Pulse K-12

Top Education Headlines, Handpicked for School Leaders

Your weekly shortcut to staying informed in K-12 education

Curated from top sources. Quick 5 min read. Trusted by administrators.

Read the Latest Issues

Nov 9, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #28: The Push to Go Gradeless

This week we cover how AI is pushing schools to rethink grading, how states are tackling chronic absenteeism, and why young adults are stepping in to strengthen student mental health.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #27: Can Schools Keep Up With AI and Change?

Nov 2, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #27: Can Schools Keep Up With AI and Change?

This week we’re looking at leadership changes in the nation’s largest districts, five steps to a clear AI policy, and how reading together can help students feel more connected.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #26: How Rising Temperatures Hurt Student Achievement

Oct 26, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #26: How Rising Temperatures Hurt Student Achievement

This issue looks at how climate conditions shape learning, how school choice affects families, and what new research reveals about AI’s role in keeping students motivated.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #25: Better Attendance Starts Here

Oct 19, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #25: Better Attendance Starts Here

This issue explores transparency as a leadership strategy, attendance gains driven by family partnership, and Portrait of a Learner frameworks reshaping instruction nationwide.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #24: New Data on Teens in ‘Relationships’ With AI

Oct 12, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #24: New Data on Teens in ‘Relationships’ With AI

This issue looks at teens turning to AI for companionship, school leaders using fewer metrics to drive real change, and new research showing how SEL can improve academic performance.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #23: What’s the Real Risk: Tylenol or Low Literacy?

Oct 5, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #23: What’s the Real Risk: Tylenol or Low Literacy?

This week looks at K-12’s big ideas, efforts to strengthen science teaching, and the role of low literacy in spreading misinformation on climate change and autism.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #22: Missing Students and Mistrust in Classrooms

Sep 28, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #22: Missing Students and Mistrust in Classrooms

This week looks at enrollment drops, job skills gaps, AI’s impact on trust, and why civics teaching sparks fear in many schools.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #21: What 9 Minutes of Exercise Can Do for Reading Scores

Sep 21, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #21: What 9 Minutes of Exercise Can Do for Reading Scores

This week looks at moving past the idea of AI as a time-saver, how one district is using brain science to build resilience that lasts beyond high school, and why nine minutes of exercise before a test can give students a real boost.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #20: The Problem With Quiet Math Classrooms

Sep 14, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #20: The Problem With Quiet Math Classrooms

This week looks at ways schools are reducing bullying, the gap between how teachers and administrators define engagement, and why fear of immigration enforcement is still keeping some students out of school.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #19: Student Daily Reading Drops 60%. What Changed?

Sep 7, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #19: Student Daily Reading Drops 60%. What Changed?

This week covers schools resetting communication with families, how teacher autonomy boosts engagement, and new research on why fewer kids are reading for fun.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #18: Is Grading Without Zeroes Fair or Lowering the Bar?

Aug 31, 2025

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6 min read

Pulse #18: Is Grading Without Zeroes Fair or Lowering the Bar?

This week covers the no-zeroes grading debate, the quiet rollback of English learner guidance, and how schools can ensure meaningful opportunities for students with disabilities.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #17: Who Pays for Pencils? and Rethinking Active Shooter Drills

Aug 24, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #17: Who Pays for Pencils? and Rethinking Active Shooter Drills

This week covers a growing fight over school supply costs, how students feel about missing school, and new findings on AI tools that can make learning more accessible.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #16: From Peer Tutoring to Career Prep in 5th Grade

Aug 17, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #16: From Peer Tutoring to Career Prep in 5th Grade

This week covers strategies to strengthen learning environments and prepare students for what’s next. Plus: how biscuits and gravy are helping one school curb absenteeism.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #15: From Lunch Lines to Absenteeism and How to Show Up This Year

Aug 10, 2025

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6 min read

Pulse #15: From Lunch Lines to Absenteeism and How to Show Up This Year

From leadership moves to Illinois’ new mental health screening law, this issue covers what you need to know to start the year strong. Plus: how AI bias could impact your students.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #14: Recovery, AI, and Steps Every District Can Take

Aug 3, 2025

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6 min read

Pulse #14: Recovery, AI, and Steps Every District Can Take

This week’s issue looks at uneven pandemic recovery for kids, smart strategies for adopting AI, and how districts can protect student data without needing a big budget.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #13: Integrating AI, Confronting Inequity

Jul 27, 2025

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6 min read

Pulse #13: Integrating AI, Confronting Inequity

This week we’re talking about leadership in tough moments, new AI research on student learning, and alarming equity gaps for students with disabilities.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #12: Teaching in a Time of Tech, Tension, and Transformation

Jul 20, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #12: Teaching in a Time of Tech, Tension, and Transformation

From embracing mistakes at the start of the year to rethinking how we teach with tech and AI, schools continue to move away from rigid, old-school approaches. Many are also doubling down on engagement strategies that can make an impact on attendance and engagement from day one.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #11: Crisis of Career Readiness and What Middle Schoolers Are Telling AI

