Policy & Politics

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the legislation, guidance, policies and people involved in federal and state government
Federal Social Media Should Come With a Warning, Says U.S. Surgeon General
A surgeon general's warning label would alert users that “social media is associated with significant mental health harms in adolescents.”
Arianna Prothero
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4 min read
States The Surprising Contenders for State Superintendent Offices This Year
Two elections for the top education leadership job feature candidates who have never worked in public schools.
Libby Stanford
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8 min read
Law & Courts Why the $4.5 Billion School E-Rate Program Is Headed to the Supreme Court
The justices will decide whether allegations of overcharging under the telecom-funded program may be brought under the False Claims Act.
Mark Walsh
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6 min read
States Lawsuit Challenges Louisiana's New Ten Commandments Law
Opponents argue that the law is a violation of separation of church and state and will isolate students.
The Associated Press
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3 min read
A copy of the Ten Commandments is posted along with other historical documents in a hallway of the Georgia Capitol, Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Atlanta. Civil liberties groups filed a lawsuit Monday, June 24, challenging Louisiana’s new law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom.
A copy of the Ten Commandments is posted along with other historical documents in a hallway of the Georgia Capitol, Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Atlanta. Civil liberties groups filed a lawsuit Monday, June 24, challenging Louisiana’s new law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom.
John Bazemore/AP
Law & Courts Religious Charter School Is Unconstitutional, Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules
The state high court says the planned Catholic virtual charter school violates a state provision against aid to 'sectarian' institutions.
Mark Walsh
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4 min read
The Oklahoma Supreme Court is pictured in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, June 25, 2024, that the approval of the nation's first state-funded Catholic charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School, is unconstitutional.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court is pictured in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014. The high court ruled Tuesday, June 25, 2024, that the approval of the nation's first state-funded Catholic charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School, is unconstitutional.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Case on Transgender Youth Medical Care May Impact Schools
The justices will decide whether a Tennessee law that bars certain treatments for transgender minors violates the equal-protection clause.
Mark Walsh
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5 min read
FILE - The Supreme Court is seen under stormy skies in Washington, June 20, 2019. In the coming days, the Supreme Court will confront a perfect storm mostly of its own making, a trio of decisions stemming directly from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case about a state law that bars certain medical care for transgender minors, with the legal issues holding potential implications for schools.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
International What the Research Says What Schools Can Learn From a Global Assessment on Creative Thinking
Not all creativity is the same for student achievement, the latest Program for International Student Assessment data show.
Sarah D. Sparks
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4 min read
Photo of high school girls working on building project in class.
Globally, 15-year-old girls outpaced their male peers in a new international test of creative thinking.
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More Policy & Politics

  • Abacus with rolls of dollar banknotes
    iStock/Getty
    Education Funding Jim Crow-Era School Funding Hurt Black Families for Generations, Research Shows
    Mississippi dramatically underfunded Black schools in the Jim Crow era, with long-lasting effects on Black families.
    Mark Lieberman, June 14, 2024
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    5 min read
    Demonstrators advocating for transgender rights and healthcare stand outside of the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 24, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. Republican states are filing a barrage of legal challenges against the Biden administration's newly expanded campus sexual assault rules, saying they overstep the president's authority and undermine the Title IX anti-discrimination law.
    Demonstrators advocating for transgender rights and health care stand outside of the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 24, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. Republican states have filed a barrage of legal challenges against the Biden administration's new Title IX rule, and one of them has just resulted in a temporary order blocking the rule in four states.
    Patrick Orsagos/AP
    Law & Courts Title IX Rule to Protect LGBTQ+ Students Temporarily Blocked in 4 States
    A federal judge in Louisiana delivered the first legal blow to the Biden administration's interpretation of Title IX.
    Libby Stanford, June 14, 2024
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    4 min read
    People walk outside the U.S Capitol building in Washington, June 9, 2022.
    People walk outside the U.S Capitol building in Washington, June 9, 2022. Experts called for investments in education research and development at a symposium at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 13.
    Patrick Semansky/AP
    Federal Classroom Tech Outpaces Research. Why That's a Problem
    Experts call for better alignment between research and the classroom in Capitol Hill discussions.
    Sarah D. Sparks, June 13, 2024
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    4 min read
    Human hand holding a magnifying glass over open holy bible book of Exodus verses for Ten Commandments, top view
    Marinela Malcheva/iStock/Getty
    States Does a Ten Commandments Display in Classrooms Violate the Constitution?
    Louisiana is poised to become the first state to require all schools to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
    Libby Stanford, June 13, 2024
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    7 min read
    Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017.
    Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017. His office sued the Biden administration in an attempt to invalidate guidance it released in June 2021 stating it would interpret Title IX to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Tony Gutierrez/AP
    Law & Courts Judge Strikes Down Title IX Guidance on LGBTQ+ Students. Here's Why It Matters
    In a June 11 ruling, Texas judge said the Education Department has no authority to expand protections under Title IX.
    Libby Stanford, June 12, 2024
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    8 min read
    Jay-Z arrives at the premiere of "The Book of Clarence" on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Jay-Z is putting his weight behind an effort to fund private school vouchers in Philadelphia. The entertainment mogul’s Roc Nation announced it is funding a campaign in June 2024 to drum up support for the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success.
    Jay-Z arrives at the premiere of "The Book of Clarence" on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Jay-Z is putting his weight behind an effort to fund private school vouchers in Philadelphia. The entertainment mogul’s Roc Nation announced it is funding an outreach campaign to drum up support for the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success.
    Richard Shotwell/Invision via AP
    School Choice & Charters Why Jay-Z Is a Key Figure in the School Voucher Debate
    Jay-Z's backing of school vouchers in Pennsylvania has public education advocates worried it will divert funds.
    Brooke Schultz, June 11, 2024
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    6 min read
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Resources

