State and Legislative Updates from SEF’s Government Affairs Team

The weeks of 6/22 – 7/3

Greetings all,

As we officially kick off summer, there has been no shortage of activity impacting education at the federal level and across the region.

The Trump Administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing sweeping changes to both requirements and restrictions on federal funding that stand to have concerning impacts on nonprofits, education, and research. OMB’s proposed rules prohibit recipients of federal grants from directing funds toward topics the Administration disfavors, including but not limited to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Also, in other major news, the U.S. Department of Education announced it is transferring its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) under an interagency agreement (IAA). This is the 14th such IAA it has undergone. The Education Department will retain management and leadership of OCR, but it will coordinate with the DoJ on cases and resolutions of civil rights violations.

At the state level, it’s all about budgets and state revenue, or lack thereof. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe froze $441 million in spending, citing that state-level spending currently outpaces ongoing revenue collections. Funding for public schools remains unchanged while funding for the MOScholars school voucher program received a $10 million increase. In South Carolina, disagreements over property tax relief and earmarks stalled legislators’ work on the state’s spending plan. Lawmakers passed a continuing resolution keeping spending levels the same as the previous fiscal year, sending the state into a new financial cycle without a new budget and no clear timeline for completion. Finally, in Virginia, the legislature approved a package of amendments proposed by Gov. Spanberger to the state’s two-year budget, formally ending a budget impasse that lasted for months with less than 48 hours remaining before the start of a new budget cycle.

As always, we hope you find the resources and updates included in this newsletter both helpful and meaningful in your work. We wish you all a safe and joyful holiday weekend.

The Latest from SEF

  • Brown’s Promise published States of Segregation Report – Using the most recent data from the 2023-24 school year from the Segregation Tracking Project, Brown’s Promise ranked the states by their degree of racial segregation between white students and minoritized students (Black, Hispanic, and Native American students) and economic segregation between students who qualify for Free and Reduced Priced Lunch—a measure of poverty—and those who don’t). Read the full report here.
  • SEF’s Senior Fellow, Dr. Lee Johnson III, published a blog overviewing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services changes to the Child Care Subsidy Rules – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently finalized changes to the Child Care and Development Fund program which rescinds several requirements established in the 2024 CCDF rule related to family copayments, provider payment practices, and the use of grants and contracts to expand child care supply. While states may continue implementing these policies voluntarily, the removal of clear federal baseline protections may lead to greater variation in affordability, access, and provider stability across states. Read the full blog here.

State Updates

Alabama

  • State adds First Class Pre-K classrooms, but access remains an issue – Alabama will add 64 First Class Pre-K classrooms for the 2026-2027 school year, expanding a nationally recognized program to serve over a thousand additional children. Most of the new classrooms will be located in counties that researchers have recently identified as having particularly high unmet demand for First Class Pre-K.  (Alabama Daily News) Read More

Arkansas

  • The state ballot measure rights amendment will protect what lawmakers won’t – Keeping “We the People” in charge of our state is why Protect AR Rights, a coalition of grassroots Arkansas citizen groups, proposed the Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment for voters this year. (Arkansas Times) Read More

Florida

  • State ranks last in new national report on support of K-12 schools – Among other national education research institutions, the Network for Public Education ranked Florida last for its lack of commitment and support for K-12 public schools. (Tallahassee Democrat) Read More
  • State Board of Education votes to ban undocumented students from attending public colleges – In a telephone-only board meeting, the panel voted to require all students admitted to the state’s 28 colleges to be U.S. citizens or “lawfully present in the United States.” The state colleges, once known as community colleges, must require students to present documentation before enrolling. (Florida Phoenix) Read More

Georgia

  • Gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms wants the state to meet its universal pre-K pledge. It’s a tough promise to keep – Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee for governor, says she wants to guarantee universal pre-K for all Georgia four-year- olds by legalizing casino gambling. (WABE) Read More
  • More than half of Georgia teachers now use artificial intelligence to prepare for class – A new report from the state auditor’s office found that nearly 60% of Georgia teachers are using artificial intelligence in classrooms or to prepare for class. A wide majority of teachers who use AI said it has improved their lessons and saved them time. Teachers who don’t use it have a host of concerns, including worries that it will harm students’ critical thinking skills or become a crutch. (Georgia Recorder) Read More

