State Legislatures

Image shows an illustration of money providing relief against coronavirus.
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Education Funding Some in Congress Fear State Budget Decisions May Undercut COVID-19 Education Relief
A dispute in Wisconsin over coronavirus relief underscores how technical issues and politics are affecting education spending decisions.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 11, 2021
4 min read
States Tracker Map: Where Critical Race Theory Is Under Attack
Education Week summarizes where state policymakers are attempting to censor the way teachers talk about racism and gender.
Sarah Schwartz, June 11, 2021
2 min read
Students walk into Loveland High School, past a sign at the entrance bearing the image of the school mascot, a Native American, in Loveland, Colo. on Sept. 11, 2014.
Students walk into Loveland High School, past a sign at the entrance bearing the image of the school mascot, a Native American, in Loveland, Colo.
Brennan Linsley/AP
Equity & Diversity American Indian Mascots Will Soon Be Banned in Colorado Public Schools
Colorado would become the fifth state to get rid of derogatory mascots.
Saja Hindi, The Denver Post, June 4, 2021
2 min read
Students in fifth grade wear masks in their classroom as they wait for their teacher at Oak Terrace Elementary School in Highwood, Ill. on Sept. 3, 2020.
Fifth graders wait in their classroom at Oak Terrace Elementary School in Highwood, Ill., last September.
Nam Y. Huh/AP
School Climate & Safety Seclusion and Restraint in Schools to Be Dramatically Limited in Illinois
Lawmakers voted to limit the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, following through on promises made after a 2019 investigation.
Jodi S. Cohen & Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune, June 1, 2021
6 min read
Students in fifth grade wear masks in their classroom as they wait for their teacher at Oak Terrace Elementary School in Highwood, Ill. on Sept. 3, 2020.
Fifth graders wait in their classroom at Oak Terrace Elementary School in Highwood, Ill., last September.
Nam Y. Huh/AP
School Climate & Safety Illinois Schools Secluded and Restrained Children Thousands of Times This Year
Illinois school workers physically restrained or secluded nearly 2,400 students more than 15,000 times this school year despite closures.
Jodi S. Cohen & Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune, May 28, 2021
5 min read
Equity & Diversity Video What Is Critical Race Theory and Why Are States Banning It? (Video)
Several state legislatures have severely limited the way teachers can discuss issues of race in the classroom.
2:34
Illustrations.
Mary Hassdyk for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Efforts to Root Out Racism in Schools Would Unravel Under 'Critical Race Theory' Bills
The bills proposed in more than 15 states would force districts to end initiatives that acknowledge individual and systemic acts of racism.
Eesha Pendharkar, May 26, 2021
9 min read
Illustrations.
Mary Hassdyk for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Explainer What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?
Here's what you need to understand about the academic concept—and how it's portrayed in political circles.
Stephen Sawchuk, May 18, 2021
10 min read
Image of directing flow around a cone.
Nuthawut Somsuk/iStock/Getty
States Four States Have Placed Legal Limits on How Teachers Can Discuss Race. More May Follow
It's the latest effort by Republican lawmakers in several states to rein in the approach to issues they consider divisive or inappropriate.
Sarah Schwartz, May 17, 2021
7 min read
Messed up puzzle pieces of an American flag on a dark blue background
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States 8 States Debate Bills to Restrict How Teachers Discuss Racism, Sexism
Proposed bills in several states aim to ban "divisive concepts."
Sarah Schwartz, April 15, 2021
8 min read
Advocates for transgender people march from the South Dakota governor's mansion to the Capitol in Pierre, S.D., on March 11, 2021, to protest a proposed ban on transgender girls and women from female sports leagues.
Advocates for transgender people march from the South Dakota governor's mansion to the Capitol in Pierre to protest a proposed ban on transgender girls and women from female sports leagues.
Stephen Groves/AP
States Two More States Pass Restrictions on Transgender Students. Will Others Follow?
States have considered dozens of bills on the rights of transgender students. They cover everything from sports to pronouns used in schools.
Evie Blad, March 26, 2021
4 min read
Collage of an American Flag.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week (Images: iStock/Getty)
Social Studies Lawmakers Push to Ban '1619 Project' From Schools
Three states' bills are fanning the flames of the decades-long debate over how to teach American history.
Sarah Schwartz, February 3, 2021
9 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
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States 7 Issues Facing K-12 Budgets as COVID-Shocked Legislatures Reconvene
Competing priorities and no good choices about where to make deep cuts confront state lawmakers struggling to deal with the fiscal crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Daarel Burnette II, May 28, 2020
9 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
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Every Student Succeeds Act States Gear Up to Overhaul K-12 Funding in 2020
The political landscape for updating school finance systems won’t be any easier in the 2020 legislative season, despite a surging economy, state flexibility under ESSA, and single-party control in many states.
Daarel Burnette II, December 3, 2019
6 min read