June 2026 State Actions Update: New Laws Strengthen Literacy and Math Instruction, School Funding and Distraction-Free Learning Environments

In June 2026, state education policy continued to move in key areas as legislative sessions wound down across the country. Governors signed bills focused on improving literacy and math outcomes, expanding access to advanced coursework, strengthening college and career pathways, supporting teacher pipelines and creating learning environments that help students stay focused.

This year, states continued to pursue student-centered policies that make a meaningful difference for families, educators and communities. This month’s update highlights the latest education legislation moving across the states that are shaping what comes next for K-12 education.

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.) 

| Arizona | Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Illinois | Iowa | Massachusetts | Michigan | North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania |

Arizona 

• Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed Rep. Matt Gress and Sen. Hildy Angius’ HB 2423. The law requires public schools to automatically place academically qualified middle school students into advanced math courses and provide parents with information on advanced math pathways and an opportunity to opt out. 

Colorado 

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed Reps. Eliza Hamrick and Lesley Smith, and Sens. Janice Marchman and Barbara Kirkmeyer’s dual enrollment bill, HB 1078. The law allows accredited off-campus college and technical education courses to count toward concurrent enrollment, giving high school students greater access to college credit and career pathway programs. 

Delaware 

• Delaware Sen. Laura Sturgeon’s SB 302 heads to Gov. Matt Meyer for his consideration. The bill creates a new hybrid school funding model, adding student-based weighted funding components to the existing resource-based model.  Florida 

Florida

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills: 
  • Sen. Keith Truenow’s SB 824 requires school districts to annually report all district-owned vacant land to the Department of Education. 
  • The Florida Legislature’s $117 billion appropriations bill, HB 5001, which includes: 
    • A process to fund a technology solution for better tracking students between scholarship programs and public schools.  
    • $500,000 for the Northeast Florida Education Consortium to support a rural student post-secondary student success pilot program. 
    • $40 million in continued funding for the Workforce Capitalization Incentive to support work-based learning in the state. 
    • A $2 million investment in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Grant for Khanmigo to support personalized tutoring in math and reading. 
    • A $150 increase in the full-time equivalent (FTE) funding, making the total FTE funding per student $9,337.67. 
    • $201 million in additional funding for teacher pay increases for a total of more than $1.5 billion. 
    • $7 million in new funding for private school capital outlay in disadvantaged communities.   
    • $11.6 million increase in charter school facility funding for a total of $260 million 
    • $596 million in funding for incentives for accelerated and advanced courses.   
    • $135 million in school recognition funding. 

Illinois 

• Illinois Sen. Cristina Castro’s SB 2427 passed both chambers and heads to the governor’s desk. The bill requires schools to adopt a bell-to-bell wireless communication device-free policy that includes cell phones, tablets and smart watches. 

Iowa 

• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Sen. Lynn Evans’ SF 2220, which requires school districts to develop an advanced mathematics pathway to ensure high-achieving students are guaranteed access to Algebra I in middle school. 

Massachusetts 

• Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed Rep. Danilo Sena’s and Sen. Sal DiDomenico’s Right to Read Act (H. 4683/S. 2940). The literacy package: 
  • Requires districts to adopt literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading and administer universal screeners. 
  • Creates a dedicated early literacy fund to support statewide implementation. 
  • Bans harmful three-cueing reading instruction.  
  • Creates a teacher apprenticeship program. 
  • Aligns educator preparation programs with evidence-based literacy instruction.  

Michigan 

• Two literacy bills in Michigan have passed and are headed to the Governor’s desk: 
  • Rep. Nancy DeBoer’s HB 5697 would require all individuals who provide, support or oversee K-5 instruction to complete professional learning on the science of reading.  
  • Rep. Tim Kelly’s HB 5646 would require educator preparation programs to ensure all individuals who instruct courses on literacy methods have comprehensive knowledge of the science of reading.  
• Michigan Rep. Brad Paquette’s HB 5520 passed the House and is in the Senate. The bill would require schools to retain third grade students who have not demonstrated grade level proficiency in reading.   
• Michigan Rep. Ann Bollin’s education budget bill, HB 5630, passed both chambers and heads to the governor’s desk. The appropriations bill contains $625 million to support student literacy, including: 
  • $100 million to provide grants for high-quality instructional materials. 
  • $50 million to continue implementation of science of reading training. 
  • $10.5 million to hire additional literacy coaches. 
  • $7.6 million to support Literacy Essentials and comprehensive learning about the science of reading. 

North Carolina 

• North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed the state budget, SB 257, sponsored by Sen. Neal Jackson. The budget:  
  • Supports early and adolescent literacy instruction through required use of universal literacy screeners and Individual Reading Plans for K-5 students and parental notification of students with reading difficulties in grades 4-5.  
  • Improves math instruction by requiring 60 minutes of daily math instruction, universal screeners, state-approved high-quality instructional materials and parental notification for students in grades K-8 at low-performing schools. 
  • Provides recurring funding for the Advanced Teaching Roles program, which enhances compensation for highly effective teachers who assume mentor teaching and coaching roles.  
  • Creates a High School Redesign Commission to recommend changes to graduation requirements and work-based learning experiences.  
  • Establishes TeachReadyNC, a new statewide registered teacher apprenticeship program.  
  • Establishes the AI Academic Support Program to provide districts with funding for procuring safe and secure AI-enabled education platforms. 
  • Creates a committee to study intra-district open enrollment policy. 

Ohio 

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Sen. Andy Brenner’s SB 19. The bill requires school districts to provide evidence-based interventions to students struggling in math or reading, develop school-level math intervention plans, ensure high-performing students are guaranteed access to advanced math courses and require the Department of Education and Workforce to create a list of high-quality math instructional materials.  
• Ohio Sen. Brenner’s SB 311 passed the Senate and heads to the House for consideration. The bill would improve facilities access for charter schools and private schools by clarifying qualifications for unused school facilities and specifying that facilities must be sold at fair market value. 

Pennsylvania 

• Pennsylvania Rep. Mandy Steele’s HB 1814 passed the House and heads to the Senate. The bill would require schools to create a bell-to-bell distraction-free schools policy.   
• Pennsylvania Rep. Jordan Harris’ HB 2084 passed the House and heads to the Senate. The bill would provide last-dollar scholarships covering tuition and fees at community colleges, state-owned and state-related institutions, as well as aid for adult learners pursuing reeducation or industry-recognized credentials.