Leadership

  • President Donald Trump's top portion of his face can be seen behind an open folder he is holding. His is in the Oval Office and seated as a desk.
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    Federal judge puts temporary freeze on Trump’s funding pause

    While Title I, IDEA and Head Start funding seem unaffected by the OMB directive, policy experts and educators are seeking more guidance about the actual impact.

    By • Updated Jan. 28, 2025
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    Deep Dive

    5 policy trends to watch in 2025

    The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision overturning the Chevron doctrine could see a number of K-12 policy decisions determined by the judiciary.

    By • Jan. 28, 2025
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    Trendline

    Equity in Education

    From early learning to high school, the pandemic impacted equity at all levels of K-12, from persistent and widening achievement gaps to uneven access to school meals.

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    What to watch in K-12 as Trump kicks off 2nd term

    The potential expansion of school choice and less federal bureaucracy has some hopeful as the presidency transfers to Donald Trump.

    By K-12 Dive staff • Jan. 21, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Wildfire aid coming to California schools as educators plan to restart learning

    The state is relaxing rules for child care, transitional kindergarten and K-12 required school days for communities affected by the disaster.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr.
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    Cardona touts his Education Department for ‘substance not sensationalism’

    The outgoing education secretary highlighted the agency's accomplishments while calling for continued support for public education.

    By • Jan. 16, 2025
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    Restraint and seclusion harmful to students, Education Department warns

    Schools are urged to use proactive and positive behavior support alternatives that prevent the need for these practices.

    By • Jan. 16, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education/Flickr.
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    Q&A

    ‘We raised the bar’: Cardona shares highs, lows as he exits Education Dept.

    Miguel Cardona, the nation’s 12th education secretary, said he's most proud of the work that focused on instruction and put more resources in schools.

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
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    Deep Dive

    6 trends that will shape K-12 in 2025

    Strained budgets, cybersecurity threats, book bans and artificial intelligence are among the bevy of challenges for school leaders to navigate.

    By , • Jan. 9, 2025
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    School shootings in 2024 fell just below prior year’s record high

    One researcher predicts that about 30 school shootings could occur in January 2025, with most likely to result from fights that escalate.

    By • Jan. 8, 2025
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    Permission granted by Teamsters Local 2010
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    Principal, administrator unions rising steadily since COVID

    As more school leaders are joining unions for the first time, some in large school systems like LAUSD are looking to strengthen bargaining power.

    By • Jan. 7, 2025
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    Column // LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    How a New Jersey principal is tackling middle school literacy gaps

    Thelma Ramsey-Bryant and her team have worked to make remedial reading tasks feel age-appropriate and to identify connections to student behavior.

    By • Jan. 6, 2025
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    Ridofranz via Getty Images
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    How does exclusionary discipline affect student mental health?

    Suspensions and expulsions can lead to higher rates of depression through early adulthood, according to research from the University of Arkansas.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • Jan. 3, 2025
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    Permission granted by San Gabriel Unified School District
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    California district-college partnerships tackle teacher shortage for transitional kindergarten

    A state law requiring all districts to provide the bridge year means that more educators are needed to staff these classrooms.

    By • Jan. 2, 2025
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    Column // LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    5 insights from top school administrators in 2024

    We’ve highlighted key takeaways on parent engagement, student voice, pursuing change and more from this year’s conversations.

    By • Dec. 30, 2024
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    Permission granted by Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
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    Jimmy Carter, who oversaw the Education Department’s creation, dies at age 100

    Before a private interment in Plains, Georgia, there will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., according to The Carter Center.

    By • Dec. 29, 2024
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    Dusan Stankovic / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Column

    Declining K-12 enrollment spells trouble for higher education’s future

    Given demographic trends, the sector will likely become more competitive and experience more closures, one consolidation expert argues. 

    By Ricardo Azziz • Dec. 19, 2024
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    SDI Productions via Getty Images
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    Special education teacher shortage creating ‘point of exhaustion’

    During a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ listening session, speakers shared hardships students, families and schools face due to a lack of educators.

    By • Dec. 17, 2024
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Schools take proactive steps to protect immigrant students

    Threatened changes to U.S. immigration policies are leading some schools to share resources and offer support to staff, families and students.

    By • Updated Dec. 17, 2024
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    Digital Promise / Sakari Piippo
     

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    Sponsored by Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools

    Trust and belonging: What education leaders learned from Finland about whole child development

    Education leaders from the United States and Canada visited Finland to gain insights and practical strategies around supporting whole child development.

    By Diana Lee, Emma Mills • Dec. 16, 2024
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    Retrieved from Retrieved from https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-elected-chair-house-education-workforce-committee.
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    Walberg to lead U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee

    In the Senate, Bill Cassidy, R-La., will chair the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee when the 119th Congress convenes in January.

    By • Dec. 13, 2024
  • Two middle school students walk down a school hallway next to a row of lockers, backs toward the camera.
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    High school graduates to peak in 2025, with slightly deeper-than-expected declines ahead

    The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s latest projections serve as a call for policymakers and colleges to boost attendance rates.

    By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 11, 2024
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    What do special education advocates anticipate from a 2nd Trump term?

    Some advocacy groups are preparing to defend the federal government's role in supporting public school students with disabilities.

    By • Dec. 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 new math performance data to the 20th anniversary of a federal law’s last reauthorization, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Dec. 6, 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 2024

    These leaders are achieving excellence through commitments to school culture and community, innovation, and wraparound services for students.

    By • Nov. 27, 2024
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    Permission granted by Ector County ISD
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    Dive Awards

    District of the Year: Ector County ISD

    In the past five years, the Texas district’s investments in staffing and high dosage tutoring are paying off.

    By • Nov. 27, 2024