States Blog

State EdWatch

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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: state policy, state legislatures, state superintendents, and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.

States Can Unions Take Anti-DeVos Fervor, #ilovepublicschools Movement to States?
States are wrestling with several key issues this session including accountability plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act that can prove pivotal in the coming years.
Daarel Burnette II, February 7, 2017
6 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act States' ESSA Plans Now Entering the Legislative Phase
State education departments are required under the Every Student Succeeds Act to conduct "meaningful consultation" with their state legislatures and governors, and that's just begun in many states.
Daarel Burnette II, February 7, 2017
2 min read
States New Hampshire Delays Vote on Controversial State Education Chief
New Hampshire's education commissioner nominee Frank Edelblut, a businessman, Republican and school choice proponent, has been criticized throughout the state for his lack of education experience.
Daarel Burnette II, February 2, 2017
1 min read
Education N.J. Supreme Court Rejects Gov. Christie's Motion to Replace Funding Formula
Gov. Christie has pushed to flatten the state's funding formula so that the state's impoverished urban districts would get the same amount of money wealthy suburban districts get.
Daarel Burnette II, January 31, 2017
1 min read
Budget & Finance Washington State Republicans Propose New Funding Formula
The state's Republicans have pushed back against raising taxes in order to increase teachers' pay, as the state's supreme court ordered the state to do in 2012.
Daarel Burnette II, January 31, 2017
1 min read
Education N.Y. Lawmakers and Advocates Urge State to Increase School Funding
In response to a 2006 lawsuit, the state built a new funding formula, but critics say lawmakers haven't increased the amount of money the court deemed necessary for schools to meet basic standards.
Daarel Burnette II, January 27, 2017
1 min read
Education In Counter to Trump, California Gov. Jerry Brown Vows to Protect Immigrants
In response to President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric, several California districts have taken extra measures to protect the status of their immigrant students.
Daarel Burnette II, January 26, 2017
1 min read
Education Trump's Pause on ESSA Regs Unlikely to Affect State Timelines, Officials Say
Many states already had been working up their ESSA accountability plans, and some officials said a regulatory pause by the new administration came as no surprise.
Daarel Burnette II, January 24, 2017
4 min read
Education Despite Casino Revenue, Md. Districts Face Deficits, Baltimore Sun Finds
Like other states, Maryland promised voters that casino revenue would be dedicated to education spending, but instead used it to replace state funding, resulting in district deficits.
Daarel Burnette II, January 23, 2017
1 min read
Education Dual Louisiana ESSA Plans on Collision Course
A governor-appointed task force is recommending that the state scrap its letter grade accountability system, while the state board is recommending only that the system is tweaked.
Daarel Burnette II, January 19, 2017
2 min read
Education At Least 17 States Plan to Turn in ESSA Plans in April
This post was written by Alyson Klein and originally posted on the Politics K-12 blog
Alyson Klein, January 13, 2017
1 min read
Education Funding Wisconsin Gov. Walker: 'I Love Public Schools'
In his state-of-the-state address Gov. Scott Walker touted his love of public schools and pledged to increase spending on technology for rural schools in its biennial budget.
Daarel Burnette II, January 12, 2017
1 min read
Budget & Finance California Gov. Jerry Brown Proposes to Increase School Spending
Despite a conservative budget, Proposition 98 has guaranteed increased K-12 spending in California over the last several years. Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed a conservative statewide budget because of a predicted revenue shortfall.
Daarel Burnette II, January 11, 2017
1 min read
Education Washington Legislature Convenes With Goal of Replacing Funding Formula
A 2012 state supreme court decision demanded that the state pick up more of its public education tab, but legislators are at a standstill as to how.
Daarel Burnette II, January 10, 2017
1 min read