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Policy & Legislation

The latest Policy & Legislation news affecting school districts across America, updated twice daily and credited to original publishers.

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Chalkbeat
Policy & Legislation
Judge dismisses conservative-leaning Colorado school districts’ lawsuit over transgender athlete policies

A group of Colorado school districts and charter school lost their lawsuit challenging the state's non-discrimination law, specifically protections for transgender people.

EdSource
Policy & Legislation
Orange County school district is first to ban e-bikes, scooters on K-8 campuses

An Orange County school district has banned e-bikes, and other electric vehicles such as scooters and boards from its K-8 campuses. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is the first in California to ban the electric...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
What to Know About State Takeovers as Texas Wrestles With the Future of Austin Public Schools

Chronic academic underperformance at two Austin public schools has the district in jeopardy of severe state sanctions. Now, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath will decide what intervention looks like for the...

District Admin
Policy & Legislation
Pa. may ban cellphones in schools. Some educators say they’re already seeing results—without pouches

The “bell-to-bell” bans face skepticism from students and parents. After going phone-free, early adopters say the difference is striking. The post Pa. may ban cellphones in schools. Some educators say they’re already...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
Opinion: What Districts Actually Need to Implement College & Career Pathways at Scale

In the past five years, there has been a surge in states playing a prominent role in improving outcomes for K-12 students. They’ve adopted evidence-based literacy policies, focused attention on math, and invested public...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
Veteran Educator Robert Franklin Wins GOP Runoff for Oklahoma Ed Chief

Robert Franklin, a retired Oklahoma educator, was enjoying life as a grandfather and giving lectures on the politics of education when he decided to become a candidate himself.  Now he’s likely to be the next state...

EdSource
Policy & Legislation
What Meta’s $17B social media addiction settlement means for California teens

Meta’s landmark settlement agreement with states is unprecedented in that it forces Meta to redesign key features of Instagram and Facebook for teens.

EdSource
Policy & Legislation
Nearly 300,000 K-12 students are homeless in California, UCLA report says

The number of students experiencing homelessness reached a new statewide peak of over 298,000 in the 2024-25 school year, according to a report published Wednesday by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools....

Education Dive
Policy & Legislation
Labor Department issues rules axing affirmative action requirements for contractors

The documents follow up on one of President Donald Trump’s first orders that sought to alter the federal government’s antidiscrimination enforcement work.

The 74
Policy & Legislation
From Nemo to Super Mario, Ed Department’s Social Media Feed Draws Backlash

Disney characters are popular with kids and adults worldwide. That includes the U.S. Department of Education. Lightning McQueen from “Cars,” Nemo the clownfish and the Parr family from “The Incredibles” are among the...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
With a State Cellphone Ban in Place, Michigan Schools Choose a Range of Options

Put it in your locker. Store it in a pouch. Keep it in your backpack. Hand it over to the principal. Leave it at home.  With the state of Michigan enacting a cellphone ban this fall that restricts students from...

EdSource
Policy & Legislation
University of California’s most selective campuses have increased in-state enrollment

Entering the final year of a compact agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom, UC has succeeded in meeting one major goal of the deal: increasing undergraduate enrollment of California residents.

EdSource
Policy & Legislation
University of California’s most selective campuses have increased in-state enrollment

Entering the final year of a compact agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom, UC has succeeded in meeting one major goal of the deal: increasing undergraduate enrollment of California residents.

Education Dive
Policy & Legislation
Education Department takes first step to strip ABA of accreditation authority

Agency staff recommended ending federal recognition for the American Bar Association’s accreditation arm, ramping up attacks on the organization. 

The 74
Policy & Legislation
Arizona Court Kills Voucher Ballot Measure, Leaving a National School Choice Debate Unresolved

The Arizona Supreme Court effectively killed a ballot measure that would have brought significant oversight and an income cap to the state’s school voucher-like program in a ruling Tuesday. The battle over the measure...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
School Choice Is Expanding. Will Public Support Follow?

With new state-level programs quickly redrawing the map of school choice over the last few years, a central question may determine the movement’s continued success: Does greater familiarity with charter schools,...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Proposes Penalties for Schools That Keep “Vulgar” Books on Library Shelves

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday vowed to pass legislation punishing public schools that do not remove graphic books from their shelves by knocking them down a notch in the state’s annual school performance ratings,...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
JB Pritzker’s Education Record Earns Key Endorsement from Illinois Teachers Union

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is seeking reelection this November, received a key endorsement on his education policies from the state’s largest union this week. Monday’s announcement marks the third time the Illinois...

Chalkbeat
Policy & Legislation
The Marion County Election Board took her off the ballot. Now, she’s challenging that decision in court.

Lindsey Cornett and Chris Bultman were both finalists to be appointed to fill the IPS District 4 seat ahead of the election. Now, Bultman is on the ballot for November. Cornett, however, wants to be put back on the...

Chalkbeat
Policy & Legislation
Back to school in Michigan: New cellphone rules, a fitness test, and more

Michigan schools are implementing policies for the 2026-27 school year that restrict students' use of cellphones during instruction.

Chalkbeat
Policy & Legislation
Where the 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial candidates stand on education issues

Tennessee voters will head back to the polls on Nov. 3 to elect a new governor who will shape education policy for the next four years.

Education Dive
Policy & Legislation
Education Department proposes accreditation overhaul

The rule would ease the way for new accreditors to form and give agencies significant new duties, including overseeing intellectual diversity policies.

Chalkbeat
Policy & Legislation
Colorado’s 2026 CMAS scores: See how your school and district did

Math scores continued to rise, but progress was uneven in literacy, according to the latest Colorado state test results.

The 74
Policy & Legislation
FCC Review Could End School Internet Program. Advocates Plan ‘Very Loud’ Protest

As superintendent of Desert Sands Unified in California’s Coachella Valley, Kelly May-Vollmer has a hard time naming a system that’s not somehow connected to the district’s broadband network. Parents can check a school...

District Admin
Policy & Legislation
15 states have laws that allow corporal punishment in schools. Here’s where, and why

There is broad consensus among psychologists that corporal punishment can be harmful to children, but the U.S. has no federal laws banning it in public schools. Instead, it's up to states and local districts to...

Chalkbeat
Policy & Legislation
Arizona court kills voucher ballot measure, leaving a national school choice debate unresolved

Arizona's expansive school choice program has drawn national attention from admirers and detractors alike. A proposal to add more oversight won't appear on the ballot this fall, but the debates linked to it aren't over.

Chalkbeat
Policy & Legislation
As more Colorado students take college-level classes, a report says it’s time to make improvements

A new national report says Colorado and other states can improve results for high school students taking college-level classes.

EdSource
Policy & Legislation
Fresno State opens first student housing development in 50 years

Fresno State opened new student housing last week with some students moving in this week, The Fresno Bee reported. While the 22-campus California State University system has been adding thousands of beds over the last...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
Oklahoma Students Head Back to School With Focus on Literacy

OKLAHOMA CITY — Hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma children returned to school this week for their first academic year under strict new literacy laws. It will be their final school year before reading scores carry even...

The 74
Policy & Legislation
Opinion: 6 Keys to Moving CTE From Pilot to Permanent Part of a Redesigned HS Experience

Media stories about the skills mismatch between applicant qualifications and employer expectations have been a regular feature for decades. Among the most recent entries are a Washington Post story titled “Why...