Tag: education
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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…
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Three candidates are running in the general election for Wisconsin’s Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Jill Underly, Brittany Kinser, and Adrianne Melby are running in the general election for Wisconsin’s superintendent of public instruction on April 1, 2025. Underly was first elected in 2021, defeating Deborah Kerr 57.6% to 42.3%. Underly is campaigning on requesting more funding for state schools from the state legislature and says, “Our state has…
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Idaho enacts universal private school choice tax credit, becoming the 14th state with a universal school choice program
What’s the story? Gov. Brad Little (R) signed House Bill (HB) 93 into law on Feb. 27, 2025, making Idaho the 14th state to adopt a universal private school choice program. Universal private school choice programs provide families with public funds to cover expenses incurred by private education. Vouchers, ESAs, and education tax credits are…
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Tennessee enacts private school choice scholarship bill, becoming the 13th state with a universal school choice program
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed the Education Freedom Act of 2025 (EFA) into law on Feb. 12, 2025. The bill — House Bill 6004 — creates a universal private school student scholarship program under which all students are or will be eligible to receive the scholarship. Going into 2025, Tennessee had two existing education…
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Donald Trump (R) announced Linda McMahon as his nominee for secretary of Education in his second presidential term
Donald Trump (R) announced on Nov. 19, 2024, that he had selected Linda McMahon as his nominee for secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. This position requires Senate confirmation. In a statement, Trump said, “Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next…
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Voters have addressed ballot measures on religion in public schools at least nine times during the past 100 years
Voters have decided on at least nine ballot measures related to religion in public schools during the past 100 years. The decade with the highest number was in the 1970s, when voters decided on four between 1970 and 1972. Topics included the Ten Commandments, the Bible, prayer and contemplation, religious clothing, excused absence for religious…
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Voters in 12 states approved seven and defeated five state education ballot measures on Nov. 5
Voters decided on 12 education-related state ballot measures—the most in 18 years— on the November 5, 2024, general election. Here are some highlights: Measures were on the ballot in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Utah. The measures regarded school choice programs and non-public education, standardized testing,…
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Voters decided 12 education-related ballot measures on Nov. 5, rejecting three measures that would have expanded school choice policies
Voters decided on 12 education-related ballot measures—the most in 18 years—on Nov. 5. The ballot measures covered various education-related topics, including school choice programs, non-public education, standardized testing, school board elections, and school governance and funding. Measures were on the ballot in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island,…
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Massachusetts certifies four ballot questions on standardized testing, state legislature audits, transportation network drivers, and psychedelic substances
Secretary of State William Galvin (D) announced that four of the five initiatives that submitted verified signatures on July 3 had qualified for the ballot. The initiatives address standardized testing for graduate high school; auditing the state legislature; unionizing and collective bargaining for transportation network drivers; and providing regulated access to certain psychedelic substances. One…
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Kentucky voters to decide on amendment that would provide for state funding for non-public schools
In Kentucky, the legislature passed a constitutional amendment allowing laws to provide state funding for non-public education. The amendment will appear on the ballot for voters to decide on Nov. 5, 2024. State Rep. Suzanne Miles (R-7) introduced the constitutional amendment as House Bill 2 (HB2). The constitutional amendment was approved by the Kentucky House…