Policy & Legal: Page

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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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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

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

    By K-12 Dive staff
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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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    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
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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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    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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    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
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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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    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
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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
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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
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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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    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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    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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    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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    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
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    OCR tells schools to cease race-based programs

    While OCR specifically mentioned admissions and hiring practices, there's confusion over what other programming in K-12 is affected.

    By • Feb. 18, 2025
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    How can schools ease student concerns about ICE?

    Strategies to support student well-being can include investments in culture and mental health resources as uncertainty persists.

    By • Feb. 18, 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 termination of Education Department research contracts to principals' artificial intelligence usage, what did you learn from our recent stories?

    By • Feb. 14, 2025
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    Denver Public Schools sues over Trump policy allowing on-campus ICE raids

    The district alleges school attendance is down "noticeably" as students fear immigration enforcement actions on school grounds.

    By • Feb. 14, 2025
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    Trump’s transgender sports ban challenged in expanded New Hampshire lawsuit

    The case originally challenged a state law that bars transgender girls in grades 5-12 from playing school sports on teams aligned with their gender identity.

    By • Feb. 14, 2025
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    3 takeaways from Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing

    Trump's nominee to lead the Education Department faced questions about the agency’s future, Title IX enforcement and antisemitism on college campuses.

    By • Feb. 13, 2025