The K-12 outlook for 2026: How new federal priorities and funding challenges will stretch schools

We’ve gathered our trends to watch over the coming year in one place to help you stay on top of the fast-evolving landscape.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 30, 2026

Week In Review: Bipartisan agreement reached on Ed Dept funding plan for FY26

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from natural disaster best practices to policy and legal trends to watch this year.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 26, 2026

Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

From enrollment challenges to a bipartisan budget proposal, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 23, 2026

How a California district embraces student-centered counseling

A low-income district east of San Jose has become a “bright spot” for tackling absenteeism with an approach focused on data and student interactions.

By Ed Finkel • Jan. 22, 2026

Trump 2.0: A sea change for K-12

From Education Department downsizing to a variety of legal battles, take a month-by-month look at how the federal approach to K-12 has shifted.

By Kara Arundel , Anna Merod , Naaz Modan , Roger Riddell • Jan. 20, 2026

Week In Review: School shootings drop and SCOTUS hears trans athletics cases

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a slew of new Title IX probes to debates over tech in schools.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 20, 2026

Week In Review: From Head Start to Texas teachers, K-12 hits the courtroom

We’re rounding up last week’s news, including ESEA waivers and key trends to watch in 2026.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 12, 2026

6 trends to watch for K-12 in 2026

Enrollment concerns, growing school choice competition, data privacy and new federal policy priorities are among a slew of challenges facing public schools.

By Kara Arundel , Anna Merod , Naaz Modan • Jan. 8, 2026

5 lessons learned from top school administrators in 2025

We’re highlighting key insights on ed tech adoption, remediation services, community engagement and more from this year’s conversations.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 2, 2026

Week In Review: K-12 Dive Awards and AI’s march in curriculum

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a report on teens’ pronoun usage to milk in school lunches.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 22, 2025

What changed — or not — for K-12 staffing in 2025?

Between enrollment and budget challenges and the Trump administration targeting anti-DEI staffing policies, districts navigated rocky terrain this year.

By Anna Merod • Dec. 22, 2025

Georgia district creates AI ambassadors with ‘train the trainer’ initiative

The model is helping a suburban Atlanta district’s small instructional technology staff to scale artificial intelligence professional development.

By Ed Finkel • Dec. 17, 2025

The K-12 Dive Awards for 2025

Whether they’re driving postsecondary pathways, district marketing strategies or school turnarounds, these leaders are raising the bar for K-12.

By Roger Riddell , Kara Arundel • Dec. 16, 2025

Superintendent of the Year: Matt Degner, Iowa City Community School District

This district leader focuses on making academic programs unique as he strives to set his school system apart at a time of growing competition for students.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 16, 2025

The scientific method: It’s not just for science anymore

The same exercises in logic and reason can extend to assignments in the social sciences, humanities and more.

By Ed Finkel • Dec. 10, 2025

Week in Review: Superintendents’ job satisfaction and the status of education degrees

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a major ed tech data security settlement to the latest on a federal school voucher program.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 8, 2025

What would education’s omission as a ‘professional degree’ mean?

The field reportedly didn’t make the cut in a proposal under consideration by the Education Department regarding federal loan limits for graduate students.

By Anna Merod • Dec. 1, 2025

Teacher shortages hinder special education progress. What are the solutions?

"When we fail to fully staff our classrooms, we fail to deliver on the promise of a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities," says one educator.

By Anna Merod • Nov. 25, 2025

How a small Oregon district turns data into action

A streamlined approach helps Umatilla School District make sense of the numbers and ease data anxiety, says Superintendent Heidi Sipe.

By Roger Riddell • Nov. 24, 2025

Week In Review: Fallout from the Education Department’s breakup

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from 8th grade algebra to the latest legal pushes on religion in schools.

By Roger Riddell • Nov. 24, 2025

Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

From another shakeup at the Education Department to growth in Arizona’s universal school choice program, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Anna Merod • Nov. 21, 2025

Week In Review: Education Department activities resume

We’re rounding up last week’s news, from special education concerns to enrollment woes.

By Roger Riddell • Nov. 17, 2025

Special educator shortages demand tailored solutions, study says

Researchers find that state and local policies need to target not only attrition but also the reasons behind turnover.

By Lara Ewen • Updated Nov. 18, 2025

Test yourself on the past week’s K-12 news

From enrollment-based decision-making to AI literacy, what did you learn from our recent stories?

By Roger Riddell • Nov. 14, 2025

Will Trump policies exacerbate the special education teacher shortage?

Special education and teacher preparation experts warn that federal efforts to shrink the Education Department put the special educator pipeline at risk.

By Anna Merod • Nov. 13, 2025