Policy & Legal

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    John McDonnell via Getty Images
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    FCC proposal would disconnect school bus Wi-Fi, hotspots from E-rate coverage

    Schools and districts have requested millions of dollars in FY 25 for these services, which were made eligible under a Biden-era expansion.

    By • Sept. 5, 2025
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    Mike Simons/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    ACLU warns districts not to display Ten Commandments amid legal battles

    Laws requiring the religious edicts to be displayed are blocked in three states, but Supreme Court precedents make their future unclear.

    By • Sept. 5, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

    K-12 Dive has gathered some a selection of our best coverage from 2025 so far as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

    By K-12 Dive staff
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

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

    From a Republican-led House proposal to cut Title I funds to more students tapping into private school choice, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Sept. 5, 2025
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    Suebsiri via Getty Images
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    School air quality bill that aims to strengthen EPA oversight reintroduced

    The Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act would establish a nationwide assessment of air quality in schools and childcare facilities.

    By Joe Burns • Sept. 5, 2025
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    Vitaly Edush via Getty Images
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    LAUSD, parents settle sweeping COVID-19 distance learning lawsuit

    If approved, the settlement would provide remedies including high-dosage tutoring for more than 100,000 students over the next three school years.

    By • Sept. 4, 2025
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    seb_ra via Getty Images
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    Private school choice jumps 25% in one year

    States like Arkansas, Iowa, West Virginia and Florida are seeing sharp increases in private school choice programs, an analysis by EdChoice says.

    By • Sept. 4, 2025
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    Jan Sonnenmair via Getty Images
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    Florida seeks to eliminate vaccine mandates, including for children

    State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo says the state health department can abolish some vaccine requirements while others need lawmakers’ approval.

    By • Sept. 3, 2025
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Immigration enforcement causing trauma and school avoidance, educators and advocates say

    In response, schools and districts are offering legal aid, resources and school transportation options to alleviate school attendance fears.

    By • Sept. 3, 2025
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    Wasan Tita via Getty Images
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    School district insolvency on the rise

    The current financial climate — in which districts can expect increased state involvement — was predictable and preventable, experts say.

    By • Sept. 3, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    House GOP eyes 27% cut to Title I

    The FY 26 proposal would eliminate funding for teacher training, full-service community schools and English Language Acquisition programs.

    By • Sept. 2, 2025
  • A yellow school bus is driving on a desolate road. Untouched landscape is seen on both sides of the road.
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    Roberto N via Getty Images
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    Report: Teacher program cuts to have ‘lasting negative effects’ on schools

    Recommendations in a new UCLA brief include seeking alternative funding and supporting teachers pursuing certification.

    By • Sept. 2, 2025
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    diane39 via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: Challenges abound as a new school year begins

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from chronic absenteeism progress to severe weather’s impact on schools.

    By • Sept. 2, 2025
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    Jillian Cain via Getty Images
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    Broward County Public Schools faces enrollment drops, possible closures

    The nation’s sixth largest district is considering how to “address” 34 schools for potential closures or consolidations while facing enrollment declines.

    By • Aug. 29, 2025
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    What do enrollment declines mean for teacher shortages?

    During COVID-19, districts hired more teachers despite ongoing enrollment declines. That led to a reversal in broad teacher shortages, researchers say.

    By • Aug. 29, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    These 4 trends are shaping the 2025-26 school year

    From enrollment to AI, education leaders face a variety of obstacles and opportunities as students return to classrooms.

    By , , , • Aug. 28, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Charter school expansion slows amid closures, low enrollment, report says

    A recent report alleges stagnating enrollment, underperformance and waste are among challenges the sector faces.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • Aug. 27, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    States, districts seek to end federal funding freeze lawsuits

    The Education Department promises to release a second tranche of federal grant funding in early October, court records show.

    By • Aug. 27, 2025
  • A parent and a child browse school supplies in a store aisle. The child is looking at a box of pens with the parent looking over their shoulder.
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    Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
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    How can districts help families navigate rising school supply costs?

    As Trump’s tariff policies ramp up and families face sticker shock over back-to-school shopping, some K-12 leaders are leaning on creative ways to assist.

    By • Aug. 26, 2025
  • A workplace poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is displayed featuring the EEOC logo.
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    Kate Tornone/K-12 Dive
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    EEOC seeks to enforce subpoenas against school district that sued agency over bias probe

    The news comes weeks after New Mexico’s Gallup-McKinley County Schools sued the commission, alleging its investigation exceeded EEOC’s authority.

    By Ryan Golden • Aug. 26, 2025
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    Mike Stewart/AP

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    6 ways administrators are handling cellphone bans in the new school year

    School and district leaders say stakeholder input, consistent enforcement of rules and lessons in digital usage have helped their policies succeed.

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
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    John M. Chase via Getty Images
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    Week In Review: OCR staffers to return amid changing Title IX enforcement

    We’re rounding up last week’s news, from music education’s impact on literacy to the latest Education Department changes.

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
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    Silvia Moraleja via Getty Images
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    Should schools be the centerpiece of heat resilience action?

    Advocates say local governments must set a model for climate-smart leadership with enforceable standards and resources to protect children.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 25, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    POP QUIZ

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

    From the rescission of long-standing federal guidance to public opinion on the Education Department’s closure, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Aug. 22, 2025
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    American Lung Association urges school radon testing

    HVAC systems must be functioning properly, with clean filters, for the tests to accurately identify levels of the radioactive gas, the organization says.

    By Joe Burns • Aug. 22, 2025
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    bymuratdeniz via Getty Images
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    Proposal would remove federal data collection for special education racial disparities

    Even if the federal collection was eliminated, states would still need to collect and interpret data for significant disproportionality, experts say.

    By • Updated Aug. 22, 2025