Every year, State of the State addresses offer time for new and incumbent governors to outline policy priorities and celebrate state accomplishments. Since 2005, we've tracked, analyzed and identified education policy trends in governors' State of the State addresses to help you understand trending education issues across states. This year's…

In laying out policy priorities in their 2020 State of the State addresses, governors recognized the role the public education system plays in supporting strong economies. Often citing the need to align education with the 21st century's knowledge economy, governors agreed that a high-quality education is the key to both an individual's and the…

The recent midterm elections brought New England two new governors. Rhode Island elected its first woman chief executive in Gina Raimondo (D). Massachusetts elected Charlie Baker (R), a former Harvard Pilgrim CEO and official in the Weld and Cellucci administrations. Otherwise, the New England corner offices cautiously welcomed back incumbents:…

There is growing unease about suspension and expulsion of children at the preschool level. Preschoolers are expelled at three times the rate of K-12 students (Gilliam, 2005). Boys--particularly African-American boys--comprise a disproportionate number of these cases, a fact that has caused concern among parents, policymakers, and advocates alike.…

CHILDREN AT RISK, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization, undertook a year-long effort to study the subsidized child care system in Texas. This included an in-depth analysis of the system's local and state partners, as well as the promotion of the study's findings and key recommendations. This report is one of the products of this…

States are in various stages of reforming how they evaluate their educators, all striving for a new system that can assess a range of abilities and practices over long periods of time and capture the full nature of an educator's performance. The strongest systems look at teaching in a more comprehensive way than evaluations have done in the past,…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from February 16 to 20, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) SB 2003, the North Dakota University System (NDUS) budget bill, received a unanimous "Do Pass" as amended vote from the Senate Thursday, February 19; (2) HB 1348, the concealed…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from March 23 to 27, 2009. It is reported that during this week: (1) work continues on SB 2003, the North Dakota University System (NDUS) budget bill, in the House Appropriations, Education and Environment Division; (2) HCR 3016, a concurrent resolution…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from February 23 to 27, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) the 2009-11 State Board of Higher Education budget plan begins House Appropriations hearings; (2) engrossed SB 2018, the Department of Commerce budget bill, was heard in the House…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from March 16-20, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) SB 2038, a bill to continue the "flexibility with accountability" recommended by the Roundtable on Higher Education, was re-referred from the House Education Committee and heard in…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from April 20 to 24, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) HB 1394, a bill to provide an appropriation for financial assistance to tribally controlled community colleges, was approved by the House Friday, Apri1 17 on a vote of 73-15; and (2) HB…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from February 9 to 13, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee acted on HB 1348, the concealed weapons bill, Friday, February 13. The House will consider the proposed amendment and vote on the bill,…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from January 19 to 23, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) HB 1121, a bill that would provide, among other things, a one-time, 2 percent increase in employer contributions to retiree benefits, was heard in the House Government and Veterans Affairs…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from January 12 to 16, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that high-quality, accessible, affordable higher education and a vibrant state economy were consistent themes in testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee January 12, 2009. Testifying in…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from March 9 to 13, 2009. It reports that this week: (1) HB 1348, a bill that would permit the carrying of concealed weapons at North Dakota University System (NDUS) campus student apartments, was heard in the Senate Government and Veterans Affairs Committee…