Leadership

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    Opinion

    Teaching on empty: 3 truths about today’s teachers — and a message for school leaders

    When school leaders normalize burnout as proof of dedication, they are complicit in dismantling the teaching profession, the authors write.

    By Robin Stern, Marc Brackett and Dawn Brooks-DeCosta • Oct. 30, 2025
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    Retrieved from Des Moines Public Schools.
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    Audits, lawsuit ensue after ICE arrest of Iowa superintendent

    The flurry of activity includes a review of the state's licensing and background check procedures, as well as an audit of Iowa's Des Moines Public Schools.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
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    Trendline

    Infrastructure & School Operations

    With a new presidential administration and potential funding changes on the way, schools face an array of challenges in day-to-day operations. 

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    Educators push for virtual schooling in response to ICE raids

    Chicago joins New York and Los Angeles districts in exploring remote options to ensure students and parents are safe amid the federal immigration crackdown.

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
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    Column // LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

    How longevity led to achievement gains in Compton USD

    The Los Angeles-area district, under the direction of Darin Brawley, has seen three straight years of growth on the state’s Smarter Balanced assessment.

    By • Updated Oct. 23, 2025
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    Week In Review: RIFs issued to further gut Education Department

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from fallout of the PowerSchool data breach to modest math gains for some grade levels.

    By • Oct. 20, 2025
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    Teacher turnover contributes to suspensions and referrals, study finds

    Midyear departures have a negative impact on discipline, with Black and underrepresented students hit hardest, an NYU Steinhardt study finds.

    By Ed Finkel • Oct. 17, 2025
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    Week In Review: H-1B visa concerns continue

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from a Supreme Court ruling resulting in very few curriculum opt-outs to gaps in students’ life skills.

    By • Oct. 13, 2025
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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    How districts help students gain real-life skills

    Incorporating 21st century skills into the school day must be intentional, collaborative and student-driven, speakers told attendees at an AASA summit.

    By • Oct. 10, 2025
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    Most school leaders report cellphone restrictions, widely seen as beneficial

    Students, teachers and principals view limiting devices as beneficial, but parents have concerns, research shows.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions.
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    Richey confirmed to lead Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights

    Kimberly Richey, who also served in Trump’s first term, steps into the role as the office faces a significant backlog and a halved workforce.

    By • Oct. 8, 2025
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    How school boards reflect their constituencies — and where they don’t

    Board members have more positive views of their districts and are more critical of charter schools, a Fordham Institute and Wallace Foundation report says.

    By • Oct. 8, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla / Staff via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Mental health grants return and FCC rolls back E-rate expansion

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from the government shutdown’s impact on schools to differentiated teacher compensation.

    By • Oct. 6, 2025
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    kasto80 via Getty Images
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    The top K-12 conferences to attend in 2026

    Whether you’re looking to brush up on leadership best practices, school policy or the latest ed tech innovations, these events are a great place to start.

    By K-12 Dive staff • Oct. 1, 2025
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Unprepared graduates and superintendent stress

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from literacy for students with disabilities to our fifth annual roundup of Rising Leaders.

    By • Sept. 29, 2025
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    Superintendents report reduced stress levels

    Budgeting is the top stressor for small district leaders while those in large districts point to politics, according to Rand Corp.

    By • Sept. 25, 2025
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    Week in review: Leaders navigate finance, equity challenges as K-12 satisfaction drops

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from improved ransomware response and recovery to the latest school nutrition policy proposals.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
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    Illustration: Ivan Haidutski for Industry Dive

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    Tracker

    Rising Leaders: 10 standout assistant principals and district leaders you should know in 2025-26

    These administrators, nominated by their peers, are going above and beyond on career education, multilingual learning, artificial intelligence and more.

    Sept. 22, 2025
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    Permission granted by Connor McLaren/Ronald Reagan Institute
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    McMahon calls for educators to teach and model civil discourse

    In a fireside chat at the RISE conference, the U.S. education secretary also touched on literacy, school choice, CTE and educational innovations.

    By • Sept. 18, 2025
  • Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles smiles while holding a pen to sign a document
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    Retrieved from Houston ISD.
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    Houston ISD asks businesses, nonprofits to ‘adopt’ low-performing schools

    With 64 schools still holding a C or D rating, the community support is meant to be “wind in the sails” as they work toward an A or B.

    By • Sept. 18, 2025
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    American satisfaction with K-12 hits record low — but parents tell a different story

    Some 74% of U.S. parents say they are satisfied with their eldest child’s education, a recent Gallup poll found. 

    By • Sept. 17, 2025
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    Despite more women superintendents than ever, representation still lags

    It may take three more decades for men and women to reach parity, according to ILO Group.

    By • Sept. 17, 2025
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    Week In Review: NAEP results underwhelm again as lawmakers propose Title I cuts

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from the increasingly complex K-12 legal landscape to challenges impacting special education.

    By • Sept. 15, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice.
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    DOJ to crack down on ‘rise in abusive conduct’ against parents

    In a memo to U.S. attorneys and the FBI, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi cited a "disturbing trend" of silencing parents on curriculum issues.

    By • Sept. 10, 2025
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    House panel approves 26% cut to Title I funding for FY26

    The House plan would cut the overall U.S. Department of Education budget by 15% to $67 billion for fiscal year 2026.

    By • Sept. 10, 2025
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    Alamy
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    Week In Review: Budgets, vaccines and air quality proposals in the spotlight

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from private school choice participation to district insolvency.

    By • Sept. 8, 2025