March State Actions Update: Governors Sign Major K-12 Laws as Education Policy Momentum Accelerates Nationwide

K-12 education policy is advancing rapidly across state legislatures as 2026 legislative sessions move toward adjournment. In March alone, governors signed more than 30 major education policy bills into law, with the same number awaiting signature, signaling continued momentum and commitment for student-centered reforms. 

As several states conclude their sessions and others enter the home stretch, lawmakers are advancing policies focused on education funding, literacy, math, college and career pathways, teacher retention, school choice and distraction-free learning. 

Key new laws include: 

• Banning the use of harmful three-cueing reading instruction in Alabama. 
• Establishing funding autonomy for charter and traditional public schools that demonstrate strong student outcomes, sound financial practices and effective operational management in Idaho. 
• Requiring schools to adopt and implement a bell-to-bell phone and wireless communication device-free policy in Indiana. 
• Strengthening adolescent reading in Mississippi. 
• Expanding education scholarship accounts in Utah. 

ExcelinEd in Action continues to track these developments as legislation progresses nationwide. 

To explore the latest education legislation moving in each state, scroll down or use the quick links below. (To stay updated on the status of the latest legislation, sign up for our Weekly State Actions Update emails.) 

| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Mississippi | Missouri | Nebraska | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | Ohio | Oklahoma | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Utah | Virginia | West Virginia | Wyoming |

Alabama

• Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed Sen. Donnie Chesteen’s SB 168 into law. The bill bans the use of harmful three-cueing instructional practices in K-12 classrooms and educator preparation programs. 
• Alabama lawmakers sent two bills by Rep. Danny Garrett to Gov. Ivey for signature. 
  • HB 565 establishes the College and Higher Education Excellence and Results (CHEER) Act to support outcomes-based funding for public colleges and universities. 
  • HB 237 provides more than $100 million from the Educational Opportunity Reserve Fund to support the CHEER Act and provides outcomes-based bonus funding for higher educational institutions meeting success metrics in FY26. 
• Alabama Rep. Garrett’s 2026 supplemental education budget and 2027 education budget bills passed the Senate and now head to conference committee for agreement. 
  • HB 235 would allocate $100 million to the CHOOSE Act to support educational choice for K-12 students and $10 million for adolescent literacy in FY26. 
  • HB 238 would allocate for FY27 more than $251 million for the CHOOSE Act, nearly $152 million in continued funding for the Alabama Reading Initiative supporting early literacy, including reading coaches, and $114 million for the Alabama Numeracy Act, a $19 million increase. The bill would also allocate $65 million to support the first year of the CHEER Fund. 
• Alabama Rep. James Lomax’s HB 517, the Talent Readiness and Industry Needs (TRAIN) Act, awaits a vote on the Senate floor. The TRAIN Act would create industry engagement incentives through a tax credit for employers who “loan” employees to teach high-demand career and technical education (CTE) programs or make donations to eligible entities in support of designated CTE programs. 
• Alabama Rep. Susan DuBose’s HB 603 awaits a vote on the House floor. The bill would require the Department of Education to utilize an educator preparation program report card to measure the successful educating, training and retention of teachers in the state.   
• Alabama Rep. Terri Collins’ HB 604 passed the House and heads to the Senate. The bill would establish the accountability council to review the states’ accountability system and establish an annual return on investment analysis to ensure students’ experiences lead to post-high school success.   
• Alabama Rep. Mack Butler’s HB 353 passed the House and heads to the Senate. This bill would establish guaranteed access to advanced math for students. 

Alaska

• Alaska Rep. Bill Elam’s HB 358 awaits its final committee hearing in the House. The bill would establish a statewide career and technical education (CTE) mobility grant program. 

