State Actions Update: Governors Enact Bold K-12 Policies; Distraction-Free Learning Gains Momentum

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K-12 education policy gained momentum in April as state legislatures moved swiftly to pass bold reforms and finalize education budgets. 

Alabama lawmakers passed a sweeping education budget that includes investments in school choice, early literacy and numeracy and paid parental leave for educators—positioning the state as a national leader in student-centered education policy. 

In Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun signed legislation to improve math education and provide more fair funding for public charter schools. Lawmakers also passed a range of bills to strengthen career pathways, teacher pay and academic transparency. 

In a landmark move, Texas enacted a universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program, providing families with direct access to funds for private school tuition, tutoring and other approved educational expenses. The legislation, championed by Gov. Greg Abbott, positions Texas among the growing number of states expanding education choice options for families. 

Florida lawmakers advanced a flurry of student-centered bills before adjourning the main portion of their legislative session. They will continue to work on the state budget. Multiple education bills are now on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, including legislation to improve work-based learning, strengthen reading plans, implement math endorsements and expand phone-free school policies.  

Governors in Colorado, Georgia and Arizona signed key policies into law this month, including universal dyslexia screening, public school choice expansion and new science of reading requirements. 

Momentum is building around distraction-free learning, with governors in many states signing legislation this year to limit cell phone distractions in schools and classrooms. In April alone, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Virginia and West Virginia enacted distraction-free learning policies aimed at improving student focus. Similar bills are advancing in at least a dozen additional states, reflecting growing bipartisan concern about the impact of constant digital access on students’ learning and well-being. 

Read on for a full breakdown of this month’s key state actions updates. To explore the education bills moving in your state, scroll down or use the jump links below. 

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | Colorado | Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Louisiana | Michigan | Missouri | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming 

Alabama 

• Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a number of bills and an education budget package into law: 
  • SB 199 grants up to eight weeks of paid parental leave to state and education employees.  
  • Sen. Arthur Orr’s RAISE Act, SB 305, establishes a hybrid education funding model to allocate weighted funds to students with specific needs. 
  • The 2025-26 education budget package includes three bills: 
    • SB 111 allocates $375 million to establish the RAISE Fund and includes $80 million for the CHOOSE Act Reserve Fund for ESAs in the 25-26 academic year. 
    • SB 112 provides $166 million for the RAISE Act’s hybrid funding model for the first year of implementation, $9.6 million for paid parental leave, $101 million for ESAs under the CHOOSE Act, $152 million for the Literacy Act and $95 million for the Numeracy Act. If there is any excess revenue, an extra $35 million would be directed to the CHOOSE Act. 
    • SB 113 provides $10 million in supplemental funds for adolescent literacy efforts and an additional $50 million for the CHOOSE Act. 
• Alabama Rep. Leigh Hulsey’s HB 166, which would require students to complete a social media safety course and establish phone-free classrooms with exceptions for educational purposes, emergencies, IEPs or documented medical needs, passed its first Senate committee and awaits a final vote on the Senate floor. Its companion, Sen. Donnie Chesteen’s SB 92, heads to the House floor for a final vote. 
• Alabama Rep. David Faulkner’s HB 332, which would require students to earn at least one credit of computer science to graduate from high school beginning with the graduating class of 2030-31, passed its first Senate committee and awaits a vote on the Senate floor.   
• Alabama Sen. Arthur Orr’s “Move on When Ready” college pathways bill, SB 196, passed its first House hearing and awaits a vote on the House floor. The bill would allow eligible high school juniors and seniors to enroll full time in college courses at public institutions and earn high school credit for their postsecondary coursework. 

Alaska 

• The Alaska House Rules Committee introduced HB 204, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s comprehensive education package that would expand intra- and inter-district public school choice while improving transparency into the application and enrollment process, improve early literacy with incentive grants and require device- and phone-free school policies. 
• Alaska Rep. Zach Fields’ HB 57—which would create distraction-free learning environments, establish a statewide taskforce on education funding and provide $450+ early literacy incentive grants for K–6 students who show proficiency or growth in reading—passed both chambers and now awaits action by Gov. Dunleavy. 
• Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s HB 76 gets a hearing in its only House committee stop. The bill would create phone-free classrooms, authorize teacher bonuses based on location with rural teachers receiving a larger sum, expand options for charter school authorization and increase public school choice by establishing a system of open enrollment.  

