Policy & Legal: Page 5


  • A student sits at a desk while listening to a school counselor.
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    vgajic via Getty Images
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    $1B to support student mental health is gone. Schools fear what’s next.

    Funds for more school mental health professionals were discontinued due to “conflict” with Trump administration priorities, the Education Department said.

    By May 5, 2025
  • President Trump in the oval office of the white house as press looks on
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    Win McNamee/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Trump’s FY26 budget would slash more than $4.5B from K-12

    The plan would turn Title I and IDEA into single, separate grants, zero out key teacher grants, and add $60 million for charter schools.

    By May 2, 2025
  • High school students are dropped off for school and begin walking into the building. Explore the Trendline
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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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
  • 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 a challenge to an education civil rights law to the new COPPA Rule’s implementation, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By May 2, 2025
  • ICE agents enter business as part of immigration raid
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    Lawsuit challenges Trump ICE raid policy, citing LAUSD activity

    Plaintiffs also included reports of attendance rates that "dropped in half" and an "influx of parents picking up their children" mid-day in districts nationwide.

    By May 1, 2025
  • A student takes a multiple choice test
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    turk_stock_photographer via Getty Images
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    Federal cuts reduce scope of Nation’s Report Card

    A number of voluntary NAEP subjects have been cut over the next eight years, including writing for all grades.

    By May 1, 2025
  • Three young students eat lunch together at school.
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    School meal participation on the rise amid growing interest in CEP

    Student participation rose 8% for school breakfasts and 6.8% for lunches between 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, according to FRAC.

    By May 1, 2025
  • Archbishop Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is shown standing at the pulpit.
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    Courtesy of Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
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    Supreme Court could allow creation of nation’s first religious public school

    Though the court's conservative majority appeared open to such a school’s creation, liberal justices raised questions on curricula and discrimination.

    By April 30, 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

    What’s next for the registered teacher apprenticeship movement?

    To keep high-quality programs running, it's crucial to have sustainable financing and to amplify district and state voices.

    By April 30, 2025
  • An aerial view of students using 8 different laptops side by side, while in school.
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    How tariff uncertainties are already impacting school purchasing

    District leaders point to "whiplash" for school purchases on everything from laptops to paper products as the Trump administration changes trade policies.

    By April 30, 2025
  • an exterior view of the US Capitol building
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Trump signs Take It Down Act, making illicit deepfakes a criminal act

    The bipartisan measure takes aim at sexually explicit images generated by artificial intelligence, an issue increasingly impacting students and schools.

    By Updated May 19, 2025
  • Robed justices Sonia Sotomayor, left, and Clarence Thomas, right, are seated and speaking to each other in front of a red curtain.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Justices seem puzzled by district’s argument in disability case

    Consequences for districts' financial liability in Section 504 and ADA cases are on the line in a case turning on the legal standards to be used.

    By April 28, 2025
  • A person pushed a baby stroller past the outside of the U.S. Department of Education's building.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    19 states sue Education Department over anti-DEI efforts

    A coalition of attorneys general contends that the agency’s Title VI certification directive places “onerous” and “excruciatingly difficult” demands on states.

    By April 28, 2025
  • A baby with a pacifier is sleeping in an adult's arms.
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    Pekic via Getty Images
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    IDEA services for infants, toddlers brace for budget impacts

    The Part C early intervention program is stable for now, but advocates and researchers are worried about potential cuts to Medicaid and appropriations.

    By April 28, 2025
  • A close-up view of students using tablets while sitting at their desks pushed together in a classroom.
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    dolgachov via Getty Images
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    New COPPA Rule to take effect in June

    The Federal Trade Commission’s amended final rule expands parental control over companies that collect children’s data.

    By April 25, 2025
  • A student is sitting at a desk in a classroom and looking over their shoulder at two other students who have their backs to the camera.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Will Trump’s school discipline order drive wider disparities or ‘restore common sense’?

    Some critics worry the directive will hurt marginalized students, but supporters say race-based practices hamper school safety.

    By April 25, 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 new executive orders to a state’s private school choice program being deemed unconstitutional, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By April 25, 2025
  • A judge's gavel is shown in a close-up photo sitting on a pedestal on a desk in a courtoom
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    BrianAJackson via Getty Images
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    States drop Section 504 constitutional challenge

    The 17 state plaintiffs don't want to declare the disability discrimination rule unconstitutional but continue to argue that gender dysphoria is not a disability.

    By April 25, 2025
  • Three people sit at a table.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Federal judges deal major blow to Education Department’s anti-DEI guidance

    The Trump administration's efforts to withhold funds from schools "raise the specter of a public 'witch hunt,'" one ruling said.

    By , Natalie Schwartz • Updated April 25, 2025
  • President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stand behind Trump.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump targets AI, school discipline in new executive orders

    In addition to advancing AI in schools, the orders call for a review of discipline guidance based on “discriminatory and unlawful ‘equity’ ideology.”

    By April 23, 2025
  • President Donald Trump's motorcade prepares to leave the White House.
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    Al Drago via Getty Images
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    What could an executive order on AI in education mean for schools?

    A draft order would direct federal agencies to prioritize artificial intelligence initiatives in schools and to help train students and teachers to use the tech.

    By April 23, 2025
  • A person carries a sign that says "trans people belong" in front of the Texas capitol building.
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    Brandon Bell / Staff via Getty Images
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    2 in 5 LGBTQ+ youth face socioeconomic challenges

    Transgender and nonbinary youth were more likely to experience food insecurity, houselessness and unmet basic needs compared to peers.

    By April 23, 2025
  • A blonde woman speaks behind a podium in the White House.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Justice Department: Maine Education Department at risk of losing $864M

    The federal agency warned last week that it may retroactively pull funding to Maine for past Title IX violations.

    By April 23, 2025
  • Facade of MSAD #51's administrative office
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    Retrieved from MSAD #51.
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    Maine’s K-12 is on the brink of losing federal funding. How did it get here?

    The case may serve as a blueprint for other investigations as Attorney General Pam Bondi has warned "many, many" other states are next.

    By Updated May 5, 2025
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2024-2025 term, business cases
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    Supreme Court appears split in key curriculum opt-out case

    The Supreme Court’s opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor could set precedent on parental opt-out policies and LGBTQ+ curricular content. 

    By April 22, 2025
  • ICE agents lied about having parents’ permission to speak to LAUSD students, senators say

    A letter from California senators to the immigration enforcement agency reveals agents attempted to locate children — without any warrants — in grades 1-6.

    By April 22, 2025