Arizona

• Arizona Rep. Matt Gress and Sen. Hildy Angius’ HB 2423 passed its committees and awaits a vote on the Senate floor. The bill would guarantee qualified middle school students access to advanced math courses unless a parent opts out and requires schools to notify families about available math pathways.     
• Arizona Rep. Lisa Fink’s statewide assessment bills await their next Senate committee stops. 
  • HB 2032 would strengthen accountability by revising the statewide assessment window and allowing contractors to provide unofficial test scores.  
  • HB 2033 would further expand opportunities for the statewide assessment to be given in written form. 

Colorado

• Colorado Sens. Janice Marchman and Janice Rich’s SB 126 passed the House and heads back to the Senate for concurrence. The bill would streamline the licensure process for experienced out-of-state teachers and establish reciprocity with states participating in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.      
• Colorado Reps. Stephanie Luck and Matt Martinez’s HB 1090 passed the House and heads to the Senate. The bill would waive educator preparation program and induction requirements for teacher license applicants with at least two years of private school teaching experience in Colorado.  
• Colorado Rep. Lori Goldstein and Sens. Cathy Kipp and Marchman introduced HB 1292, which would require all eligible scholarship granting organizations to appear on the state’s federal scholarship tax credit list.  
• Colorado Sens. Jeff Bridges and Kipp introduced SB 135, which would refer a ballot measure to the November 2026 election asking voters to provide a 2% annual increase for K-12 spending for 10 years. Districts would be required to use the additional funds for increasing teacher pay, improving teacher retention, lowering class sizes and expanding career and technical education (CTE) access. 

Delaware

• Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed SB 106, requiring school districts and charter schools to develop bell-to-bell phone-free school policies. 
• Delaware Rep. Kim Williams’ HB 12 passed its Senate committee and heads to the floor for a vote. The bill would expand the teacher pipeline by creating a scholarship for students who completed a Delaware Teacher Academy and are enrolled in a Delaware Educator Preparation Program. 

Florida

• Florida lawmakers passed six bills that await Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature. 
  • Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson’s HB 1279:   
    • Requires notification of eligibility for literacy resources.  
    • Establishes a consistent statewide grading scale for high schools. 
    • Creates a new secondary math pathway that emphasizes career-centered applied math. 
    • Allows for Title I funds for STEM-related programs and the usage of AI as an instructional tool.   
    • Strengthens school accountability by annually identifying districts that need school improvement plans.  
    • Clarifies that dual enrollment is only available to Florida residents. 
    • Adds private higher education institutions to the list of eligible schools that can offer dual enrollment to high school students. 
    • Creates flexibility for teacher salary increases in low-performing schools.  
    • Requires notification to families of virtual school options. 
    • Expands student access to career-centered digital tools.  
  • Sen. Jonathan Martin’s SB 1296 makes changes to collective bargaining, including requiring a quorum of union members to participate in a certification election. 
  • Sen. Keith Truenow’s SB 824 requires school districts to report all vacant land owned by the school district annually to the Department of Education. 
  • Rep. Peggy Gosset-Seidman’s HB 453 expands high school graduation flexibility by allowing students with disabilities to earn credit for physical education and performing arts through participation in the Special Olympics and marching band.   
  • Rep. Anne Gerwig’s HB 561 improves the teacher workforce by expanding opportunities for teachers to get back into the classroom with temporary certifications.   
  • Sen. Shevrin Jones’ SB 182 was amended on the Senate floor to allow small private schools to operate in non-residential zoning districts without requiring rezoning or land use changes.  

