States

Education news, analysis, and opinion about state education policy, officials, and advocacy.
  • Rev. Eric Mayle, center, yells at lawmakers as a bill that would deny illegal immigrants access to education is passed in a House Education Committee hearing in Nashville, Tenn., March 26, 2025.
    Rev. Eric Mayle, center, yells at lawmakers as a bill that would deny illegal immigrants access to education is passed in a House Education Committee hearing in Nashville, Tenn., March 26, 2025. The bill in question is now pending until the legislature returns to session in January 2026.
    George Walker IV/AP
    States What States Can Learn from Tennessee’s Fight Over Undocumented Students
    Legislative action challenging undocumented students' right to a free, public education hit a snag in Tennessee.
    Ileana Najarro, April 25, 2025
    3 min read
    Ryan Walters, Republican state superintendent candidate, speaks, June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
    Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is pictured on June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City when he was a candidate for the position he now holds. Walters this week told districts he would halt federal funding beginning Friday, April 25, if they don't certify they're not using diversity, equity, and inclusion programming in schools.
    Sue Ogrocki/AP
    States Oklahoma Will Cut Funding to Districts That Don't Sign Trump's Anti-DEI Pledge
    The state says it will withhold federal funds from districts that don't sign a Trump administration DEI pledge.
    Brooke Schultz, April 23, 2025
    8 min read
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    Collage by Gina Tomko/Education Week and Getty
    States Tracker 'Illegal' DEI: See Which States Are Telling Trump Their Schools Don't Use It
    The Education Department wants states and schools to sign a certification saying they don't use DEI. Here's how they're responding so far.
    Matthew Stone & Mark Lieberman, April 10, 2025
    6 min read
    The exterior of the Department of Education Building in Washington, DC on Thursday, December 14, 2017.
    The exterior of the Department of Education Building in Washington on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.
    Swikar Patel/Education Week
    States Democratic-Led Cities, States Push Back on Trump's Threats to Cut School Funding Over DEI
    The standoff could test how far the White House is willing to go to press its demands on the nation’s schools.
    The Associated Press, April 9, 2025
    4 min read
    The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
    Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
    States Opinion How One State Improved Its NAEP Scores
    Louisiana's state schools chief discusses the importance of reading and math instruction and "letting teachers teach."
    Rick Hess, April 3, 2025
    6 min read
    New canvas school bags hanging on the backs of empty classroom student chairs in a large modern classroom
    iStock/Getty Images
    States Lawmakers Want to Fix Student Absenteeism With Ice Cream Parties, Data, and More
    State lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills aiming to make school attendance a priority.
    Evie Blad, April 1, 2025
    3 min read
    State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks to members of the State Board of Education during a meeting, Aug. 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
    State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks to members of the State Board of Education during a meeting, Aug. 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Walters has submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Education seeking to consolidate its federal funds into a block grant, testing the legal bounds of Education Secretary Linda McMahon's waiver authority.
    Daniel Shular/Tulsa World via AP
    States Oklahoma Asks Trump for Sweeping Flexibility in How It Spends School Funding
    The request is one of several already made or in the works that will test the flexibility of the Trump administration.
    Brooke Schultz, March 26, 2025
    5 min read
    A large hand points the way as several figures follow the direction and fall off
    iStock/Getty Images
    States Opinion Trump Wants to Send Education 'Back to the States.' Are States Even Ready?
    The federal government has often led the way in reform, and only some states have shown the capacity to take over.
    Dale Chu, March 26, 2025
    6 min read
    President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington.
    President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Feb. 5, 2025, before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events. Two federal agencies have found Maine in violation of Title IX for its defiance of that executive order.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    States Trump Admin. Gives Maine 10 Days to Bar Trans Athletes—or Risk School Funding
    The finding of a Title IX violation is a test case of the president's use of federal funds as a cudgel for compliance with executive orders.
    Brooke Schultz, March 19, 2025
    6 min read
    Image of a boy with a blue backpack standing in front of the entrance to school.
    bodnarchuk/iStock/Getty
    States Tracker Which States Are Challenging Undocumented Students’ Right to Free Education?
    States are reviving efforts to challenge the 1982 Plyler v. Doe ruling that guarantees undocumented students a free, public education.
    1 min read
    Image of a magnifying glass over budget factor icons.
    Getty
    States Trump’s Cuts to Ed. Spending Will Hit Efforts to Improve Reading and Math. Here’s How
    The Ed. Dept. said federally funded centers were “forcing radical agendas.” State officials say they helped foster academic improvement.
    Sarah Schwartz, March 10, 2025
    7 min read
    Maine's Democratic Gov. Janet Mills delivers her State of the State address, Jan. 30, 2024, at the State House in Augusta, Maine.
    Maine Gov. Janet Mills delivers her State of the State address on Jan. 30, 2024, in Augusta, Maine. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found Maine had violated Title IX just four days after Mills told President Donald Trump that she would see him in court over the state's refusal to comply with an executive order seeking to bar transgender girls from girls' sports.
    Robert F. Bukaty/AP
    States Does Title IX Exclude Trans Girls? A State's Defiance of Trump Could Produce an Answer
    Maine is the subject of three federal probes after its governor told Trump, "we'll see you in court," over transgender athletes.
    Brooke Schultz, March 7, 2025
    7 min read
    Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt answers a question while taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Nov. 16, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.
    Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt answers a question while taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Nov. 16, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. The governor recently opposed a rule from the state's superintendent of public instruction requiring proof of citizenship in school enrollment.
    Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
    States Proof of Legal Status to Enroll in an Oklahoma School? It's Complicated
    Public schools don’t track the number of undocumented students enrolled due to a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
    Ileana Najarro, February 28, 2025
    4 min read
    Bipartisan concept of parties joining together in action.
    Collage with iStock/Getty
    States Opinion Voters Have a Message for Lawmakers About Education: Stop the Blame
    Education policy can feel more partisan than ever, but there are a few things most voters agree on.
    Bob Wise & Javaid Siddiqi, February 20, 2025
    5 min read
    State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks to members of the State Board of Education during a meeting, Aug. 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
    State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks to members of the State Board of Education during a meeting, Aug. 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla. On Jan. 28, the state board unanimously approved a proposed rule to require schools to collect students' immigration status information.
    Daniel Shular/Tulsa World via AP
    States Oklahoma Takes Step to Require Parents to Provide Schools Proof of Citizenship
    Leaders in at least three states have made efforts to collect data on undocumented students, or outright ban them.
    Ileana Najarro, January 28, 2025
    4 min read