State Policy

Read more about state laws, regulations, and programs that impact education
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
States State Laws Restricting Curriculum, Pronoun Use Cause Confusion and Chaos in Schools
Educators say state laws that limit teaching about race, gender identity, and sexuality are vague, with little help from state departments.
Libby Stanford & Ileana Najarro, September 21, 2023
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8 min read
Students wrap up their lunch break at Lowell Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Aug. 22, 2023. Several states are making school breakfasts and lunches permanently free to all students starting this academic year, regardless of family income, and congressional supporters of universal school meals have launched a fresh attempt to extend free meals for all kids nationwide.
Students wrap up their lunch break at Lowell Elementary School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 22, 2023. Several states are making school breakfasts and lunches permanently free to all students starting this academic year, regardless of family income, and congressional supporters of universal school meals have launched a fresh attempt to extend free meals for all kids nationwide.
Susan Montoya Bryan/AP
Student Well-Being What the Research Says Teachers Say Students Don’t Have Enough Time to Eat Lunch. Here’s How to Change That
The vast majority of teachers warn their students don’t have enough time to actually eat their food.
Sarah D. Sparks & Arianna Prothero, September 20, 2023
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7 min read
Photo of boy in classroom with U.S. flag.
E+ / Getty
Social Studies This Popular High School Civics Requirement Doesn’t Boost Voting Habits
More than a dozen states require students to take the U.S. Citizenship exam, but it doesn't seem to boost turnout.
Sarah Schwartz, September 20, 2023
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5 min read
Photo of student using laptop.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Classroom Technology Schools Want Guidance on AI Use in Classrooms. States Are Not Providing It, Report Says
The lack of guidance is coming at a time when the use of AI is expanding in education.
Alyson Klein, September 18, 2023
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2 min read
Collage of school bus, cars, stop sign and a neighborhood map.
Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
School Climate & Safety Let's Talk About When Cars Need to Stop for School Buses
A refresher course on the rules of the road involving stopped school buses.
Caitlynn Peetz, September 18, 2023
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1 min read
Image of happy and unhappy face symbols.
ThitareeSarmkasat/iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being States Look to Social-Emotional Learning to Combat Student Misbehavior, Poor Mental Health
Experts say SEL can be a first line of defense against youth mental health problems and misbehavior, but political resistance continues.
Libby Stanford, September 15, 2023
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6 min read
Close crop of an elementary school, black girl in class focused on writing in a book.
iStock/Getty
States Is Cursive Making a Comeback in California? Bill Could Revitalize Traditional Writing Skills
California elementary and middle school students could soon see a renewed commitment to teaching cursive writing.
Maya Miller, The Sacramento Bee, September 14, 2023
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2 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Miami.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Miami.
Marta Lavandier/AP
States Florida's Edicts on Schools Keep Changing, and Local Districts Are Confused
District leaders say frustration is mounting as they try to enforce new education laws regarding gender issues, sex, library books, and race.
Jeffrey S. Solochek, Tampa Bay Times, September 14, 2023
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7 min read
Arial view of a classroom of lined desks where a diverse group of high school students are working with pens, pencils, and paper.
iStock/Getty
Assessment States Eye Assessment Throughout the Year as Frustration With Standardized Testing Mounts
Some states are working to transition to through-year testing models in an effort to make standardized tests more relevant to educators.
Libby Stanford, September 7, 2023
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6 min read
Handwritten red letter grades cover a blue illustration of a classic brick school building.
Laura Baker, Canva
Accountability Why These Districts Are Suing to Stop Release of A-F School Ratings
A change in how schools will be graded has prompted legal action from about a dozen school districts in Texas.
Evie Blad, September 7, 2023
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4 min read
Indigenous Navajo high school students in the hallway of a high school.
E+
Equity & Diversity Schools Struggle to Properly Count Native Students. Some States Want Them to Try Harder
Michigan recently became the latest state to require the collection of data on Native K-12 students' tribal affiliations.
Mark Lieberman, September 5, 2023
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7 min read
Trevor Packer, head of the College Board’s AP Program speaks at the AP Annual Conference in Seattle, Wash. on July 20, 2023.
Trevor Packer, the head of the College Board’s AP program, speaks at the organization's annual conference in Seattle in July.
Ileana Najarro/Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness What's Next for AP? 4 Takeaways From a College Board Official
In a recent interview with Education Week, the head of the Advanced Placement program discussed a variety of priorities and principles.
Ileana Najarro, September 5, 2023
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3 min read
082423 Student Literacy EDU BS
Allison Shelley for All4Ed
Reading & Literacy How Educators Are Trying to Find the Staff and Money to Improve Reading Instruction
A district leader and a state literacy education chief share tips for overcoming hiring challenges and navigating funding constraints.
Mark Lieberman, September 1, 2023
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1 min read
Harvard University freshman Daniela Andrade on campus October 12, 2021 in Cambridge, Mass.
Harvard University freshman Daniela Andrade on campus Oct. 12, 2021, in Cambridge, Mass.
Angela Rowlings for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness What the Research Says Pandemic High School Grads Are Sticking With College. States Want to Make Sure They Finish
Students' college persistence rates are back to what they were before COVID hit.
Sarah D. Sparks, August 31, 2023
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7 min read
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