Georgia

• Georgia lawmakers sent 11 bills to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for signature, including: 
  • The 2027 budget:  
    • Allocates $100 million for Georgia Promise Scholarships to support school choice.  
    • Allocates $70.4 million for school-based literacy coaches.  
    • Maintains $18.5 million for regional literacy coaches.  
    • Allocates $4 million for the career navigator system.  
  • Rep. Chris Erwin’s HB 1193 improves literacy policy by providing every elementary school with access to a literacy coach.  
  • Sen. Billy Hickman’s SB 150 addresses teacher shortages by allowing retired teachers to fill open positions and require reading, writing or English language arts teachers to have current evidence-based literacy and dyslexia training before re-entering the classroom.  
  • Sen. Shawn Still’s SB 369 updates the state’s charter school framework by restructuring the grant incentive program, expanding the Office of Charter School Compliance’s responsibilities to include evaluation tools, and clarifies the process for existing charter schools to convert to state charter schools.  
  • Sen. Chuck Payne’s SB 556 creates the DREAMS scholarship, the state’s first needs-based financial aid, to provide up to $3,000 per year to Georgia students pursuing undergraduate degrees at public colleges and universities. It also creates scholarships for students attending medical school in the USG system who agree to practice medicine in Georgia and raises the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan contribution cap. 
  • Rep. Scott Hilton’s HB 1009 creates a bell-to-bell distraction-free school policy for high schools. 
  • Rep. Sandy Donatucci’s Math Matters Act, HB 1030, guarantees access to advanced math in middle and high school, requires 60 minutes of daily math instruction for grades 4-5 and strengthens educator preparation programs in math training.
  • Rep. Carmen Rice’s HB 1107 strengthens the state’s Educator Preparation Program Report by adding data for student outcomes, teacher evaluations and retention rates. 
  • Rep. Will Wade’s HB 1164 improves financial transparency and reporting in K-12 schools. 
  • Rep. Matthew Gambill’s HB 1302 establishes the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy to create a strong cross-agency pathways governance framework. 
  • Rep. Jan Jones’ HB 1293 revises the Dual Achievement Program, which allows students who have dropped out of high school to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential or degree at a Technical College System of Georgia institution. 

Idaho

• Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed five bills into law: 
  • Rep. Kyle Harris’ H 832 improves recruitment and retention of industry professionals to teach CTE by allowing the State Board to consider professional experience and establish minimum requirements for CTE programs by content area.  
  • Rep. Doug Pickett‘s H 883 grants increased funding autonomy to charter and traditional public schools that demonstrate strong student outcomes, sound financial practices and effective operational management.   
  • Rep. Barbara Ehardt’s H 846 improves the accuracy of school enrollment counts by removing auto-enrolled students who no longer attend Idaho public schools. 
  • Rep. Pickett’s H 731 formalizes Idaho’s participation in the federal scholarship tax credit program. 
  • Sen. Kevin Cook’s S 1227 develops statewide guidance regarding responsible AI use in K-12 schools, while protecting student privacy and safety.  

Illinois

• Illinois Sen. Cristina Castro’s SB 2427 awaits a vote in the House. The bill would direct schools to adopt and implement a cell phone- and wireless communication device-free policy during instructional time.  

Indiana

• Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed five bills into law: 
  • Sens. Jeff Raatz and Linda Rogers’ SB 199 expands the number of schools eligible for reading professional development, requires institutions of higher education to review average earnings of graduates to ensure positive return on investment and requires the Department of Education to study and make recommendations for paid family leave.  
  • Rep. Bob Behning’s HB 1266  increases flexibility for students using a Career Scholarship Account, requires the Department of Education to recommend 60 minutes of daily math instruction and develop a new data science pathway.   
  • Sen. Rogers’ SB 239 requires parental notification for students at risk of not achieving grade-level proficiency in math, improves facilities access for charter schools and strengthens career pathways by publishing a list of business and industry partners that will provide incentives to students who earn the Employment Honors Plus diploma seal.  
  • Sens. Raatz and Greg Goode’s SB 78 requires schools to adopt and implement a bell-to-bell phone and wireless communication device-free policy. 
  • Rep. Behning’s HB 1408 establishes limits and safeguards for youth social media access. 

