Districts face mask litigation despite drop in requirements

Lawsuits in states like Montana and Iowa come despite a significant decrease in districts requiring masks since the start of the 2021-22 school year.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 12, 2022

Los Angeles prohibits homeless encampments near schools

The controversy mirrors many that have cropped up around the nation over school safety concerns versus rights of people facing homelessness.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 12, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from K-12 Dive

K-12 Dive has gathered some a selection of our best coverage from 2024 so far as a one-stop resource on the trends to watch in the months ahead.

By K-12 Dive staff

CDC eases quarantine, test-to-stay guidance for schools

Additionally, the agency now only recommends masking in communities with high levels of COVID-19 spread.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 12, 2022

Educators report rampant political harassment in last school year

The RAND Corp. found 37% of teachers said they faced harassment over COVID-19 safety measures or teachings on race, racism or bias.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 11, 2022

Number of districts receiving homeless student funding balloons sixfold

A SchoolHouse Connection report shows pandemic aid led to a 611% overall increase in the number of districts receiving dedicated funding.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 10, 2022

New Jersey schools must have threat assessment teams under new state law

Other states and districts are also looking to improve school threat assessment procedures in efforts to prevent violence by students.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 10, 2022

Ed Dept’s new charter rule challenged in Michigan lawsuit

The lawsuit challenges the department’s plans for distributing charter funds, as well as its authority to create the grant rule in the first place.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 10, 2022

Higher NY high school graduation rate attributed to relaxed standards during pandemic

The New York Equity Coalition found 70.9% of the class of 2021 received exemption from at least one graduation requirement.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 10, 2022

Efforts growing to help schools serve plant-based meals

California recently approved a one-time fund of $100 million to help districts provide plant-based or restricted diet meals.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 9, 2022

Alabama district among first probed under LGBTQ Title IX guidance

The case comes after the release of the Biden administration's interpretation of protections for LGBTQ students under the federal civil rights law.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 9, 2022

Hawaii finds poor air quality in 10% of classrooms

Additionally, the state’s education department identified 73 rooms across seven schools with high levels of carbon dioxide.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 8, 2022

Oklahoma invests $5M in online math tutoring program

The initiative will pay college students $25 per hour in an effort to ease recruitment and retention concerns.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 8, 2022

Meet 2 professors studying the faculty who teach critical race theory where it’s under fire

Kaleb Briscoe and Veronica Jones Baldwin are also examining legislation targeting the academic construct that's become a political flashpoint.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 8, 2022

California plans to double school counselors amid shortage

The increase would come at a time when mental health is considered fragile among the nation's youth.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 5, 2022

Groups seek more input on federal coordination for rural schools

Issues having a major impact on rural schools include transportation, teacher recruitment and retention, and Wi-Fi access.

By K-12 Dive staff • Aug. 4, 2022

5 best practices as schools brace for monkeypox

School public health and communication experts say engaging the community, working to reduce stigma and having protocols ready are key.

By Anna Merod • Updated Aug. 5, 2022

Governors commit to computer science, but accountability questions persist

Only 51% of high schools offered computer science courses in 2021, and advocates say tracking states’ future actions can ensure access improves. 

By Anna Merod • Aug. 3, 2022

Biden’s proposed Title IX rule almost certain to find itself in legal crosshairs

A recent federal court decision blocking Education Department guidance on the anti-discrimination law portends trouble for the administration.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 2, 2022

Ed Dept prioritizes school mental health staff expansion in funding distribution

The funding is the first of nearly $300 million in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the fiscal 2022 budget allocated to school mental health.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 2, 2022

Anticipation grows for simpler school Medicaid reimbursement process

Guidance for schools under the federal healthcare assistance program has not been significantly updated in nearly 20 years.

By Kara Arundel • Aug. 2, 2022

GOP: Title IX LGBTQ protections make schools ‘unsafe and unfair’

The letter is among the latest pushback to the Ed Department’s LGBTQ protections and comes just days after a lawsuit targeting federal guidance.

By Naaz Modan • Aug. 1, 2022

School mask mandates continue to loosen

Only 1.2% of 500 districts are requiring mask mandates going into the 2022-23 school year, according to data tracking company Burbio.

By Anna Merod • Aug. 1, 2022

Pushback continues for school choice program in Tennessee

Another injunction filed by local governments in the state’s two largest districts seeks to temporarily stop the voucher program two weeks before school starts.

By Anna Merod • July 29, 2022

Senate Appropriations Committee proposes 13% increase for K-12 in FY23

The spending plan includes $20.1 billion for Title I grants and $15.3 billion for special education grants, but the proposal is meeting partisan resistance.

By Kara Arundel • July 29, 2022

Republican AGs sue to stop USDA guidance on LGBTQ protections

The lawsuit comes weeks after a federal judge temporarily halted the Ed Department’s enforcement of Title IX to protect gay and transgender students.

By Anna Merod • July 29, 2022