How are states supporting K-12 cybersecurity amid growing threats?

As state efforts slowly ramp up to help struggling districts, they alone can’t completely remedy cybersecurity risks, one ed tech expert said.

By Anna Merod • June 22, 2023

Florida district, state officials sued for banning children’s book under ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

A lawsuit against Florida’s Lake County School District alleges a ban on the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” violated the First Amendment.

By Anna Merod • June 22, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

K-12 Dive has gathered some a selection of our best coverage as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

By K-12 Dive staff

22 states now require high school financial literacy courses

While access to these classes grows, inequities persist across location, race and poverty levels.

By Anna Merod • June 21, 2023

13-year-olds’ reading, math scores decline to levels not seen since ‘70s

The pandemic added to “troubling trends” dating back a decade, especially for lower-performing students, said NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr.

By Naaz Modan • June 21, 2023

Proposed Section 504 rule expected in August

The Education Department indicates the update will address barriers for students with disabilities, fix outdated language and align with civil rights laws.

By Kara Arundel • June 21, 2023

Wisconsin district to pay $450K, raise teacher salaries to settle EEOC claim

Salary disparities ranging from $3,000 to $17,000 showed gender bias.

By Kate Tornone • June 20, 2023

USDA looks to make final call on free meal expansion, school nutrition in April 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is determining final regulations over the expansion of the Community Eligibility Provision and stricter school nutrition standards.

By Anna Merod • June 20, 2023

College Board pushes back on Florida demands for AP course changes

The state education department’s request that College Board audit and modify courses follows a dispute over an African American studies course.

By Naaz Modan • June 20, 2023

To combat antisemitism, Ed Dept plans proposed rules on shared ancestry bias

The move follows White House calls to counter harassment and discrimination, as well as data showing a rise in hate crimes.

By Kara Arundel • June 16, 2023

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

From lawmakers applying funding pressure to a data breach that reached a state ed department, what did you learn from our stories the week of June 12?

By Anna Merod • June 16, 2023

Vermont becomes 6th state to approve permanent universal school meals

The policy was enacted on Wednesday without the signature of Gov. Phil Scott, who called the legislation “regressive.”

By Anna Merod • June 15, 2023

House proposal would restore fully refundable child tax credit

Data has shown an expanded pandemic-era credit lifted 5.3 million people — including 2.9 million children — out of poverty in 2021.

By Roger Riddell • June 15, 2023

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

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