With plans for free community college to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's decision to step down and the "Christmas miracle" signing of the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015 saw no shortage of headline-grabbing education stories. In addition to breaking down the industry's top news and trends, this year saw Education Dive examine the challenges facing incoming education secretary John King, discuss the MOOC revolution with Coursera's head of business development, and detail changes in the College Board's approach to standardized testing.  

With 2016 fast approaching, take a look back at the year's 10 most-read Education Dive stories. And be sure to keep an eye on the site: We've got plenty more in store for the new year!

• 5 pros and cons of Obama's free community college plan: Those on both sides of the aisle have found plenty to debate in 'America's College Promise.'
• These 10 trends are shaping the future of education: Innovation in the space likely won't create an all-new landscape, but it will be markedly different.
• Sixth-grader's 70-day suspension lands mandatory training for Ohio educators: A Columbus middle school's entire staff has been ordered to receive special training to help them recognize behavioral disabilities.
• 8 major challenges acting ed secretary John King will face in 2016: The stakes will be high for K-12 and higher ed in the wake of Arne Duncan's exit.
• Special ed changes likely in final months of Obama admin: The site offers the public a variety of resources, including testing information, related to the state’s districts and schools in a convenient, one-stop online shop.
• 9 ed tech developments to note from SXSWedu 2015: If you couldn't be in Austin or just didn't have time to see everything on display, here are nine innovations that caught our attention.
• 8 K-12 tech tools to watch in 2015: From digital textbook innovations to platforms that simplify STEM teaching and learning, here are some of the classroom tools we have our eyes on this year.
• How the College Board changed its standardized testing approach: David Coleman detailed the company's four rules at the NYT Schools For Tomorrow Conference. 
• UIUC, Coursera partner to offer iMBA, a $20,000 graduate degree: The first all-MOOC graduate degree is expected to launch in 2016.
• Coursera's Stiglitz: MOOC revolution is just beginning [SXSWedu 2015]: We caught up with the massive open online course provider's head of business development to talk credentialing, JetBlue, and the format's continuing potential for disruption.

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