Arizona 

• Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed HB 2484, which creates phone-free schools and includes exceptions for educational purposes or emergencies. 
• Arizona Sen. David Farnsworth’s SB 1502 would improve early literacy by requiring teachers to complete training in the science of reading and dyslexia instruction and requiring educators who teach reading in grades K-5 to obtain a literacy endorsement by 2028. The bill passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Katie Hobbs for consideration.    
• Arizona Rep. Cesar Aguilar’s HB 2677, which would allow schools that serve middle school students (grades 6-8) to offer career and technical education courses that count toward eighth grade promotion and high school graduation requirements, heads to the Senate floor. 

Arkansas 

• Arkansas Sen. Breanne Davis’ SB 624, which expands open enrollment by making it easier for students to transfer to another school within their district, was signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.   
• Arkansas Rep. Julie Mayberry’s HB 1283, which would have required the Department of Education to create digital literacy standards for K-12 students, failed to pass its committee stop in the Senate. 

Colorado 

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed Rep. Meghan Lukens’ phone-free schools bill, HB 25-1135, which would require charter schools and local boards of education to implement a policy limiting student use of communication devices during the school day. 
• Colorado Sen. Chris Kolker’s SB 25-200, which would require universal dyslexia screening for K-3 students and propose amendments to the READ Act to enhance reading instruction and interventions for struggling readers, passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Polis’ desk. 
• Colorado Sen. Cathy Kipp’s SB 25-154 would strengthen the teacher pipeline by allowing currently licensed teachers to add endorsements like early childhood education or special education by demonstrating proficiency through approved assessments or relevant coursework. The bill passed the Senate and heads to the House floor. 
• Colorado Sen. Jeff Bridges and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer’s SB 315, which would streamline funding for postsecondary workforce readiness programs to focus on student outcomes, heads to the House floor for a vote. 

Florida 

• Florida finalized most bills and will extend its session for budget conferencing and final action on select policies. The following bills passed both chambers and head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk: 
  • Rep. Kim Kendall’s HB 85 would extend school transportation to students who live near dangerous roadways. 
  • Rep. Lauren Melo’s HB 681 would expand opportunities for students to participate in work-based learning by improving and standardizing the current funding model for apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship and career and technical education programs. 
  • Sen. Corey Simon’s SB 248 would allow private school and homeschool students to participate in sports at another school if their school does not offer their desired sport. 
  • Rep. Jennifer Kincart Johnson’s amended HB 1105 requires state-approved student internship opportunities to be presented in counseling materials and courses required for graduation; creates a workforce credential program for students with autism; requires establishment of an educator math endorsement; improves the charter school conversion process; allows for conversion charter high schools to focus on work-based learning; and implements a K-8 bell-to-bell phone-free schools policy and a high school pilot. 
  • Rep. Dana Trabulsy’s HB 1255 strengthens school district reading plans and interventions; expands zoning and development protections for charter schools; allows students in virtual charter schools to participate in athletics; and provides zoning flexibility for private schools to operate in certain counties. 
  • Rep. Alex Rizo’s HB 875 strengthens the teacher pipeline and early literacy by establishing new requirements for teacher preparation programs that include evidence-based reading practices, the use of high-quality instructional materials and aligned alternative pathways to enter the teaching profession.  
  • Rep. John Snyder’s HB 443 establishes administrative and regulatory flexibility for charter schools regarding enrollment, student data sharing and student code of conduct. 
  • Sen. Corey Simon’s SB 248 allows private school and homeschool students to participate in sports at another school if their school does not offer their desired sport. 
• Rep. Susan Valdes’ bill to expand Florida’s Schools of Hope charter school program, HB 1115, passed the House, but failed in the Senate with no action taken on the bill before time ran out.   

Georgia 

• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the following bills into law: 
  • Rep. Bethany Ballard’s HB 307 bans the harmful practice of three-cueing from K-12 reading instruction. 
  • Sen. RaShaun Kemp’s SB 93 aligns educator preparation program curricula and instruction with the science of reading. 
  • Sen. Clint Dixon’s SB 82 expands public school choice by incentivizing local school districts to authorize and oversee more charter schools and increasing transparency and accountability around local decisions to deny charter school petitions. 

