https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/state-legislatures State Legislatures en-US 2021 (c) Education Week Fri, 22 May 2026 20:03:11 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/how-one-states-efforts-to-limit-undocumented-students-rights-failed-again/2026/05 Tennessee lawmakers failed to create legislation directly challenging federal law. Fri, 22 May 2026 20:03:11 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/how-one-states-efforts-to-limit-undocumented-students-rights-failed-again/2026/05 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/how-top-principals-advocate-for-their-students-and-schools/2026/05 Principal-advocates coach and encourage others in schools to speak up Mon, 04 May 2026 20:37:13 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/how-top-principals-advocate-for-their-students-and-schools/2026/05 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/a-school-district-almost-had-to-close-mid-year-what-happened/2025/11 A school district's close call with financial despair offers a reminder that school funding is perennially precarious. Fri, 21 Nov 2025 20:37:39 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/a-school-district-almost-had-to-close-mid-year-what-happened/2025/11 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/whats-behind-a-legislative-push-for-prayer-and-bible-study-in-public-schools/2025/05 A Texas bill would allow schools to set aside time for students to pray and study the Bible or other religious texts. Wed, 28 May 2025 21:24:48 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/whats-behind-a-legislative-push-for-prayer-and-bible-study-in-public-schools/2025/05 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/supreme-court-gives-relief-to-maine-legislator-in-transgender-sports-controversy/2025/05 The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily restored voting privileges to a Maine lawmaker whose social media post criticized a transgender athlete. Tue, 20 May 2025 21:40:36 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/supreme-court-gives-relief-to-maine-legislator-in-transgender-sports-controversy/2025/05 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/do-districts-have-administrative-bloat-this-state-may-let-the-public-decide/2025/05 A North Carolina bill would require districts to publish the salaries of central-office administrators. Mon, 19 May 2025 19:52:05 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/do-districts-have-administrative-bloat-this-state-may-let-the-public-decide/2025/05 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/what-states-can-learn-from-tennessees-fight-over-undocumented-students/2025/04 Legislative action challenging undocumented students' right to a free, public education hit a snag in Tennessee. Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:50:57 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/what-states-can-learn-from-tennessees-fight-over-undocumented-students/2025/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/texas-is-poised-to-create-a-massive-private-school-choice-program/2025/04 The bill’s passage represents a major shift in the state. Thu, 17 Apr 2025 23:05:31 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/texas-is-poised-to-create-a-massive-private-school-choice-program/2025/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/more-states-are-taking-aim-at-a-controversial-early-reading-method/2025/04 Lawmakers in some states are trying to ban the "cueing" approach, which asks students to rely on pictures or context clues to identify words. Wed, 16 Apr 2025 23:36:57 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/more-states-are-taking-aim-at-a-controversial-early-reading-method/2025/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/lawmakers-want-to-fix-student-absenteeism-with-ice-cream-parties-data-and-more/2025/04 State lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills aiming to make school attendance a priority. Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:43:09 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/lawmakers-want-to-fix-student-absenteeism-with-ice-cream-parties-data-and-more/2025/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/a-wave-of-new-legislation-aims-to-ban-dei-in-public-schools/2025/03 State legislators have introduced measures that would prohibit schools from maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:31:02 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/a-wave-of-new-legislation-aims-to-ban-dei-in-public-schools/2025/03 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/oklahoma-gop-lawmakers-demand-investigation-of-education-chief/2024/08 They have concerns about Ryan Walters' stewardship of federal and state funds and his transparency on meetings and open-records requests. Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:21:47 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/oklahoma-gop-lawmakers-demand-investigation-of-education-chief/2024/08 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/for-now-california-wont-mandate-science-of-reading-heres-what-happened/2024/04 The California Teachers Association was one of the bill's most prominent opponents. Wed, 17 Apr 2024 21:10:26 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/for-now-california-wont-mandate-science-of-reading-heres-what-happened/2024/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/what-2024-will-bring-for-k-12-policy-5-issues-to-watch/2023/12 School choice, teacher pay, and AI will likely dominate education policy debates. Fri, 29 Dec 2023 19:04:02 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/what-2024-will-bring-for-k-12-policy-5-issues-to-watch/2023/12 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/this-state-would-be-the-first-to-reject-federal-k-12-funds-but-its-far-from-a-given/2023/11 Tennessee lawmakers have established a task force to review federal education funding, risking money for low-income schools and special ed. Mon, 13 Nov 2023 22:11:08 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/this-state-would-be-the-first-to-reject-federal-k-12-funds-but-its-far-from-a-given/2023/11 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/is-cursive-making-a-comeback-in-california-bill-could-revitalize-traditional-writing-skills/2023/09 California elementary and middle school students could soon see a renewed commitment to teaching cursive writing. