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Politics K-12

Politics K-12 kept watch on education policy and politics in the nation’s capital and in the states. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: Federal, States.

Education This Survey Data Indicates How Schools Plan to Use Federal COVID-19 Aid
Building internet capacity, distributing more online devices, and cleaning schools are among the top priorities for school administrators in using federal COVID-19 relief, according to new survey data.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 11, 2020
3 min read
Federal Education Leaders Warn Senators of 'Perfect Storm' of Challenges in Reopening Schools
Starting a new school year will be a high-stakes challenge for educators who must help get students back on track, education administrators told U.S. senators Wednesday.
Evie Blad, June 10, 2020
6 min read
Federal Elementary Teacher Defeats West Virginia's State Senate President in Primary
After a couple years of clashes with teachers in the state, West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael was ousted in Tuesday's Republican primary election by a teacher.
Madeline Will, June 10, 2020
3 min read
Education Will the Coronavirus Shake Up How States Distribute K-12 Money?
School will look much different this fall when students return, and that has administrators in several states pushing lawmakers to change how they distribute K-12 aid to districts.
Daarel Burnette II, June 9, 2020
6 min read
Federal Q&A School Desegregation Is Crucial at This Moment, Says One U.S. Senator
Protests about law enforcement's treatment of black people underscore how school desegregation can help black children and create more empathy in society, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in an interview.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 9, 2020
6 min read
Equity & Diversity What Democrats' Policing Bill Says About School Resource Officers
The Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which Democrats unveiled Monday, would require the development of new standards for school resource officers and juvenile justice.
Evie Blad, June 8, 2020
4 min read
Budget & Finance Fight Over COVID Aid Between Private Schools and States Heats Up
Pennsylvania's rejection of a formal complaint from the state Catholic Conference over COVID aid and private school students highlights a messy dispute taking place in many states.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 8, 2020
3 min read
Special Education Bureau of Indian Education Shortchanges Students With Disabilities
Inadequate monitoring and a lack of qualified staff left the bureau unable to ensure that thousands of special education students received the services they were due under federal law, a Government Accountability Office reports finds.
Corey Mitchell, June 5, 2020
1 min read
Education Local Sales Tax Revenue Plummets, Putting Additional Squeeze on Education Funding
Districts that have instituted their own local sales tax will be hit especially hard during this next recession when state revenue plunges.
Daarel Burnette II, June 5, 2020
2 min read
Equity & Diversity Seventeen States, D.C. Sue DeVos Over Rule on Sexual Assault, Harassment in Schools
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia sued U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos over her rules on how schools should address sexual assault and harassment under Title IX.
Evie Blad, June 4, 2020
2 min read
Education As Schools Prep for COVID-Era Return, Feds Estimate 36,000 Have Air-System Problems
The Government Accountability Office estimates that 41 percent of school districts need HVAC upgrades or repair in at least half their schools, which are preparing to reopen after months of COVID-19 shutdowns.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 4, 2020
6 min read
Federal Lawmakers Seek Over $300 Billion for Public Schools in Next COVID Relief Bill
"Without significant federal support, our states will struggle to support their public schools, and our students will feel the brunt of the result," the lawmakers said their pitch for additional K-12 aid.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 3, 2020
2 min read
Teaching Profession AFT and NEA Join Push for National Overhaul of Police Practices
The two national teachers' unions have joined an effort to get Congress to change police practices after the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other black people at the hands of law enforcement.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 2, 2020
3 min read
Federal Senator Aims to End Military Equipment Program Used by School Police
School police have acquired powerful rifles, mine-resistant vehicles, and grenade launchers through a federal program that provides military equipment to local law enforcement.
Evie Blad, June 1, 2020
1 min read