State Actions Update: Literacy, School Choice and Teacher Supports Lead the Way in May 2025

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May 2025 marked a pivotal month for education policy nationwide. As legislative sessions wind down in many states, governors signed a wave of student-centered reforms into law, while lawmakers continued to advance key priorities.  

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a major hybrid funding bill, a new state budget investing in literacy and education scholarship accounts (ESAs) and bills promoting phone-free classrooms and dual enrollment. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs strengthened early literacy by signing two bills, while Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp approved critical funding for ESAs and literacy coaches. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun enacted policies boosting teacher pay and career pathways. In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis prioritized literacy and postsecondary readiness. And in South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster expanded the state’s ESA program, giving more families access to educational opportunities. 

Meanwhile, some states continued to negotiate their budgets and key education bills. Florida’s legislative session extended into June to finalize the budget and several pending education priorities. Oklahoma and Nevada legislatures advanced bills to improve math proficiency, strengthen teacher pipelines and expand school choice—proposals that now await final votes or signatures. 

Across the country, the trend is clear: states are signaling a deep commitment to ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed.  

ExcelinEd in Action is closely tracking these developments and supporting states as they craft policies that put students first. Below is a detailed state-by-state recap of the education bills and budget actions that moved in May 2025. 

To explore the education bills moving in your state, scroll down or use the jump links below. 

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Louisiana | Michigan | Missouri | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | North Carolina | Ohio | Oklahoma | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | West Virginia | Wisconsin

Alabama 

• Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed Sen. Orr’s Renewing Alabama’s Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) Act, SB 305, establishing a hybrid education funding model to allocate weighted funds to students with specific needs. 
• Alabama Gov. Ivey also signed the 2025-26 education budget package, including five 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 and an additional $50 million for the CHOOSE Act.    
  • HB 166 requires students to complete a social media safety course and establishes phone-free classrooms with exceptions for educational purposes, emergencies, IEPs or documented medical needs. 
  • SB 196 allows 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 

• Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed Rep. Zach Fields’ HB 57, which would create phone-free schools, 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. The legislature ultimately voted to override the governor’s veto. 

Arizona 

• Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed two early literacy bills into law.  
  • HB 2170 requires Individualized Education Plans to identify and provide support for students diagnosed with dyslexia. 
  • SB 1502 requires teachers to complete specific training in the science of reading and dyslexia instruction and, for those teaching reading in grades K-5, obtain a literacy endorsement by 2028.  

Colorado 

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed two bills into law.  
  • SB 25-200 mandates the implementation of universal dyslexia screening for K-3 students and amends the READ Act to enhance reading instruction and interventions for struggling readers.   
  • SB 315 streamlines funding for postsecondary workforce readiness programs to focus on student outcomes. 

Delaware 

• Delaware Sen. Eric Buckson’s SB 106, which would require school districts and charter schools to develop policies for establishing device- and phone-free school environments at least during instructional hours, passed the Senate and heads to the House. 

Florida 

• Legislators extended the legislative session to June 6, with the possibility of a further extension to finalize a state budget and related policies. 
• Governor Ron DeSantis signed four bills into law.  
  • HB 443 establishes administrative and regulatory flexibility for charter schools regarding enrollment, student data sharing and student codes of conduct. 
  • 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.   
  • 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 bell-to-bell phone-free schools policy for K-8 and a high school pilot. 
  • 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. 

Georgia 

• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed three bills into law, including the state budget.  
  • Rep. Scott Hilton’s HB 340 creates phone-free schools for K-8 students. 
  • The state budget, HB 68, includes $18.5 million to fund 116 literacy coaches and $141 million for ESAs. 
  • Rep. Matthew Gambill’s Top State for Talent Act, HB 192, aligns existing career-tech and academic credentials with in-demand careers; increases opportunities from high school to postsecondary programs in high-demand fields; and requires a return-on-investment analysis to measure the effectiveness of secondary and postsecondary education-to-workforce programs aligned with the state’s high-demand career list. 

