Legal

New Dear Colleague Letter warns districts on parents rights

The directive comes as the Department of Education launches investigations into state laws that prohibit school personnel from disclosing a child’s gender identity to parents.

Plans to close Education Department face a new challenge

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren is rallying Congressional leaders to investigate the Trump Administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. 

Department of Education lawsuits: 2 coalitions challenge Trump’s plans

Two coalitions of K12 and higher ed advocates filed separate lawsuits this week, hoping to derail President Donald Trump's executive order to close the Department of Education.

21 states challenge mass layoffs at Department of Education

Coalition of Democratic attorneys general warn in a new lawsuit that the Trump Administration's plan to close the Department of Education is 'reckless and illegal.'

More districts detail how to deal with immigration enforcement

Many districts leaders are recommitting to providing safe spaces for students in the wake of the Trump administration's decision to allow law enforcement to search for undocumented students or staff in school buildings.

Book bans: New Department of Ed is axing complaints

Amidst a record-breaking surge in bans, the Trump administration's Office of Civil Rights calls the complaints a "hoax"

Office of Civil Rights was very busy under Biden

The Department of Education received a record number of civil rights complaints three years in a row under former president Joe Biden's administration.

Education policy: How it will shift under new administration

If appointed secretary of education, Linda McMahon’s tenure is likely to emphasize workforce development, parental rights and a decentralization of federal education oversight.

This state has banned the most books. Here’s a complete list

Florida banned the most books from schools during the 2023-2024 school year. The state has now released a list of all the titles removed.

What K12 leaders should know about 2024 election results

For district leaders, the implications are clear: remain engaged with your communities, foster transparency in decision-making and align initiatives with public values.

Why book bans skyrocketed in 2023-24 school year

Many book bans were aimed at stories about women’s romantic sexual experiences, people of color and LGBTQ+ characters.

Utah is first to begin banning books from schools statewide

Thirteen books are on the literal chopping block after Utah has imposed what appears the first-ever statewide K12 book ban, according to The New York Times and PEN America, a nonprofit that fights censorship.

Department of Education: 2 developments could shake the agency

Title IX, student loan forgiveness and federal oversight over institutions are in the crosshairs of two Republican-led initiatives with the power to overhaul public higher education.

“We fail to build strong children:” This bill slashes education budget by 13%

The FY 2025 bill, approved by an appropriations subcommittee, would reduce funding for Title I state grants by 25%, hurting schools that receive supplemental aid for enrolling 40% or more children from low-income families.

School cellphones: 2 more states consider big bans

Los Angeles USD has approved the nation's largest districtwide cellphone ban, which will take effect in January and also targets social media. 

How to create safe spaces for transgender students

Establishing a safe and welcoming environment for transgender students is not just a moral imperative but also a legal obligation.

Washington must provide FAPE to students until their 22nd birthday

The IDEA requires states to provide special education and related services to students with disabilities until their 22nd birthday, but an exception allows states to discontinue services as early as age 18.

School Renewal: Accessing New Funding for Facilities and Energy Projects

Date & Time: Tuesday, June 11th at 2 pm ET

In this 20-minute DA Ed Talk, an advisor from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs and an education facilities expert from Trane will discuss how to access and use newly available funding from the federal government to finance much-needed school facilities improvements in any district.

‘Talking Out of School’ podcast: Teachers need ‘professional authority’

Teachers quit the classroom when they lack control, choice and collaboration, says Becky Pringle, president of the NEA teachers union.

Book bans are hitting new heights this school year

Books about women, sexual violence and rape that have are being challenged based on obscenity while race, LGBTQ and transgender identities continue to be frequent targets.

Courts rule on missed IEP goals and Title IX; preschool guidance released

How much IEP progress is enough for a district to show that it provided free appropriate public education? According to one court regarding a middle schooler with a seizure disorder, not hitting annual IEP goals is not enough progress.

How are two years of teaching restrictions impacting classrooms?

“Students do not feel comfortable asking honest questions and teachers do not feel comfortable about giving honest answers," one teacher told researchers examining curriculum restrictions.

AI focus is shifting from cheating to better learning

Educators will have to take the lead on setting strategy as state guidance on artificial intelligence's use in education remains "ambiguous and underdeveloped," a new analysis says

What’s new in your governor’s priorities for K12 education?

The teaching profession got much more attention than school safety did in the "State of the State" addresses delivered by governors so far this year. And early learning was a far more frequent topic than the culture wars.

Schools in one state might get big incentives to ban cellphones

Larger Oklahoma districts could get an extra $1 million in state funding under a new proposal while another measure would cover the costs of banning cellphones.

Supreme Court clears way for elite high school’s race-neutral policy

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's policy is allowed to stand by same Supreme Court that found affirmative action unconstitutional last year.

Students’ good grades tilt IEP lawsuit in favor of district

School Law Briefings is your guide to legally significant K12 news, including recaps of precedential court rulings, regulatory updates and agency guidance. In this edition, the Third Circuit finds a Pennsylvania district provided FAPE for a student with ADHD, New Jersey teachers lose an age discrimination case, and Title IX gives Connecticut athletes power to sue over a transgender competition.

Black students are most common targets as school hate crimes double

Schools trailed only homes and roads as the most common locations for reported hate crimes over a five-year period that includes the pandemic, according to an FBI study that also looked at the ethnicity and religion of the victims.

How one fearless superintendent is elevating education outside her district

Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders is not sitting idly by while New Hampshire remains at the bottom of the list for per-pupil funding. 

More inclusive schools: Debunking 4 myths about transgender kids

Administrators can create a school where all students, including transgender children, feel safe, respected and empowered to flourish. Embracing diversity enriches our school communities and prepares students to be compassionate, understanding individuals.

Leaders take heed: Demand for school choice is surging, survey shows

Some districts have embraced school choice and some see it as an existential threat. Either way, parents' interest in switching schools is growing substantially, according to a new National School Choice Awareness Foundation survey.

IDEA doesn’t require a district to cover accommodations for postsecondary program

IDEA does not apply to postsecondary education and so, if a student with a disability attends a college program on a college campus, they are beyond the IDEA’s domain.

State lawmakers zero in on education policies in 2024

From school vouchers to funding, we've identified some of the most pressing education policies being discussed among legislators in 2024.

School nutrition: Why some worry it’s at a “perilous juncture”

A range of financial, logistical and regulatory challenges have the potential to disrupt school meal service as pandemic relief funding expires and stricter standards arrive, advocates say. 

New proposal offers federal funding for AI literacy in schools

'Artificial Intelligence Literacy Act' would improve the nation's AI skills by providing funding for K12 professional development and new computer science classes.