Idaho 

• Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed Rep. Douglas Pickett’s HB 331, which revises the Public Charter Schools Facilities Program to increase the program’s funding cap allowing more charter schools to participate.    
• Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed SB 1213, the appropriation for literacy intervention policies in SB 1069, which provides $5 million annually for statewide early literacy training, including professional development and coaching for K-3 teachers and elementary administrators in the science of reading.      

Illinois 

• Illinois Sen. Christina Castro’s SB 2427, which would require all school boards to adopt a cell phone-free classroom policy, has passed out of the Senate and is receiving committee hearings in the House. 

Indiana

• Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed Reps. Jake Teshka, Julie McGuire and Bob Behning’s comprehensive math policy, HB 1634, which requires math screenings for students in grades K-2, supports and interventions for students at risk of falling behind, and automatic enrollment in advanced math courses for high-performing math students. 
• Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed SB 1, a property tax package that improves funding streams for public charter schools by requiring revenue from school property tax levies to be shared with local charter schools. 
• Indiana’s legislative session adjourned after lawmakers passed a number of education bills, which await gubernatorial action. 
  • Sen. Linda Rogers’s amended bill to strengthen the teacher pipeline, SB 146, would increase the minimum teacher pay to $45,000 and require schools to spend a minimum of 65% of state tuition support on teacher compensation.   
  • Sen. Deery’s SB 255 would strengthen the teacher pipeline by granting initial practitioner licenses to aspiring STEM teachers who have earned a relevant STEM degree and successfully complete at least nine academic credits in certain teaching instruction, among other requirements. 
  • Sen. Jeff Raatz’s SB 365 would require the Indiana Department of Education to conduct a return on investment (ROI) analysis of career and technical education (CTE) programs.  
  • Rep. Bob Behning’s HB 1498 would task the Indiana State Board of Education with creating a new school accountability system based on student proficiency rates.  
  • Rep. Behning’s HB 1515 would 1) create a pilot program for a third-party authority to take charge of school transportation and facilities and streamline services for all students and 2) ensure that public charter schools and nonpublic schools are eligible to participate in and receive STEM teacher recruitment grants. 
  • Sen. Greg Goode’s college and career pathways bill, SB 448, would require the Department of Education to establish a plan to develop a market-driven, stackable credentials and qualifications framework. 
  • Sen. Spencer Deery’s SB 249 would allow schools to give teachers bonuses without collective bargaining. 
• Indiana lawmakers adopted a state budget, Rep. Jeffrey Thompson’s HB 1001, that: 
  • Increases education funding by 2%, with $640 million in new dollars. 
  • Expands the Choice Scholarship Program to be fully universal, starting in year 2 of the budget. 
  • Funds the Education Scholarship Account Program at $10 million per year and removes the income eligibility requirement. 
  • Provides $52.6 million each fiscal year for the Charter and Innovation Network School Grant, which is equivalent to $1,400 per charter school student.  
  • Maintains funding for Career Scholarship Accounts at $10 million each fiscal year. 
  • Funds student career coaching at $7.5 million each fiscal year. 
  • Includes $50 million in funding for the Freedom and Opportunity in Education fund, which supports early literacy and math policy initiatives, among other programs. 
  • Provides $35 million for Teacher Appreciation Grants, which are used to attract, reward and retain impactful teachers. 

Iowa 

• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed her distraction-free schools bill, HF 782, requiring school districts to adopt policies creating phone-free classroom instructional time, with exemptions for students who have an IEP or medical needs. 
• Iowa Gov. Reynolds’ HF 784, which would strengthen math policy by requiring math proficiency assessments for K-6 students as well as additional math instruction training in educator preparation programs, passed the legislature and heads to the Governor for signature. 
• Iowa Rep. Skyler Wheeler’s HF 190, which would allow students enrolled in online courses to complete summative assessments online with specific timing, monitoring and verification requirements, passed both chambers and awaits Gov. Reynolds’ signature.   
• The Iowa Department of Education’s HF 316 would create a list of industry-recognized credentials for students in grades 9-12, require districts to report student credential attainment data and add career exploration opportunities for fifth and sixth graders. The bill passed both chambers and heads to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk for signature. 
   

Louisiana 

• Louisiana Rep. Jason Hughes’ HB 373 passed the House and heads to the Senate. The bill would require an annual return on investment (ROI) analysis of K-12 industry based-credentials programs and their alignment with workforce needs. 
• Louisiana Rep. John Wyble’s HB 321, which would strengthen math policy and require all K-8 teachers to take an approved math professional development course, passed the House and heads to the Senate.  

