Policy & Legal: Page 3

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    Education Department sued over cuts to teacher training grants

    Three teacher preparation groups allege that the agency’s recent termination of three federal grant programs approved by Congress is unlawful.

    By • Updated March 19, 2025
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    SDI Productions via Getty Images
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    Education groups urge Congress to reinstate teacher workforce grants

    K-12 pipeline programs are already ending in some states due to the slashing of Education Department funds, says a letter from over 100 organizations.

    By • March 4, 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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    John M. Chase via Getty Images
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    Trump administration clarifies stance on DEI in schools

    The agency seemed to curb its hardline stance and said schools' diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are not automatically on the chopping block.

    By • March 3, 2025
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    Kenishirotie via Getty Images
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    Are schools ‘soft censoring’ books out of fear?

    Out of 4,218 unique book titles banned in the 2023-24 school year, around 36% featured characters of color, according to PEN America data.

    By • March 3, 2025
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    FreshSplash via Getty Images
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    BY THE NUMBERS

    Half of young children own a cell phone or tablet

    Children ages 8 and younger had an average daily screen time of 2 hours and 27 minutes in 2024, Common Sense Media found.

    By • March 3, 2025
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    How will cutting NAEP for 17-year-olds impact postsecondary readiness research?

    The canceled exam would have provided a post-pandemic update for its age group. But it was last administered in 2012, leaving a gap in data points.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • Feb. 28, 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 the growing enrollment of special education students to a Supreme Court decision on the E-rate program, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 28, 2025
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    STAFFED UP

    Innovative K-12 staffing strategies are feeling the brunt of federal funding cuts

    Efforts to improve recruitment and retention and to diversify the workforce are being impacted by the Education Department’s grant cancellations.

    By • Updated March 4, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Education Department launches anti-DEI portal

    The information collection tool is part of the Trump administration's effort to eliminate practices for diversity, equity and inclusion. 

    By • Feb. 27, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Concerns mount over potential loss of Medicaid funds for schools

    Efforts in the federal government to reduce spending would put school-based health services in jeopardy, advocates say.

    By • Feb. 27, 2025
  • Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of Teachers Union (AFT), speaks about President elect Donald Trump's Education Secretary nominee, Betsy DeVos, during a news conference at the Nation
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    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
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    AFT sues Education Department over anti-DEI guidance

    The union alleged that the agency's recent guidance barring schools from considering race in any of their programs and policies is unconstitutional.

    By Laura Spitalniak • Feb. 26, 2025
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    Education Department approves more ARP spending extensions for districts

    School systems in 41 states now have 14 more months to spend down federal COVID-19 emergency funding under the American Rescue Plan.

    By • Feb. 25, 2025
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    Special education enrollment climbs to nearly 8M

    Data suggests the number of students with disabilities between ages 3-21 could jump by about 1 million between 2021 and 2025 if current trends hold.

    By • Feb. 25, 2025
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Maine faces Title IX investigation over transgender athletic policies

    The Trump administration said it will withhold federal funds if the state doesn’t comply with an executive order on transgender girls’ participation in sports.

    By • Feb. 24, 2025
  • A poster outside the Education Department's building reading, in all caps, "I am stealing from you," with an illustration of Elon Musk in the center.
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    Jemal Countess via Getty Images
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    DOGE blocked from accessing Education Department’s sensitive student data until March 10

    A judge said the Trump administration failed to explain why the Department of Government Efficiency needed “sweeping access” to the agency’s records. 

    By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 24, 2025
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    Supatman via Getty Images
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    PowerSchool faces more scrutiny following widespread data breach

    Government officials in the U.S. and beyond have announced investigations after a threat actor gained access to troves of student and staff data.

    By • Feb. 24, 2025
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    SCOTUS decision safeguards schools’ E-rate discounts

    In a unanimous ruling, justices found that reimbursement requests under the federal broadband discount program are subject to the False Claims Act.

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
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    Court upholds district policy protecting students’ right to choose name, pronouns

    The policy didn’t infringe upon parents’ rights under the 14th Amendment to direct their child’s upbringing, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found.

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
  • A backpack sits on a wooden desk. Attached to backpack is hand sanitizer. Also on the desk are COVID-19 rapid tests, a mask and notebooks
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    Rawf8 via Getty Images
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    Education Department announces change to ESSER reimbursement process

    The agency cited transparency and accountability as reasons for the shift, although nearly all COVID-19 spending is complete.

    By • Feb. 21, 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 a letter ordering schools to end race-based practices to a district’s challenge to a key Trump policy, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
  • After signing a series of executive orders and proclamations, Trump spoke to reporters about a range of topics including recent negotiations with Mexico on tarriffs.
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    Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    How Trump’s ‘radical indoctrination’ executive order could impact schools

    The directive’s threat to pull funds from schools based on “gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology” could have a chilling effect, experts say.

    By • Feb. 20, 2025
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    What could schools expect under the new COPPA Rule?

    The Federal Trade Commission’s updated rule would impact the way K-12 leaders interact with ed tech companies — if Trump keeps it.

    By • Feb. 20, 2025
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    To sustain summer learning programs, here’s what states can do

    Research from the Learning Policy Institute and Wallace Foundation explores how nine states are working to increase support and investment.

    By Lauren Barack • Feb. 19, 2025
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    aydinmutlu via Getty Images
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    17 states claim Section 504 overreach

    The lawsuit's language has raised concerns among disability rights advocates that Section 504 could be eliminated.

    By • Feb. 19, 2025
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    SBDIGIT via Getty Images
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    STUDY HALL

    What you need to know about Section 504

    The federal civil rights law requires K-12 schools and higher education institutions to provide people with disabilities accommodations.

    By • Feb. 19, 2025