State Actions Update: Early literacy and school choice dominate education trends in May 2024

State lawmakers in every region got a lot done this year in the effort to improve their state education systems. Early literacy and school choice certainly dominated the education trends in May 2024, but several states made headlines for their work to limit smartphone distractions in the classroom and to strengthen pay and incentives for teachers. 

ExcelinEd in Action engages and reports on state education bill action each month on our blog. Below are the key legislative highlights we observed in May 2024, followed by a detailed, state-by-state recap of education bills that advanced last month. (For those who would like to receive weekly State Action Updates, sign up for ExcelinEd in Action email updates here.) 

Here’s what happened.  

Governors signed 19 education bills and 3 state budgets into law in May 2024. 

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis updated the state’s funding formula to provide more resources to disadvantaged students; increased charter school funding; guaranteed students’ course credits transfer among higher education institutions; and authorized a return-on-investment analysis of the state’s college and career pathways. 
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to strengthen teacher apprenticeships; expand student access to reading and math interventions; protect merit bonuses for teachers; provide grants for artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring; create an alternative graduation pathway for high school dropouts; and increase funding to clear waitlists for education choice programs that support students with unique abilities. 
• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the state budget, which provides nearly $7.5 million for literacy screeners and targeted literacy coaches, and two pathways bills, which aim to expand apprenticeships and align education programs with in-demand careers. 
• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds made huge early literacy improvements and assisted education providers, including charter schools, in meeting their classroom and facilities needs. 
• Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry reduced classroom distractions by limiting students’ cell phone use during instructional hours. 
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz improved early literacy by modifying The Read Act to include additional screening for students, an audit of teacher preparation programs and funding for teacher professional development. 
• Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves extended the state’s education scholarship account (ESA) program for students with special needs and added Mississippi to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, a multi-state agreement that expedites licensure for teachers licensed in another state. 
• Missouri Gov. Mike Parson expanded charter and private school choice, funded at-home reading programs and strengthened the teacher pipeline. 
• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine mandated that schools adopt a policy to limit classroom distractions caused by smartphone use. 
• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt streamlined the state’s Parental Choice Tax Credit application process. 
• Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the state budget, which provides for charter school facilities and a new healthcare pathways program, and one other bill, which makes it easier for charter schools to access vacant and underutilized properties. 
• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the state budget, which provides teacher pay raises and funding for innovative lab schools, and one other bill, which strengthen the teacher pipeline by empowering local school boards to issue renewable teacher licenses to qualified content experts so they may teach within their communities.     

State-by-State Education Bill Breakdown – May 2024 

Alabama 

• The Alabama Board of Education approved new administrative code aligning educator preparation programs to the science of reading, including a three-cueing ban. Rep. Leigh Hulsey’s HB 173, which would have codified a three-cueing ban in educator preparation programs and instructional materials, failed to pass in the Senate. 

Colorado 

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed three bills into law: 
  • Rep. Julie McCluskie’s HB 1448 updates the state’s funding formula to provide more resources to disadvantaged students and increases funding for charter schools. 
  • Rep. Julie McCluskie’s HB 1364 creates a longitudinal data system and authorizes the Department of Education to study the cost of giving K-12 students opportunities to obtain college credits, industry credentials and work-based learning experiences as well as the effects of consolidating certain postsecondary and workforce readiness programs. 
  • Sen. Janet Buckner’s SB 164 guarantees certain course transfer credits between community colleges, local district colleges and area technical colleges. 

• Four other bills await Gov. Polis’s consideration. 
  • Sen. Chris Kolker’s SB 69 would require the Department of Education to create a training program to inform special education advocates and parents about individualized education program laws. 
  • Sen. James Coleman’s SB 143 would require the Department of Higher Education to collaborate with agencies to integrate quality non-degree credentials into the state’s education and workforce systems. 
  • Sen. Paul Lundeen’s SB 70 would allow online schools to offer remote state assessment testing to students who attend an online education program in a setting that aligns with the student’s regular educational instruction. 
  • Sen. Jessie Danielson’s SB 104 would require the state apprenticeship agency to align the high school career and technical education system with the registered apprenticeship system, specifically for programs and occupations related to infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, education and health care.   

Delaware 

• Delaware Sen. Laura Sturgeon’s SS 1 for SS 252 passed its final House committee and heads to the House floor. The legislation requires the Department of Education to perform audits of educator preparation programs to assess compliance with evidence-based reading instruction requirements, known as the “science of reading,” that were enacted in 2021 and to compel corrections based on audit findings.   
• Delaware Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha’s HA 1 to HB 354 passed the Senate Education Committee. The legislation would give priority in choice and charter school enrollment to children of active-duty military members, full-time Delaware National Guard members and active-duty members of a reserve component of the U.S. military. 