Michigan 

• Michigan Sen. Dayna Polehanki’s SB 234, which would create phone-free schools, had its first committee hearing. 
• Michigan Rep. Mark Tisdel’s HB 4141, which would require school boards to implement distraction-free learning policies, had its first committee hearing. The policies would create phone-free schools for K-5 students; phone-free instructional time, recess, lunch and passing periods for grades 6-8; and phone-free instructional periods for grade 9-12 students. 

Missouri 

• Missouri Rep. Cathy Jo Loy’s HB 77, which would create the Missouri Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, passed its first committee and awaits hearing in its second. The bill would create a refundable tax credit that private or home school families could claim for their child’s educational expenses up to $6,760. 
• Missouri Rep. Brad Pollitt’s HB 711, which would allow public school students to utilize inter-district open enrollment starting in kindergarten, including charter school students, heads to the Senate floor.   
• Missouri Sen. Mike Hendersen’s omnibus education bill, SB 68, passed the House and returns to the Senate for further consideration. The bill would require school districts to adopt policies creating phone-free schools bell to bell with exceptions for emergencies, ban the harmful three-cueing reading instructional practice and mandate instruction based on the science of reading. The bill was amended in the House to include HB 607’s teacher compensation, certification and professional development provisions as well as changes to the school accountability framework.   
• Missouri Sen. Jill Carter’s SB 150 would create the Career-Tech Certificate Program to reimburse eligible students for tuition and other educational expenses while pursuing career and technical education. The bill passed the House and heads back to the Senate for further consideration. 
• Missouri Rep. Ed Lewis’ omnibus education bill, HB 607, passed in its first Senate committee and heads to the Senate floor. The bill would open the minimum teacher salary to more educators by removing the master’s degree requirement, expand teacher certification, extend the teacher externship program, expand teacher recruitment scholarships that cover teacher preparation program costs, allow students in Missouri’s Course Access program to take assessments virtually and ban the harmful three-cueing reading instructional practice. The bill also would make unnecessary changes to its school accountability framework.  

Nevada 

• Nevada Assembly member Selena Torres-Fossett introduced NV 533, which would expand public school choice by allowing students to attend public schools outside of their designated attendance zone and requiring receiving schools to accept a student where there is capacity. The bill awaits its first committee stop. 
• Nevada Sen. Lori Rogich introduced SB 396, which would establish an early literacy program to provide professional development for teachers on evidence-based instruction in foundational literacy and structured literacy and would improve the instruction and services provided to students with dyslexia. 
• The Nevada Senate Committee on Education’s SB 45 would allow school districts and charter schools to apply for grants for career and technical education programs based on student enrollment in advanced courses, which include work-based learning, dual credit courses and industry-recognized credential activities within CTE programs. The bill passed the Senate and heads to its Assembly committee stop.   
• The Nevada Senate Committee on Education’s SB 444, which would require school districts to adopt a policy creating phone-free instructional hours, passed the Senate and heads to its Assembly committee stop. 
• Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop and Sen. Julie Pazina introduced the EDUCATE Act, SB 460, a comprehensive bill that would establish a teacher recruitment and retention commission, create a teacher apprenticeship program, manage a teacher supply and demand portal and incentivize early literacy programs. The bill would, unfortunately, place new, burdensome limits on public and private school choice. The bill heads to the Senate Committee on Education. 
• The Nevada Committee on Revenue and Economic Development introduced SB 461, which would align career and technical education programs with Nevada’s workforce development strategies and encourage relationships between employers and educational institutions. The bill heads to its only Senate committee stop. 

New Hampshire 

• New Hampshire Rep. Glenn Cordelli’s HB 741, which would create a mandatory open enrollment policy to allow parents to send their children to any public school provided the accepting school has available capacity, awaits a vote in its first Senate committee.  
• New Hampshire Sen. Victoria Sullivan’s SB 295 would expand the Education Freedom Account Program to universal eligibility. The program currently serves more than 5,000 students from households with incomes at or below 350% of the federal poverty line. The bill received an ought to pass recommendation in its first committee and heads to the House floor before going back to its second committee. 
• New Hampshire Rep. Valerie McDonnell’s HB 115, which would phase in universal eligibility for the state’s Education Freedom Account Program, awaits a vote in its first Senate committee. The program currently serves more than 5,000 students from households with incomes at or below 350% of the federal poverty line. The bill would expand eligibility to include households with incomes at 400% of federal poverty next school year and become universal the year after.  
• New Hampshire Rep. Melissa Litchfield’s HB 781, which would create device- and phone-free environments at least during instructional hours, awaits a vote in its first Senate committee. 
• New Hampshire Rep. Rick Ladd’s HB 90, which would strengthen the teacher pipeline with adjunct teachers and allow local school districts hiring flexibility, heads to the Senate floor. 

