The Bottom Line

The latest education policy news from the South

State and Legislative Updates from SEF’s Government Affairs Team
The weeks of 8/25 – 9/5

Greetings all,

We hope you had a restful holiday weekend. Below are key updates on school voucher developments across the South and federal education funding.

Mississippi lawmakers recently convened a special committee meeting where national education officials advocated for expanding the state’s school voucher program. In South Carolina, nearly 1,000 students were removed from the state’s newest voucher initiative due to eligibility concerns—raising questions about oversight and program design. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the House and Senate Government Operations Committee scrutinized the rollout of the state’s universal voucher program. Lawmakers raised concerns about: (1) the absence of a requirement for voucher recipients to disclose prior public school enrollment; (2) the potential for private schools to teach “divisive concepts” banned in public schools; and (3) the lack of comparable assessment data between public school students and voucher recipients. These developments reflect growing tensions around equal access, curriculum standards, and accountability in voucher programs across the region.

At the federal level, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies advanced its FY2026 funding bill along party lines. The proposal aligns with President Trump’s overall budget request of $66.7 billion for the U.S. Department of Education—a 15% reduction ($12.1 billion) from FY2025 levels.

The bill eliminates funding for Title II (Supporting Effective Instruction), Title III (Language Instruction for English Learners), Full-Service Community Schools, and Adult Education. It also includes policy provisions prohibiting federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, critical race theory, and transgender participation in school athletics.

In stark contrast, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a FY2026 appropriations bill at the end of July that essentially level-funds the U.S. Department of Education, highlighting a significant divergence between the two chambers.

With a September 30 funding deadline approaching, Congress faces mounting pressure to pass a short-term Continuing Resolution to avoid a government shutdown. Both Committee Republicans and Democrats have released separate summaries of the House bill, if you would like more detailed information about the funding bill.

The Latest from SEF

(Commentary from SEF) “The Unsung Pillars Of Democracy – Why School Boards Need Us Now” – School boards, especially elected ones, are the bedrock of our democracy, yet they’re critically overlooked and underserved. These vital, community-led institutions, designed to give citizens a direct say in local education, are essential for healthy communities. (Forbes) Read More
Fellowship Opportunity: Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellowship – Are you an early-career attorney passionate about civil rights and education justice? SEF is now accepting applications for the 2026–2028 Lynn Walker Huntley Fellowship Program. Apply Now!
Upcoming Conference: 2025 SEF’s Issues Forum Miles to Go: The Road to Education Justice – Do not forget to register and join SEF Nov. 4-6 in New Orleans, LA, for our signature convening on education opportunity.

State Updates

Alabama

State lawmakers consider tying higher education funding to student outcomes – State lawmakers held the first of three expected meetings to discuss tying a portion of state funding for public four-year colleges and universities to performance metrics such as graduation rates and workforce placement. (Alabama Daily News) Read More

Arkansas

Lawmakers question implementation of third-grade literacy law – State lawmakers continued to express concern about a newly effective law that prohibits students who don’t meet the state’s third-grade reading standard from being promoted to fourth grade. (Arkansas Advocate) Read More

Georgia

University system to offer need-based scholarships – The University System of Georgia is launching a need-based scholarship program financed through the private sector. (Capitol Beat) Read More

Kentucky

Has school busing helped or hurt Louisville kids? The event explores the issue 50 years later. – It’s been 50 years since court-ordered busing ignited a firestorm in Louisville as two public school systems divided by race and economics were forced to integrate. An event, called “50 Years After Busing, A Community Conversation,” will look back at the history of busing, where we are today and what’s next for our kids. (Courier-Journal) Read More
Report: Kentucky economy could improve with child care changes – A new report claims that if child care were more available and affordable in Kentucky, around 16,000 to 28,000 people could join or rejoin the state’s workforce, adding up to $600 million to the economy. (WUKY News) Read More
Latino civil rights group moves to protect in-state tuition for immigrants in Kentucky – A Latino civil rights organization seeking to stop the Trump administration from denying in-state college tuition rates to immigrants without permanent legal status is intervening in a challenge to a Kentucky policy. (Kentucky Lantern) Read More

Louisiana

How Hurricane Katrina shaped these New Orleans educators – Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, three educators reflect on how the disaster affected their lives and their careers. (The Grio) Read More
State Higher Education Task Force holds first meeting to explore new accreditation options – The state’s newly formed Higher Education Task Force met for the first time, beginning work on what could be a major shift in how the state’s universities and colleges are accredited. (WBRZ News) Read More
Katrina destroyed New Orleans’ early childhood education. Twenty years later, it remains a model for success. – After the hurricane shuttered New Orleans’ child care centers, providers didn’t just reopen their doors – they rebuilt a more equitable system from the ground up. (The 19th) Read More