Iowa

• Iowa Rep. Skyler Wheeler’s HF 2610 passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Kim Reynolds for signature. The bill creates and adopts definitions of high-demand, high-skilled and high-wage occupations, strengthening alignment of career and technical education programming to quality careers. 
• Iowa Sen. Lynn Evans’ SF 2220  passed the House and heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. The bill would develop an advanced mathematics pathway to ensure high-achieving students are guaranteed access to Algebra I in middle school. 
• Iowa Rep. Wheeler’s HF 2494 passed its subcommittee heads to full committee. The bill would require the Department of Education to prepare, publish and submit annual reports on reading and math proficiency.  
• Iowa Rep. Wheeler’s HF 2699 moves to its second subcommittee. The bill would ensure that full per-pupil funding follows students to public charter schools, while guaranteeing charter school students have access to the same opportunities for concurrent enrollment and extracurriculars as traditional public school students. 
• Iowa Rep. Wheeler’s HF 2754 heads to the House floor for a vote and Sen. Jesse Green’s SF 2425 heads to the full appropriations committee for a vote. The companion bills would: 
  • Create revolving loan program funds for charter schools, making it easier for them to finance their school buildings. 
  • Ensure charter school students have access to extracurricular activities available in public schools. 
  • Create a second application window for education scholarship accounts. 
  • Ensure that the teacher salary supplemental funds follow a student to a charter school. 
  • Allow charter school teachers to participate in the state retirement system. 

Kansas

• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed Senate Substitute Bill for HB 2299 requiring public school districts and accredited non-public schools to adopt a bell-to-bell phone-free school policy. 
• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed Rep. Susan Estes’ HB 2468. The bill would expand the availability of tax credit scholarships by increasing the program cap by $5 million and opt Kansas into the federal scholarship tax credit program. The legislature can now consider a veto-override.  
• The Kansas House and Senate approved a conference committee report in SB 361 that would allow the state to participate in the federal scholarship tax credit program. The bill now heads to Gov. Kelly for consideration. 
• Kansas Sen. Rick Billinger’s SB 517 passed out of the Senate and heads to its first House committee. The bill would improve literacy policy by requiring the use of evidence-based practices and the development of individual reading plans for high-risk K-3 students. 

Kentucky

• Kentucky Rep. James Tipton’s HB 253 passed committee and awaits a vote on the Senate floor. The bill would prohibit the use of harmful three-cueing literacy instruction. 
• Kentucky Rep. Robert Duvall’s HB 789 heads to its second committee. The bill would require the Kentucky Department of Education to submit a study report to the Legislative Research Commission on the status of advanced math education.   
• Kentucky Rep. Tipton’s HB 307 awaits a vote in its second committee. The bill would establish a direct admissions program.

Louisiana

• The following bills in Louisiana await a committee hearing in the Senate: 
  • Rep. John Wyble’s HB 271 would replace the Literacy Advisory Commission with the Foundational Education Commission to evaluate and recommend improvements in early learning and basic reading and math skills. 
  • Rep. Dennis Bamburg’s HB 951 would expand statewide workforce coordination by creating an Office of Talent Accelerator within Louisiana Works, a state program that connects job seekers with employment opportunities. 
  • Rep. Ken Brass’ HB 649 would expand access to dual enrollment by requiring a statewide application and administration process. 
  • Rep. Brass’ HB 807 would expand workforce training by establishing an instructor investment program within the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. 
• The following bills in Louisiana are awaiting a committee hearing in the House: 
  • Rep. Wyble’s HB 316 would update Louisiana’s student literacy framework and clarify the use of literacy screening results, interventions and instructional support expectations. 
  • Rep. Brass’ HB 807 would expand workforce training by establishing an instructor investment program within the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. 
  • Sen. Rick Edmonds’ SB 305 would expand education-to-workforce transparency and career alignment by requiring a statewide data dashboard. 
  • Sen. Beth Mizell’s SB 376 would establish the Learn and Earn Act, creating secondary  education pathways connecting students to workforce training and credential opportunities. 
• The following bills in Louisiana await a vote on the Senate floor:  
  • Rep. Kim Carver’s HB 268 would expand career‑related opportunities for public school students by promoting exposure to career exploration and work‑based learning experiences. 
  • Rep. Emily Chenevert’s HB 386 would clarify how certain state and local funds are allocated within the charter school funding framework. 
  • Sen. Patrick McMath’s SB 27 would expand high‑dosage tutoring and academic support requirements for K–12 students. 
• Louisiana Rep. Carver’s HB 272 heads to its second House committee. The bill would expand eligibility for the Reading Enrichment and Academic Deliverables (READ) Program to include students attending D‑ and F‑rated elementary schools.  
• Louisiana Sen. Mike Reese filed SB 520, which would modernize Louisiana’s Jump Start program by strengthening career and technical education (CTE) pathways, improving alignment with workforce needs and increasing accountability for program quality and outcomes across K-12. 

