The Bottom Line

The latest education policy news from the South

State and Legislative Updates from SEF’s Government Affairs Team

Weeks of | 3/17 – 28, 2025

Greetings all,

We hope all is well as we close out the end of March. Last week, President Trump signed a long-awaited executive order directing the U.S. Secretary of Education to dismantle the federal Department of Education (USDE). USDE’s closure has the potential to negatively impact states and school districts that disproportionately rely on federal operating and programmatic funds that support schools in rural districts and that serve high concentrations of students from low-income families. While dismantling the USDE requires an act of Congress, for which legislation has been introduced, there have already been significant staffing cuts and public discussions on how to shift core USDE functions to other federal agencies. In the coming weeks, we expect continued federal education updates as Congress works through budget reconciliation and prepares to receive the administration’s first budget proposal of President Trump’s second term.

At the state level, we want to highlight some school voucher program developments in Florida and North Carolina. In Florida specifically, public school officials are calling on the legislature to address the issue of not receiving funds for students who have returned to public schools after exiting one of the state’s school voucher programs. In North Carolina, following the state’s major school voucher program expansion, NC’s education assistance authority has received nearly 30k fewer program applications than last year. This may be a sign of declining interest from the public. (To learn more about the impacts of school voucher programs, check out SEF’s latest fact sheet here.)

We also want to highlight a recent tool developed by the Learning Policy Institute that analyzes the distribution of public and private schools by each state using data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The tool helps illustrate how schools are geographically distributed (urban, suburban, rural) across each state, providing helpful context for understanding where school voucher programs (e.g., tax-credit scholarships, universal school choice, education savings accounts) may be located.

As always, we hope you find the state and federal resources below helpful and meaningful to your work supporting students throughout the region.

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State Updates

Alabama

President Trump’s elimination of the Department of Ed. could harm Alabama’s public schools – If President Trump is successful, the department’s elimination will strip billions of dollars in federal spending on public education. (Alabama Political Reporter) Read More
State lawmaker proposes board to study impact of dismantling U.S. Department of Education – HB 438 was recently filed to create a temporary board to study the impact of the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education on public education in Alabama. (WBMA News) Read More

Arkansas

How dismantling the Department of Education affects Arkansas – President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. Brad Bartels, executive director of the Arkansas Education Association, expressed concerns about the potential impact on students and educators. (KATV News) Read More
A bumpy road ahead for Arkansas’s rural public schools – National datafinds that school voucher programs quickly balloon into budget-busting territory. You’d be right to wonder how this might play out in Arkansas, but we do not yet know, as the program won’t be open to all students until the upcoming 2025-26 school year. (Arkansas Times) Read More
State House passes bill to pause state’s grading system to rate schools – The state House passed legislation to pause the state’s grading system used to evaluate public schools. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Subscription Required) Read More

Delaware

Delaware Vision Coalition releases 10-year education plan, career and life readiness at forefront – The Delaware Vision Coalition released its third 10-year plan for public education, hoping to boost testing scores and bring high literacy rates back to the First State. (Delaware Public Media) Read More
Slate of school board reform bills head to House floor for consideration – The House Education Committee moved six bills forward that would provide substantial reform to school board meetings and member requirements. (Delaware Public Media) Read More

Florida

Where’s the money? Florida seeks to better track school voucher funds at private schools – Students enrolled in the state’s Family Empowerment Scholarships are bouncing back to public schools, but the funding is not following the students, public school officials say. (Tallahassee Democrat) Read More
How dismantling the U.S. Education Department could impact schools in South Florida – Following President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department, WPBF 25 News spoke with an education expert on how, if at all, this could impact school districts in South Florida. (WPBF 25 News) Read More
Education bill would remove requirement to pass Algebra I, English exams to earn high school diploma – New legislation, SB 166, says students can instead meet diploma requirements through a combination of coursework that would include earning four credits in ELA and four credits in mathematics. (WPTV News) Read More

Georgia

State senators ready to deny proposed budget cut to school voucher program – The state House passed its version of the FY26 budget, which included a funding cut of nearly $100 million to the state’s newest school voucher program. The Senate is now considering the House proposal and the primary sponsor of the original legislation expects the Senate will restore the funding. (Atlanta News First) Read More
House bill banning personal devices in K-8 schools heads to governor’s desk – HB 340 is headed to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for final approval. This bill will ban personal devices during the day for kindergarten, elementary, and middle school students. (WABE) Read More

