State Policy

Read more about state laws, regulations, and programs that impact education
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School Choice & Charters States Are Spending Billions on Private School Choice. But Is It Truly Universal?
More than half a million students in eight states last school year took advantage of private school choice open to all students.
Mark Lieberman, October 8, 2024
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7 min read
budget school funding
iStock/Getty
School Choice & Charters Explainer How States Use Tax Credits to Fund Private School Choice: An Explainer
Twenty-one states have programs that give tax credits for donations to organizations that grant private-school scholarships.
Mark Lieberman, October 4, 2024
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12 min read
Image of a teacher drawing outside of the lines of a whiteboard.
<b>Katie Thomas for Education Week</b>
College & Workforce Readiness How Should High School Change? These Districts May Have the Answer
By supporting learning that takes place outside the classroom, districts—and states—are starting to rethink an age-old institution.
Elizabeth Heubeck, September 30, 2024
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12 min read
Young girl using a cellphone in class. On her desk is an open notebook and a pencil.
skynesher / iStock/Getty
Ed-Tech Policy Cellphone Restrictions Are Coming to California Schools
A new law requires all public schools in California to limit students' access to cellphones during the school day.
Lauraine Langreo, September 23, 2024
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2 min read
Close crop of a woman's hands using a smartphone with Facebook "like" and "love" icons floating above the cellphone.
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Student Well-Being How a New Law to Suppress Social Media's 'Addictive Feeds' Could Help Schools
The law requires parental consent for social media platforms to send notifications to minors during the school day.
Arianna Prothero, September 23, 2024
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5 min read
3D illustration of a character walking on the road leading to many different paths with open doors. The pathway and doors are light in color against a dark blue backgroud.
iStock/Getty
School Choice & Charters Private School Choice in the 2024 Election, Explained
Three states will ask voters to weigh in on private school choice, and another state could pave the way for more funding for choice.
Mark Lieberman, September 19, 2024
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7 min read
Rear view of classroom with two teachers in front of a whiteboard with math equations.
E+/Getty
Teaching Profession What the Research Says Teachers Want Sustainable Workplaces. State Policies Make it Harder
Greater opportunities for collaboration could boost teacher retention, national group finds.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 17, 2024
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3 min read
Collage illustration of faceless students with books and bookbags standing in a group talking with collage pieces of graph paper, the U.S. capitol and other political buildings around them.
Nadia Radic for Education Week
Personalized Learning All States Allow Competency-Based Learning. Will It Become a Reality in Schools?
School districts in every state have the flexibility to adopt competency-based learning, but implementation is easier said than done.
Libby Stanford, September 16, 2024
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9 min read
Pictogram chalk drawing of a blue man holding scales.
iStock/Getty
School Choice & Charters A Private School Choice Program Is Illegal, State Court Rules. What Comes Next?
South Carolina's education savings account program is no more.
Mark Lieberman, September 11, 2024
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4 min read
Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, left, a Republican, takes the ceremonial oath of office from Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, right, as wife Carmen Horne, middle, holds the bible in the public inauguration ceremony at the state Capitol in Phoenix, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.
Arizona schools chief Tom Horne, left, takes the ceremonial oath of office at the state Capitol in Phoenix in January 2023. The Republican is the lead defendant in a lawsuit filed by two transgender girls challenging the Save Women's Sports Act, which bars transgender women and girls from female sports.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
Law & Courts Court Upholds Injunction on Arizona Transgender Sports Ban for Young Athletes
A federal appeals court upholds an injunction against an Arizona law, allowing two transgender girls to compete on female teams.
Mark Walsh, September 9, 2024
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3 min read
Assembly member Lori Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, attends a meeting of the California legislature on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif.
Assembly member Lori Wilson attends a meeting of the California legislature on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. Wilson sponsored a student proposal for a menstrual education curriculum, which passed the state Senate on Aug. 28 and now goes to the Democratic governor.
Juliana Yamada/AP
Equity & Diversity Another State Could Mandate Period Education. Will It Catch On?
Few states mandate menstrual education, as lawmakers nationally scrutinize what can be discussed about gender in the classroom.
Brooke Schultz, September 3, 2024
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5 min read
Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods speaks to reporters, Jan. 5, 2024, in Atlanta.
Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods speaks to reporters, Jan. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. This summer Woods created some confusion over whether and how teachers could teach AP African American Studies.
Jeff Amy/AP
College & Workforce Readiness Here's What Happened with AP African American Studies in Georgia
State law allows for exemptions from "divisive concepts" rules for AP and similar advanced coursework.
Ileana Najarro, August 19, 2024
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5 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Curriculum Letter to the Editor Christian Nationalism vs. Spirituality in America’s Schools
A retired teacher responds to the Oklahoma state schools superintendent's guidance on teaching the Bible in public schools in the state.
August 13, 2024
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1 min read
Illustration of dollar being used to fill gap in bridge.
DigitalVision Vectors
States Some School Workers Now Get Unemployment Over the Summer. Here's How It Works
Districts are scrambling as some states now allow non-instructional school employees to collect summer unemployment checks.
Mark Lieberman, August 13, 2024
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9 min read
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