Maryland

• Maryland Sen. Katie Fry Hester’s SB 720 and Del. Eric Ebersole’s HB 1057 would require the Department of Education to provide school districts with guidance on responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. SB 720 passed the House and heads to the Senate. HB 1057 awaits a committee vote. 

Mississippi

• Mississippi lawmakers sent eight bills to Gov. Tate Reeves’ desk for signature. 
  • Sens. Chris Johnson and Sarita Simmons’ SB 2294 omnibus education bill: 
    • Requires evidence‑based literacy practices aligned to the science of reading for grades 4-8.  
    • Expands access to math coaches.  
    • Creates a K–5 universal math screener.  
    • Establishes an Algebra Readiness Indicator.  
    • Requires districts to adopt high‑quality instructional materials for math.    
    • Modernizes the high‑school computer science or CTE course requirement with artificial intelligence (AI) instruction. 
    • Requires financial literacy instruction for grades 6–8.    
    • Mandates a half‑credit personal finance course for high school graduation. 
• Rep. Karl Oliver’s HB 1935 fully funds the state’s student funding formula and invests additional resources into teacher pay, early learning, literacy and math initiatives and school district improvements.  
• Sen. Angela Burks Hill’s SB 2103 provides an across-the-board raise for teachers and increases pay for other school staff to improve educator recruitment and retention. 
• Rep. Shanda Yates’ HB 1395 revises the sale and lease of unused school district property by limiting and defining charter schools’ right of first refusal on instructional buildings. 
• Rep. Donnie Bell’s HB 562 provides last dollar scholarships for students enrolled in eligible career focused programs based on priority sectors and occupations of need in Mississippi. 
• Sen. Dennis DeBar’s SB 2288 allows career and technical education (CTE) incentive grants to be used to purchase equipment for programs leading specifically to industry certifications.    
• Sen. Daniel Sparks’ SB 2401 streamlines and extends deadlines tied to the Office of Workforce Development and the Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Consolidation Act, strengthening career pathways for students. 
• Rep. Bell’s HB 1696 establishes the Mississippi Office of Apprenticeship to expand statewide hands‑on training pathways.  

Missouri

• Missouri Rep. Cathy Loy’s HB 2872 passed the House and heads to the Senate, and Sen. Brad Hudson’s SB 1442 passed its committee and heads to the Senate floor. The companion bills would strengthen literacy policy by implementing new universal reading screeners, requiring a third grade promotion gate and banning the use of harmful three-cueing literacy instruction in educator preparation programs. 
• Missouri Rep. Dane Diehl’s HB 2710 passed its Senate committee and awaits consideration on the Senate floor. The bill would strengthen accountability by overhauling the current school report card system and implementing an A-F grading model. 
• Missouri Rep. George Hruza’s HB 2404 passed the House and awaits consideration in the Senate. The bill would ensure that public charter schools have access to and a right of first refusal on public buildings and allows public entities leasing a building to incur debt for facility improvements. 

Nebraska

• Nebraska Sen. Dave Murman’s LB 1050 passed its first full legislature vote and heads to its second floor session for a vote. The bill would amend the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act to require reading proficiency marks and alignment with evidence-based reading practices. 
• Nebraska Sen. Murman’s LB 1050A, which appropriates $800,000 to fund literacy screeners, passed its first full legislature vote and heads to its second. 