Florida 

• Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the following bills in May: 
  • SB 7002 and SB 7004 together improve the state’s teacher apprenticeship program; expands access to reading interventions for K-2 struggling readers; and prevents collective bargaining from affecting certain district policies, such as awarding bonuses to highly effective teachers and communicating with parents and staff. 
  • HB 1403 builds on previous parental choice legislation by expanding funding to eliminate waitlists and serve an additional 22,000 students with special needs through the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities; merging the HOPE Scholarship Program with the largest-in-the-nation Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program; establishing deadlines for student funding organizations that administer the state’s education scholarship accounts; and updating reporting requirements.  
  • HB 1361 expands eligibility for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts to pre-K students and extends its purpose to include math and reading. The bill also creates educator micro-credential opportunities in reading and math and establishes a new grant program to provide AI-powered tutoring for students and professional development for teachers. 
  • SB 7032 creates an alternative graduation program that provides students ages 16–21 who have dropped out of school an opportunity to obtain postsecondary course credits at no cost while earning their high school diploma or equivalent.     

Georgia 

• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the state budget, HB 916, into law. The budget provides nearly $7.5 million in funding for literacy screeners and targeted literacy coaches. He also signed two bills into law: 
  • Rep. Matthew Gambill’s HB 982 requires the state to publish a high-demand career list and focus funding on programs that align with in-demand careers. 
  • Sen. Billy Hickman’s SB 497 creates additional apprenticeship opportunities by increasing the cap on the number of allowable apprentices for employers and providing initial funding for apprenticeships. 

Iowa 

• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed her early literacy proposal, HF 2618, into law. This early literacy law requires 1) teacher preparation programs to administer a “foundations of reading” exam as part of teacher licensure; 2) schools to provide individualized reading plans for struggling K-6 readers; and 3) schools to notify parents when their third graders aren’t reading at grade level. Parents can choose to have their children repeat third grade to give them time to catch up. 
• Gov. Reynolds signed the Senate Committee on Education’s SF 2368, which prohibits the sale of public school-owned buildings to outside bidders if a charter school, an institution of higher education or a community college submits the highest bid. This legislation intends to assist those education providers in meeting their classroom and facilities needs. 

Louisiana 

•  Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed Sen. Beth Mizell’s SB 207 into law. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, the bill prohibits students from having cell phones during instructional hours. 
• Two bills passed and now await signature from Gov. Landry:  
  • Louisiana Sen. Rick Edmonds’ SB 313 would create the LA GATOR Scholarship program, a phased-in universal education savings account program.   
  • Louisiana Rep. Kim Carver’s HB 267 would require schools to administer a universal K-3 math screener three times a year to identify students struggling in math. 

Michigan 

• Michigan Rep. Carol Glanville’s HB 5649, which would require schools to offer a course in computer science, awaits its first House committee vote. 

Minnesota 

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed Rep. Cheryl Youakim’s HB 5237, a supplemental education budget bill that modifies The Read Act to include additional screening for students, an audit of teacher preparation programs and $33,225,000 for teacher professional development.   

Mississippi 

• Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed two bills sponsored by Rep. Rob Roberson. 
  • HB 1450 adds Mississippi to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, a multi-state agreement that expedites licensure for teachers licensed in another state. 
  • HB 1229 extends the state’s current Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Education Savings Account program until 2028. The program currently serves about 380 students. 
• Mississippi Rep. Jansen Owen’s public school choice bill, HB 1683, failed to make it out of its conference committee. The bill would have allowed community colleges and universities to authorize charter schools and provided for charter schools in “C-rated” districts.   

Missouri 

• Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed Sen. Andrew Koenig’s SB 727, which would expand school choice and strengthen the teacher pipeline. The law expands the geographic area in which charter schools can be established to include Boone County (Columbia); expands Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to potentially fund close to 4,000 more students; establishes a fund to support at-home reading programs for students in grades K-5; and creates a scholarship program for students in teacher preparation programs in exchange for teaching in a hard-to-staff school when they graduate. 

New Hampshire 

•  New Hampshire Rep. Glen Cordelli’s HB 1665 was sent to a committee of conference to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions. The bill would expand the state’s Education Freedom Accounts program income cap from 350% to 400% of the federal poverty level (from $109,200 to $124,800 for a family of four). 
• New Hampshire Rep. Cordelli’s teacher pipeline bill, HB 1298, was sent to a committee of conference. The bill would establish conditions for local school districts to hire adjunct teachers. 

North Carolina 

• North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger and Sen. Michael Lee amended HB 823 to provide $488.2 million for the state’s education choice programs and serve an estimated 57,000 additional students over the next two school years. The bill, which would clear waitlists for the Opportunity Scholarship Program and Education Student Accounts program, passed the Senate and awaits concurrence in the House.   

