States

Education news, analysis, and opinion about state education policy, officials, and advocacy.
  • Vector illustration tutoring concept of online learning with teacher and students.
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    States Is Tutoring at Risk? States Stretch to Keep Funding in Place
    States are using a variety of ways to ensure that tutoring programs can continue.
    Olina Banerji, April 8, 2024
    6 min read
    Heidi Griebel and Josie Wahl participate in carpentry class at Career and Technical Education Academy in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Jan. 7, 2019.
    Heidi Griebel and Josie Wahl participate in carpentry class at Career and Technical Education Academy in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Jan. 7, 2019. CTE programs were a core theme of several governors' state addresses in 2024.
    Loren Townsley/The Argus Leader via AP
    States Republican and Democratic Governors Both Are Touting This K-12 Priority
    Workforce readiness and career and technical education were the most common education themes in governors' state of the state addresses.
    Evie Blad, March 20, 2024
    6 min read
    Image of a bible sitting on top of a school backpack.
    Canva
    States School Chaplain Bills Multiply, Stirring Debate on Faith-Based Counseling
    Proponents say school chaplains could help address a mental health crisis. Opponents raise concerns about religious coercion.
    Evie Blad, March 15, 2024
    6 min read
    Gov. Brad Little provides his vision for the 2024 Idaho Legislative session during his State of the State address on Jan. 8, 2024, at the Statehouse in Boise.
    Idaho Gov. Brad Little outlines his priorities during his State of the State address before lawmakers on Jan. 8, 2024, at the capitol in Boise.
    Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman via AP
    States What's on the K-12 Agenda for States This Year? 4 Takeaways
    Reading instruction, private school choice, and teacher pay are among the issues leading governors' K-12 education agendas.
    Mark Lieberman, January 30, 2024
    6 min read
    Illustration of dice with arrows and court/law building icons: conceptual idea of laws and authority.
    Andrii Yalanskyi/iStock/Getty
    States Q&A How Districts Can Navigate Tricky Questions Raised by Parents' Rights Laws
    Where does a parent's authority stop and a school's authority begin? A constitutional law scholar weighs in.
    Caitlynn Peetz, January 9, 2024
    6 min read
    The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. President Joe Biden on Tuesday night will stand before a joint session of Congress for the first time since voters in the midterm elections handed control of the House to Republicans.
    The rising role of artificial intelligence in education and other sectors will likely be a hot topic in 2024 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, as well as in state legislatures across the country.
    Mariam Zuhaib/AP
    States What 2024 Will Bring for K-12 Policy: 5 Issues to Watch
    School choice, teacher pay, and AI will likely dominate education policy debates.
    Libby Stanford, December 29, 2023
    7 min read
    People hold signs during a protest at the state house in Trenton, N.J., Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. New Jersey lawmakers are set to vote Monday on legislation to eliminate most religious exemptions for vaccines for schoolchildren, as opponents crowd the statehouse grounds with flags and banners, including some reading "My Child, My Choice."
    People hold signs during a protest at the state house in Trenton, N.J., on Jan. 13, 2020, opposing legislation to eliminate most religious exemptions for vaccines for schoolchildren. In North Carolina, a bill passed to protect parents' rights in schools caused uncertainty that led two districts to pause a child sex abuse prevention program out of fear it would violate the new law.
    Seth Wenig/AP
    States How a Parents' Rights Law Halted a Child Abuse Prevention Program
    State laws that have passed as part of the parents' rights movement have caused confusion and uncertainty over what schools can teach.
    Libby Stanford & Caitlynn Peetz, December 21, 2023
    7 min read
    Image of attributes of a graduate.
    Parker Shatkin for Education Week with iStock/Getty
    States More States Are Creating a 'Portrait of a Graduate.' Here's Why
    A portrait of a graduate is a guiding document outlining a vision of what it means to be a successful student.
    Libby Stanford, December 11, 2023
    8 min read
    Left: California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2023. Right: Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at a Town Hall event at Tempesta's in Keene, N.H., on Nov. 21, 2023.
    Left: California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2023. Right: Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at a Town Hall event at Tempesta's in Keene, N.H., on Nov. 21, 2023.
    Left: Ng Han Guan/AP; Right: Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP
    States DeSantis vs. Newsom: How K-12 Schools Fared in the 'Red vs. Blue State Debate'
    The Florida and California governors sparred over book bans, school closures, and parental rights during their Fox News debate.
    Libby Stanford, December 1, 2023
    5 min read
    Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during an election night rally after he was elected to a second term in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 7, 2023. At right is his wife Britainy Beshear.
    Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during an election night rally after he was elected to a second term in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 7, 2023. At right is his wife Britainy Beshear.
    Timothy D. Easley/AP
    States Liberals Win Hotly Contested School Board Races in Backlash to Conservative Control
    A Democrat who championed teacher pay raises was also reelected Kentucky's governor and Democrats won legislative majorities in Virginia.
    Libby Stanford, November 8, 2023
    6 min read
    Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks about his plans for the coming year during an interview at the Governor's Residence in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 13, 2019.
    Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks about his plans for the coming year during an interview at the Governor's Residence in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 13, 2019. An overhaul that gives the governor more power over state education policy has run into legal obstacles.
    John Minchillo/AP
    States Why Governors Are Exerting More Control Over Schools
    Ohio has become the latest state to award the governor more control over schools. But the change has run into legal challenges.
    Libby Stanford, November 2, 2023
    7 min read
    Illustration of a happy vector school building and a bright blue Michigan State Map
    DigitalVision Vectors/Getty + Education Week
    States Opinion Michigan’s Gov. Whitmer Has a Message for Teachers: Move to a State That Has Your Back
    There are two competing visions for public education playing out across the country, writes Gretchen Whitmer. Here’s a vision for supporting teachers.
    Gretchen Whitmer, October 9, 2023
    3 min read
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
    Rebecca Blackwell/AP
    States State Laws Restricting Curriculum, Pronoun Use Cause Confusion and Chaos in Schools
    Educators say state laws that limit teaching about race, gender identity, and sexuality are vague, with little help from state departments.
    Libby Stanford & Ileana Najarro, September 21, 2023
    8 min read
    Close crop of an elementary school, black girl in class focused on writing in a book.
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    States Is Cursive Making a Comeback in California? Bill Could Revitalize Traditional Writing Skills
    California elementary and middle school students could soon see a renewed commitment to teaching cursive writing.
    Maya Miller, The Sacramento Bee, September 14, 2023
    2 min read
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Miami.
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Miami.
    Marta Lavandier/AP
    States Florida's Edicts on Schools Keep Changing, and Local Districts Are Confused
    District leaders say frustration is mounting as they try to enforce new education laws regarding gender issues, sex, library books, and race.
    Jeffrey S. Solochek, Tampa Bay Times, September 14, 2023
    7 min read