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Rep. Margaret Drye’s HB 1270 passed the Senate and heads to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s desk for signature. The bill strengthens the teacher pipeline by expanding school district access to adjunct teachers. 
• Three bills from New Hampshire lawmakers were heard in Senate committees and await a vote. 
  • Rep. Kristin Noble’s HB 1828 would require the Department of Education to review educator preparation programs to ensure effective literacy instruction is provided in higher education institutions.  
  • Rep. Valerie McDonell’s part-time enrollment bill, HB 1817, would allow any student who is eligible to enroll in a public school to have access to curricular courses and extracurricular programs offered by the school district in which they live.   
  • Rep. Bryan Morse’s HB 1832 would add students with a parent on active military duty in New Hampshire to the priority list for an education scholarship account (ESA).

New Jersey

• New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget includes continued support for evidence-based literacy instruction. The budget also includes funding tools to increase third-grade literacy scores and a commitment to produce user-friendly dashboards to allow more financial transparency in K-12 schools.  

New Mexico

• New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed three bills into law. 
  • Sen. Mimi Stewart’s SB 37, a comprehensive early literacy bill, requires approved high-quality instructional materials for K-3 students, establishes a reading assessment system with parent notification for struggling students and supports low-performing elementary schools with literacy coaches.  
  • Sen. William Soules’ SB 29 increases math coursework requirements for teachers, mandates mathematics professional learning plans, and establishes screeners and support plans for K-3 students. 
  • Rep. Debra Sariñana’s HB 30 strengthens the teacher pipeline by increasing pay for teacher trainees (“residents”) and allowing them to fulfill their teaching commitment at any public school once they finish their residency

Ohio

• Ohio Sen. Andy Brenner’s SB 311 awaits a hearing in its first Senate committee. The bill would improve facilities access for charter schools by clarifying what buildings qualify as unused school facilities and specifying that those facilities must be sold at the fair market value. SB 311 also expands this access to private schools.

