nationwide, one expert advises that teachers should retain some agency in choosing resources.

By Lauren Barack • May 31, 2023

How willing are educators to carry a gun in school?

A RAND Corp. survey finds that whether teachers would choose to carry a firearm depends on location, demographics and other factors.

By Naaz Modan • May 31, 2023

Ed, Justice depts say discrimination in school discipline remains ‘significant concern’

In a joint Dear Colleague letter, the agencies promised “vigorous” enforcement of Title VI in cases of racially discriminatory discipline.

By Naaz Modan • May 31, 2023