Tag: education

  • Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, Oregon enact K-12 cellphone bans

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    What’s the story? Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, and Oregon have all enacted statewide bans on cellphone use in K-12 schools since June 27. What’s the background? 25 states have enacted cellphone bans or limits in K-12 schools, and at least 17 states have adopted cellphone bans or limits so far in 2025. Three states require…

  • Voters recall two Maine school board members

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    Voters approved recall elections against two members of the Maine School Administrative District 46 school board on June 10, 2025. In the recall election against Alisha Ames, 75% of voters cast ballots in favor of the recall, according to unofficial election night results. In the recall election against Judy Saunders, 67% of voters approved the…

  • Texas to become 16th state to pass universal school choice program

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    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…

  • Three candidates are running in the general election for Wisconsin’s Superintendent of Public Instruction

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    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…

  • Idaho enacts universal private school choice tax credit, becoming the 14th state with a universal school choice program

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    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…

  • Tennessee enacts private school choice scholarship bill, becoming the 13th state with a universal school choice program

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    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…

  • Donald Trump (R) announced Linda McMahon as his nominee for secretary of Education in his second presidential term

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    Image of the south facade of the White House.

    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…

  • Voters have addressed ballot measures on religion in public schools at least nine times during the past 100 years

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    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…

  • Voters in 12 states approved seven and defeated five state education ballot measures on Nov. 5

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    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,…