New Mexico 

• New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB 11, which requires each school district and charter school to adopt and implement policies for wireless communication device-free instructional hours, with exceptions for emergencies, educational, accessibility or medical purposes and for students with disabilities or an IEP. 
• New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Rep. Joy Garratt’s HB 156, which increases teacher salaries; requires K-3 literacy curriculum be based in the science of reading; and allocates funding for literacy programs, teacher training and evidence-based reading instruction. 

North Carolina

• The North Carolina Senate released their version of the state budget, SB 257, which would provide $16.2 million in the first year and $20.1 million in the second year for salary supplements of up to $10,000 for teachers in Advanced Teaching Roles. The budget also expands literacy initiatives by extending key supports to students in grades 4 and 5, allocates funding to create an AI academic support grant for students in grades 6-12 and creates phone-free classrooms. The bill passed the Senate and awaits action by the House.   
• North Carolina Rep. David Willis’ HB 875, which would support K-8 students in math by requiring screening and progress monitoring and parental notification, passed the House and awaits consideration in the Senate. 
• North Carolina Sen. Michael Lee’s SB 506 heads to its second committee. The bill would increase funding for the Advanced Teaching Roles program by $36 million over the next two years. The program allows highly effective educators to advance their careers and supplement earnings by mentoring and supporting new teachers. The bill also includes another $1 million to expand the program to more schools during the upcoming school year.   
• North Carolina Sen. Michael Lee’s SB 579, which would create a high school redesign commission, establish competency-based learning and pathways programs and launch an AI tutoring program in partnership with Khan Academy for the state’s largest public school district, passed its first Senate committee.    
• North Carolina Sen. Lee introduced SB 619, which would create a $10 million recurring AI academic support grant, allowing schools to partner with Khan Academy to provide academic support for students in grades 6-12. 
• North Carolina Sen. Michael Lee’s teacher pipeline bill, SB 508, which would create a pathway to full teacher licensure for individuals with limited licenses based on measurable growth of student outcomes, was amended to include establishment of a teacher apprenticeship program. The bill awaits its final committee vote before heading to the Senate floor. 
• North Carolina Rep. David Willis’ HB 670 would create the Career and College Pathways Innovation Challenge Grant Program to better align educational options with labor market needs, eliminate opportunity gaps and provide pathways for postsecondary enrollment and completion for high school graduates and adults returning to education. The bill passed its first committee.   

North Dakota

• North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed Rep. Jim Jonas’ HB 1160. The law requires school districts to implement phone-free classrooms, with the option to create bell-to-bell policies, and allowing exceptions for students with medical needs, an IEP or 504 plans. This House Bill requires students’ phones to be locked away in phone lockers and pouches, specifically. Another phone-free classrooms bill, Sen. Axtman’s SB 2354, is headed to Gov. Armstrong to consider. It would require only that student phones be stowed away and inaccessible during class time. 
• North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong vetoed Rep. Ben Koppelman’s HB 1540, which would have established the state’s first private school choice program—an income-based ESA program.   
• North Dakota Sen. Michelle Axtman’s SB 2400, which would have created an income-based ESA program with tiered scholarship amounts from $500 up to $3,500, failed on the House floor. 
• North Dakota Sen. Michelle Axtman’s SB 2241, which would allow public charter schools in North Dakota for the first time, was signed into law by Gov. Kelly Armstrong.   

 Ohio 

• Ohio Reps. Justin Pizzulli and Adam Bird’s HB 62, which would reduce barriers to student participation in dual credit courses by requiring participating colleges to use open-source materials instead of purchasing textbooks, awaits its next committee hearing.  
• Ohio Sen. Jane Timken’s SB 158, which would create phone-free schools, had its second hearing, for which ExcelinEd provided testimony in support. The bill is scheduled for a possible committee vote this week.  

