Policy & Politics

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the legislation, guidance, policies and people involved in federal and state government
School Choice & Charters Opinion What Would Religious Charter Schools Mean for Public Education?
Discriminating and proselytizing on the taxpayer dime will never be acceptable, writes Kevin G. Welner.
Kevin G. Welner
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5 min read
Policy & Politics Opinion The Policy Concerns That Keep Teachers Up at Night
Efforts are spreading to restrict what topics are allowed to be taught. There are ways teachers can resist the censorship.
Larry Ferlazzo
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10 min read
Law & Courts Federal Judge Overturns New Hampshire Law on Teaching 'Divisive Concepts'
The judge holds that the law is unconstitutionally vague because it does not make clear to educators what topics they may not teach.
Mark Walsh
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4 min read
Federal What Is Title IX? Schools, Sports, and Sex Discrimination
Title IX, the law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, is undergoing changes. What it is, how it works, and how it's enforced.
Libby Stanford
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2 min read
In this Nov. 21, 1979 file photo, Bella Abzug, left, and Patsy Mink of Women USA sit next to Gloria Steinem as she speaks in Washington where they warned presidential candidates that promises for women's rights will not be enough to get their support in the next election.
In this Nov. 21, 1979, photo, Bella Abzug, left, and Patsy Mink of Women USA sit next to Gloria Steinem as she speaks in Washington at an event where they warned presidential candidates that promises for women's rights will not be enough to win their support in the next election.
Harvey Georges/AP
School Choice & Charters Video Private School Choice: A Video Explainer
We're tracking the proliferation of school choice policies around the country. Here's how to get up to speed.
Libby Stanford & Jaclyn Borowski
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2 min read
School Choice Thumb BS
Federal Donald Trump's Conviction: 3 Takeaways for Educators
The conviction gives educators a backdrop to discuss elections, the judicial system, and how to evaluate biases.
Libby Stanford
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4 min read
Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, on May 30, 2024.
Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, on May 30, 2024. The jury convicted him on all counts.
Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP
States Should Voters Decide What Schools Teach?
Californians may vote to require a new high school finance course. Critics argue it sets a bad precedent.
Evie Blad
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6 min read
A man stands behind a row of electronic voting machines covered with yellow privacy shields as he uses a touch screen to vote.
A lone voter casts his ballot for Super Tuesday at a polling station in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles on March 5, 2024.
Richard Vogel/AP

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College & Workforce Readiness Webinar Roundtable Webinar: Why We Created a Portrait of a Graduate
Hear from three K-12 leaders for insights into their school’s Portrait of a Graduate and learn how to create your own.
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Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
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Tue., June 11, 2024, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
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Explore the findings and insights in the exclusive Battelle for Kids Future of Portrait of a Graduate report and see how you can leverage them.
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More Policy & Politics

  • A pedestrian passes by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Courthouse, June 16, 2021, on Main Street in Richmond, Va.
    A person walks near the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit's courthouse in Richmond, Va. A panel of the court denied an injunction seeking to restore religious parents' opportunity to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ "storybooks" in a Maryland district.
    Steve Helber/AP
    Law & Courts District Can Deny Opt-Outs on LGBTQ+ Books, Court Rules
    Religious parents objected to a Maryland district's policy ending opt-outs for elementary school 'storybooks' with LGBTQ+ themes.
    Mark Walsh, May 15, 2024
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    5 min read
    People mill around the third floor of the Kansas Statehouse in front of a Brown v. Board of Education mural before hearing from speakers recognizing the 70th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case on April 29, 2024, in Topeka, Kan.
    People mill around the third floor of the Kansas Statehouse in front of a <i>Brown </i>v. <i>Board of Education</i> mural before hearing from speakers recognizing the 70th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case on April 29, 2024, in Topeka, Kan.
    Evert Nelson/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP
    Law & Courts Brown v. Board of Education: 70 Years of Progress and Challenges
    The milestone for the historic 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down racial segregation in schools is marked by a range of tributes
    Mark Walsh, May 14, 2024
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    12 min read
    From left, David Banks, chancellor of New York Public schools, speaks next to Karla Silvestre, President of the Montgomery Count (Md.) Board of Education, Emerson Sykes, Staff Attorney with the ACLU, and Enikia Ford Morthel, Superintendent of the Berkeley United School District, during a hearing on antisemitism in K-12 public schools, at the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, on May 8, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
    From left, David Banks, chancellor of New York City schools, speaks next to Karla Silvestre, president of the Montgomery County, Md., school board; Emerson Sykes, staff attorney with the ACLU; and Enikia Ford Morthel, superintendent of the Berkeley Unified school district in Berkeley, Calif., during a hearing on antisemitism in K-12 public schools, at the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, on May 8, 2024, in Washington.
    Jacquelyn Martin/AP
    Federal K-12 Leaders Denounce Antisemitism But Reject That It's Rampant in Schools
    Three school district leaders said they're committed to rooting out antisemitism during a hearing in Congress.
    Libby Stanford, May 8, 2024
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    6 min read
    Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona testifies during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Washington.
    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona testifies during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill on May 7 in Washington.
    Mariam Zuhaib/AP
    Federal Miguel Cardona in the Hot Seat: 4 Takeaways From a Contentious House Hearing
    FAFSA, rising antisemitism, and Title IX dominated questioning at a U.S. House hearing with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.
    Libby Stanford, May 7, 2024
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    6 min read
    Photo illustration of school building and piggy bank.
    F. Sheehan for Education Week + iStock / Getty Images Plus
    Education Funding What New School Spending Data Show About a Coming Fiscal Cliff
    New data show just what COVID-relief funds did to overall school spending—and the size of the hole they might leave in school budgets.
    Mark Lieberman, May 7, 2024
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    4 min read
    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during Education Week’s 2024 Leadership Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va., on May 2, 2024.
    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during Education Week’s 2024 Leadership Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va., on May 2, 2024.
    Sam Mallon/Education Week
    Federal Arming Teachers Could Cause 'Accidents and More Tragedy,' Miguel Cardona Says
    "This is not in my opinion a smart option,” the education secretary said at an EdWeek event.
    Mark Lieberman, May 2, 2024
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    4 min read
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Resources

