Education union activity ramps up ahead of new school year

Several K-12 locals are striking or suing districts over issues ranging from fair pay to school communication policies.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 23, 2022

Ed Department announces $8M grant competition to increase teacher diversity

The Hawkins grants will fund applicants who plan to incorporate evidence-driven practices into their teacher preparation programs.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 22, 2022

Explore the 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

Loosened teacher qualifications remain a key concern in shortage discussions

Teacher shortage solutions walk a fine line between creativity and hiring unqualified teachers, panelists said in a Johns Hopkins University webinar.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 19, 2022

Finance experts: School district budgets ‘headed for a wild ride’

Four “atypical financial shocks” are likely to hit many school systems around the 2024-25 school year.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 19, 2022

ACLU-backed lawsuit challenges Florida’s Stop WOKE Act

Lawyers are gearing up to litigate the law’s fallout for K-12 schools after challenging its higher ed components.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 19, 2022

National Head Start Association says COVID-19 rule disruptive to programs

The organization argues that conflicting mandates are creating barriers for children to access the federal early education programs.

By Kara Arundel • Updated Aug. 19, 2022

Proposed curriculum censorship bills increased 250% in 2022

PEN America found 137 bills were proposed in 2022 to restrict classroom discussions on race, gender and LGBTQ identities, which mostly targeted K-12.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 17, 2022

Tucson schools plans to contract 5 teaching positions as ‘last resort’ for shortages

The district’s governing board approved a plan to use $385,000 in ESSER funding to contract certified general education teachers to fill high-need roles.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 17, 2022

North Dakota invests in online ed prep to train rural teachers

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction is dedicating $2 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for scholarships to help aspiring educators.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 17, 2022

Report: Despite high completion, FAFSA ‘remains confusing’ for students and families

Three-quarters of those surveyed didn’t know the FAFSA application window starts in October, suggesting the need for building awareness.   

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 16, 2022

Support for arming teachers remains steady in wake of mass shootings

The percentage of the general public and public school parents supporting armed teachers has not significantly increased in the past few years.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 15, 2022

Network helping states explore registered teacher apprenticeships

A National Center for Grow Your Own initiative is connecting states interested in using an apprenticeship model to combat teacher shortages.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 15, 2022

State ed leaders: More data needed to understand teacher shortages

The state superintendents for Indiana and Nevada say workforce data can help remove barriers and improve recruitment and retention.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 15, 2022

Districts face mask litigation despite drop in requirements

Lawsuits in states like Montana and Iowa come despite a significant decrease in districts requiring masks since the start of the 2021-22 school year.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 12, 2022

Los Angeles prohibits homeless encampments near schools

The controversy mirrors many that have cropped up around the nation over school safety concerns versus rights of people facing homelessness.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 12, 2022

CDC eases quarantine, test-to-stay guidance for schools

Additionally, the agency now only recommends masking in communities with high levels of COVID-19 spread.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 12, 2022

Educators report rampant political harassment in last school year

The RAND Corp. found 37% of teachers said they faced harassment over COVID-19 safety measures or teachings on race, racism or bias.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 11, 2022

Number of districts receiving homeless student funding balloons sixfold

A SchoolHouse Connection report shows pandemic aid led to a 611% overall increase in the number of districts receiving dedicated funding.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 10, 2022

New Jersey schools must have threat assessment teams under new state law

Other states and districts are also looking to improve school threat assessment procedures in efforts to prevent violence by students.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 10, 2022

Ed Dept’s new charter rule challenged in Michigan lawsuit

The lawsuit challenges the department’s plans for distributing charter funds, as well as its authority to create the grant rule in the first place.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 10, 2022

Higher NY high school graduation rate attributed to relaxed standards during pandemic

The New York Equity Coalition found 70.9% of the class of 2021 received exemption from at least one graduation requirement.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 10, 2022

Efforts growing to help schools serve plant-based meals

California recently approved a one-time fund of $100 million to help districts provide plant-based or restricted diet meals.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 9, 2022

Alabama district among first probed under LGBTQ Title IX guidance

The case comes after the release of the Biden administration's interpretation of protections for LGBTQ students under the federal civil rights law.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 9, 2022

Hawaii finds poor air quality in 10% of classrooms

Additionally, the state’s education department identified 73 rooms across seven schools with high levels of carbon dioxide.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 8, 2022

Oklahoma invests $5M in online math tutoring program

The initiative will pay college students $25 per hour in an effort to ease recruitment and retention concerns.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 8, 2022