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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: state policy, state legislatures, state superintendents, and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
Effort to Recall Arizona Schools Superintendent Fails
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas has battled with Gov. Doug Ducey over funding and education department staffing decisions.
Budget & Finance
With Budget Veto, Pa. Schools Get Emergency Funding, But Little Certainty
Gov. Tom Wolf will provide $23 billion in emergency funding, most of which will go to schools.
Education
Tennessee's State-Run District Runs Into Political Trouble
District-led efforts in Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville to turn around low-performing schools academically outpace those of the state, according to a recent Vanderbilt University study.
Standards & Accountability
Top 10 State EdWatch Posts in 2015: Common Core Is a Major Theme
The Common Core State Standards proved to be the most-frequent topic among the 10 most-read blog posts on State EdWatch in 2015.
Federal
U.S. Department of Education Places Massachusetts Title I funds on "High Risk"
The state decided last month to allow districts to chose whether to take PARCC or state-specific exams.
States
Texas Appoints New State Schools Chief
Morath replaces Michael Williams to lead the agency which oversees 1,200 school districts and charter schools.
States
West Virginia Board Votes Down Controversial Fayette County Consolidation Plan
The county's citizens fought state efforts to close down schools and build a new $56 million high school with a 15-year $11 million loan.
States
State Chiefs Say They Will Stay The Course With ESSA Reauthorization
In a conference call, three state chiefs describe how they plan to flex their new powers.
Education
N.Y. Governor-Appointed Task Force: Rename Common Core, Reduce Testing
The Common-Core task force was commissioned by Governor Andrew Cuomo to "overhaul the Common Core system — to do a total reboot."
Education Funding
In Setback for Hurting Districts, Pa. House GOP Ditches Plan to End Budget Impasse
To make up for the loss in revenue, the state's school districts have been taking out hundreds of millions of dollars in loans. A setback could result in even more drastic measures, education leaders say.
Education
New Mexico Court Halts Schools' Use of Teacher Evaluation System
A local teacher group says the system is built on flawed or incomplete data and should be tossed out.
Federal
Louisiana Election Results Cloud Future of Common Core, Vouchers, Charters
Edwards received a groundswell of support from the state's teachers' unions for his opposition to vouchers and charter schools.
Education
John King Urges State Chiefs to Seize Momentum if ESEA Overhaul Passes
Continue the focus on achievement gaps, teacher quality, and assessments, John B. King Jr., who is to take over as acting head of the Education Department, told state chiefs.
States
State Chiefs Pledge to Continue Focus on Accountability
An ESEA reauthorization deal that passed a congressional conference panel on Thursday stands to shift much school turnaround and accountability work to the states.