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma Speaker Kyle Hilbert’s HB 4420 and Sen. Adam Pugh’s SB 1778 would amend the Strong Readers Act to ensure students are reading proficiently by the end of third grade. The companion bills would strengthen literacy screener requirements, parent notification and interventions, improve teacher training, increase the number of literacy coaches and implement a third grade promotion gate. SB 1778 passed its first House committee, and HB 4420 awaits consideration in the Senate. 
• The following bills passed the Oklahoma Senate and head to their first House committee:  
  • Sen. Pugh’s SB 1338 would make the state’s literacy instructional team pilot program permanent. 
  • Sen. Pugh’s SB 201 would provide a teacher pay raise by adding $2,000 to each step of the minimum salary schedule. 
  • Sen. Ally Seifried’s SB 1360 enhances the Math Achievement and Proficiency Act by ensuring all math teachers have access to evidence-based professional development and creates the Office of Mathematics Improvement within the State Department of Education. 
  • Sen. Seifried’s SB 1734 would require any classroom AI tools to be educator-directed and have human oversight, stipulate that AI cannot be used for grading or discipline and direct the State Department of Education to issue guidance on responsible AI use. 
• The following Oklahoma bills passed their first Senate committees:  
  • Speaker Hilbert’s HB 4427 would improve the teacher pipeline by setting minimum experience and education requirements for adjunct teachers and prohibiting them from delivering core instruction to students in pre-K through fourth grade. 
  • Rep. Ronny Johns’ HB 4268 would create a three-year pilot program for growth-based teacher compensation and reinstates a $5,000 stipend for National Board Certified Teachers. 
• Oklahoma Rep. Chad Caldwell’s HB 3706 awaits its first Senate committee. The bill would establish minimum daily and weekly math instructional time requirements for grades kindergarten through five. 
• Oklahoma Rep. Rob Hall’s HB 3372 and Rep. Mark Lepak’s HB 1590 passed the House and heads to the Senate. These bills would strengthen charter school funding by helping charter schools obtain favorable financing for facility-related costs. 
• Oklahoma Rep. Mike Lay’s HB 2210 awaits a hearing in its second Senate committee. The bill would strengthen postsecondary pathways by establishing a state-certified youth apprenticeship program for students beginning in 11th grade. 
• Oklahoma Rep. Brian Hill’s HB 2398 awaits a hearing on the Senate floor. The bill would allow for degrees and certificates to be designated as credentials of value if they demonstrate a positive return on investment and align with state or regional workforce needs. 
• Oklahoma legislation aimed at strengthening the teacher pipeline is moving forward.  
  • Rep. Brad Boles’ HB 3467 heads to its second Senate committee. The bill would extend paid maternity leave to full-time public school employees who adopt a young child. 
  • Sen. Pugh’s SB 1546 awaits a hearing in its first House committee. The bill would increase the annual scholarships available to prospective teachers completing in-state educator preparation programs. 
  • Sen. Seifried’s SB 1614 awaits a hearing in its first House committee. The bill would strengthen existing state law by specifying that adjunct teachers must have a high school diploma and that they cannot serve as full-time math or language arts teachers for grade K-5.   
  • Rep. Mark Lepak’s HB 3076 awaits a hearing in its first Senate committee. The bill would expand which institutions are eligible to provide alternative educator preparation programs and direct the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to implement new certification pathways. 
• Oklahoma Sen. Kelly Hines’ SB 366 passed the Senate and heads to the House. The bill would require school districts selling, leasing or transferring property to include a right of first refusal by notifying eligible charter schools they have 30 days to purchase or lease the property. 
• Oklahoma Rep. Caldwell’s HB 3705 passed its second committee and heads to the House floor. The bill would expand the Parental Choice Tax Credit, increasing the cap by $50 million and providing increases of $50 million following years in which 90% of the cap is used. 

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Sen. Tracy Pennycuick’s SB 1090 passed the Senate and heads to the House. The bill would establish disclosure requirements and safety protocols for artificial intelligence (AI) companion platforms, including notices that users are interacting with AI rather than a human. 

South Carolina

• South Carolina’s appropriations bill, H 5126, was heard in its first Senate committee and awaits a vote. The budget proposal includes:   
  • $83.2 million for the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, which would fund 15,000 private school choice scholarships.   
  • $75 million to fund rural and charter school facilities projects. 
  • $30 million for summer reading camps and $9.9 million for reading coaches. 
  • $5 million for strategic teacher compensation and $1.4 million for a career ladder pilot program to provide effective educators with opportunities for career advancement. 
• South Carolina Rep. Shannon’s Erickson’s H 5309 is on the House floor. The bill would enter South Carolina into the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. 
• South Carolina Sen. Greg Hembree’s S 692 passed its first committee stop. The bill would limit educational choice by restricting the ability of families to use the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program for personalized learning for at-home education services. 