Louisiana

  • Governor Jeff Landry teacher stipend plan back on after judge scraps order on technicality – Gov. Landry can move forward with his strategy to cut public school operations funding to provide another round of teacher pay stipends this year after a Baton Rouge judge threw out an order that was preventing the plan from moving forward. (Louisiana Illuminator) Read More

Maryland

  • Educator-recommended candidates win primary races – While final results in many races may not be known for days, initial results from the June 23 primary demonstrate the political power in pro-public education positions, with educator-recommended candidates winning in an overwhelming majority of their races. (Maryland State Education Association) Read More

Mississippi

  • KIDS COUNT reveals the good in education, but the bad in healthcare for Mississippi children – In this report, the most comprehensive annual 50-state overview of child well-being, Mississippi was a leader in education gains — but also ranked at the bottom nationally in categories such as child and teen deaths and children living in poverty. (Mississippi Today) Read More
  • State lawmakers focus on boosting middle school students’ reading scores – Fourth grade literacy gains earned Mississippi national acclaim. But that achievement tapers off as students advance to higher grades. Lawmakers are investing millions to change that. (Mississippi Today) Read More
  • State financial aid programs face a $7.3 million shortfall, putting college grants at risk for more than 27K students – Mississippi financial aid officials say almost 27,000 college students could receive less state financial aid for the spring semester in 2027, and a student loan repayment program for teachers will not make awards this fiscal year because of a budget shortfall. (Mississippi Today) Read More

Missouri

  • Gov. Mike Kehoe vetoes, restricts nearly $500 million from Missouri state budget  – Gov. Mike Kehoe vetoed nearly $53 million from Missouri’s $50.7 billion state budget, but his larger move was to freeze $441 million in spending — including dozens of lawmaker-backed earmarks — as state revenues lag projections and the pandemic-era surplus dwindles. (Missouri Independent) Read More
  • Parent groups organize against Amendment 5 over school funding concerns – Parents for Missouri Public Schools is organizing families against a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow state lawmakers to raise sales and use taxes to repeal the state’s income tax. Fueled by parents worried about the future of their kids’ schools, the organization is one of many groups labeling Amendment 5 an affront to public education. (Missouri Independent) Read More
  • Crystal Quade, Lincoln Hough weigh in on term limits, education and more at public forum – Missouri District 30 Republican Senator Lincoln Hough, whose term will end soon, and former Missouri House minority leader Crystal Quade, a Democrat, shared insights on education and term limits. (KSMU News) Read More

North Carolina

  • State House Republicans override Gov. Stein’s vetoes on anti-DEI and pro-ICE bills – State House Republicans overrode key vetoes by Gov. Josh Stein on bills requiring greater law enforcement cooperation with ICE and banning diversity, equity, and inclusion practices from state government agencies, K-12 public schools, and public higher education. (NC Newsline) Read More
  • ‘States of Segregation’ report ranks public schools high in economic segregation – A new report ranks the state among the seven worst states for economic segregation in public schools. The report was released this week by the advocacy group Brown’s Promise. (WUNC News) Read More

Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma private school tax credit program sees growth. Who benefits? – A growing Oklahoma tax credit program will spend at least $255 million in the coming year to support private school students, including an increasing number of children coming from higher-income homes. (Oklahoma Voice) Read More

South Carolina

  • State to start spending year without budget in place. What it means for taxpayers – When the state begins its next fiscal year, the government won’t have a new budget to direct agencies on how to spend money. Lawmakers adopted a continuing resolution which keeps spending levels the same as the previous budget year. (The State) Read More

Tennessee

  • State increases private-school voucher vendor contract by $356M – State lawmakers are giving a $356 million raise to the company handling the state’s two private-school voucher programs, despite the vendor’s woes in two other states. (Tennessee Lookout) Read More
  • The Accountability Act is about more than schools – The recently enacted Tennessee Accountability Act is being promoted by its sponsors as a well-intentioned effort to improve educational outcomes across our state. On its surface, the legislative rhetoric frames it as a standard intervention tool for struggling districts. (AOL) Read More
  • Tennessee schools are the most racially segregated in the South, report shows – Tennessee schools are the most racially segregated in the South and the sixth-most segregated in the nation, a new report reveals. (Knox News) Read More
  • Memphis schools takeover blocked by judge in temporary order – A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Memphis school takeover board’s authority after school officials said it could delay the start of the school year or even force building closures as the district prepares to welcome students back to class in less than five weeks. (Chalkbeat Tennessee) Read More

