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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: state policy, state legislatures, state superintendents, and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.
Budget & Finance
Beyond a Spot on the Map: Experts Study How States Can Help Rural Schools
In a new set of essays, experts examine how to use technology, school finance, and professional development to help such schools.
States
Big Tax Revenues Goose California Education Budget From Gov. Brown
State tax revenues have turned out to be $6.7 billion higher than the estimates Brown used last January when Brown presented his original proposed budget for fiscal 2016.
States
One Step Closer to a New Accountability System for California Schools?
California is hammering out a new state accountability system to complement its school funding system and local accountability models. What might Golden State accountability look like in the future?
States
Louisiana Lawmakers Strike Preliminary Deal Over Common Core
The deal could signal an approaching peace, or at least a cease-fire, in the long-running war over the common core and the PARCC test in Louisiana.
States
N.H. Gov. Hassan First to Veto a Common-Core Repeal Bill
The Granite State governor's action is the first time a bill requiring a state to ditch the Common Core State Standards has been vetoed by a governor.
Education Funding
Illinois Pension-Law Overhaul Unconstitutional, State's Supreme Court Rules
On Friday, the state's top court unanimously ruled that the law violated the provision of the state's constitution related specifically to pensions.
Standards & Accountability
Wisconsin Moves to Seek Replacement for Smarter Balanced Common-Core Test
Gov. Scott Walker wants to defund the common-core aligned test, but he's not the only Wisconsin official who's gone after the test's rollout.
Standards & Accountability
Anti-Common-Core Bills Diversify as Democrats' Skepticism Grows, Report Says
"To move from vague proclamations of support to full implementation requires highly specific decisions to be made about who to target, how much money to invest, and which stakeholders to engage," the researchers wrote in their Brookings Institution paper.
States
Colorado Lawmakers Cut Testing Requirements by Focusing on Older Students
Lawmakers passed House Bill 1323 by wide margins on May 6 and sent it to Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper for his signature.
States
States: Overhauling Staff Policies Is Toughest Work in 'Turnaround' Schools
Researchers report that in 2012, a total of 38 states reported significant gaps in their expertise when it came to school turnarounds. And that number didn't improve the next year.
States
Colorado Lawmakers Mull Test Reduction and Test-Writing Power for Districts
Such legislation could serve to satisfy testing skeptics or outright opponents from different political camps, without going so far as to defy federal law regarding testing.
States
More Perspectives on Testing Opt-Outs From New York and Beyond
Tidbits that didn't fit in this week's story: school districts championing opt-outs, praise for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and other issues regarding the testing opt-out movement.
Standards & Accountability
Ga. Schools Chief: Testing Snafu With Unknown Impact Is 'Unacceptable'
Problems with common-core-aligned exams mirror those in Montana and Nevada, but the Associated Press reports that the glitches are not as severe as in other states.
States
Golden Rule? N.C. Senate Approves ALEC Model Bill on Gold-Standard Instruction
The bill, modeled on language proposed by the American Legislative Exchange Council, also requires students to be taught about limited government power.