Oklahoma 

• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Sen. Seifried and Rep. Caldwell’s SB 139, which would require school districts to establish cell phone and smartwatch-free schools with exceptions for emergencies.  
• Oklahoma Sen. Ally Seifried’s SB 794—which would strengthen the teacher pipeline by establishing student teaching requirements including completion of a minimum number of weeks of field experience or completion of a qualified, job-embedded, competency-based, teacher-registered apprenticeship program—was sent to Gov. Stitt’s desk for signature. 
• Oklahoma Sen. Adam Pugh’s SB 235, which would strengthen the teacher pipeline by creating the Grow Your Own Educator Program, passed the House and heads back to the Senate for further consideration. The program would provide school districts with matching funds to support eligible district employees pursuing undergraduate degrees from an accredited educator preparation program with tuition or loan repayment assistance.   
• Oklahoma Sen. Seifried’s SB 224, which would create the Oklahoma Education and Workforce Statewide Longitudinal Data System to collect and report on data needed to evaluate education-to-workforce programs, identify gaps in education and training, inform decision-making, allocate resources effectively and drive outcomes aligned to the state’s workforce needs, passed the House and goes back to the Senate for further consideration.  
• Oklahoma Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore and Sen. Seifried’s SB 215, which would create the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act, passed the House and heads back to the Senate for further consideration. The act would require all public schools to screen students three times a year for math proficiency, incorporate evidence-based math in the classroom and provide math intervention services.   
• Oklahoma Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Chad Caldwell’s private education choice bill, SB 105, passed the House and goes back to the Senate for further consideration. The bill would remove the requirement that students must attend a public school before applying for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, which supports students with special needs.    
• Oklahoma Rep. Mike Kelley’s HB 1287, which would establish a math tutoring pilot program for the lowest-performing ninth grade public school students in districts with at least 30,000 students, heads to the Senate floor.  
• Oklahoma Rep. Chad Caldwell’s HB 1277, which would allocate $7.5 million in grants to public middle, junior high and high schools to incentivize phone-free schools with funding support for equipment to store cell phones, heads to the Senate floor.  
• Oklahoma Sen. Pugh’s SB 662, which would expand the responsibilities of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to implement programs that expand workforce development and work-based learning programs, heads to the House floor. 

Oregon

• Oregon Rep. Kim Wallan and Rep. Lisa Reynolds’ HB 2251, which would require school districts to implement bell-to-bell phone- and device-free school policies with exceptions for students with medical needs and IEPS, passed the House and heads to its only Senate committee. 

Pennsylvania 

• Pennsylvania Rep. Joseph D’Orsie introduced HB 1258, which would create a universal education savings accounts program, awaits its first committee hearing. 
• Two early literacy bills were filed in the Pennsylvania House and Senate respectively: 
  • Reps. Jason Ortitay and Justin Fleming’s HB 684 would require Pennsylvania schools to adopt evidence-based reading instruction, conduct screeners three times per year for K-3 students, develop individualized intervention plans, adopt approved curriculum and train teachers in the science of reading.  
  • Sens. Devlin Robinson and Vincent Hughes’ SB 700 would require Pennsylvania schools to adopt evidence-based reading instruction, conduct screeners for K-3 students and develop intervention plans for students with reading deficiencies. 

South Carolina

• South Carolina Sen. Greg Hembree’s S 62 passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Henry McMaster. The bill would reinstate the state’s education scholarship account program, which was partially struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court last year. The amended bill raises scholarships from $6,000 to $7,500, removes the prior public-school requirement, increases the income cap and allows an application cap expansion based on funding and demand in the 2026–27 school year. Funding will be decided annually by the General Assembly, from either the general fund or lottery revenue. 
• South Carolina Sen. Hembree’s S 78, which would strengthen the teacher pipeline by allowing current educators and candidates applying for teaching certificates to earn one year of service credit toward the salary schedule for every two years of relevant work experience, passed the House and awaits concurrence by the Senate.   
• South Carolina Sen. Hembree’s S 79, which would strengthen the teacher pipeline by establishing a five-year pilot program allowing public school districts to fill up to 10% of teaching positions with non-certified educators who meet certain qualifications, passed the House and awaits a final vote by the Senate. . 
• South Carolina Rep. Shannon Erickson’s teacher pipeline bill, H 3196, passed both chambers and heads to Gov. McMaster. The bill would provide teachers with greater contract flexibility and allow retired South Carolina educators to maintain certification and return to employment with a school district on either a temporary or full-time basis. 
• The South Carolina Senate passed their proposed budget, which heads back to the House for consideration. The Senate’s proposed budget would:  
  • Provide $75 million for high-quality instructional materials and $14.5 million for summer reading camps. 
  • Maintain the distraction-free learning policy during the K-12 school day.  
  • Designate two funding streams for ESAs—$20 million from lottery revenue and $30 million from the General Fund. 

