K-12 schools and colleges will get another year to comply with looming deadlines for a new web accessibility rule, under an interim final rule issued April 20, 2026 by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). For K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions in counties or cities with populations of 50,000 or…
Despite a proposed $539 million dollar increase over the FY 2026 budget, special education administrative organizations and disability rights advocacy groups say the federal spending plan zero funds and consolidates several programs for FY 2027, similar to the administration’s FY 26 proposal. Those changes would make states less accountable for…
Educators, industry groups and Democratic leaders say a federal proposal restricting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility would harm student success initiatives, impose vague guidelines for educators and violate federal law. The comments came in public feedback on a proposed regulation from the General Services Administration (GSA) that would require all…
As reported by K-12 Dive, a final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on April 13, 2026 will continue to push for artificial intelligence use in classrooms through newly finalized priorities and definitions for school districts and colleges applying for any of the agency’s discretionary grant programs.…
On April 3, 2026, the White House released a FY 2027 budget proposal that would eliminate Equity Assistance Centers and teacher quality grants for DEI ties. It would also cut the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which is tasked with protecting students from discrimination in…
On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education announced some of the first elementary and secondary grant competitions under its new partnership with the Department of Labor. The partnership announced in November offloaded certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act education programs, including programming for low-income school districts, homeless youth,…
President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2027 (FY 2027) budget request, released April 3, 2026, includes $8.5 billion in eliminations and consolidations for selected K-12 programs. It would also legislate the transfer of some responsibilities out of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). “The Budget puts the Department of Education (USDE),…
A group of House Republicans are seeking to overturn Plyler v. Doe, a 44-year-old landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ensures all children have access to a public education regardless of their immigration status. The push to overturn the 1982 decision arose during a March 18, 2026 hearing by the…
On March 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the District of Columbia Public Schools violated the civil rights of students with disabilities by denying timely evaluations, individualized placements and reliable transportation, according to results of a year-long investigation. OCR said the district…
As reported by K-12 Dive, amid funding challenges some state leaders draw attention to budgets and programs that support students with disabilities. In fact, special education initiatives were a priority for several governors in their annual state of state addresses — including in Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania —…
