The Latest

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    Week in Review: School choice, reading gains and looming policy changes

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” to a pair of transgender athletics cases headed to the Supreme Court.

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    The Bold Bureau via Getty Images
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    How Trump is deploying multiple agencies to set education policy

    ​​Rule changes for Energy Department grants to schools are primed to alter policies. Other federal agencies could be next.

  • President Donald Trump addresses reporters at the White House on June 27, 2025.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Trump administration restricts education-related programs for some immigrants

    Head Start and tuition for programs like dual enrollment, college and CTE are set to be impacted by the administration's policy change.

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    FG Trade via Getty Images
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    Michigan district agrees to reform seclusion and restraint policies

    A Justice Department probe found the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in how it punished students.

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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Justice Department sues California over transgender athlete policy

    The Trump administration has threatened to withdraw the state’s $44.3 billion in federal funds if it doesn’t limit girls' sports to cisgender athletes.

  • A line of protesters, including one with his hand in the air and one in a mask, carry signs in favor of LGBTQ+ rights.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Trans teacher can be made to keep pronouns quiet, 11th Circuit says

    The appeals court ruled that the teacher’s role as a government employee allowed for limitations to her First Amendment rights when acting in that role.

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    Fly View Productions via Getty Images
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    4-day school week yields mixed results in Oregon study

    Researchers found no evidence of large positive effects, but did see higher math scores and graduation rates for high schoolers in rural schools.

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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 the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” to notable achievement gains in young students, what did you learn from our recent stories?

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    BlackJack3D via Getty Images
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    How can AI enhance project-based learning?

    Artificial intelligence could help educators flesh out project assignments and provide students an additional research and feedback tool.

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    Laurence Dutton via Getty Images
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    California high school reimagines classrooms as ‘learning studios’

    Compton High School is using technology-driven communal class spaces in an effort to modernize and create a more collaborative environment.

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    FG Trade Latin via Getty Images
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    Youngest students see big reading gains post-COVID on DIBELS assessment

    Kindergartners showed a 21-percentage-point increase in early reading performance between 2020-21 and 2024-25.

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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    AFT, tech companies join forces on $23M teacher AI training initiative

    The National Academy for AI Instruction aims to train over 400,000 teachers on artificial intelligence fluency skills by 2030.

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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    RFK Jr. sued over vaccine schedule changes for healthy children, pregnant people

    The complaint argues Kennedy’s actions to remove the COVID vaccine from the CDC’s immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant people were unlawful.

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    Kevin Dietsch / Staff via Getty Images
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    Will the next Supreme Court term close the transgender athletic debate?

    A pair of cases could establish precedent on whether transgender student athletes can compete on teams aligned with their gender identity.

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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    3 things to know about school choice in the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

    Who pays, who qualifies and what's next? We answer your questions about the first federally funded private school choice program available nationwide.

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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Trump’s OCR steps up pace for dismissing complaints

    The office charged with protecting students’ civil rights is functioning with limited staff, and its recent dismissal rate has raised questions from former employees.

    Updated July 7, 2025
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    gpointstudio via Getty Images
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    STUDY HALL

    Here’s what you need to know about the federal IDEA special education program

    The nearly 50-year-old law sets requirements for states and districts for how to serve students with disabilities.

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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    ‘Immediate harm’: Education Department withholds $6.2B from schools

    Title funding for English learners, after-school programs and professional development are among the allocations unavailable to districts and states.

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    Kyle Little via Getty Images
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    Philadelphia school district enters monitoring agreement to defer criminal prosecution over asbestos lapses

    Superintendent Tony Watlington says the district has committed to greater transparency and tripled its environmental management investments.

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    ferrantraite via Getty Images
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    Is CTE the future of arts career pathways?

    Career and technical education may help prepare students for a wider range of opportunities in the arts and creative industries.

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    undrey via Getty Images
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    Starting early is key to tackling teen boredom in math

    Recommendations in a new RAND Corp. report include looking beyond curriculum to incorporate more real-world applications in lessons.

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    DragonImages via Getty Images
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    Over 60 organizations sign White House pledge to invest in AI education

    The pledge marks a win for the White House and comes as a state AI regulation moratorium was stricken from the Senate’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill."

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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Senate passes ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ putting US closer to offering national private school choice

    Critics say funding public school systems, which educate most of the nation's students, should be Congress’ priority.

    Updated July 1, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    School participation in CEP keeps rising. ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ could change that.

    Proposed SNAP cuts could harm the Community Eligibility Provision, which helps high-poverty schools serve free meals to all students, FRAC says.

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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How would Trump’s FY 26 budget plan reshape special education?

    The White House says its IDEA budget proposal would be less complex and more effective. Critics worry about cuts and reduced accountability.