Tennessee

• Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee released his proposed budget amendment for FY26, which committed $155.4 million to expand Education Freedom Scholarships and $40 million in additional funding for charter facilities.     
• Tennessee Sen. Joey Hensley’s SB 2375 passed the Senate and awaits passage of the House companion, Rep. Scott Cepicky’s HB 2276, which heads to its third committee stop. The bills would guarantee access to advanced math for qualifying students, create a pathway for teachers to teach advanced math, and require the Department of Education to adopt advanced math policies for eighth grade students. 
• Tennessee Sen. Dawn White’s SB 2141 passed the Senate and now awaits passage of the House companion, Rep. Mark White’s HB 2095, which heads to its third committee stop. The companion bills would strengthen college pathways by guaranteeing students can transfer between select college programs while maintaining their credits.   
• Two Tennessee bills aim to expand education freedom scholarships. 
  • Sen. Jack Johnson’s SB 2247 heads to its third committee stop and would expand the number of scholarships from 25,000 to 40,000.   
  • Tennessee Rep. William Lamberth’s HB 2532 heads to its fourth committee stop and would expand the number of scholarships from 25,000 to 35,000. 
• Tennessee Rep. Slater’s HB 1881 heads to its third committee stop. The bill would allow students with education scholarship accounts to take the state summative test or a norm-referenced test with the state publishing aggregated results in a report. 
• Tennessee Rep. Ryan Williams’ Better Spending Better Schools Act, HB 2121, passed its second committee. The bill would require all school districts to submit financial reports to the Department of Education to promote financial transparency. 
• Tennessee Rep. William Slater’s HB 2177 heads to its third committee stop. The bill would exempt charter schools with less than $50,000 in revenue from requiring internal audits, ensure funding for charter schools if reporting deadlines are missed, establish a new “high-performing public charter school” designation and give charter schools more flexibility in determining student lottery enrollment preferences.   

Utah

• Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed 12 bills into law. 
  • Sen. Ann Millner’s SB 241 improves early literacy by banning harmful three-cueing reading instruction, establishing individualized reading plans for struggling students, training educators in evidence-based practices and funding literacy coaching.  
  • Rep. Ariel Defay’s HB 393 establishes a statewide evidence-based dyslexia screening pilot program and expands educator training and resources. 
  • Sen. Jen Plumb’s SB 81 strengthens screening, parent notification and reading supports for students identified with dyslexia. 
  • Sen. Lincoln Fillmore and Rep. Tiara Auxier’s HB 312 directs the Utah State Board of Education to develop instructional materials that align with Utah’s core standards.    
  • Sen. Millner’s SB 216 establishes a process for determining enrollment and performance funding for degree-granting universities and technical colleges. 
  • Sen. Mike McKell’s SB 152 supports college readiness programs and enhances access to higher education by establishing a partnership between Utah’s higher education and public education systems to share data for students in 7th-12th grades.  
  • Rep. Karen Peterson’s HB 352 directs the Utah Board of Higher Education to create stackable credentials, making it easier for credits to transfer between colleges and universities. 
  • Rep. Jordan Teuscher’s HB 218 requires Utah students in grades 7 or 8 to complete a digital literacy course. 
  • Rep. Candice Pierucci’s HB 146 makes permanent the teacher mentoring and leadership pilot program and provides funding to support professional development to improve educator retention. 
  • Sen. Heidi Balderree’s SB 186 establishes a charter school base funding study group to analyze charter school administrative costs and funding options, including evaluating Utah’s current funding formula and considering other beneficial models. 
  • Rep. Pierucci’s HB 467 modifies the ESA program by: 
    • Ensuring participating students are not charged unfair tuition or fees. 
    • Allowing students to participate in extracurricular activities. 
    • Ensuring all siblings in a household are eligible for scholarship funding. 
    • Allowing qualifying private schools to receive student funding without undergoing the preapproval process. 
  • Sen. Fillmore’s SB 69 requires school districts to adopt and implement a phone-free schools policy. 

Virginia

• Virginia Del. Sam Rasoul’s HB 332 was signed into law by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The bill allows teachers at higher education institutions to teach high school career and technical education (CTE) courses while maintaining current employment. 
• Virginia Del. Jackie Glass’ HB 253 passed Senate and heads to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk for signature. The bill allows Virginia to join the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. 

West Virginia

• West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed two bills into Law.  
  • Senate President Randy Smith’s SB 250, the state budget, fully funds the Hope Scholarship ESA program at $300 million and includes a 3% pay raise for teachers and $6.4 million for dual enrollment.   
  • Sen. Amy Grady’s SB 155 allows adjunct teachers to be hired to teach when no fully certified teacher is available.     

Wyoming

• Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed Sen. Wendy Schuler’s SF 59 into law. The bill requires the use of high-quality instructional materials and practices aligned with the science of reading in literacy instruction.