When free school meals are no longer available to all students, teachers report an increase in student hunger and behavior issues that impact the ability to focus on learning, according to a study published this month by the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. The study analyzed teacher interviews conducted…
A federal judge ruled the Education Department directive and its cancellation of hundreds of millions in funds for teacher training programs was unlawful. As reported by K-12 Dive, on September 17, 2026 a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) anti-diversity, equity and inclusion directive and its…
The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends that ed tech policies in school settings should not solely focus on screen time. Rather, policymakers should examine what students are doing on screens, what activities technology may be replacing, and whether it helps or hinders learning, APA said in a recent report. Other…
A September 14, 2026 filing as part of New York v. McMahon claims that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) is withholding over 1,000 documents related to how the reductions-in-force (RIFs) of employees were planned and carried out. Led by New York, more than 20 states and the District of…
On September 11, 2026, it was announced that a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors, a settlement was reached that stops the Trump Administration from dismantling AmeriCorps without warning in the future. The deal resolves a lawsuit brought by the multi-state coalition in response to the Trump Administration’s…
According to a new report from the Children’s Equity Project (CEP) at Arizona State University, harsh punishment and exclusionary discipline of young children has “zero positive outcomes” and can contribute to negative, long-term impacts like lower academic achievement and reduced likelihood of graduating from high school. The report also said…
As the number of special education complaints increases, some experts in the field and educators are wondering if artificial intelligence is playing a role in helping more families express their dissatisfaction with the services provided by their child’s school. Though the evidence is more anecdotal than empirical, this concern has…
On September 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced a new resource to help states build capacity for problem-solving and program improvements. The resource encourages states to take greater ownership of problem-solving and finding effective solutions to challenges as the USDE shrinks in both size and scope. It…
The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) quietly released results of the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) for the 2023-24 school year, but redacted data collected on nonbinary students’ experiences. A tranche of federal data related to some LGBTQ+ students and their experiences in schools was withheld, even though the remaining…
On September 2, 2026, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. House that seeks to prevent the transfer of four U.S. Department of Education (USDE) offices to other federal agencies. Those USDE offices lead activities for special education, postsecondary education, Native American education, and elementary and secondary education. According…