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 21:13:24 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/is-cursive-making-a-comeback-in-california-bill-could-revitalize-traditional-writing-skills/2023/09 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/more-states-consider-partisan-school-board-races-as-education-debates-intensify/2023/04 Most states don't allow party labels in school board races. With education debates cleaving down party lines, there's a push to change that. Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:58:29 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/more-states-consider-partisan-school-board-races-as-education-debates-intensify/2023/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/opinion-a-bipartisan-agenda-for-schools-is-absolutely-possible/2023/04 A set of opportunity-to-learn principles can guide policymakers, write a current Iowa state senator and a former Arkansas state senator. Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:57:30 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/opinion-a-bipartisan-agenda-for-schools-is-absolutely-possible/2023/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/texas-lawmakers-could-make-it-easier-to-kick-students-out-of-class/2023/04 The bill would allow a teacher to remove a student based on a single incident of unruly or disruptive behavior. Fri, 14 Apr 2023 17:55:23 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/texas-lawmakers-could-make-it-easier-to-kick-students-out-of-class/2023/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/after-the-nashville-shooting-school-safety-proposals-echo-past-efforts/2023/04 State and federal lawmakers have proposed increasing school police and arming teachers in response to a shooting at a private school. Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:30:29 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/after-the-nashville-shooting-school-safety-proposals-echo-past-efforts/2023/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/lawmakers-target-how-teachers-unions-collect-dues/2023/04 Teachers often opt to have union dues deducted from their paychecks. Republicans in some states are fighting to change that. Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:05:11 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/lawmakers-target-how-teachers-unions-collect-dues/2023/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/dont-say-period-bill-is-latest-example-of-states-efforts-to-limit-sex-education/2023/04 Experts say these new efforts run counter to research on effective sex and health education. Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:56:19 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/dont-say-period-bill-is-latest-example-of-states-efforts-to-limit-sex-education/2023/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/why-some-teachers-unions-oppose-science-of-reading-legislation/2023/03 Several state unions say the mandates could limit teachers’ professional autonomy in the classroom. Tue, 28 Mar 2023 21:01:13 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/why-some-teachers-unions-oppose-science-of-reading-legislation/2023/03 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/most-states-screen-all-kids-for-dyslexia-why-not-california/2023/03 The state teachers' union has historically been among those opposing a bill to screen students for signs of the disorder. Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:42:15 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/teaching-learning/most-states-screen-all-kids-for-dyslexia-why-not-california/2023/03 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/state-ed-agencies-arent-equipped-to-address-schools-big-challenges/2022/12 A new report outlines a dire situation for state education agencies. Wed, 07 Dec 2022 22:53:36 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/state-ed-agencies-arent-equipped-to-address-schools-big-challenges/2022/12 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/how-a-students-push-to-end-paddling-in-schools-became-a-yearslong-civics-lesson/2022/11 A student advocate pushed to end corporal punishment in his state—and gained a passion for civic involvement in the process. Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:07:48 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/how-a-students-push-to-end-paddling-in-schools-became-a-yearslong-civics-lesson/2022/11 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/the-2022-midterms-why-educators-should-care-what-happens/2022/11 Education will play a major role in both statewide and congressional elections throughout the country. Mon, 07 Nov 2022 22:53:27 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/the-2022-midterms-why-educators-should-care-what-happens/2022/11 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/anti-vaccine-ideology-gains-ground-as-lawmakers-seek-to-erode-rules-for-kids-shots/2022/04 Experts say the movement has gained momentum amid the pandemic, boosting the reach of high-profile anti-vaccine activists. Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:17:32 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/leadership/anti-vaccine-ideology-gains-ground-as-lawmakers-seek-to-erode-rules-for-kids-shots/2022/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/beyond-dont-say-gay-other-states-seek-to-limit-lgbtq-youth-teaching/2022/04 Legislators want to ban lessons on LGBTQ communities and require teachers to tell parents when students want their pronouns changed. Wed, 06 Apr 2022 20:21:08 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/beyond-dont-say-gay-other-states-seek-to-limit-lgbtq-youth-teaching/2022/04 https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/heres-what-floridas-dont-say-gay-and-anti-woke-bills-actually-say/2022/03 Two controversial bills involving instruction on issues including race and sexuality have been widely publicized and often mischaracterized. Fri, 18 Mar 2022 21:57:02 GMT https://www-edweek-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/policy-politics/heres-what-floridas-dont-say-gay-and-anti-woke-bills-actually-say/2022/03