Policy & Legal

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    Head Start programs under interim management struggle with staff and safety issues

    HHS agrees to monitoring and reporting improvements after a GAO study that raised operational concerns.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
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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 presidential directives to new chronic absenteeism data, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Jan. 24, 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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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    How schools can prepare for trauma response amid California wildfires

    A number of organizations are rallying to provide support for student and staff mental well-being alongside other emergency services.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
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    rarrarorro via Getty Images
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    In Ten Commandments case, Louisiana faces pushback from federal judge

    Oral arguments in Roake v. Brumley repeatedly saw H.B. 71’s constitutionality under the First Amendment called into question.

    By • Jan. 23, 2025
  • AI litigation, hiring bias
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    Watch for these 4 AI trends in classrooms in 2025

    School and district leaders are likely to see an uptick in special education tools, localized approaches to guidance and more.

    By • Jan. 23, 2025
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    FTC finalizes COPPA rule to strengthen children’s data protection

    The final rule requires parents to opt into third-party targeted advertising on behalf of their children and omits an exception for ed tech providers.

    By • Jan. 23, 2025
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    izusek via Getty Images
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    PowerSchool data breach brings claims of negligence, poor cyberhygiene

    The K-12 software company is facing legal pushback and criticism following a cyberattack that impacted a still unknown number of districts.

    By • Jan. 22, 2025
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    How Trump’s Day 1 actions could affect K-12

    New directives took aim at Biden-era efforts to increase educational access for underrepresented students and strengthen LGBTQ+ protections. 

    By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 22, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Schools no longer protected from immigration raids

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security lifted the practice of avoiding immigration enforcement at locations where students gather.

    By • Updated Jan. 22, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Despite dip, chronic absenteeism remains stubbornly high at 28%

    Attendance Works recommends student engagement and decision making based on data analysis to boost attendance.

    By • Jan. 21, 2025
  • Donald Trump addresses a crowd
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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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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    OCR complaints, resolutions increased under the Biden administration

    The Office for Civil Rights resolved 14% more complaints than under the first Trump administration, according to a report released Thursday.

    By • Jan. 21, 2025
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    SCOTUS to hear case on LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum opt-outs

    Justices will determine whether parents’ First Amendment rights are violated when they can’t opt children out of instruction that runs counter to their religious beliefs.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
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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 a major ed tech data breach to a former principal's lawsuit over deepfakes, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
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    In historic move, SEIU rejoins AFL-CIO

    Both unions include chapters representing school service workers, and AFL-CIO includes the American Federation of Teachers among its affiliates.

    By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 16, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Unpaid school meal debt continues nearly decade-long rise

    School Nutrition Association data shows the median unpaid meal debt hit $6,900 per district in 2024, up 26% from the previous year.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
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    Student, teacher AI use continued to climb in 2023-24 school year

    Some 39% of teachers reported regularly using detection tech to spot AI-related plagiarism, according to the Center for Democracy & Technology.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    State ed tech leaders call for ‘universal connectivity’ to help students learn on and off campus

    A new SETDA report raises concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, digital skills gap and sustained funding for ed tech initiatives.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    House passes bill to restrict transgender students’ participation in girls’ sports

    The Senate has introduced companion legislation, though the proposal may have a tough time overcoming the chamber’s filibuster rule. 

    By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 14, 2025
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    National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reveals error in fall first-year student count

    A methodology error resulted in an undercount of first-year students and an overcount of dual enrollees, the research center’s executive director said. 

    By Laura Spitalniak , Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 14, 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
  • New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stands behind a podium next to a variety of food items as she announces a universal school meals proposal in a school cafeteria.
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    Retrieved from Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.
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    New York Gov. Hochul proposes universal school meals

    The governor will ask lawmakers to approve the measure, which would feed an estimated 2.7 million students, in her annual State of State address.

    By • Jan. 13, 2025
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    What do FAFSA completion rates look like post-pandemic?

    Lower shares of middle-income students in the class of 2023 completed the federal financial aid form than those who graduated before the health crisis. 

    By Lilah Burke • Jan. 13, 2025
  • AI, mass lawsuits
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    Former principal sues Baltimore County schools over alleged racist AI deepfake

    Eric Eiswert’s lawsuit accuses the Maryland district of negligence in hiring, retention and supervision, as well as defamation, slander and libel.

    By • Jan. 10, 2025
  • A photo illustration of a circle encompassing a question mark, pencil, and scantron test.
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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 Education Department’s withdrawal of a proposed rule to the latest school shooting data trends, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Jan. 10, 2025