Texas

  • Mandated Bible stories in reading lists, revamped history for public schools approved – The state will require Bible stories in public schools after the State Board of Education approved a mandatory reading list alongside a rewrite of K-8 social studies lessons that minimize racial, geographic and cultural diversity. (The Texas Tribune) Read More

Virginia

  • State budget would eliminate Child Care Subsidy Program waitlist – Virginia lawmakers approved a budget for the upcoming biennium that will fully eliminate locally-maintained waitlists for a popular childcare program in the state. The fiscal 2027–28 spending plan also funds a $25M childcare cost-sharing pilot. (VPM) Read More
  • Virginia joins initiative to create three-year bachelor’s degree model – Higher education leaders in Virginia and Ohio announced that they will join forces to create a model for three-year bachelor’s degrees, cutting the traditional timeframe of obtaining the credential by one year. (Virginia Mercury) Read More
  • After criticism, the state proposes two-year delay in raising school standards – The Virginia Board of Education may delay the full implementation of the state’s plan to raise academic benchmarks for reading and math by two years, rather than gradually increasing them over four years starting this year as scheduled. (WTOP News) Read More
  • State budget’s 4% teacher raise leaves districts to cover added costs – New state budget includes a larger-than-expected teacher pay raise, and some local school divisions say the late change is requiring them to figure out how to cover the added cost. (WSET News) Read More
  • Legislature approves Governor Abigail Spanberger’s budget amendments, ending monthslong impasse – With less than 48 hours remaining before the start of the state’s new fiscal year, the legislature approved a package of amendments proposed by Gov. Spanberger to the state’s two-year budget, formally ending a budget impasse that lasted for months. (Virginia Mercury) Read More

West Virginia

  • Across the state, public schools are closing. Communities are feeling the loss. – Since 2019, 70 public schools have closed and over 30,000 students have left the public school system. In the last year, Wetzel County Public Schools have lost over 150 students, dipping below 2,000 students in the county. (Mountain State Spotlight) Read More
  • Alarms continue to sound over future of public education – The President of the State Board of Education has repeatedly warned that public schools are struggling under the current school funding formula and burdensome regulations. While lawmakers acknowledged these concerns during the 2026 legislative session, they ultimately failed to take action to address the growing financial strain. (Metro News) Read More

National/Federal Updates

Early Childhood Education News and Resources

  • Child care is becoming more affordable – A common complaint among working parents is that child care has become too expensive. In surveys, couples often say they cannot afford to have their desired number of children. (The Economist) Read More
  • How Early Childhood and K-12 Systems Can Work Together To Support Early Literacy – To support early literacy and ensure sustained gains in reading achievement, early childhood education (ECE) and K-12 systems must work together, not as separate silos, but as parts of a cohesive education continuum that supports children from birth through third grade and beyond. (Center for American Progress) Read More
  • Early learning shortchanged: Public investments in early care and education by age and state – This report explores underinvestment in children’s education and care across age groups, geographies, and funding sources, finding that for every public dollar spent on school-aged children, only 21 cents and 11 cents were spent on preschoolers and infants and toddlers, respectively. (Center for Early Learning Funding Equity) Read More
  • Examining the Gaps Child Care Prices, Costs, and Subsidies – This report examines state assessments of those costs in detail, and the findings are clear: Across most states with available data, our gap analyses showed that subsidy rates fall below both current market prices and the true cost of providing child care, and in many cases, market prices are below cost. (Child Care Aware) Read More

