Policy & Politics

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the legislation, guidance, policies and people involved in federal and state government
Law & Courts Supreme Court Won't Take Up Cases Seen as Expanding Schools' Liability for Sexual Harassment
The court rejected appeals from a school district and university about when educational institutions may be sued for sexual harassment.
Mark Walsh
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4 min read
Law & Courts Georgia Educators Plan to Sue Over the State's 'Divisive Concepts' Law
Georgia's could be the sixth lawsuit to challenge state laws limiting classroom discussion of race and racism.
Eesha Pendharkar
•
3 min read
States Colorado Voters Say Yes to Universal Free School Meals. Will Other States Follow?
Universal free school meal policies may be gaining momentum among states now that federal funding has lapsed.
Arianna Prothero
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2 min read
Education Funding Student Lunch Debt Is Expected to Rise. TikTokers to the Rescue?
The heartwarming phenomenon can solve local issues, but probably not what's expected to be a nationwide rise in lunch debt.
Alyson Klein & Hayley Hardison
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3 min read
Young boy in a school lunchroom cafeteria line and choosing a slice of pizza to put on his tray which includes an apple.
SDI Productions/Getty
Federal How a Divided Congress Will Influence K-12 Education Policy
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives education committees will have new leaders in January.
Libby Stanford
•
6 min read
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks Monday, June 13, 2022, during a debate with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, Hosted by Fox News at the The Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston for a debate intended to prove that bipartisanship isn't dead.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a June debate with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, at The Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston. Sanders is poised to become the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
Josh Reynolds/AP
School Choice & Charters Charter School Enrollment Holds Steady After Big Early Pandemic Growth
The numbers show that most students who left their district schools in the first year of the pandemic did not return.
Lauraine Langreo
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2 min read
Image of an empty classroom.
urfinguss/iStock/Getty
Education Funding What the Research Says Districts Are Spending More Per Student. Here's How to Make Sure All of Them Benefit
New studies suggest ways education leaders can make budgets bigger and more equitable.
Sarah D. Sparks
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4 min read
Educators delivering money.
iStock/Getty Images Plus

From Politics K-12 Blog

Federal What Educators Need to Know About Senators' Bipartisan Deal on Guns, School Safety
In addition to gun restrictions, a tentative compromise would also fund mental health and school safety programs—but it faces hurdles.
Evie Blad
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4 min read
Protesters hold up a sign that shows the outline of a rifle struck through with a yellow line at a demonstration in support of stronger gun laws.
Protesters gather for the March For Our Lives rally in Detroit, among the demonstrations against gun violence held on the heels of recent mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas.
KT Kanazawich for Education Week
Federal Lawmakers, Education Secretary Clash Over Charter School Rules
Miguel Cardona says the administration wants to ensure charters show wide community interest before securing federal funding.
Mark Lieberman
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5 min read
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks during the 2022 National and State Teachers of the Year event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, is seen during a White House event on April 27. The following day, he defended the Biden administration's budget proposal on Capitol Hill.
Susan Walsh/AP
Federal 7 Takeaways for Educators From Biden's State of the Union
What did President Joe Biden say about education in his first State of the Union address to Congress? Here's a point-by-point summary.
Evie Blad
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3 min read
President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington as Vice President Kamala Harris applauds and House speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., looks on.
President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, with Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in attendance.
Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times via AP
Federal Biden Sounds Alarm on Youth Mental Health, Urges Americans to Aid Schools' COVID Recovery
The president's State of the Union speech called on Americans to volunteer in schools and proposed new funding for mental health efforts.
Evie Blad
•
5 min read
President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., look on.
President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday, with Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., behind him.
Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times via AP
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More Policy & Politics

  • "I Voted" stickers sit in a pile at the Fairview Recreation Center in North Minneapolis.
    "I Voted" stickers sit in a pile at the Fairview Recreation Center in North Minneapolis during the midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
    Tim Evans/Minnesota Public Radio via AP
    States Educators Weigh K-12 Impact From an Unpredictable Election
    Many of the most contentious issues in the 2022 midterms resonate most at the local level.
    Libby Stanford, November 9, 2022
    •
    6 min read
    Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the Florida State Capitol on March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida House Republicans advanced a bill, dubbed by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people.
    Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in Tallahassee on March 7, 2022. Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law was a model for a federal bill introduced last month.
    Wilfredo Lee/AP
    Federal What the Federal 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Actually Says
    The bill would restrict federal funds for lessons on LGBTQ identities. The outcome of this week's election could revive its prospects.
    Eesha Pendharkar, November 9, 2022
    •
    4 min read
    Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
    DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
    Policy & Politics Opinion What Do the Midterms Mean for Education?
    The midterms will have big implications for schools and schooling.
    Rick Hess, November 9, 2022
    •
    8 min read
    Aidan Lau-Struck, 6, helps his mom Stephanie Lau feed her ballot into the machine at the Brighton Green Community Association voting precinct in North Chesterfield, Va., on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
    Aidan Lau-Struck, 6, helps his mother, Stephanie Lau, feed her ballot into the machine at the Brighton Green Community Association voting precinct in North Chesterfield, Va., on Election Day.
    Eva Russo/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP
    States K-12 and the Midterms: What to Watch For
    Educators sound off on what the hard-fought midterm elections could mean for K-12 policy.
    Libby Stanford, November 8, 2022
    •
    6 min read
    New Yorkers in Queens come out to vote early on Nov. 5, 2022, before Tuesday's final Election Day.
    New Yorkers in Queens come out to vote early on Nov. 5, before the final opportunity to cast a ballot on Election Day. The midterm elections could mean major changes for K-12 schools.
    GWR/STAR MAX/IPx via AP
    Policy & Politics The 2022 Midterms: Why Educators Should Care What Happens
    Education will play a major role in both statewide and congressional elections throughout the country.
    Libby Stanford, November 7, 2022
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    6 min read
    Image of a conference table.
    vasabii/iStock/Getty
    Federal Fed's Education Research Board Is Back. Here's Why That Matters
    Defunct for years, the National Board for Education Sciences has new members and new priorities.
    Sarah D. Sparks, November 2, 2022
    •
    2 min read
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Classroom Technology Spotlight Spotlight on Engaging Technology Tools
This Spotlight will help you discover how video games can improve students’ memorization, how tech can help English learners, and more.
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This Spotlight will help you learn best tips for getting students’ attention; engage both introverted and extroverted students; and more.

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EdWeek Market Brief

Marketplace K-12 States Ramped Up K-12 Spending in 2022, But Growth Likely to Slow
The increase in FY 2022 is more modest in comparison to 2021, when federal pandemic aid increased the money flow to state budgets.
Michelle Caffrey
•
3 min read
Analyst's View What Role Do Vendors Need to Play in Preventing Cyberattacks?
Stricter rules linking contracts to cyber protections could be coming to the education sector, predicts a leading expert.
David Saleh Rauf
•
11 min read
Purchasing Alert Maryland District Seeks Curriculum Audit; Wisconsin School System to Buy Social Studies Materials
A district in Maryland is looking for curriculum audit consulting services, while a Wisconsin school system seeks elementary social studies materials.
Michelle Caffrey
•
2 min read
Marketplace K-12 K-12 Dealmaking: Promethean Acquires Digital Whiteboard Platform; Jeel Raises $1.1M Seed
Promethean's acquisition is part of a plan to provide rapid technology innovation to create new solutions that address teaching, learning, and collaboration needs.
Alexandria Ng
•
3 min read
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