This blog covered state education policy, tracking governors, legislatures, state schools chiefs, and political developments. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: state policy, state legislatures, state superintendents, and governors.
Education
School Funding Takes Center Stage in State Budget Brinksmanship
In Illinois, Maine, and Washington, the new fiscal year dawned with K-12 spending caught in the crossfire between feuding legislators and governors.
Every Student Succeeds Act
States Still Stumped by ESSA's Required Breakout of Per-Pupil Spending
Knowing school-by-school spending would be a boon for parent groups, civil rights activists say, but state officials say its tough to figure a dollar amount for thousands of schools.
Education
Mitchell Chester, Longtime Massachusetts Education Chief, Dies
Mitchell Chester led one of the academically highest-performing states through adoption of common-core standards, ambitious school turnaround efforts, and adoption of a state-designed standardized test.
Law & Courts
Kansans Brace for Judges' July 18 Hearing on New School Funding Formula
The new formula hammered out by the legislature in its recently concluded session increases school spending by $285 million in the next two years in order to assure all students to meet basic state standards.
Education
Amid ESSA Backlash, New Mexico's Controversial Education Secretary Quits
Skandera in recent weeks has faced fierce backlash over the state's plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act which kept in place the state's existing accountability plan and teacher evaluations tied to test scores.
Education
Kansas Gov. to Veto Tax Hike That Would Pump More Money Into K-12
The tax hike would in part fund a bill overhauling the state K-12 funding formula, which would help the state answer a Kansas supreme court ruling on school finance.
Every Student Succeeds Act
States Move From ESSA Planning to ESSA Training
States including Louisiana and New Mexico are training thousands of teachers in the coming weeks on how to implement their states' accountability plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Education
Mississippi's School System Violates Post-Civil War Promises, Suit Claims
A federal lawsuit says Mississippi has failed to create an equitable school system as required in its 1868 constitution and as a condition of rejoining the Union.
Education
Hawaii Hires New Chief to Head Its Single-District School System
Hawaii is one of a handful of states where the governor, not the state's superintendent, is in charge of creating the state's Every Student Succeeds Act accountability plan.
Every Student Succeeds Act
In Some States, ESSA Means More Powers for Local School Boards
Some states, such as California, Kentucky and North Dakota plan to use the Every Student Succeeds Act to bolster the decision-making powers of their local school boards in the coming years.
Education
Charter Expansion Provision Puts Florida Budget Bill At Risk of Veto
Local superintendents and teachers' unions urge Gov. Rick Scott to veto the budget bill partly because of a provision requiring districts to share locally generated revenue on charter schools' capital projects.
Education
Kansas Legislators Told to Lower School Funding Expectations
The legislature is at odds over how much more to distribute to its financially and academically struggling public school system to satisfy a state supreme court ruling.
Every Student Succeeds Act
How New York and California's Draft ESSA Plans Stack Up
We broke down the draft California and New York plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act using the same categories we've used for states that have formally submitted theirs.
Education
K-12 Spending Gets Caught in States' Budget Fights
School spending moved to the center of budget fights this week in Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Ohio and other states. Several states face revenue shortfalls this year and must either raise taxes or cut spending.