K-12 Education News and Resources

  • Ensuring Children’s Safe Use of Screens and E-Rate-Funded Services Promoting Fair and Open Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate Program – This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking continues the Commission’s efforts to improve the E-Rate program and ensure E-Rate-funded networks and services are being used for educational purposes. (Federal Communications Commission) Read More
  • Public schooling in America: Measuring each state’s commitment to democratically governed schools – For nearly a decade, the Network for Public Education has issued annual report cards grading state lawmakers on their support for public schools. The 2026 edition is its most comprehensive yet, evaluating all 50 states and the District of Columbia across four categories. (Network for Public Education) Read More
  • Review of U.S. Department of Education Changes in Staffing and Operations – This report consolidates the results of our review of changes in staffing and operations at the U.S. Department of Education. (U.S. Office of the Inspector General) Read More
  • How Fair is School Funding in My State? – Southerners for Fair School Funding uses a State Ratings Rubric based on research and a core set of criteria to evaluate how Southern states fund their public schools. The map provides a clear picture of how Southern states are doing on each component of fair school funding. (Southerners for Fair School Funding) Read More
  • What AI Use Guidelines Should Look Like for Schools – A big challenge teachers face as the use of artificial intelligence expands is a lack of clear direction and guidance from school leaders and policymakers on how to responsibly and effectively integrate AI into teaching and learning. (Education Week – Subscription Required) Read More
  • AI Changes Its Feedback on Students’ Writing When It Knows Their Race, Gender – Artificial intelligence-based writing coaches have gained popularity as a way to give teachers quick feedback on hundreds of student drafts, reducing one of their most time-intensive tasks. (Education Week – Subscription Required) Read More
  • Rising Premiums, Falling Opportunities: The Budgetary Impact of Health Care Costs on School Districts – This report is the first national study of its kind examining how rising healthcare costs are affecting public school district budgets, staffing and operational decisions, and educational opportunities for students. (The School Superintendents Association) Read More
  • Bonamici Introduces Resolution to Impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon – The resolution alleges that McMahon violated her oath of office, misled Congress, and broke federal law by transferring multiple Department of Education offices and more than 140 programs to other federal agencies without congressional approval. (U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici) Read More
  • AFT and NEA Call on Democratic Governors to Reject Trump Private School Voucher Scheme – In a letter to Democratic governors, the leaders of the National Education Association and the AFT urged them to reject the Trump administration’s private school voucher program, calling it a serious threat to public schools serving nearly 90% of K–12 students. (American Federation of Teachers) Read More
  • The phrase K-12 officials are sick of hearing when talking about innovating on a budget – Tight economic conditions in K-12 may make finding ways to innovate harder for education companies, but education leaders warn not to conflate those industry challenges with an expectation some find infuriating: that educators can “do more with less.” (EdWeek Market Brief) Read More

Higher Education News and Resources

  • Why Americans Will Get Less Help Paying for College – As the cost of higher education has risen, universities have faced growing scrutiny of the value of a four-year degree. Now, the Trump administration is intensifying that debate by scaling back the federal student loan program. (The New York Times) Read More
  • Persistence, Retention Among Black and Hispanic Freshmen Reach Decade Highs – Black and Hispanic students who began college in fall 2024 returned the following fall at the highest persistence and retention rates in a decade, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (Inside Higher Ed) Read More
  • We see you, HBCU(s): Measuring the impacts of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the South -This issue brief focuses on public HBCUs in the South and state efforts to support them, while noting that some state funding has also been directed to private HBCUs.  (Council of State Governments Southern Office) Read More
  • What It Would Mean for These Public Colleges to Ban Undocumented Students – Florida’s educational officials are preparing to approve policies that would bar undocumented students from attending public colleges and universities. The cost? Millions in lost tuition — and much more in long-term economic and social losses, experts and advocacy organizations say. (The Chronicle of Higher Education – Subscription Required) Read More
  • Will the new student loan limits actually drive down tuition? Economists weigh in – For the past two decades, graduate students have been able to take out unlimited federal student loans to cover the full cost of their education. The Trump administration has a plan to change that by capping graduate school loans for many students, but many economists aren’t so sure it will do what Republicans say it will. (National Public Radio) Read More
  • More than 3 million college students are raising kids. Most won’t graduate – Nearly 1 in 5 college students are raising children while pursuing a degree, but just 18% of student parents graduate within six years. (Fortune) Read More

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, and if we can assist with any government affairs or advocacy issues moving forward.

Sincerely,

Fred Jones, Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy

fjones@southerneducation.org

Darian Burns, Legislative and Public Policy Analyst

dburns@southerneducation.org

Allison Boyle, Research and Policy Specialist,

aboyle@southerneducation.org