Policy & Legal: Page

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    Arizona launches teacher residency program to address shortages, turnover

    The program stands in contrast to a law signed this summer permitting those without bachelor’s degrees to teach while completing their degrees.

    By • Aug. 29, 2022
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    Retrieved from Minneapolis Federation of Teachers on August 29, 2022
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    Minneapolis Public Schools sued over union contract’s protections for teachers of color

    A taxpayer is suing the district for practices allowing it to exempt teachers of color from seniority-based staff reductions.

    By • Aug. 29, 2022
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    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
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    Poll: Just 14% of parents with children under 5 say their child got a COVID-19 vaccine

    A Gallup poll found half of parents with children ages 5-11 were likely to get a vaccine for their children.

    By • Aug. 26, 2022
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    How can schools increase willingness to report threats?

    A RAND Corp. report says building trust and offering accessible reporting systems can make it more likely that school violence concerns will be shared.

    By • Aug. 26, 2022
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    These 4 charts explain emerging teacher shortage data

    Recent research shows the teacher shortage hits the South the hardest, but is the problem widespread?

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    OCR settles antisemitism case as Ed Department weighs amending Title VI regulations

    In 2021, the Anti-Defamation League counted 331 antisemitic incidents at non-Jewish K-12 schools, up 106% from a historic low of 161 in 2020.

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Michael Loccisano via Getty Images
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    How schools can extend internet to families for less than the cost of hotspots

    A new analysis finds working with a private cellular company costs up to 10 times more than if a school creates and shares its own wireless network.

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Uvalde heightens schools’ interest in physical security

    Experts have seen demand for measures like cameras and secure vestibules resurface in the aftermath of the May massacre.

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Calkins’ revised literacy curricula in limbo amid state law concerns

    Debate over discussion of race and gender in classrooms is delaying the new resources, which notably feature a deeper embrace of phonics.

    By Lauren Barack • Aug. 24, 2022
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    Minnesota automatically enrolls 90K new students for free school meals

    A USDA pilot program is allowing eight states to directly certify students on Medicaid to receive free meals this school year.

    By • Aug. 24, 2022
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    Courtney Hale via Getty Images
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    Homeless student funding expanded during the pandemic. Will it be sustained?

    Until a historic funding influx from ARP, only 1 in 4 districts received dedicated homeless student funding. That number should be higher, advocates say.

    By • Aug. 24, 2022
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    Judge puts the brakes on Florida’s Stop WOKE Act

    The law contains terms so vague that employers and other parties could not determine what speech it prohibits, plaintiffs alleged.

    By Ryan Golden , • Aug. 23, 2022
  • An Arizona teacher holds up a sign in front of the State Capitol during a #REDforED rally on April 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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    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 • Aug. 23, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 22, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 19, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 19, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 19, 2022
  • Young child looks out of window from a yellow school bus, which has the words Head Start printed on the side.
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    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 • Updated Aug. 19, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 17, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 17, 2022
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    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 • Aug. 17, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 16, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 15, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 15, 2022
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    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 • Aug. 15, 2022