Policy & Legal: Page 11

  • 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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    Education Department finds California trans athlete policy violated Title IX

    If California doesn’t sign a proposed resolution agreement within 10 days, its case could be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement.

    By • June 25, 2025
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    Halfpoint via Getty Images
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    Missed special education targets show need for support

    The U.S. Department of Education says states needing assistance with IDEA compliance and student outcomes should receive technical assistance.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • High school students are dropped off for school and begin walking into the building. Explore the Trendline➔
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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
  • A flag from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security hangs outside the ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Why districts should remain vigilant about ICE entering schools

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said immigration enforcement should be “extremely rare” in schools. Still, immigration experts have doubts.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • The outside of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. is shown on a close day. People are walking on the sidewalk in front of the building.
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    John M. Chase via Getty Images
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    Federal judge orders OCR to reinstate laid-off employees — for now

    The Education Department plans to appeal the ruling, which said the RIF had left OCR "incapable of addressing the vast majority" of complaints.

    By • June 24, 2025
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    Spencer Platt / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Rural LGBTQ+ youth less likely to say schools are supportive

    These students were more likely to find supportive communities online and used them at higher rates than their urban and suburban peers, a report said.

    By • June 24, 2025
  • A student sits on the stairs inside alone. The student has one hand to their forehead and the other hand is holding a cellphone.
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    Jatuporn Tansirimas via Getty Images
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    Phone bans proliferate as digital media’s harm to students grows clearer

    Though many studies link screentime to emotional and behavioral problems, one group of researchers urges that correlation may not mean causation.

    By • June 23, 2025
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    The future for teacher diversity in a world of DEI scrutiny

    Districts and states are being advised to “tread carefully” as some continue to promote teacher diversity efforts in a difficult legal and policy landscape.

    By • June 20, 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 Title IX regulation proposal to an analysis of how immigration raids impact school attendance, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • June 20, 2025
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    Caroline Colvin/K-12 Dive
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    Supreme Court upholds Tennessee ban on youth gender-affirming care

    Some 26 states have passed bans on gender-affirming care for children since 2021, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

    By Susanna Vogel • June 18, 2025
  • Multi-ethnic friends graduating together, in cap and gown. Main focus on African American girl in middle, waving at camera.
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    Getty Images
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    Majority of high schoolers say they don’t feel prepared for post-graduation

    In a survey, about half of students said they’ve never had a job or internship, and more than a third said they’ve never gone for a college visit.

    By Carolyn Crist • June 18, 2025
  • Rows of chairs sit empty in an elementary school classroom.
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    Getty Images
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    How immigration raids impacted school attendance in 5 California districts

    A Stanford analysis of schools in California’s Central Valley found a 22% rise in student absences it attributed to an increase in local immigration enforcement.

    By • June 18, 2025
  • U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon stands in front of Senate Appropriations Committee's Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee with papers in her hand
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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Do states have ‘statutory right’ to data, guidance from Education Department?

    The agency is asking the Supreme Court to allow its reduction in force — even as its laid-off employees remain on administrative leave.

    By • June 17, 2025
  • A teacher writes a formula on a chalkboard.
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    Getty Images
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    Teacher pension debt spurs ‘hidden’ cuts for schools, survey says

    Since 2001, pension costs have ballooned 220% while K-12 budgets have risen just 33%.

    By • June 17, 2025
  • A women runner is in the center of the photo with their back to the camera. Other runners are seen in front of the person and everyone is running on an outside track.
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    Why did the Energy Department issue a Title IX rule?

    The proposed athletics rule would rescind a prior requirement on coed sports tryouts — but only for schools receiving Energy Department grants.

    By • June 16, 2025
  • A student is sitting outside a school building on a bench with their back toward the camera. A backpack sits next to the person on the bench.
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    Getty Images
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    States balance supports and discipline to address troubling student behaviors

    A host of proposals and new laws aim to allow or ban corporal punishment, remove violent students from classrooms, and restrict preschool suspensions.

    By • June 16, 2025
  • A person is standing at a podium with a microphone inside a large room. Behind the speaker are other people holding signs supporting public schools.
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    Kara Arundel/K-12 Dive
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    Debate intensifies over national school choice proposal

    Those denouncing the plan say it would harm public schools. Proponents contend it would help more students thrive through educational opportunities.

    By • June 13, 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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    Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news

    From California’s lawsuit against the Justice Department to new research on children’s well-being, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • June 13, 2025
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Unanimous SCOTUS ruling raises schools’ liability in disability cases

    The decision in favor of a student with epilepsy overturns a higher burden of proof for students and families in disability disputes.

    By • Updated June 12, 2025
  • A yellow school bus is parked outside. A handful of students wearing rain jackets and backpacks are getting on the bus.
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    Getty Images
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    For more consumers, back-to-school shopping starts now

    Many parents consider this year to be “financially challenging” or “stressful,” in part due to price hikes, according to a survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 12, 2025
  • A person stands before a microphone with three others standing behind holding signs that say "Our students deserve more, not less" and "Build up our schools, don't break them!"
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    Courtesy of Screenshot: Santa Ana Unified School District
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    Over 1,200 California K-12 staff laid off so far before the new school year

    The sweeping layoffs were reported by the California Teachers Association and come as districts statewide face budget challenges and declining enrollment.

    By • June 12, 2025
  • A line of people wearing camouflage with large shields that say "California National Guard" face a crowd.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    California ed chief tells Trump: ‘Keep your hands off our kids’

    Incidents including a flash-bang grenade-induced lockdown and a 4th grader's removal to Texas have the state's schools on high alert.

    By • June 11, 2025
  • Two rows of air conditioning condensers are pictured on the roof of a large building.
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    alacatr via Getty Images
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    Former school district facilities chief directed $2M in HVAC work to shell company, DA alleges

    The former Lawrence Union Free School District facilities director resigned after reportedly steering money to himself with the help of an accomplice.

    By Robert Freedman • June 11, 2025
  • A box of cell phones sits in front of a student completing an assignment at their desk in a classroom.
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    Getty Images
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    House lawmakers find consensus on benefits of school cellphone bans

    State and district policies have led to lower student discipline rates, better teacher retention and more effective instructional time, witnesses told a subcommittee.

    By • June 10, 2025
  • Tony Thurmond California Department of Education
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    The image by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    California sues Justice Department over threats on transgender sports policy

    The federal agency warned some school districts last week that they faced "legal liability" if they followed California law.

    By • June 10, 2025
  • A student in a graduation cap and gown has their face to the camera and is hugging another person. Other graduates can be seen out of focus in the background.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Children’s well-being shows both progress and setbacks, Kids Count finds

    The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation report found higher graduation rates and lower childhood poverty. However, more teens are not in school or working.

    By • June 9, 2025