English-Language Learners Quiz WIDA's Test for English Learners: Try Sample Questions
The WIDA ACCESS test is an assessment used by close to 40 states to determine if students must remain in English learner programs.
Ileana Najarro & Gina Tomko
•
1 min read
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Student Achievement Whitepaper Seen and Heard: Voice of Educators Survey
Find out how educators are prioritizing flexible learning spaces to boost learning recovery and meet the growing list of physical, emotio...
Content provided by School Outfitters
School & District Management Quiz What Do You Know About the Most Influential People in School Districts? Take Our Quiz
Answer 7 questions about the superintendent profession.
Caitlynn Peetz & Gina Tomko
•
1 min read
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Student Achievement Sponsor Navigating Learning Loss: The Vital Role of Live Tutoring with Certified Teachers
Amidst growing concerns about the persistent lack of learning loss recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, there's a noteworthy success pattern emerging: live tutoring with state-certified teachers
Content provided by Stride Tutoring
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  • Image of a pencil holder filled with a variety of colored pencils that match the background with international flags.
    Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
    Federal Opinion Should Migrant Families Pay Tuition for Public School?
    The answer must reflect an outlook that is pro-immigration, pro-compassion, and pro-law and order, writes Michael J. Petrilli.
    Michael J. Petrilli, May 2, 2024
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    4 min read
    Illustration of checklist.
    F. Sheehan for Education Week + iStock / Getty Images Plus
    Federal New Title IX Rule Could Actually Simplify Some Things for Districts, Lawyers Say
    School districts could field more harassment complaints, but they can streamline how they handle them, according to legal experts.
    Libby Stanford, May 1, 2024
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    7 min read
    Demonstrators advocating for transgender rights and healthcare stand outside of the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 24, 2024, in Columbus. Four Republican-led states filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Biden administration's new Title IX regulation, which among other things would codify protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Demonstrators advocating for transgender rights and healthcare stand outside of the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 24, 2024, in Columbus. Four Republican-led states filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Biden administration's new Title IX regulation, which among other things would codify protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Patrick Orsagos/AP
    Law & Courts Republican-Led States Sue to Block New Title IX Rule
    A pair of lawsuits focus on the rule's protections for students' gender identity.
    Mark Walsh, April 29, 2024
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    5 min read
    Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters presides over a special state Board of Education meeting on April 12, 2023, in Oklahoma City.
    Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters presides over a state Board of Education meeting about Title IX regulations on April 12, 2023, in Oklahoma City. The state is among several whose leaders plan to defy new Biden administration regulations on Title IX, which covers sex discrimination.
    Sue Ogrocki/AP
    States States Direct Districts to Defy New Title IX Rule on Transgender Students
    Some districts could be in a perilous legal squeeze play between their states and the feds.
    Evie Blad, April 26, 2024
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    4 min read
    Photo of superintendent meeting with staff.
    E+ / Getty
    States Superintendent Vacancies Are High. Is Loosening Requirements a Good Idea?
    Wisconsin's governor, a former educator, vetoed a bill that would have waived licensure requirements for district leaders.
    Evie Blad, April 22, 2024
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    3 min read
    Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
    DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
    Policy & Politics Opinion Where Do Democrats Stand on Education?
    The politics of education reform have shifted drastically since the Obama era. How has one Democratic education group responded?
    Rick Hess, April 22, 2024
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    7 min read
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EdWeek Market Brief

Marketplace K-12 IXL Learning Faces Lawsuit Over Claims of Violating Children’s Data Privacy
The company is alleged to have failed to obtain consent for its collection and use of children’s data.
Alexandria Ng
•
3 min read
Purchasing Alert Texas District Needs PD Across K-12; N.J. System Seeks Assessment, Data System
A Texas district is looking for a PD provider, while a New Jersey school system seeks an assessment management and data warehouse system.
Emma Kate Fittes
•
2 min read
Exclusive Data Where Instructional Materials (Still) Fall Short in Addressing Racial and Ethnic Diversity
A new EdWeek Market Brief survey of K-12 officials finds that support for teachers in navigating complex topics continues to lag.
Michelle Caffrey
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11 min read
Market Trends “Building for Our Younger Selves”: How Teams With Learning Differences Shape Education Products
The experience of an autistic education company CEO offers lessons for education companies on how staff with learning differences can influence product design.
Alexandria Ng
•
14 min read
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