Tennessee 

• Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed Sen. Jack Johnson’s SB 1310, establishing a process for existing public charter schools to replicate within the same district and, in certain cases, allowing sponsors to apply directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission to open a new school. 
• Tennessee Gov. Lee also signed Sen. Jack Johnson’s SB 1311, which strengthens the teacher pipeline by revising teacher licensure requirements, prioritizing filling vacancies with certified teachers and expanding educator pathways. 
• Tennessee’s 2025 session adjourned and lawmakers sent several bills to Gov. Lee for signature, including: 
  • The state budget, which includes $20 million for charter facility funds, $5 million to establish an  Equitable Facilities Fund to provide revolving loan financing options for charter schools  and $17 million to financially recognize high performing local education agencies.   
  • Rep. Mark White’s HB 504 would remove certain eligibility requirements for the Future Teacher Scholarship and extend the program until 2030. 
• Tennessee Rep. William Lamberth’s HB 1324, which would have established the TennesseeWORKS Scholarship as a new last-dollar scholarship at technical colleges, stalled before the legislature adjourned. The scholarship would have fully covered tuition and fees at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology for all students and alleviate the extra costs of tools and equipment for those with the greatest need.        

Texas 

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Sen. Brandon Creighton’s SB 2, which establishes the state’s first private education choice program—an ESA with universal eligibility that can be used for educational expenses such as private school tuition and fees, textbooks, instructional materials and transportation.  
• Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton’s SB 2252, the Senate companion to Rep. Harold Dutton’s HB 123, passed the Senate and heads to the House. The bill would strengthen early literacy and math policy by requiring literacy and math screeners for K-3 students, progress monitoring, evidence-based literacy and math interventions and professional development academies for math and reading interventionists. 
• Texas Rep. Caroline Fairly’s HB 1481, which would create phone-free schools from bell-to-bell, passed the House and heads to the Senate. 
• Texas Rep. Harold Dutton’s HB 123 passed its only committee stop and heads to the House floor. The bill would strengthen early literacy and math policy by requiring K-3 literacy and math screeners, progress monitoring and evidence-based interventions for struggling students and professional development academies for reading interventionists.  
• Texas Rep. Brad Buckley’s HB 2 would expand the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment, which currently puts over 25,000 teachers on a pathway to earn over $100,000 a year; financial incentives for teachers to complete literacy academies that train teachers on evidence-based literacy instruction; and provide additional facilities funding for charter schools.  The bill passed the House and heads to the Senate. 
• Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton’s SB 2365, which would require school districts to adopt policies creating phone-free instructional time, passed the Senate and heads to the House. 
• Texas Rep. Brad Buckley, Rep. Diego Bernal and Rep. Trent Ashby’s HB 4, which would lower expectations and dilute school accountability and assessment policies, passed its committee stop and heads to the House floor.   

Virginia 

• The Virginia legislature codified Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order into law via SB 738, which creates a bell-to-bell distraction-free schools policy. The bill was signed by Gov. Youngkin.

West Virginia

• West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed Sen. Amy Grady’s SB 912 , which strengthens school accountability by measuring student academic performance and progress in grades 3-12 through assessments three times a year, including progress monitoring math and reading benchmarks for students in grades 4-12 and summative assessments. 
• West Virginia Gov. Morrisey signed Speaker Roger Hanshaw’s distraction-free learning bill, HB 2003. The bill creates phone-free instructional time with specific exemptions for medical or educational needs. 

Wisconsin 

• Wisconsin Rep. Joel Kitchens’ AB 2, which would create phone and device-free instructional time, passed its final committee and heads to the Senate floor. 

Wyoming 

• Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed Rep. Ocean Andrew’s HB 199, which expands the state’s education savings account program. The “Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act” removes household income restrictions to make all Wyoming resident students eligible for ESAs and increases the annual scholarship amount from $6,000 to $7,000.