Kentucky

Lt. Gov. says she is concerned about Education Department disassembly – Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said that she is concerned about the Department of Education’s disassembly in the wake of President Trump signing an executive order seeking to facilitate its elimination. (The Hill) Read More
Protect Our Schools KY releases statement on order to dismantle Department of Education – Protect Our Schools KY released a statement calling for Kentucky’s Congressional delegation to “stand up for our schools and publicly oppose anything that can threaten or cut critical federal funding for schools.” (WLEX-TV) Read More
Kentucky passes law against enrollment cap on virtual schools – Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has allowed a bill to become law that provides relief for weather-stricken school districts and keeps open a low-performing virtual school where enrollment has exploded in recent years. (GovTech) Read More

Louisiana

Fewer Louisiana students seek college aid after state ends FAFSA requirement – Once a national leader in getting students to apply for college financial aid, Louisiana has plummeted in the rankings this year and is the only state to see a decline in aid applications this cycle, according to the latest federal data. (The Advocate) Read More

Maryland

Blueprint reform bill continues to advance, heads to full Senate next – A Senate committee voted to accept an amended version of its Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan and send it to the full chamber, where a debate is expected to take place soon. (Maryland Matters) Read More
Students, education advocates raise concerns about proposed 2026 budget cuts – Maryland students and education advocates rallied in opposition to potential cuts in the 2026 proposed budget. (CBS News) Read More

Mississippi

Children’s Promise Act dies in the state Senate, thanks in part to Republicans – The state Senate defeated HB 1902, which would have expanded a tax credit program that allows donations to private schools. Several Republican senators voted against the bill, citing constituent concerns, constitutional issues, and timing as reasons for their opposition. (Clarion Ledger) Read More
Mississippian Laurie Todd-Smith tapped to head Trump administration’s early childhood education program – Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith was recently sworn in as the Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Education at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Magnolia Tribune) Read More

Missouri

Republicans block push to increase funding for schools, child care in Missouri budget – The House Budget Committee squeezed $139 million in general revenue out of the state budget for road, port, and other earmarked projects, but Republicans thwarted an effort by Democrats to shift $50 million into public schools. (Missouri Independent) Read More
Rural Missouri school districts face funding uncertainty if Trump closes Education Department – After the presidential administration called for dismantling the Department of Education, future distribution of federal Title Ⅰ funds for high-poverty schools could be up in the air. In mid-Missouri, many rural school districts rely on these funds. (KBIA News) Read More

North Carolina

When a hurricane washes away a region’s child care system – Nearly six months after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, some child care centers remain closed, and young kids are still reeling from the disruptions. (NC Newsline) Read More
New governor seeks to freeze tax cuts, phase out school vouchers in budget – Democratic Gov. Josh Stein urged Republicans in charge of the legislature to roll back upcoming income tax rate cuts and scale back private school vouchers that now can be received by families of all income levels. (WSOC-TV) Read More
Dismantling of U.S. Department of Education has “significant implications” for schools – State Superintendent of Education Mo Green said President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education has “significant implications” for the state’s public schools. (Public Radio East) Read More
Following expansion of school voucher programs, fewer families apply for vouchers this year – This year, North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority says it received around 40,000 new applications for vouchers by the March 6, 2025, deadline — that’s nearly 29,500 fewer than last year. (EdNC) Read More

Oklahoma

State leaders ask Trump administration to cut federal strings on education funds – State leaders have urged President Donald Trump’s administration to bypass typical funding methods at the U.S. Department of Education and place federal dollars for schools directly in the state’s hands. (Oklahoma Voice) Read More
What will school districts do with all those empty school buildings? Some look to fill them with younger children – A number of districts in the state have made the decision to consolidate student populations and close down school buildings. Some are repurposing these empty school buildings into early care and education centers. (EdSurge) Read More

South Carolina

State legislator left the child care business. She hopes to help others keep operating – After nearly three decades in child care, GOP state Rep. Shannon Erickson has left the business. However, as a co-chair of a special legislative committee aimed at addressing the shortfalls of the state’s child care system, she has said she will continue to advocate for the industry and help other operators stay in business. (South Carolina Daily Gazette) Read More

