/state-legislatures State Legislatures en-US 2021 (c) Education Week Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:21:47 GMT /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 /policy-politics/oklahoma-gop-lawmakers-demand-investigation-of-education-chief/2024/08 /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 /teaching-learning/for-now-california-wont-mandate-science-of-reading-heres-what-happened/2024/04 /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 /policy-politics/what-2024-will-bring-for-k-12-policy-5-issues-to-watch/2023/12 /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 /policy-politics/this-state-would-be-the-first-to-reject-federal-k-12-funds-but-its-far-from-a-given/2023/11 /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 /policy-politics/is-cursive-making-a-comeback-in-california-bill-could-revitalize-traditional-writing-skills/2023/09 /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 /policy-politics/more-states-consider-partisan-school-board-races-as-education-debates-intensify/2023/04 /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 /policy-politics/opinion-a-bipartisan-agenda-for-schools-is-absolutely-possible/2023/04 /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 /leadership/texas-lawmakers-could-make-it-easier-to-kick-students-out-of-class/2023/04 /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 /leadership/after-the-nashville-shooting-school-safety-proposals-echo-past-efforts/2023/04 /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 /teaching-learning/lawmakers-target-how-teachers-unions-collect-dues/2023/04 /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 /teaching-learning/dont-say-period-bill-is-latest-example-of-states-efforts-to-limit-sex-education/2023/04 /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 /teaching-learning/why-some-teachers-unions-oppose-science-of-reading-legislation/2023/03 /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 /teaching-learning/most-states-screen-all-kids-for-dyslexia-why-not-california/2023/03 /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 /policy-politics/state-ed-agencies-arent-equipped-to-address-schools-big-challenges/2022/12 /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 /leadership/how-a-students-push-to-end-paddling-in-schools-became-a-yearslong-civics-lesson/2022/11 /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 /policy-politics/the-2022-midterms-why-educators-should-care-what-happens/2022/11 /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 /leadership/anti-vaccine-ideology-gains-ground-as-lawmakers-seek-to-erode-rules-for-kids-shots/2022/04 /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 /policy-politics/beyond-dont-say-gay-other-states-seek-to-limit-lgbtq-youth-teaching/2022/04 /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 /policy-politics/heres-what-floridas-dont-say-gay-and-anti-woke-bills-actually-say/2022/03 /policy-politics/fines-budget-cuts-spending-limits-how-state-lawmakers-want-to-censor-instruction/2022/02 An Oklahoma legislator wants teachers to pay $10,000 or more out of their own pockets for teaching about sex or sexual orientation, for example. Mon, 14 Feb 2022 21:14:49 GMT /policy-politics/fines-budget-cuts-spending-limits-how-state-lawmakers-want-to-censor-instruction/2022/02 /policy-politics/fla-districts-that-required-masks-could-face-200-million-punishment/2022/02 School districts say they tried to keep students and their families safe when they required students to wear masks last year. Fri, 11 Feb 2022 02:19:19 GMT /policy-politics/fla-districts-that-required-masks-could-face-200-million-punishment/2022/02 /policy-politics/bill-could-require-posting-a-years-worth-of-lesson-plans-teachers-arent-happy/2022/02 Teachers share their frustration over an Indiana bill that would require educators to post a year's worth of lessons. Thu, 10 Feb 2022 18:41:02 GMT /policy-politics/bill-could-require-posting-a-years-worth-of-lesson-plans-teachers-arent-happy/2022/02 /policy-politics/heres-the-long-list-of-topics-republicans-want-banned-from-the-classroom/2022/02 There are now 61 censorship bills proposed in 24 states. One legislator wants teachers to pay $10,000 for teaching "critical race theory." Wed, 02 Feb 2022 21:04:04 GMT /policy-politics/heres-the-long-list-of-topics-republicans-want-banned-from-the-classroom/2022/02 /teaching-learning/texas-lawmaker-demands-districts-provide-lists-of-books-on-racism-black-lives-matter-lgbtq/2021/10 The Texas attorney general candidate's request has received criticism from educator groups who say the inquiry is politically motivated. Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:44:25 GMT /teaching-learning/texas-lawmaker-demands-districts-provide-lists-of-books-on-racism-black-lives-matter-lgbtq/2021/10 /policy-politics/kentucky-ends-all-statewide-mask-mandates-after-governors-vetoes-overridden/2021/09 The Republican-led legislation strips the Democratic governor's ability to issue statewide mask mandates in schools or anywhere else. Fri, 10 Sep 2021 20:15:06 GMT /policy-politics/kentucky-ends-all-statewide-mask-mandates-after-governors-vetoes-overridden/2021/09 /policy-politics/bill-to-restrict-how-race-and-racism-is-taught-in-schools-headed-to-texas-governor/2021/09 If the "critical race theory" bill sounds familiar, that's because lawmakers passed a similar one during the regular legislative session. Fri, 03 Sep 2021 18:27:29 GMT /policy-politics/bill-to-restrict-how-race-and-racism-is-taught-in-schools-headed-to-texas-governor/2021/09 /policy-politics/arkansas-judge-pauses-ban-on-school-mask-mandates-after-lawmakers-fail-to-act/2021/08 As Arkansas sees soaring rates of COVID-19, school districts will—at least for now—be able to set their own local mask requirements. Fri, 06 Aug 2021 18:47:01 GMT /policy-politics/arkansas-judge-pauses-ban-on-school-mask-mandates-after-lawmakers-fail-to-act/2021/08 /teaching-learning/illinois-becomes-first-state-to-require-teaching-asian-american-history-in-public-schools/2021/07 The law is the latest in a series of new requirements the governor has signed that aim to make the teaching of history more inclusive. Fri, 09 Jul 2021 19:42:37 GMT /teaching-learning/illinois-becomes-first-state-to-require-teaching-asian-american-history-in-public-schools/2021/07 /teaching-learning/proposed-social-studies-standards-spark-fierce-debate-in-n-c/2021/07 Advocates say the new standards are more inclusive because they give more attention to the perspectives of historically marginalized groups. Thu, 08 Jul 2021 14:50:32 GMT /teaching-learning/proposed-social-studies-standards-spark-fierce-debate-in-n-c/2021/07 /policy-politics/four-things-schools-wont-be-able-to-do-under-critical-race-theory-laws/2021/06 Anti-racism training, discussions about sex, misogyny and LGBTQ issues, and consulting with outside advocacy organizations are all at risk. Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:29:20 GMT /policy-politics/four-things-schools-wont-be-able-to-do-under-critical-race-theory-laws/2021/06