Policy & Legal: Page 7

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    Nimito via Getty Images
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    S&P predicts stable outlook for charter schools in 2025

    Schools on the lower end of the rating scale are facing challenges from the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds and low attendance and enrollment.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • Feb. 5, 2025
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    putilich via Getty Images
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    K-12 cybersecurity a hot topic in state legislatures in 2024

    California, Florida and Indiana enacted new laws containing cybersecurity supports for schools, an analysis from the Consortium for School Networking finds.

    By • Feb. 4, 2025
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    Michael Loccisano via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Equity in Education

    From early learning to high school, the pandemic impacted equity at all levels of K-12, from persistent and widening achievement gaps to uneven access to school meals.

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    Permission granted by Monarch School Project
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    25% uptick in student homelessness highlights the demand for school resources

    Advocates say the higher rate isn't all bad. Instead, it reflects more robust identification practices and means more families can get the help they need.

    By • Feb. 4, 2025
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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    Expected Trump order on Education Department’s future rattles advocates

    Since congressional approval is needed to shut down the agency, experts say the more likely scenario for now is a combination of budget cuts and restructuring.

    By • Feb. 4, 2025
  • Police put up crime scene tape at Perry High School in Iowa following a school shooting on January 4, 2024.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    The Trump administration disbanded a federal school safety board. Now what?

    Education leaders stress that school safety is a bipartisan issue and are hopeful the Trump administration will continue to prioritize it.

    By • Feb. 3, 2025
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    skynesher via Getty Images
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    Education Department will enforce 2020 Title IX rule

    A letter to K-12 schools and colleges says sex discrimination enforcement activities will only recognize two sexes — male and female.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
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    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
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    The K-12 outlook for 2025: Shifting policy, tech landscapes bring new challenges

    We’ve gathered our trends to watch over the coming year in one place to help you stay ahead of the game.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
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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 NAEP reading and math scores to Trump’s two major K-12 executive orders, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How are schools responding to immigration policy shifts?

    Student attendance and the legal rights of schools and families are among concerns after schools lose "protected areas" status.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
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    Rattankun Thongbun/iStock via Getty Images
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    The coming decline in high school graduate counts, in 5 charts

    A recent forecast dove deep into the demographics and number of future traditional-aged college prospects. The news wasn’t all bad.

    By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 30, 2025
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    Are uncertified teachers still the answer?

    Some researchers frown upon the practice, encouraging states and districts to pursue alternative strategies for addressing teacher shortages.

    By • Jan. 30, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Trump signs executive orders prioritizing school choice, ending K-12 ‘indoctrination’

    Trump’s latest orders call for the Education Department to explore options to fund school choice, while ending support for "discriminatory equity ideology."

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
  • Donald Trump is walking in a hallway of the White House. The photo is taken from the ground up. There is red carpet and people in uniform are lined along the walls of the hallway
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump administration reverses course on federal funding freeze

    Agencies, including the Education Department, will still need to review their allocations for conflicts with White House executive orders.

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
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    Jacob Ammentorp Lund via Getty Images
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    First-year college enrollment spiked 5.5% in fall 2024

    The final data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center comes a week after the group retracted preliminary findings showing a decline.

    By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 29, 2025
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    NAEP 2024

    Reading, math continue slide in 2024 NAEP results

    Average reading scores dropped 5 points for both 4th and 8th graders from 2019 to 2024. Math scores also saw significant declines.

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
  • President Donald Trump's top portion of his face can be seen behind an open folder he is holding. His is in the Oval Office and seated as a desk.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Federal judge puts temporary freeze on Trump’s funding pause

    While Title I, IDEA and Head Start funding seem unaffected by the OMB directive, policy experts and educators are seeking more guidance about the actual impact.

    By • Updated Jan. 28, 2025
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    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    5 policy trends to watch in 2025

    The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision overturning the Chevron doctrine could see a number of K-12 policy decisions determined by the judiciary.

    By • Jan. 28, 2025
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    ESSER now in rearview mirror for most districts

    Tuesday’s spending deadline marks the end to federal COVID-19 emergency allocations dedicated to K-12 for most school districts.

    By • Jan. 28, 2025
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    SCOTUS to hear school disability discrimination case

    At issue is whether plaintiffs must prove that public school officials acted with "bad faith or gross misjudgement."

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
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    Tero Vesalainen via Getty Images
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    Common App data shows 5% jump in first-year college applicants

    Applications grew at a faster pace in the 2024-25 cycle among students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, the company reported.

    By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 27, 2025
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    stockbusters via Getty Images
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    Special education formal disputes see notable increases

    CADRE's data doesn't dig into the reasons for the increases, but experts point to special education teacher shortages as one possible explanation.

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    SCOTUS to hear Oklahoma religious charter school case

    The case over what would be the nation’s first religious public charter school could set precedent for access to public funds.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
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    The image by U.S. Department of State (IIP Bureau) is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Trump’s Education Department nixes DEI initiatives and guidance

    The agency also said it has canceled contracts and placed employees tasked with leading diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on paid leave.

    By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 24, 2025
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    Evgen_Prozhyrko via Getty Images
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    Education Department rescinds Biden-era book ban guidance

    The agency's Office for Civil Rights also dismissed 11 related complaints and eliminated the position of book ban coordinator.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
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    lostinbids via Getty Images
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    Head Start programs under interim management struggle with staff and safety issues

    HHS agrees to monitoring and reporting improvements after a GAO study that raised operational concerns.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025