Tennessee

Democratic lawmakers warn ’emergency rules’ passed for universal school vouchers could lead to fraud and abuse – The State Board of Education passed a set of “emergency rules”, taking a step towards opening universal school voucher applications for families. Those temporary rules were met with condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, who said they would allow fraud and abuse to run rampant in the program. (WBIR News) Read More
Legislation to let state-appointed board control underperforming school districts passes first House hurdle – A bill that would create a state-appointed board that would all but strip the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board of its power is working its way through the legislature, passing its first House subcommittee. (WKRN-TV) Read More
Republican lawmaker proposes creating task force to prepare state for dismantling of U.S. Dept. of Education – An amendment proposed for HB 958 introduced by Republican lawmakers would create a task force charged with preparing the state for the possible impact of the United States Department of Education being dismantled. (WBIR TV-10 News) Read More
Legislation to require voucher schools to take part in state testing fails in House subcommittee – Democratic legislation, HB 1214, to require state testing for private schools in Tennessee’s universal school voucher program failed in a House subcommittee. The Senate version is on the calendar for the Education Committee. (WBIR TV-10 News) Read More
Legislation targeting undocumented students clears a hurdle in House – Tennessee lawmakers voted to advance HB 793, which would allow public schools to check students’ immigration status and charge tuition to students who cannot provide proof that they are in the country legally. (Chalkbeat Tennessee) Read More

Texas

95,000 Texas children are waiting for state help to pay for daycare – Nearly 95,000 children sit on the state’s child care scholarship waitlist. Adding more money to scholarships is just one way experts say state lawmakers could address the state’s child care crisis. (Texas Tribune) Read More
Texas House Speaker expects vote on school vouchers early next week – Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows expect education savings accounts to pass out of the House committee and move to the floor soon. (KTBC FOX 7 Austin) Read More
Five ways a funding overhaul has transformed Texas community colleges – More than a year after Texas’ House Bill 8 took effect, which reimagined community college financing, some schools have offered free tuition, grown dual credit programs, or helped students’ credits transfer when they move on to four-year schools. (Texas Tribune) Read More

Virginia

Governor: Virginia ready to take responsibility for K-12 education – Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state education leaders expressed support for an executive order issued by President Trump that returns education to states. (WDBJ7 News) Read More
Virginia’s education superintendent steps down, second to depart under Youngkin – Lisa Coons resigned as Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction, almost two years after replacing the previous superintendent who served for just over a year. (7News) Read More
How could federal education cuts impact Virginia school budgets? – Public school districts still face potential federal funding cuts following President Donald Trump’s move to slash U.S. Department of Education staffing in half. If eliminated, Virginia schools would need to fill a $2.4 billion funding gap with new sources. (Virginia Public Media) Read More

West Virginia

Education committees focus on regional issues of extremely rural schools, locality pay – From the Eastern Panhandle to the southern mountain counties, West Virginia contains a great variety. Both education committees debated bills to address unique regional issues. (WV Public Broadcasting) Read More
Bill putting education rule-making authority under West Virginia Legislature passes Senate – The Senate passed similar legislation as the House, SB 705, which would amend State Code regarding the rule-making authority of the state Board of Education, requiring that all legislative rules enacted by the board must first be authorized by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel) Read More
West Virginia House passes elementary discipline bill – Legislation giving elementary school teachers a way to combat disruptive, violent behavior in the classroom passed the House. SB 199 passed 94-3, and goes back to the Senate for lawmakers to consider changes made in the House. (WVNews) Read More

National/Federal Updates

Early Childhood Education News and Resources

Basic Facts About Low-Income Children: Children Under Age 9, 2023 – This fact sheet highlights disparities in young children’s experiences of economic insecurity by race, geography, and other factors. (National Center for Children in Poverty) Read More

K-12 Education News and Resources

Coalition sues Trump administration for dismantling U.S. Department of Education, hurting all students – Advocacy organizations representing millions of educators, civil rights champions, school employees, students, and families will file a lawsuit to stop the Trump Administration’s illegal attempts to dismantle the United States Department of Education. (National Education Association) Read More
School ‘pairings’ can foster racial, socioeconomic integration – New research shows that merging two schools, where one building serves grades K-2 and the other grades 3-5, could reduce racial and ethnic isolation by as much as 60% in 200 large school districts nationwide. (The 74) Read More
E-rate’s future hangs in the balance as Supreme Court hears arguments in universal service case – The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in FCC v. Consumers’ Research — a case in which the future of the federal E-rate program hangs in the balance. (K-12 Dive) Read More
Designing Contracts for a Modern Classroom: Enabling Strategic Staffing Models – To advance strategic staffing efforts, we can and should design contracts that enable, incentivize, and fortify them. This report explores how the framework can be used to modify contractual provisions and the processes used to build them to allow the flexibility necessary for innovation while preserving strong workplace conditions and evidence-based strategies. (Where We Agree) Read More

Higher Education News and Resources

Credit score impacts from past due student loan payments – In this post, we discuss how the pandemic and subsequent policy actions affected the credit scores of student loan borrowers and how the return of negative reporting of past due balances will impact the credit standing of student loan borrowers. (Liberty Street Economics) Read More

As always, 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

Review the archive of past updates:

Miles To Go: The State of Education for Black Students in America