Mississippi

Federal education officials encourage school voucher expansion in Mississippi – A panel of state lawmakers has heard from national education officials who urged them to expand school vouchers in Mississippi, signaling the Trump administration’s support of passing such legislation. (Associated Press) Read More
State needs to consolidate more school districts, governor says – Gov. Tate Reeves wants the state legislature to consider consolidating 20 to 50 of the 138 school districts in the state. The leader of the Mississippi House Education Committee also says he wants to look at consolidating districts. (Mississippi Free Press) Read More
Podcast: House Ed Chairman Rob Roberson recaps school voucher hearing, outlines issues moving forward to legislative session – House Education Chairman, following a first select committee hearing on school vouchers and other education policy, told Mississippi Today that lawmakers should be open to discussions on school vouchers, consolidation, or any other measures that might move the state’s education system forward. (Mississippi Today) Read More
State universities halt funding for student groups, citing DEI law – Some state universities have stopped providing funding to student organizations for club activities due to uncertainty over a state law on hold by a federal judge that bans diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public schools. (Associated Press) Read More

Missouri

Judge denies request to freeze state private school voucher payment – The State Treasurer’s Office can continue to subsidize private school vouchers from a $51 million allotment of state revenue, a Cole County Circuit Court judge ruled last week. However, the judge didn’t outright deny the teacher union’s case, as he denied the state’s motion to dismiss. This keeps alive the lawsuit challenging the fund’s constitutionality. (Columbia Missourian) Read More

North Carolina

UNC System boards reviewing anti-DEI compliance ahead of reporting deadline– It’s been nearly a year since UNC System campuses first reported how they were complying with the system’s repeal of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Now, per the so-called “equality policy” that replaced the DEI mandates, it’s time for another round of reporting. (The News & Observer) Read More
Police child care pilot seeks funding – Customized child care for law enforcement may be coming to North Carolina if a pilot program offered by the National Law Enforcement Foundation receives funds from the General Assembly. (North State Journal) Read More
New state law will add protections for 529 college savings plans. What to know – If you’re saving money for your child’s future, that money is about to be more secure — if you’re investing it in a certain way. North Carolina college-savings and disability-expenses accounts will have added protections from creditors and debt judgments, starting Sept. 1. (The News & Observer) Read More
How the UNC System Shaped a Controversial Plan to Revamp College Accreditation – Records show North Carolina played a significant role in founding the new oversight body. State leaders say it won’t be political, but some faculty are concerned. (The Assembly North Carolina) Read More

Oklahoma

New program offering free childcare to address workforce shortage – There’s a new statewide program that’s aimed at addressing Oklahoma’s childcare crisis. It’s called Oklahoma Strong Start, and it offers free childcare to those who work at a licensed childcare facility. (KFOR-TV) Read More
In-state tuition no longer offered to some immigrant students in Oklahoma – State higher education officials voted to revoke a policy that allowed some immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities in limited circumstances. (Oklahoma Voice) Read More

South Carolina

South Carolina will soon have armed, full-time officers at every public school – The state of South Carolina is well on its way to having armed, full-time resource officers at all public schools across the state. (Spectrum Local News) Read More
Over 1,000 students removed from school voucher program – A potential crisis is brewing in the state’s education system as more than 1,000 student accounts tied to a state education scholarship trust fund have been suspended due to eligibility concerns. (WACH News) Read More
State Department of Education talks AI in schools – The state Department of Education has shared plans on how AI could be used in the classroom. (WSPA News) Read More
Education Lab hosts first of several planned public forums on the issue of early education – Pre-kindergarten early childhood education, or Pre-K, can ensure that young children get off to a good start in school and in life, no matter their socio-economic status. But Pre-K in South Carolina is not available to all, and questions remain about curriculum, teacher training, measurements of success, and funding mechanisms. (Post and Courier) Read More

Tennessee

With new tuition program in place, lawmakers question state board of education – As the state’s new universal school voucher program goes into effect for the upcoming school year, Democratic members of the Senate and House Committees on Government Operations questioned members of the State Board of Education on its implementation. (Chattanooga Times Free Press) Read More

Texas

House Democrats’ frustration with STAAR bill highlights divide over how new test should look – Rep. Brad Buckley defended his bill to replace STAAR, the state’s widely unpopular standardized test. Democrats are not pleased with the concessions Buckley made, which they said would give too much power to the state education agency in creating and grading the new end-of-the-year test. (The Texas Tribune) Read More
Texas student groups sue to block state law that limits campus protests – The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sued the University of Texas System in federal court to block a new state law that creates rules for campus protests and gives university systems’ governing boards the power to limit where they can take place. (The Texas Tribune) Read More

Virginia

Sen. Warner Unveils Legislation to Encourage Raises for Childcare Staff – A new potential federal bill aims to help childcare centers increase worker pay through tax credits, potentially covering up to 35% of salary raises for employees in an industry struggling with staffing shortages. (10 News) Read More
State Democrats Block 14 Board Appointments – State Democrats blocked 14 gubernatorial appointments to state university boards last week, escalating a battle with the Republican governor over institutional leadership. (Inside Higher Ed) Read More
College Transfer: Students who Beat the Clock Can Save Thousands – Transferring from a two-year college to a four-year institution of higher education has long been a pathway for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Each year, approximately 12,500 students follow what is known as the 2+2 pathway. (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia) Read More

