Policy & Politics

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the legislation, guidance, policies and people involved in federal and state government
School Choice & Charters Where Private School Choice Enrollment—and Spending—Is Surging
States have devoted billions of dollars recently in public funds families can use on private schooling.
Mark Lieberman
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13 min read
Education Funding Congress Has Passed an Education Budget. See How Key Programs Are Affected
Federal funding for low-income students and special education will remain level year over year.
Mark Lieberman
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2 min read
Education Funding Trump Slashed Billions for Education in 2025. See Our List of Affected Grants
We've tabulated the grant programs that have had awards terminated over the past year. See our list.
Mark Lieberman
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8 min read
Law & Courts Religious Charter Schools Push New Cases Toward Supreme Court
Advocates seeking to establish publicly funded religious schools in three states.
Mark Walsh
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9 min read
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. Religious charter advocates are betting a full Supreme Court will side with their efforts to establish religious charter schools.
Rahmat Gul/AP
School Choice & Charters The Federal Choice Program Is Here. Will It Help Public School Students, Too?
As Democrats decide whether to opt in, some want to see the funds help students in public schools.
Matthew Stone
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9 min read
Children play during recess at an elementary school in New Cuyama, CA on Sept. 20, 2023. Can a program that represents the federal government’s first big foray into bankrolling private school choice end up helping public school students?
As Democratic governors decide whether to sign their states up for the first major federal foray into private school choice, some say they want public school students to benefit. Here, children play during recess at an elementary school in New Cuyama, Calif., on Sept. 20, 2023.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Law & Courts Educators Sue Over ICE Activity on School Grounds and Nearby
The challenge targets the Trump administration's revocation of a policy that limited immigration enforcement at schools.
Alyson Klein
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5 min read
A sign reading "Protect Neighbors" is posted near a bus stop as a school bus passes on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis.
A sign reading "Protect Neighbors" is posted near a bus stop in Minneapolis on Jan. 30, 2026. A lawsuit from two Minnesota school districts and the state's teachers' union says immigration agents have detained people and staged enforcement actions at or near schools, school bus stops, and daycare centers.
Kerem Yücel /Minnesota Public Radio via AP
Federal Ed. Dept. Paid Civil Rights Staffers Up to $38 Million as It Tried to Lay Them Off
A report from Congress' watchdog looks into the Trump Admin.'s efforts to downsize the Education Department.
Alyson Klein
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5 min read
Commuters walk past the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Eduction, which were ordered closed for the day for what officials described as security reasons amid large-scale layoffs, on March 12, 2025, in Washington.
The U.S. Department of Education spent up to $38 million last year to pay civil rights staffers who remained on administrative leave while the agency tried to lay them off.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

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Tue., February 10, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
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Special Education Webinar Integrating and Interpreting MTSS Data: How Districts Are Designing Systems That Identify Student Needs
Discover practical ways to organize MTSS data that enable timely, confident MTSS decisions, ensuring every student is seen and supported.
Content provided by Panorama Education
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Thu., February 12, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Artificial Intelligence Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: AI Could Be Your Thought Partner
How can educators prepare young people for an AI-powered workplace? Join our discussion on using AI as a cognitive companion.
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Tue., February 17, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Student Well-Being & Movement K-12 Essentials Forum How Schools Are Teaching Students Life Skills
Join this free virtual event to explore creative ways schools have found to seamlessly integrate teaching life skills into the school day.
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Resources

Social Studies Spotlight Spotlight on Teaching Social Studies to Build Literacy and Critical Thinking
This Spotlight explores social studies literacy, evaluating source bias, introducing complex narratives, and key U.S. history topics.
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Student Well-Being & Movement Whitepaper The Chronic Absenteeism Today Guide
Address the root causes of chronic absenteeism, boost student success, and build belonging across campus with the Chronic Absenteeism Tod...
Content provided by Wayfinder
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Curriculum Sponsor Why Your Core Math Curriculum Is Failing Your Students (And What Actually Works)
Districts are already making large financial investments into core programs. So why are they still buying more resources to make up for what their textbooks can't do?
Content provided by Takeoff by IXL
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Budget & Finance Whitepaper Beyond the Buy: Strategic Purchasing in Postsecondary Education
This whitepaper, based on in-depth interviews with procurement professionals at colleges and universities, explores how strategic vendor ...
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EdWeek Market Brief

Strategy & Operations Industry Insight Longtime Ed-Tech Veteran on New Role, Urgent Literary Needs in K-12
The new CEO of Really Great Reading also spoke about the challenges facing the K-12 market after the tumultuous past five years.
Michelle Caffrey
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11 min read
Meeting District Needs Exclusive Data When Districts Say They Want a 'Trusted Partner,' It's Not Just About Relationship-Building
EdWeek Market Brief survey data asks school and district leaders what factors make a vendor feel like a 'true partner' to their school or system, versus just a salesperson.
Emma Kate Fittes
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5 min read
Regulation & Policy K-12 Insider How Michigan's Process for Building Approved Literacy Materials Lists Is Raising the Bar for Companies
The state of Michigan is sending a clear message to education companies providing literacy materials and assessments, and it boils down to this: Get your evidence in order.
Emma Kate Fittes
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9 min read
Financing & Investment K-12 Dealmaking zSpace Secures $3M Investment as it Faces Possible Nasdaq Delisting; Ex-Google Staffers Raise Seed Funding for Ed-Tech Platform
The moves comes after the education AR/VR company zSpace cut staff for its U.S. business amid financial struggles.
Michelle Caffrey
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5 min read
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