Illinois 

• Illinois Sen. Christina Castro’s SB 2427, which would require all school boards to adopt a cell phone-free classroom policy, was re-referred to the Rules Committee after failing to pass before the legislature adjourned for the summer. 
• Illinois Rep. Katie Stuart’s HB 3522, which would strengthen college pathways by creating the Public University Direct Admission Program to ensure high school students who meet certain academic criteria have a direct path to higher education, passed both chambers and heads to Gov. JB Pritzker for consideration.    

Indiana 

• Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a number of bills into law last week as well as the state budget. 
  • Sen. Linda Rogers’ amended bill to strengthen the teacher pipeline, SB 146, increases the minimum teacher pay to $45,000 and requires schools to spend a minimum of 65% of state tuition support on teacher compensation.    
  • Sen. Spencer Deery’s SB 249 allows schools to give teachers bonuses without collective bargaining.  
  • Sen. Deery’s SB 255 strengthens 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 requires the Indiana Department of Education to conduct a return on investment (ROI) analysis of career and technical education (CTE) programs and publish a report that includes access, alignment and outcome data as well as recommendations for improving CTE. 
  • Rep. Bob Behning’s HB 1498 tasks the Indiana State Board of Education with creating a new school accountability system based on student proficiency rates.  
  • Rep. Behning’s HB 1515 creates a pilot program for a third-party authority to take charge of school transportation and facilities and streamline services for all students. The law also ensures 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, requires the Department of Education to establish a plan to develop a market-driven, stackable credentials and qualifications framework. 
  • The state budget, Rep. Jeffrey Thompson’s HB 1001:   
    • Increases education funding by 2%, with $640 million in new dollars.  
    • Creates universal eligibility for the Choice Scholarship Program, 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 for the Freedom and Opportunity in Education fund, which supports early literacy and math 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 priority bill, HF 784, which strengthens math policy by requiring math proficiency assessments for K-6 students as well as additional math instruction training in educator preparation programs. 
• Iowa Gov.Reynolds signed the Department of Education’s HF 316, which creates a list of industry-recognized credentials for students in grades 9-12, requires districts to report student credential attainment data and adds career exploration opportunities for fifth and sixth graders.

Louisiana 

• 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 Senate Education Committee and was re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee. 
• Louisiana Rep. Jason Hughes’ education to workforce bill, HB 373, passed the Senate and heads back to the House for final concurrence. The bill would require an annual return on investment (ROI) analysis of K-12 industry-based credentials programs and their alignment with workforce needs.  

Michigan 

• Michigan Rep. Mark Tisdel’s HB 4141, which would require school boards to implement distraction-free learning policies, heads to the House floor. The policies would create phone-free instructional time, recess, lunch and passing periods for grades K-8 and phone-free instructional periods for grade 9-12 students.   

Missouri 

• The Missouri legislature passed the state budget, HB 12, which includes $50 million for Missouri’s tax-credit funded education scholarship accounts program, “MO Scholars.” The legislature also appropriated $10 million for funding charter school facilities in HB 2. 
• Missouri Sen. Mike Hendersen’s omnibus education bill, SB 68, passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desk for signature. The bill:   
  • Requires school districts to adopt policies creating phone-free schools bell to bell with exceptions for emergencies.  
  • Strengthens the teacher pipeline by extending teacher externships, expanding teacher certification and teacher recruitment scholarships, and removing the requirement that a teacher’s master’s degree be in their current field to qualify for the minimum master’s salary.   
• 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 legislature and heads to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desk for signature. 

Nebraska 

• The Nebraska Committee on Revenue’s tax bill, LB 647, awaits a final vote on the chamber floor. The bill could expand educational choice by allowing state 529 plans to be used for elementary and secondary school educational expenses.   
• Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed Sen. Rita Sanders’ LB 140, which would require school districts to adopt a device- and phone-free schools policy before the 2025-26 school year, with exceptions for IEPs, emergencies or medical needs. 

