Author: Annelise Reinwald
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South Dakota is the latest state to indicate participation in the federal education tax credit scholarship program
What's the story? On Nov. 14, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden (R) announced that the state would participate in the U.S. school choice tax credit scholarship program, which the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) established when President Trump (R) signed the bill into law in July. The program is a nonrefundable tax credit that…
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Third quarter federal agency rule count lower at this stage in Trump's presidency than Biden's
Federal administrative agencies in the third quarter of the first year of the second Trump administration have issued less proposed and final rules than in the third quarter of the first year under the Biden administration. President Donald Trump (R) issued more presidential documents in Q3 2025 than former President Joe Biden (D) did in Q3…
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Twenty-two states enacted K-12 cellphone bans so far in 2025
Twenty-six (26) states have laws or policies requiring local school boards to ban or limit cellphone use in K-12 classrooms. Twenty-two (22) of these laws were enacted in 2025, with the most recent put in place in Oregon through an executive order. Three additional states require K-12 public school districts to adopt policies around student…
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North Carolina governor vetoes bill opting into federal private school choice program
What's the story? Gov. Josh Stein (D) vetoed House Bill (HB) 87, titled the Educational Choice for Children Act, on Aug. 6. The bill was designed to opt North Carolina into the federal private school choice tax credit program passed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA)…
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Budget reconciliation bill enacts first federal private school choice program
What's the story? President Donald Trump (R) signed the formerly titled One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) into law on July 4, enacting the first federal private school choice program. Under the program: The tax credit program will apply to donations made starting in 2027. What's the background? The bill passed the U.S. House of…
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New Hampshire becomes 26th state to adopt Parents' Bill of Rights
What's the story? New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) signed House Bill (HB) 10 on June 10, adopting a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights. This bill establishes parents' rights regarding their child's education, prohibits schools from infringing those rights, and allows parents to seek legal relief if these rights are violated. The bill also requires…
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Nevada becomes 21st state to adopt cellphone ban or limit
What's the story? Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed Senate Bill (SB) 444 on May 28, 2025, requiring school boards in Nevada to adopt policies limiting the use of electronic communication devices, including cellphones, during instruction in schools. The law required school boards to prohibit students from accessing their cellphones during class. Both the Nevada State Senate…
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Four states enact cellphone bans in May so far
Four (4) states enacted cellphone bans in May so far: All of the state policies prohibit unsanctioned cell phone usage from the beginning of the school day to the end of the days. Each policy does not apply to school-issued or school-used devices and have exemptions for use by students with medical or academic needs…
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Indiana becomes 17th state to pass universal private school choice
What's the story? Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed the state budget bill—House Bill (HB) 1001—on May 6, 2025, which included provisions to remove income eligibility requirements from Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program. This action makes the program universal, where all students are defined as eligible to participate in the private school choice voucher program in…
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Texas to become 16th state to pass universal school choice program
What's the story? The Texas State Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 2 on April 24, 2025, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said on social media that he will sign it once it reaches him. Texas is the 16th state to enact a universal education savings account (ESA) program providing public funds for alternatives to…