Jul 13, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #11: Crisis of Career Readiness and What Middle Schoolers Are Telling AI

What are middle schoolers revealing about stress in anonymous chats with AI? Why are so many teens feeling unprepared for life after graduation? And how are schools redesigning leadership, literacy, and language learning? Dive in for answers.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #10: From AI Skepticism to a Surprising Screen-Time Solution

Jul 6, 2025

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6 min read

Pulse #10: From AI Skepticism to a Surprising Screen-Time Solution

Why are middle schoolers skeptical about AI? Could podcasts be the secret to reducing screen time? What happens when central offices lead by serving? Explore how schools are rethinking leadership, instruction, and student engagement.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #09: Purposeful AI, Stronger Engagement, and Lower Absenteeism

Jun 29, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #09: Purposeful AI, Stronger Engagement, and Lower Absenteeism

Explore how schools are addressing chronic absenteeism, rethinking teacher retention with team-based models and wellness strategies, and embedding AI in ways that foster connection and purpose.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #08: Evolving strategies in AI, instruction, staffing, and policy

Jun 22, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #08: Evolving strategies in AI, instruction, staffing, and policy

Learn how schools are rethinking AI training, boosting math engagement through real-world connections, easing teacher burnout with 4-day weeks, and navigating new state discipline policies.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #07: Big Changes in How Students Learn, Lead, and Are Recognized

Jun 15, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #07: Big Changes in How Students Learn, Lead, and Are Recognized

States go all-in on competency-based learning, immigration raids rattle schools, and the College Board ends race-based scholarships

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #06: What to Do Before a Crisis, Plus a Literacy Turnaround Story

Jun 8, 2025

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4 min read

Pulse #06: What to Do Before a Crisis, Plus a Literacy Turnaround Story

From crisis response plans to purpose-driven mental health, we’re tracking what’s shaping school leadership this summer, including a literacy turnaround, career prep beyond college, and this year’s top edtech wins.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #05: Phone Bans, Title III Cuts, and Summer Outreach

Jun 1, 2025

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4 min read

Pulse #05: Phone Bans, Title III Cuts, and Summer Outreach

From deportation-driven absenteeism to Title III funding cuts, we’re tracking what’s shaping summer and fall. Inside: new research on PLCs, lessons from a strict phone ban, and practical tips for boosting math confidence and supporting student mental health.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse #04: 7 Big Moves in K–12: Edtech Cuts, Algebra Equity, and a Literacy Lawsuit

May 18, 2025

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5 min read

Pulse #04: 7 Big Moves in K–12: Edtech Cuts, Algebra Equity, and a Literacy Lawsuit

From districts rethinking edtech to teletherapy transforming student support, this issue covers what’s working, what’s changing, and where school leaders are focused now.

Kendell Hunter

Pulse K-12

Read the Latest Issues

Pulse #28: The Push to Go Gradeless

Pulse #27: Can Schools Keep Up With AI and Change?

Pulse #26: How Rising Temperatures Hurt Student Achievement

Pulse #25: Better Attendance Starts Here

Pulse #24: New Data on Teens in ‘Relationships’ With AI

Pulse #23: What’s the Real Risk: Tylenol or Low Literacy?

Pulse #22: Missing Students and Mistrust in Classrooms

Pulse #21: What 9 Minutes of Exercise Can Do for Reading Scores

Pulse #20: The Problem With Quiet Math Classrooms

Pulse #19: Student Daily Reading Drops 60%. What Changed?

Pulse #18: Is Grading Without Zeroes Fair or Lowering the Bar?

Pulse #17: Who Pays for Pencils? and Rethinking Active Shooter Drills

Pulse #16: From Peer Tutoring to Career Prep in 5th Grade

Pulse #15: From Lunch Lines to Absenteeism and How to Show Up This Year

Pulse #14: Recovery, AI, and Steps Every District Can Take

Pulse #13: Integrating AI, Confronting Inequity

Pulse #12: Teaching in a Time of Tech, Tension, and Transformation

Pulse #11: Crisis of Career Readiness and What Middle Schoolers Are Telling AI

Pulse #10: From AI Skepticism to a Surprising Screen-Time Solution

Pulse #09: Purposeful AI, Stronger Engagement, and Lower Absenteeism

Pulse #08: Evolving strategies in AI, instruction, staffing, and policy

Pulse #07: Big Changes in How Students Learn, Lead, and Are Recognized

Pulse #06: What to Do Before a Crisis, Plus a Literacy Turnaround Story

Pulse #05: Phone Bans, Title III Cuts, and Summer Outreach

Pulse #04: 7 Big Moves in K–12: Edtech Cuts, Algebra Equity, and a Literacy Lawsuit

Pulse K-12Join thousands of school leaders staying ahead on policy, tech, and what’s next for students.

Pulse K-12
Join thousands of school leaders staying ahead on policy, tech, and what’s next for students.