Ohio 

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Rep. Jessica Miranda’s HB 250, which requires schools to adopt a policy to limit students’ use of cell phones during school hours. 
• Ohio Rep. Don Jones’ HB 432, which would allow alternative licensure pathways for career and technical education teachers, passed its first committee and now heads to the House floor. 
• Ohio Sen. Kristina Roegner’s SB 208, which provides an enrollment exception for children of active-duty military parents in otherwise closed or restricted districts, passed the Senate and now heads to the House. 
• A package of anti-school choice bills was introduced in Ohio that would create undue strain for public charter schools and private schools participating in the state’s voucher program. The bills await their first committee hearings. 
• Ohio Rep. Sean Brennan introduced HB 561, which would prohibit charter schools from having a for-profit operator.  
• Ohio Rep. Beryl Piccolantonio introduced HB 581, which would require increased reporting and parental notification of charter school performance for students transferring from traditional public to charter schools.  
• Ohio Rep. Sean Brennan introduced HB 591, which would require the establishment of sponsor and operator report cards for charter schools. 
• Ohio Rep. Dani Issacsohn introduced HB 575, which would require increased reporting and auditing for schools where at least 25% of its students use a voucher to attend.  
• Ohio Rep. Phillip Robinson introduced HB 567, which would impose income limits on voucher eligibility and add requirements on private schools before they may receive voucher payments.  
• Ohio Rep. Phillip Robinson introduced HB 582, which would require private schools to adjust their schedules in order to continue to receive transportation from the public school district (as required by current law) in whose jurisdiction the private school is located.  
• Ohio Rep. Beryl Piccolantonio introduced HB 592, which would require a state report card for voucher-accepting schools similar to the ones required for traditional public schools. 

Oklahoma 

• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Speaker Charles McCall’s HB 3388, which streamlines the Parental Choice Tax Credit application process. 
• Oklahoma Sen. Adam Pugh’s early literacy bill, SB 362, which would require screening and interventions for students with reading deficiencies and require the state’s K-3 reading curriculum to be based in the science of reading, passed the House and awaits Gov. Stitt’s signature. 

 Pennsylvania 

• The Pennsylvania House Education Committee held a hearing on teacher recruitment and retention. ExcelinEd in Action testified in support of policies that could improve the teacher pipeline, including teacher apprenticeship programs, continued investments in student teacher stipends, sound implementation of the teacher data and job vacancy dashboard, an adjunct teacher policy and an advanced teaching roles policy. 
• Pennsylvania Sen. Judy Ward’s SB 795 passed its first committee and heads to one more committee before the Senate floor. The bill would create the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Scholarship Program to provide scholarships to students in low-performing school districts pay tuition, school-related fees and special education services fees to attend a participating nonpublic school. 

 South Carolina 

• South Carolina continues to hold conference committees to finalize the state budget. The House sent the state budget, H 5100, back to the Senate with amendments, and a conference committee was appointed to discuss the differences. Currently, the House budget bill would:
  • Provide $10 million for the Palmetto Math Project to provide high-quality instructional materials and high-dosage tutoring in math.  
  • Provide $30 million for the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program.  
  • Provide continued funding for summer reading camps and reading coaches.  
  • Ban cell phones and other devices during instructional time. 
  • Include positive provisions to improve the state’s ESA law by removing undue burdens on participating students and expanding eligibility to certain children of active-duty military members. The bill would also expand the application window for families by allowing applications on a rolling basis. 
  • Include a requirement for credit transfers between public institutions of higher education, with a goal of providing students with better pathways to degree completion, and also require a study on higher education with a focus on degrees and credentials earned at higher education institutions. 

The Senate version also includes a provision that would create a pilot program to strategically compensate teachers based on effectiveness. 

Tennessee  

• Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the state budget and one other bill into law in May: 
  • The state budget, HB 2973 will provide $15 million for charter school facilities, an additional $261 million for the state’s education funding formula, $144 million for a proposed Education Freedom Scholarship Program and $15.8 million for a rural healthcare pathways program to help enhance opportunities for individuals to enter health care careers.    
  • Sen. John Steven’s SB 135 will make it easier for charter schools to access vacant and underutilized properties. 

Virginia 

• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the state budget bills HB 6001 and HB 6002, which will provide teachers with a 3% pay raise next year and another 3% the year after. The budget also includes more than $2 billion for K-12, including $100 million for College Partnership Laboratory Schools.  
• Gov. Youngkin also signed Sen. Tammy Brankley Mulchi’s SB 142, which directs the Board of Education to empower local school boards to strengthen the educator pipeline by issuing renewable teacher licenses to qualified content experts, allowing them to teach within their communities.