91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ

State Policy

Read more about state laws, regulations, and programs that impact education
Carrie White, a second-grade teacher, makes a heart with her hands for her student, Tyrell King-Harrell, left, during an SEL exercise at Yates Magnet Elementary School in Schenectady, N.Y., on March 28, 2024.
Carrie White, a 2nd grade teacher, makes a heart with her hands for her student, Tyrell King-Harrell, left, during an SEL exercise at Yates Magnet Elementary School in Schenectady, N.Y., on March 28, 2024.
Scott Rossi for 91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ Week
Student Well-Being What This School Used as the Main Ingredient for a Positive Climate
When systemic and fully integrated, the practice has the power to reduce bad behavior and boost teacher morale, experts say.
Libby Stanford, April 14, 2024
10 min read
A middle school football team practices Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
A middle school football team practices in Oklahoma City in 2022.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Student Well-Being SEL Could Move Into School Sports. What That Might Look Like
Massachusetts is considering a bill to establish guidelines on how school athletics incorporate SEL.
Lauraine Langreo, April 12, 2024
5 min read
Second grade students listen to their teacher Dalia Gerardo at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala.
Second grade students listen to their teacher Dalia Gerardo at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala. The need for more bilingual educators is one of the top policy priorities for English-learner education.
Tamika Moore for 91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ Week
English-Language Learners Experts' Top Policy Priorities for English-Learner 91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ
A new outline of national priorities from parents, researchers, and policymakers.
Ileana Najarro, April 9, 2024
5 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion The Biggest Policy Challenges Schools Are Facing Right Now
State legislatures have the power to manipulate knowledge and rewrite history—but not the necessary educational expertise.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 9, 2024
9 min read
Vector illustration tutoring concept of online learning with teacher and students.
iStock/Getty
States Is Tutoring at Risk? States Stretch to Keep Funding in Place
States are using a variety of ways to ensure that tutoring programs can continue.
Olina Banerji, April 8, 2024
6 min read
Stockton Unified School District's new electric bus fleet reduces over 120,000 pounds of carbon emissions and leverages The Mobility House's smart charging and energy management system.
A new rule from the Environmental Protection Agency sets higher fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty vehicles. By 2032, it projects, 40 percent of new medium heavy-duty vehicles, including school buses, will be electric.
Business Wire via AP
Federal Electric School Buses Get a Boost From New State and Federal Policies
New federal standards for emissions could accelerate the push to produce buses that run on clean energy.
Mark Lieberman, April 2, 2024
3 min read
Ahenewa El-Amin leads a conversation with students during her AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024.
Ahenewa El-Amin leads a conversation with students during her AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024.
Jaclyn Borowski/91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ Week
Social Studies How AP African American Studies Works in a State That Limits Teaching About Race
Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., is offering the final pilot year of the course before it officially launches this fall.
Ileana Najarro, March 29, 2024
8 min read
Group of 7 diverse elementary children sitting in library, reading books, side view of kids on red couches with books.
The Image Bank/Getty
Reading & Literacy What's Missing From States' Reading Laws? The Role of Content Knowledge
Content is a critical part of reading—and should be name-checked by lawmakers, reading researchers say.
Stephen Sawchuk, March 28, 2024
3 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during a press conference at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District headquarters at Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Feb. 22, 2024. Florida will have one of the country's most restrictive social media bans for minors — if it withstands expected legal challenges — under a bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 25, 2024.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during a press conference in Lake Buena Vista on Feb. 22.
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
Student Well-Being New Florida Law Aims to Get Kids Off Social Media. Will It Work?
The law is one way the state is addressing what it sees as the negative effects of social media on children.
Lauraine Langreo, March 27, 2024
5 min read
A man holds up a sign during a protest against Critical Race Theory outside a Washoe County School District board meeting on May 25, 2021, in Reno, Nev.
A man holds up a sign during a protest against critical race theory outside a Washoe County School District board meeting on May 25, 2021, in Reno, Nev. This year, the numbers of bills being proposed to restrict what schools can teach and discuss about race and racism have slowed down from prior years.
Andy Barron/Reno Gazette-Journal via AP
Curriculum Anti-Critical-Race-Theory Laws Are Slowing Down. Here Are 3 Things to Know
After a wave of bills limiting class discussions on race and gender, an 91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ Week analysis shows the policies have slowed.
Stephen Sawchuk, March 26, 2024
5 min read
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Laura Baker/91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ Week with iStock/Getty
Classroom Technology 'The Backlash on AI Is Coming': 3 Early Lessons for K-12 91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ
State education chiefs must figure out how to make the most of AI’s potential while steering around its problems.
Alyson Klein, March 22, 2024
3 min read
Heidi Griebel and Josie Wahl participate in carpentry class at Career and Technical 91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ Academy in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Jan. 7, 2019.
Heidi Griebel and Josie Wahl participate in carpentry class at Career and Technical 91ÖÆƬ³§ÊÓƵ Academy in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Jan. 7, 2019. CTE programs were a core theme of several governors' state addresses in 2024.
Loren Townsley/The Argus Leader via AP
States Republican and Democratic Governors Both Are Touting This K-12 Priority
Workforce readiness and career and technical education were the most common education themes in governors' state of the state addresses.
Evie Blad, March 20, 2024
6 min read
Children reading books, bookcase behind them
iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy What the Research Says There's a Cost to Holding Back Struggling Readers. See How Much
A new study calculates the cost to students and districts of "read by grade 3" policies.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 18, 2024
3 min read
Image of a bible sitting on top of a school backpack.
Canva
States School Chaplain Bills Multiply, Stirring Debate on Faith-Based Counseling
Proponents say school chaplains could help address a mental health crisis. Opponents raise concerns about religious coercion.
Evie Blad, March 15, 2024
6 min read