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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: state policy, state legislatures, state superintendents, and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

Education After Protracted Political Spat, Missouri Rehires Fired State Schools Chief
Former Republican Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens appointed enough board members to have Commissioner Margie Vandeven fired last year, but now that he's gone, the state board decided to hire her back.
Daarel Burnette II, November 27, 2018
1 min read
Education Thurmond Declares Victory in California's Expensive, Contested Superintendent Race
The midterm election contest between state Assembly member Tony Thurmond and Marshall Tuck to run the state's department of education became the most expensive in state history with candidates spending a combined $53 million.
Daarel Burnette II, November 19, 2018
1 min read
Federal Five New Governors to Watch On Education
Thanks in part to ESSA and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' efforts to shrink the Education Department, governors will have even more say in K-12 education.
Alyson Klein, November 8, 2018
4 min read
States Wisconsin Chief Tony Evers Upsets Incumbent Scott Walker in Governor's Race
The contest had been close from the start, with Evers campaigning on a promise to restore respect for the state's teachers and financially bail out its school system.
Lisa Stark, November 7, 2018
2 min read
Federal Governors, State Chiefs, and Ballot Measures: What Voters Decided
Education spending. Teacher pay. School choice. School safety. K-12 education played a huge part in the 2018 midterm elections, especially at the state level.
Alyson Klein, November 7, 2018
6 min read
States Why Is This Teacher Running for Office? To Help 'Students Get What They Deserve'
High school teacher Jenefer Pasqua is running for Wyoming's state legislature to fight against education funding cuts.
Madeline Will, November 2, 2018
4 min read
Education After a Student Brought a Gun to School, This Teacher Filed to Run For Office
A 32-year-old U.S. government teacher in Montana wants the state, which lets local boards decide if teachers can be armed, to explicitly ban weapons on campus.
Daarel Burnette II, November 1, 2018
3 min read
States Meet the Indiana Teacher Running to Unseat the State's House Education Chair
"I'm running because I'm not happy with the state of education," said veteran educator Kevin Leineweber, who is one of several teachers running for the state's legislature this year.
Madeline Will, October 30, 2018
4 min read
Education Local Voters Nationwide Asked to Fund Beefed-Up School Security
States have typically left it to communities to pay for upgraded school facilities, and this year's horrific school shootings have sparked spending measures aimed at "hardening" school buildings.
Daarel Burnette II, October 30, 2018
2 min read
Education ESSA's New Report Cards Arrive Just In Time For This Year's Election
In Oregon, the release of the state's school report card has turned into a political sore spot for incumbent Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, who is running for re-election.
Daarel Burnette II, October 29, 2018
2 min read
Education How School Security Turned Into a Wedge Issue in the Midterm Elections (Video)
Some candidates want to arm teachers while others want to tighten gun control laws. Meanwhile, student activists are making their voices heard on school security.
Daarel Burnette II, October 26, 2018
1 min read
Education Could Tax Increases Fix School Funding Problems? Some Gubernatorial Candidates Think So (Video)
Education Week reporters Daarel Burnette and Kavitha Cardoza walk you through some of the school funding issues and debates dominating key campaigns.
Kathleen Kennedy Manzo, October 25, 2018
1 min read
Education Lots (and Lots) of Teachers Are Running For Office This Year. Here's Why. (Video)
According to an Education Week analysis, more than 100 teachers are in the running this year for a state legislative seat and they're campaigning to increase school funding.
Daarel Burnette II, October 24, 2018
1 min read
Education State Supreme Court Knocks Ambitious Hawaii School Funding Question Off Ballot
Teachers have argued that the state needs a new revenue source for schools but the state's supreme court said a ballot question they backed was confusing and vague.
Daarel Burnette II, October 24, 2018
1 min read