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Education Funding Whitepaper Driving Impact Ahead of the ESSER Deadline with High-Dosage Tutoring
The impact of high-dosage tutoring on student outcomes is clear, now learn how districts are using ESSER III and other funding sources to...
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Teaching Profession Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Teacher Efficacy?
Answer 7 questions about teacher efficacy.
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Student Well-Being Whitepaper Guide | 10 Strategies to Help Students Manage Stress and Anxiety
This guide provides strategies to help students manage stress and anxiety and to create a supportive school environment.
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Classroom Technology Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Blended Learning?
Assess your knowledge of blended learning.
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  • ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman, left, and Liam Morrison speak at a press conference following oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit on Feb. 8, 2024.
    David Cortman, senior counsel and vice president of Alliance Defending Freedom, left, and middle school student Liam Morrison speak to reporters following oral arguments over Morrison's "There Are Only Two Genders" T-shirt before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit in Boston on Feb. 8, 2024.
    Courtesy of Alliance Defending Freedom
    Law & Courts Court Backs School That Barred Student's 'Two Genders' Shirt
    The court said the shirt could be understood to demean transgender and gender-nonconforming students, and administrators could prohibit it.
    Mark Walsh, June 10, 2024
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    5 min read
    Red, Blue, and Purple colors over a fine line etching of the Capitol building. Republicans and Democrats, Partisan Politicians.
    Douglas Rissing/iStock
    Federal Opinion Federal Education Reform Has Largely Failed. Unfortunately, We Still Need It
    Neither NCLB nor ESSA have lived up to their promise, but the problems calling for national action persist.
    Jack Jennings, June 7, 2024
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    4 min read
    Parents and community members rally outside P.S. 189 to protest New York City Mayor Eric Adam's plan to temporarily house immigrants in the school's gymnasium, seen in the background on May 16, 2023, in New York.
    Parents and community members rally outside P.S. 189 to protest New York City Mayor Eric Adam's plan to temporarily house immigrants in the school's gymnasium, seen in the background on May 16, 2023, in New York.
    John Minchillo/AP
    Federal A More Complete Picture of Immigration's Impact on U.S. Public Schools
    House Republicans say a migrant influx has caused "chaos" in K-12 schools. The reality is more complicated.
    Libby Stanford, June 6, 2024
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    10 min read
    Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven talks to students participating in Future Farmers of America during an event in February 2024, in Jefferson City, Missouri.
    Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven talks to students participating in Future Farmers of America during an event in February 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo. Vandeven is stepping down from her position after more than eight years on the job.
    Courtesy of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
    States Q&A 'Politics Does Not Belong in Education,' Says a Departing State Schools Chief
    Improving student outcomes requires finding common ground, says Missouri's long-serving education commissioner, Margie Vandeven.
    Libby Stanford, June 4, 2024
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    9 min read
    In this Nov. 21, 1979 file photo, Bella Abzug, left, and Patsy Mink of Women USA sit next to Gloria Steinem as she speaks in Washington where they warned presidential candidates that promises for women's rights will not be enough to get their support in the next election.
    In this Nov. 21, 1979, photo, Bella Abzug, left, and Patsy Mink of Women USA sit next to Gloria Steinem as she speaks in Washington at an event where they warned presidential candidates that promises for women's rights will not be enough to win their support in the next election.
    Harvey Georges/AP
    Federal Explainer What Is Title IX? Schools, Sports, and Sex Discrimination
    Title IX, the law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, is undergoing changes. What it is, how it works, and how it's enforced.
    Libby Stanford, May 31, 2024
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    2 min read
    School Choice Thumb BS
    School Choice & Charters Video Private School Choice: A Video Explainer
    We're tracking the proliferation of school choice policies around the country. Here's how to get up to speed.
    Libby Stanford & Jaclyn Borowski, May 31, 2024
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    2 min read
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EdWeek Market Brief

Product Development Market Analysis Platform Integration: What Companies Need to Get Right From the Start
As more education providers merge and district demands for interoperability rise, vendors need to make the process as seamless as possible.
Alexandria Ng
•
6 min read
Product Development Industry Insight Why Isn't There More Evidence Behind Ed-Tech Products?
An ongoing project by the Jacobs Foundation looks at how many companies are pursuing research and how to compel more of it.
David Saleh Rauf
•
9 min read
Education Market Exclusive Data How Are School Districts Spending Their Title I Funding Money?
An EdWeek Market Brief survey asked K-12 officials how they're spending money they receive from the critical federal aid program.
Sean Cavanagh
•
7 min read
Meeting District Needs Purchasing Alert Major Calif. District Shops Cybersecurity Software; Va. District to Buy Social Studies Resources
A California district is looking for cybersecurity software solutions, while a Virginia school system seeks social studies resources.
Emma Kate Fittes
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2 min read
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