Nevada 

• Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed three bills into law.  
  • SB 444 requires school districts to adopt a policy creating distraction-free schools. 
  • SB 52 redefines the definition of long-term English language learner and modifies the criteria for good cause exemption for third grade students who do not pass the state reading exam.  
  • SB 45 allows school districts and charter schools to apply for grants for career and technical education (CTE) programs based on student enrollment in advanced courses. Advanced courses include work-based learning, dual credit courses and industry recognized credential activities within CTE programs.  
• Nevada Assemblymember Steve Yeager’s AB 398, which would provide additional compensation for certain hard-to-fill positions in public schools and ensure students in the highest-need schools and subjects have access to qualified educators, passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Lombardo’s desk for signature. 
• Nevada Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro’s SB 460 was amended to include portions of Gov. Lombardo’s education bill, AB 584. SB 460 now would expand public school choice by allowing open enrollment, require public school K-3 teachers to complete a course of instruction in foundational literacy skills based in the science of reading and aligns educator preparation programs to the science of reading. The bill also creates the Nevada Teacher Apprenticeship program, allowing charter school teachers greater flexibility to teach in an area that is not a core subject if the teacher holds an industry-recognized credential or certificate relevant to the subject. The bill passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Lombardo’s desk.     
• Nevada Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett’s 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, passed the Assembly and heads to its only Senate committee.  
• The Nevada Assembly Committee on Education’s AB 49, which would strengthen the teacher pipeline by removing barriers to licensure for out-of-state teachers, teachers who want to obtain an elementary teaching license and CTE teachers, passed the Assembly and heads to its only Senate committee stop. 

New Hampshire 

• New Hampshire Rep. Melissa Litchfield’s HB 781 would create device- and phone-free environments at least during instructional hours. The bill was considered on the Senate floor and awaits a final vote.  
• New Hampshire’s Sen. Victoria Sullivan’s SB 295, which would expand the Education Freedom Account Program to universal eligibility, passed its second committee and heads to the House floor for final consideration. The program currently serves more than 5,000 students from households with incomes at or below 350% of the federal poverty line. 
• New Hampshire Rep. Rick Ladd’s HB 90 would strengthen the teacher pipeline with adjunct teachers and by providing local school districts flexibility in their hiring. Adjunct teachers would not need a State Board of Education credential if they work up to 20 hours per week, are employed as full-time or adjunct faculty by a New Hampshire university or community college and pass a criminal background check. The bill was considered on the Senate floor and awaits a final vote. 
• New Hampshire Sen. Denise Riccardi’s SB 206, which would require school districts to adopt policies creating bell-to-bell phone-free environments during the school day, received an ought to pass recommendation and heads to the House floor. 

North Carolina 

• The North Carolina Senate and House have each passed their versions of the state budget, SB 257. The budget heads back to the Senate, with the chambers expected to convene a conference committee before releasing the final budget. Both proposed budgets include expanded literacy supports for grades 4–5, a teacher apprenticeship program and language to require local boards to adopt phone-free school policies. The Senate version also provides funding for salary supplements for teachers in Advanced Teaching Roles and creates an AI academic support grant for students in grades 6–12.  
• North Carolina Rep. Hugh Blackwell’s HB 959 was amended by the Senate to require schools to incorporate social media literacy into their curriculum, adopt internet safety policies and create a distraction-free classrooms policy. The bill awaits a vote on the Senate floor before returning to the House for final action. 

Ohio 

• Ohio Sen. Jane Timken’s SB 158, which would create phone-free schools, passed the Senate and has its first House committee hearing this week. 

