State Policy

Signs, balloons, and police tape are wrapped around a pole across from Tops Friendly Market, the Buffalo, N.Y., grocery store that was the site of a racist shooting rampage.
Signs, balloons, and police tape are wrapped around a pole across from Tops Friendly Market, the Buffalo, N.Y., grocery store that was the site of a racist shooting rampage on May 14.
Joshua Bessex/AP
Equity & Diversity Opinion The ‘Great Replacement Theory’ Is a Lie. It's Also a Threat to Schools
The conspiracy espoused by the Buffalo shooting suspect is of particular concern for schools, writes Jonathan E. Collins.
Jonathan E. Collins, May 19, 2022
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3 min read
Students pass through the halls in between classes at Millwood High School on April 20, 2022 in Oklahoma City.
Students change classes at Millwood High School this spring in Oklahoma City.
Brett Deering for Education Week
Equity & Diversity A School Openly Discusses Race in a State That Bans It
At Millwood High School, discussions on race are everywhere, and students say the lessons are essential.
Eesha Pendharkar, May 19, 2022
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7 min read
A rifle hangs on display in the window of the West Endicott & Susquehanna Arms Co., Monday, May 16, 2022, where the Buffalo shooting suspect purchased fire arms in Endicott, N.Y.
A rifle hangs on display in the window of an Endicott, N.Y., gun shop where the Buffalo shooting suspect purchased firearms.
Michael Hill/AP
School Climate & Safety Responding to Student Threats: Schools Wrestle With How to Prevent Violence
The Buffalo shooting suspect made a threat at school last year, but wasn't flagged under the state's red flag law.
Evie Blad, May 18, 2022
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10 min read
Conceptual illustration of a new employee fitting into the workplace puzzle
Sergey Tarasov/iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Opinion Short On Substitute Teachers? Here's Something States Can Do
Student teachers can make good substitutes, but the rules often don't allow them to step in, write two researchers.
Dan Goldhaber & Sydney Payne, May 13, 2022
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4 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
States Opinion Searching for Common Ground: The Parental-Rights Bill, aka the 'Don’t Say Gay’ Bill
Rick and USC dean Pedro Noguera discuss Florida's law curbing gender and sexuality talk and its impact on students, teachers, and parents.
Rick Hess, May 12, 2022
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6 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the opening of a monoclonal antibody site Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the opening of a monoclonal antibody site Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Pembroke Pines, Fla. 
Marta Lavandier/AP
Social Studies Florida Governor Signs Bill Mandating Communism Lessons in Class
Florida teachers will be required to teach on communist leaders and how people suffered under those regimes on “Victims of Communism Day.”
Bianca Padró Ocasio, Miami Herald, May 10, 2022
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2 min read
Image of young boy wearing a mask getting a bandage applied after a vaccine.
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Student Well-Being Anti-Vaccine Ideology Gains Ground as Lawmakers Seek to Erode Rules for Kids’ Shots
Experts say the movement has gained momentum amid the pandemic, boosting the reach of high-profile anti-vaccine activists.
Sandy West, Kaiser Health News, April 26, 2022
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6 min read
Illustration of diverse hands being raised.
iStock/Getty
States How Laws on Race, Sexuality Could Clash With Culturally Responsive Teaching
Critical race theory and culturally responsive teaching are not the same thing. But bans of one could impact the other.
Ileana Najarro, April 21, 2022
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7 min read
Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the Florida State Capitol on March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida House Republicans advanced a bill, dubbed by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people.
Demonstrators gather on the steps of a museum in front of the Florida State Capitol in early March as Republicans took up a bill curbing how schools can discuss LGBTQ people. Later that month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Equity & Diversity What's Driving the Push to Restrict Schools on LGBTQ Issues?
A confluence of factors have resulted in a wave of legislation this year targeted at classroom discussions on gender and sexuality.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 19, 2022
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14 min read
Participants with the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth march at the annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade on April 9, 2017, in Miami Beach, Fla. Republican-backed legislation in Florida that could severely limit discussion of gay and lesbian issues in public schools is being widely condemned as dangerous and discriminatory, with one gay Democratic lawmaker saying it’s an attempt to silence LGBTQ students, families and history.
Participants with the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth march at the annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade on April 9, 2017, in Miami Beach, Fla.
Lynne Sladky/AP
Law & Courts Is Florida's 'Don't Say Gay Law' Legal? A New Lawsuit Argues No
Activists say the law violates LGBTQ students' constitutional rights.
Eesha Pendharkar, April 12, 2022
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5 min read
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest in the hall outside of the Blue Room as Governor Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at the Capitol Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oka. The bill, which easily passed the Republican-led House and Senate mostly along party lines, took effect immediately with the governor's signature. It applies to female sports teams in both high school and college.
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams.
Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman via AP
States Beyond 'Don't Say Gay': Other States Seek to Limit LGBTQ Youth, Teaching
Legislators want to ban lessons on LGBTQ communities and require teachers to tell parents when students want their pronouns changed.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 6, 2022
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9 min read
Illustration of a pair of hands holding binoculars with different colored lenses.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion Two Competing Visions for Education Are Tearing Us Apart
Should we prioritize equity or accountability? SEL or school choice? The real answer lies with communication and collaboration.
John B. Gordon III, April 1, 2022
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3 min read
Conceptual Illustration of a hand pointing the way forward over a field of arrows pointing in all directions.
PepeLaguarda/iStock/Getty
Curriculum Opinion Ignoring Racism in Schools Actually Increases Prejudice
Good intentions aren't enough to address race and racism in schools; good practice is.
Ross Wiener & Francesca López, March 29, 2022
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5 min read
Demonstrators protest inside the Florida State Capitol as lawmakers acted on a bill to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
Demonstrators protest inside the Florida State Capitol as lawmakers acted on a bill to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Equity & Diversity Here's What Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' and Anti-'Woke' Bills Actually Say
Two controversial bills involving instruction on issues including race and sexuality have been widely publicized and often mischaracterized.
Eesha Pendharkar, March 18, 2022
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4 min read
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