Policy & Legal

  • Several people are gathered outside near a building. Some are holding signs. One sign says "Stop the war on universities."
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    Institute of Education Sciences cuts imperil high-quality research, lawsuits allege

    Two separate complaints say the Education Department’s downsizing of IES was unlawful and will erode data collection and analysis.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is pictured speaking into a podium next to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon
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    Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice.
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    ‘Many, many’ other states next: DOJ sues Maine over transgender athlete policies

    U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi warned California and Minnesota could be next in line for cuts to federal funding over civil rights issues.

    By • April 16, 2025
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    Michael Loccisano via Getty Images
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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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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    School’s in session for SCOTUS: 3 K-12 cases to watch in April

    After a light education docket last year, justices will hear back-to-back cases on issues including LGBTQ+ curriculum and religious public schools.

    By • April 15, 2025
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    Retrieved from Brevard Public Schools on April 14, 2025
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    Florida teacher’s employment in jeopardy after using student’s preferred name

    Brevard Public Schools says the state is reviewing the teacher's certification in line with strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws governing classroom name and pronoun use.

    By • April 15, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Bills in Congress detail path to closing the Education Department

    More attention in Congress is being directed toward the federal agency’s future as Trump calls for its closure.

    By • April 14, 2025
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    ICE agents denied entry into LAUSD elementary schools

    The DHS maintains that the incidents, which rattled the education community, were "wellness checks on children who arrived unaccompanied at the border." 

    By • April 14, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    Ransomware attacks surge 69% across global education sector

    Ransom demands averaged $608,000 for international education entities in the first quarter of 2025, a Comparitech analysis found.

    By • April 14, 2025
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    States sue to recover ESSER extended spending allowances

    Tutoring, after-school programming and facility improvements have already been canceled, and layoffs are likely due to the lost funding, says the lawsuit.

    By • April 11, 2025
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    Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Trump administration moves to cut off Maine’s federal K-12 funds

    The move marks a first in the administrations' fight over transgender policies by initiating a funding cut to an entire state education system.

    By • April 11, 2025
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    Retrieved from National Park Service.
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    Title I at 60: The debate continues

    Some want to change the formula-based program, a cornerstone of Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty, into a block grant.

    By • April 11, 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 schools’ latest financial risks to the shuttering of some regional Offices of Head Start, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • April 11, 2025
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Will end to federal Office of Ed Tech mean an end to equity?

    Former employees fear a loss of progress now that the Trump administration has shuttered the office.

    By • April 11, 2025
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    States, lawmakers push back on ‘abrupt and chaotic’ reversal of COVID funds

    The Education Department ended ESSER late liquidation, months after many states had received preapproval from the Biden administration.

    By • April 10, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    House committee advances ‘gender ideology’ bills

    Proposals seek to end what Republicans say is gender indoctrination in schools. Democrats say the bills are harmful to transgender students.

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Anti-affirmative action activists with the Asian American Coalition for Education protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building on June 29, 2023 in Washington, DC.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Education Department’s DEI order postponed as case pends

    Several states have rebuked the certification requirement, which threatens to cut federal education funds over DEI initiatives. 

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Linda McMahon arrives to the U.S. Department of Education's building in Washington, D.C., for her first day in office.
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    US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    ‘Let’s shake it up’: McMahon defends massive cuts at Education Department

    The U.S. secretary of education spoke at the ASU+GSV Summit in California about the rapid changes the Trump administration is making to the agency.

    By Natalie Schwartz • April 8, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    The Education Department’s approach to civil rights enforcement is changing. Here’s how.

    Rapid and targeted investigations, outside agency involvement and federal funding cuts may be the new norm for schools.

    By • April 8, 2025
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    "Fourth Street School" by Freekee is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Ousted Milwaukee school facilities chief had lost parents’ trust over lead abatement

    Community groups had been calling for facilities director Sean Kane’s dismissal for what they said was a failure to act on risks and follow safe practices.

    By Robert Freedman • April 8, 2025
  • President Donald Trump stands next to Linda McMahon while holding the executive order in the White House.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump changes put school districts at financial risk, Moody’s says

    States are unlikely to fill gaps left by the federal government cuts, leaving districts with a "limited menu of options,” per the sector forecast.

    By • April 8, 2025
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    Avosb via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court maintains freeze on teacher training grants

    The case in question involves the agency’s February announcement to cancel $600 million in “divisive” teacher preparation grants. 

    By • April 6, 2025
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    Head Start imperiled by HHS cutbacks, advocates say

    The agency's overhaul has sparked concerns about access, affordability and safety for the program serving preschoolers from low-income families.

    By • April 4, 2025
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    ‘New sheriff in town’: DOJ to enforce anti-trans Trump orders

    A joint Title IX Special Investigations Team will shift some civil rights investigations and enforcement from the Education Department to the Justice Department.

    By • April 4, 2025
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

    From rescinded funds to one state’s curriculum controversy, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • April 4, 2025
  • Public school district administrators pour balloons representing the sports drink Powerade over their superintendent's head following a public speech.
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    Permission granted by Springfield Public Schools
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    AASA '25

    Here’s how Missouri’s largest district rallied its community to boost attendance

    With a pandemic-era order sunsetting and funding at stake, Springfield Public Schools used consistent strategy — and a little Powerade — to gain buy-in.

    By • April 4, 2025
  • Several people are seen outside the U.S. Department of Education headquarters during a protest. Two people with their backs to the camera are sitting in wheelchairs. One sign reads "Protect Students Protect Public Schools." Another sign says "Our Schools Are Not For Sale."
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Special education cuts will have ‘immense harm,’ Democrats say

    Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are seeking answers about impacts on students with disabilities and proposing full funding for IDEA.

    By • April 3, 2025