DATIA K12

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Report: Out-of-school programs play an outsized role in child development

After school and summer programs can enhance academic motivation and increase school attendance, but face access, funding and workforce challenges.

Nebraska invested in having special education students learn alongside their peers — and is seeing promising results

Supreme Court unanimously sides with disabled student in lawsuit vs. Minnesota district

LAUSD sees 'major gains' in fight against chronic absenteeism – but problem persists

K–12 leaders love the four-day school week, but a new study shows that it doesn’t do what they hope

LAUSD creates 'perimeters of safety' against ICE agents

Starting smart: Take advantage of the beginning of summer break

How do children learn to read? This literacy expert says ‘there are as many ways as there are students’

Featured

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CoSN releases 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership Report

A school social worker makes calls from her desk in California's Chula Vista Elementary School District. The district is served by the San Diego County Office of Education, which was among the education entities that lost federal funding to hire and train more mental health workers in schools. (Zaydee Sanchez for Chalkbeat)

Layoffs and leakier pipelines: How Trump’s cuts to mental health grants are likely to affect schools

Recently retired superintendents offer advice for the next generation of district leaders

"You don't have to put out every fire." Experienced leaders stress the importance of clear communication, transparency, humility, and flexibility.

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CoSN releases 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership Report

Among other findings, this year's survey highlights the potentially catastrophic impact that the loss of E-Rate funding would have across K-12.

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Mental Health and Wellness

Layoffs and leakier pipelines: How Trump’s cuts to mental health grants are likely to affect schools

After Uvalde, school mental health grants had bipartisan support. But after the cuts, schools will likely have to lay off social workers and counselors, and college programs designed to train mental health providers may shut down.

A school social worker makes calls from her desk in California's Chula Vista Elementary School District. The district is served by the San Diego County Office of Education, which was among the education entities that lost federal funding to hire and train more mental health workers in schools. (Zaydee Sanchez for Chalkbeat)

Report: Staff retention, mental health, school culture, and the use of AI are among the top concerns of school and district leaders in 2025

ERDI research draws on insights from district leaders for solutions to the most common challenges facing K-12 leaders.

Success Stories

These school districts are bucking the national math slump

By investing in teacher coaches, data and more math time, two Tennessee districts are seeing students do better than before COVID-19 hit.

Teacher Jamie Gallimore uses a few new tactics in her seventh grade math classroom at Martin Middle School after working with district math coach Ed Baker. Credit: Andrea Morales for The Hechinger Report

In a divided culture, we need a bipartisan approach to improving K-12 student achievement

Even in today's hyper-polarized environment, these six proven reforms have broad political support and could significantly improve the nation's schools.

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Policy and Legislation

Supreme Court shows support for parents who want opt-outs from LGBTQ storybooks

The debate focused on whether just exposing children to the books in the classroom violates families’ religious beliefs.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took up a Maryland case in which parents argued that the Montgomery County Public Schools violated their religious freedom rights when it stopped letting them opt their children out of hearing storybooks with LGBTQ characters. (Becket)

11 districts were studied as they implemented "bold ideas" for school reform last year. Here are the lessons learned.

The Center on Reinventing Public Education studied school systems undertaking ambitious, systemic initiatives to make student learning more joyful, individualized, and relevant.

CRPE partnered with 11 districts across the country to support and study their “Bold Ideas” for school reform. (credit: CRPE)

Student Success

Seeing connections to achievement in later grades, states and districts taking steps to improve kindergarten readiness

“If we can start building connections early, children enter school feeling supported, and that’s when real learning can begin.”

In an effort to understand and raise the level of kindergarten readiness in the state, Maine recently formed a committee of 32 kindergarten teachers to evaluate readiness assessment tools under consideration.

Student Success

‘Why schools can’t solve it alone’: New book tackles chronic absenteeism

Chalkbeat Detroit

The authors provide a road map for taking an “ecological” instead of an “educational” approach to the issue.

Eighth grader, Leona Wright, 13, holds her hand up high during a group exercise during Konnection Klub at Durfee Elementary-Middle School on Thurs., Oct. 19, 2023 in Detroit. The program is an example of how community groups are already trying to help improve student attendance in the city. (Elaine Cromie / Chalkbeat)

CRPE report urges “what must come next” for public K-12 education at a crossroads

Center on Reinventing Public Education

The newest research from the Center on Reinventing Public Education calls for bold approaches to address the harsh realities faced by U.S. schools five years post-pandemic.

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Policy and Legislation

Trump has signed an executive order to close the Education Department. Here’s what it says.

Legally, only Congress has the power to eliminate the department. But the administration recently laid off nearly half its staff.

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