Oklahoma 

• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed four bills into law. 
  • Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Chad Caldwell’s private school choice bill, SB 105, removes the requirement that students attend a public school before applying for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, which supports students with special needs.  
  • Sen. Ally Seifried’s SB 794 strengthens 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.  
  • Sen. Lonnie Paxton and Speaker Kyle Hilbert’s private school choice bill, SB 684, amends the current Parental Choice Tax Credit Act. The bill adds flexibility to the accreditation requirements needed for schools to participate in the program; changes the payment installments to once a year; allows unused tuition fees to rollover to the next year; grants students already using the tax-credit priority for the next year; and requires participating schools to provide student enrollment data electronically.   
  • Sen. Adam Pugh’s SB 662 expands the responsibilities of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to implement programs designed to expand workforce development, including work-based learning programs. 
• The Oklahoma legislature sent another three bills to Gov. Stitt’s desk.  
  • Sen. Ally Seifried’s SB 140 creates the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act with a $1 million appropriation to implement the program. The act would require all public schools to screen students three times a year for math proficiency, incorporate evidence-based math instruction in the classroom and provide math intervention services.    
  • Sen. Adam Pugh’s SB 235 would strengthen the teacher pipeline by creating the Grow Your Own Educator Program, providing 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.  
  • Rep. Mike Kelley’s HB 1287 would establish a math tutoring pilot program for the lowest-performing ninth grade students in public schools in districts with at least 30,000 students.   
• Oklahoma Rep. Nicole Miller and Sen. Pugh’s public school choice bill, HB 2259, which would allow students of military parents or guardians to enroll in any public school within their school district, passed the legislature and has become law without signature.  
• Oklahoma Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore and Sen. Ally Seifried’s SB 215, which would create the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act, passed the House and heads back to the Senate for final consideration. The act would require all public schools to screen students three times a year for math proficiency, incorporate evidence-based math instruction in the classroom and provide math intervention services.   
• Oklahoma Sen. Seifried’s SB 224, which would create the Oklahoma Education and Workforce Statewide Longitudinal Data System, passed the House and goes back to the Senate for final consideration. The system would 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.   

Pennsylvania 

• Pennsylvania Sen. Devlin Robinson’s SB 700 would require schools to adopt evidence-based reading instruction, train educators aligned with the science of reading, conduct screeners for K-3 students and develop intervention plans for students with reading deficiencies. The bill passed its first committee and heads to the Senate floor.  
• Pennsylvania Sen. Judy Ward’s SB 10 would create the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship for the approximately 15,000 students who are residentially assigned to public schools ranked in the lowest 15% for performance and whose household income is 250% of the federal poverty level or below. The bill passed its first committee and heads to the Senate floor. 

South Carolina  

• South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed four bills into law.  
  • Sen. Greg Hembree’s S 79 establishes 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. 
  • Sen. Hembree’s S 78 allows 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. 
  • Rep. Shannon Erickson’s teacher pipeline bill, H 3196, provides teachers with greater contract flexibility and allows retired South Carolina educators to maintain certification and return to employment with a school district on either a temporary or full-time basis. 
  • Sen. Hembree’s S 62 reinstates the state’s education scholarship account program, which was partially struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court last year. The law 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. 
• The South Carolina Senate and House passed the state budget, which provides funding for high-quality instructional materials and education scholarship accounts and maintains the state’s distraction-free schools policy. The budget heads to Gov. Henry McMaster for signature.  

Tennessee 

• Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee 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 Gov. Bill Lee signed the state budget, which includes $20 million for charter school facilities to be distributed to each charter school on a per-pupil basis, $5 million to create a Tennessee Equitable Facilities Fund and provide a revolving loan financing option for charter schools and $17 million to financially recognize high-performing school districts. 

Texas 

• Texas Rep. Caroline Fairly’s HB 1481 to establish phone-free schools passed the Senate and heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.  
• Texas Rep. Brad Buckley’s school accountability bill, HB 4, died in conference committee before the legislature adjourned. The Senate’s substitute bill would have maintained high expectations while shortening testing by creating a new and more streamlined summative assessment with optional interim assessments throughout the year. 
• Texas Rep. Brad Buckley’s HB 2 heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for signature. The bill would expand the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment, which puts teachers on a pathway to earn more than $100,000 a year; establish financial incentives for teachers to complete literacy academies on evidence-based literacy instruction; and provide additional facilities funding for charter schools. The bill also strengthens early literacy and math policy, including requirements for 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.   

West Virginia 

• The West Virginia State Board of Education adopted a policy that requires county boards of education to develop policies that create device- and phone-free environments at least during instructional hours. 

Wisconsin 

• Wisconsin Rep. Paul Melotik’s AB 166, which would strengthen K-12 college pathways by requiring higher education institutions to collect and report return-on-investment data like graduate employment rates, had its first Senate committee hearing. The data would inform creation of a list of the top 50 most in-demand jobs and be available to students as part of their academic and career planning services.