Pre-K & Early Childhood

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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 preschool enrollment changes to finalized Title IX regulations, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • April 26, 2024
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    PeopleImages via Getty Images
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    Preschool enrollment, state spending hit record highs

    Preschool participation grew 7% in 2022-23 year over year, with percentages of enrolled 3-and 4-year-olds at all-time highs.

    By • April 22, 2024
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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 2024 so far as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    AndreaObzerova via Getty Images
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    Special education population rose 2% between 2020 and 2021

    In total, 7.8 million children and young adults received specialized services under IDEA in 2021, according to the Education Department’s annual report.

    By • April 5, 2024
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    SDI Productions via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Pearson

    Setting the stage for early childhood success with structured and stable learning environments

    Ensuring there is structure and stability in school and home environments can help set the stage for well-rounded early childhood progress.

    March 25, 2024
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    Imgorthand via Getty Images
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    Bringing joy and learning to preschoolers through science lessons

    Exploring broad scientific concepts can build teachers' confidence and deepen students' foundational learning, an early childhood expert says.

    By • March 20, 2024
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    seb_ra via Getty Images
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    We want to hear about your school district’s rising leaders

    Tell us about the innovative leaders in your schools for our fourth annual spotlight on assistant principals and district administrators.

    By • March 19, 2024
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    William Walker/K-12 Dive
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    Sponsored by Pearson

    [Podcast] Building Bridges: Strengthening the Educator-Caregiver Partnership

    In this three-part series, we focus on early childhood education. Topics covered include social-emotional learning, kindergarten readiness, and speech and language delays.

    Updated March 25, 2024
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    Biden’s State of the Union: High-quality tutoring is in, book bans are out

    Most of President Joe Biden’s speech touched on similar education policies as previous years. His brief pushback on book bans, however, marked a new addition.

    By • March 8, 2024
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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 chronic absenteeism rates to proposals for paid pregnancy leave for educators, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • March 8, 2024
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    DGLimages via Getty Images
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    Head Start funding not keeping pace with rising child poverty rates

    A U.S. Government Accountability Office report stressed the need to target Head Start services more effectively and to equitably distribute grants.

    By • March 4, 2024
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    Permission granted by Mountain Mahogany Community School
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    How one school scaled up science of reading professional development

    A New Mexico school supported teacher training, switched its reading and writing curricula, and altered its schedule to boost reading proficiency.

    By • Feb. 28, 2024
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Is the end of federal relief money worsening a child care crisis?

    Staff shortages, low pay and a lack of affordable options for families are leading to underenrollment, according to a NAEYC survey.

    By • Feb. 27, 2024
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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 costly and illegal teachers strike to a controversial regulation’s advancement to the White House, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 9, 2024
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    Tasia Wells via Getty Images
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    Head Start, community colleges partner to expand affordable child care access

    The “Kids on Campus” campaign includes a user guide with model programs and recommendations for launching successful partnerships.

    By • Feb. 8, 2024
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    Michael Loccisano / Staff via Getty Images
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    Enrollment takes slight turn up, but still lags behind pre-pandemic levels

    Pre-K-12 rolls remained 2% lower than 2019 levels, at 49.6 million, continuing a public school enrollment trend that began in fall 2020.

    By • Feb. 5, 2024
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    nirat via Getty Images
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    The K-12 outlook for 2024: Funds are waning, challenges aren’t

    We've gathered our trends to watch, leaders to follow and more in one place to help you stay ahead of the game.

    By K-12 Dive staff • Jan. 31, 2024
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    Imagesbybarbara/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Hate crimes more than double at schools, FBI reports

    Schools were the third most common known location for hate crimes in 2023, and a frequent location for hate crimes against Black, Jewish and LGBT individuals.

    By • Jan. 30, 2024
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    svetikd via Getty Images
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    Young students still lag on school readiness post-pandemic

    Some recent math and reading assessment data for grades K-2 show "no sign of recovery," according to Curriculum Associates.

    By • Jan. 26, 2024
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    GOP lawmakers say Head Start wage increase proposal is ‘misguided’

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule in November to raise average Head Start wages by more than $10,000 a year.

    By • Jan. 23, 2024
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    santypan via Getty Images
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    Child care experts offer optimism amid growing challenges

    Increased advocacy is a hopeful sign even as some providers report cutting wages and salary increases or serving fewer children, said one industry insider.

    By • Jan. 10, 2024
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    Halfpoint via Getty Images
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    8 K-12 trends to watch in 2024

    Chronic absenteeism, academic recovery, artificial intelligence and waning COVID relief funds are among the slate of challenges school leaders face.

    By , , • Jan. 9, 2024
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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 roadblocks for a state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law to the USDA’s Summer EBT rollout, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Jan. 5, 2024
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    Edgar BJ via Getty Images
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    By The Numbers: Economic trends in child care and early learning

    According to a new Center for American Progress data dashboard, 67.8% of children under 6 have “all available parents” in the workforce.  

    By • Jan. 3, 2024
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Dive Awards

    The K-12 Dive Awards for 2023

    These leaders are boosting achievement with commitments to school culture, strong communication and innovative learning models.

    By • Dec. 7, 2023
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    ‘Renewed urgency’ needed for early ed inclusion

    HHS and the Education Department say 55% of preschoolers with disabilities get special education services in classrooms separate from their peers.

    By • Nov. 29, 2023