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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: state policy, state legislatures, state superintendents, and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
Massachusetts Board Approves Hybrid PARCC, State Test
By an 8-3 vote, the state school board approved creation of a new English and mathematics test to be administered by all of the state's schools by 2017.
Standards & Accountability
The Scores Are In: Tracking Common-Core Test Results Across States
In addition to the scores from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), Smarter Balanced, and other common-core tests from the past school year, the interactive presentation includes scores from previous state tests.
Standards & Accountability
Massachusetts Chief Recommends Hybrid State/PARCC Testing Approach
Massachusetts' education commissioner is recommending that students take a hybrid test in 2017 that would include material from both the state's own test and the PARCC common-core-aligned assessment.
Education
Pennsylvania Legislators Closer to Ending Budget Impasse
A preliminary deal between state lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf could end a five-month standoff that's forced some school districts to borrow money to stay afloat.
States
Ohio State Superintendent, Richard Ross, to Retire
Before leading Ohio's Department of Education, Richard Ross served as a district-level superintendent and an education adviser to Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
States
Mont. Chief Juneau, First American Indian Woman to Hold Statewide Office, Running for Congress
As Montana's superintendent she's overseen efforts to improve the state's graduation rate and some of its most disadvantaged American Indian students.
Budget & Finance
Bevin Wins Ky. Governor's Race; Miss. Voters Reject Funding Initiative
Business executive Matt Bevin opposes the common core, which Kentucky is currently reviewing, and wants to create a new voucher program for students in the Bluegrass State.
States
Feds Aside, States Will Stick With New Accountability Mindset, Chiefs' Group Says
States have been working on building high-quality accountability systems for years, the report from the CCSSO says. And they aren't going to let up just because the feds stop making them do certain things.
Federal
Elections in Three States Are Low-Profile, But High-Stakes for Education
Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi hold gubernatorial elections as well as down-ballot contests, and issues range from the Common Core State Standards to K-12 spending.
Federal
Ariz. Gov. Ducey OKs $3.5 Billion K-12 Funding Hike, Pending Voter Approval
The funding increase was approved in a special session of the state legislature. Ducey signed the legislation into law on Friday. Voters will have the final say-so on the measure in a May 17 election.
Federal
The Push to Roll Back Testing Picks Up Steam: An Education Week Odyssey
The "too much testing" story line has been gathering momentum for quite some time. Check out our new Storify that's collected articles and other media about the topic.
Standards & Accountability
Where Can You Keep the Common Core by 'Repealing' It? In Arizona, Maybe
The vote by Arizona's state school board formally repeals the standards, but also leaves them on the books for now. So what gives?
Standards & Accountability
Louisiana State Board Elections Give Boost to Common Core
Of the eight seats on the 11-member Louisiana state school board that were up for election, six were won by those that favor the common core.
Standards & Accountability
Merryl Tisch to Leave N.Y. Regents After Busy, Polarizing Tenure
Tisch oversaw big changes to Empire State K-12 policy during her six-year tenure as the leader of the Regents, and unleashed a torrent of political controversy in the process.