West Virginia

West Virginia Chamber Backs Tri-share Program, New Tax Credit to Address Child Care Affordability – Ahead of the start of its Annual Meeting & Business Summit, the state Chamber of Commerce released a list of legislative priorities for the coming year. Among the issues the Chamber hopes lawmakers will tackle are two proposals aimed at making child care more affordable for working families. (WV News) Read More

National/Federal Updates and Resources

Early Childhood Education

Trump administration cuts grants for child care on college campuses – The Education Department has cut off funding for campus-based child care at over a dozen colleges, accusing the schools of conflicting with the Trump administration’s policies by teaching young children about gender and race or prioritizing diversity in hiring. (The Washington Post) Read More
Child Care Funding Victories have a “Mission Accomplished” Problem – Dedicated trust funds offer tremendous promise, but they can also give politicians a clear path to claim victory and move on. As the years pass, advocates have seen efforts to gut or divert funds they thought were more securely protected. (Vox) Read More
When did Caring for America’s most Vulnerable Kids become Political? – Though it survived elimination, Head Start is under threat. Now that they have been directed to ban undocumented children, providers wonder if politics has changed the program forever. (The 19th) Read More

K-12 Education

The History of School Desegregation Reveals That the Job Isn’t Done Yet – The triumphant story often taught in American schools sees the integration of Central High as an end point — but the story actually continued for another six decades. By stopping in 1957, the retelling falsely relegates educational inequality to the past. (Times.com) Read More
Trump announcement on public benefits does not change legal protections for K–12 students – Recent interpretive notices from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services regarding immigrants’ potential eligibility for certain federally funded programs have caused confusion and concern. (The Century Foundation) Read More
What harsh immigration policies mean for students, families, and schools – The Supreme Court affirmed in Plyler v. Doe that children have a right to public education regardless of their immigration status and that states cannot enact policies or laws that deny immigrant youth’s access to public schools. However, amid the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, many states have taken actions that could threaten immigrant children’s constitutional right to attend K-12 schools.(BROOKINGS) Read More
AI-driven private schools are popping up around the U.S., from North Carolina to Florida – An AI-driven private school that teaches core subjects for just two hours a day is nearly doubling its U.S. footprint, adding eight new campuses from California to North Carolina to Puerto Rico. (Axios) Read More
Public Education Under Threat: 4 Trump Administration Actions To Watch in the 2025-26 School Year – As students, families, and educators prepare for the new school year, they face a great deal of uncertainty about the role the federal government will play in public education. (Center for American Progress) Read More
Trump’s Civil Rights Agenda comes for Public Schools – The Department of Education announced it would begin proceedings to cut millions of dollars of federal aid to five Virginia school districts that had refused to comply with its guidelines on transgender students’ access to sex-segregated facilities. (Education Next) Read More
2025 Student Upward Mobility Request for Proposals – The Urban Institute’s Student Upward Mobility Initiative launched its 2025 Request for Proposals! They’re awarding $3 million in R&D grants (ranging from $50K–$500K) for bold, innovative studies that explore which skills in late high school drive upward mobility and how those are developed and can be measured in middle-to-high school. (Urban Institute) Read More
Upcoming Conference: The Center for Outcomes-Based Contracting 2025 Convening – The Center for Outcomes-Based Contracting will host its 2025 Convening September 17–19 in Orlando, Florida. This event will convene district and state leaders, service providers, and policy partners to explore how outcomes-based contracting is reshaping the way we fund, implement, and measure instructional services. Registration is open now!

Higher Education

College Board Cancels Tool for Finding Low-Income High Achievers – After the Trump administration criticized the use of what it called “racial proxies,” the group behind the SAT shut down a way for universities to identify promising applicants from disadvantaged communities. (New York Times) Read More
Trump administration plans to limit how long foreign students can study in the U.S. – The Department of Homeland Security recently said it intends to publish a proposed rule that would limit the length of time foreign students are allowed to stay in the United States. (POLITICO) Read More
New Southern accreditation agency will remain independent, adviser says – The newly formed agency could shake up the quality assurance process universities must adhere to get federal funding. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Read More
The Battle for ‘Viewpoint Diversity’ – Conservatives in and outside of higher ed have long argued that universities lack their perspectives. But empowered Republicans are now deploying tools, including legislation and funding threats, to force higher ed to incorporate more right-leaning views. (Inside Higher Ed) Read More
How America Pays for College 2025: Sallie Mae’s national study of college students and parents – The How America Pays for College 2025 report reveals how families are financing higher education and the factors influencing their decisions. (Sallie Mae) Read More
In-state tuition and scholarships for undocumented students: What institutions should know – Since coming into office, the Trump administration has increasingly targeted undocumented students and the colleges and universities seeking to enroll and support them. This issue brief explains the legal and policy foundations that allow states to offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented students and certain scholarship opportunities. (President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration) 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

Review the archive of past updates: