Bottom Line

State and Legislative Updates from SEF’s Government Affairs Team

9/16 – 9/27

As we close out September, several states are making significant policy and legal decisions that will immediately impact young children and students across the South.

For instance, in Arkansas, the state Attorney General recently approved a proposed constitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot that would require private schools receiving public funds to adhere to the same standards as public schools. This proposed amendment directly responds to the 2023 LEARNS Act, which created a new school voucher program. Meanwhile, a new coalition in Kentucky, Protect Our Schools KY, is gaining traction against the state’s Amendment 2, which would amend the state’s constitution by allowing private schools to receive public funds.

Several states are also reevaluating how they fund public education and address school voucher programs. In Alabama, officials are advocating for a budget increase to enhance school security and literacy efforts, while Virginia lawmakers are reviewing their 52-year-old funding formula to address previously identified disparities.

See the updates below for a deeper look at the education news shaping our region. Thank you for your dedication to equity for students of color and those from low-income families across the South. Additionally, we hope that those impacted by Hurricane Helene are safe and recover quickly.

Alabama

• State leaders want $6.4 billion for state schools, teacher stipends – K-12 education officials are asking for an 8% increase to the state’s education budget next year, which would support school security improvements, literacy efforts, and other programs. (AL.com /Education Lab) Read More

Arkansas

• State Attorney General certifies education coalition’s 2026 ballot proposal – The State Attorney General approved a proposedconstitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot that would require private schools receiving public funds through the state’s school voucher program to be held to the same academic and accreditation standards as public schools. (Arkansas Advocate) Read More

Florida

• Florida school district settles book ban lawsuit, agrees to restore titles – Schools in a Florida district are expected to return three dozen book titles to libraries after settling a federal lawsuit filed by parents and students who claimed a book ban limited access to LGBTQ+ materials. (The Hill) Read More

Georgia

• Young students protest against gun violence at Georgia Senate meeting – Weeks after a school shooting in Barrow County, GA, a group of elementary school students carried signs into the Georgia Capitol as lawmakers discussed legislation that would incentivize safe gun storage. (WABE) Read More
• Savannah State University Expands College of Education to Address Teacher Shortage – The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has officially approved the expansion of Savannah State University’s College of Education to include a new program in elementary education. (HBCU Buzz) Read More

Kentucky

• Kentucky’s two-year college system latest to reassess diversity policies under political heat – Under scrutiny from Republican lawmakers pushing to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education, The state’s two-year college system announced it is launching an internal review. (Kentucky Lantern) Read More
• Kentucky university presidents say they welcome everyone, GOP lawmakers renew criticism of DEI – Five of Kentucky’s university presidents told state lawmakers that their campuses are focused on inclusivity for all students as an interim committee sought information about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education. (Kentucky Lantern) Read More
• Pro-public school group working to defeat Amendment 2 – A pro-public school group, Protect Our Schools KY, is working to defeat Amendment 2 in November and said support for its mission is growing, receiving over 100 statewide endorsements. (Lex 18 News) Read More

Louisiana

• Raffles, extra recess, ‘Together Tuesdays’: How Louisiana schools are encouraging students to show up – Louisiana’s student absenteeism rate grew to 23% by 2022-23, an increase over the previous school year and nearly double the pre-pandemic rate. Districts are trying to combat the problem by identifying kids at risk for becoming chronically absent and intervening early. (The Advocate) Read More

Maryland

• How fast can the state expand pre-K? The numbers show what’s slowing it down – According to data presented at a recent State Board of Education meeting, Maryland’s plan to put public and private pre-K providers on equal footing is falling far short of its original goals. It’s proven to be one of the more difficult parts of the state’s education overhaul legislation, the Blueprint for Maryland’s future. (The Baltimore Banner) Read More

Missouri

• ‘Someone has to help us’: Child care subsidy backlog enters ninth month – The state department’s Office of Childhood launched the system in December of 2023. Since the system’s launch, the department has struggled to pay child-care subsidies to providers in a timely manner, forcing some to shut their doors. (KOMU 8 Reporter) Read More

North Carolina

• Gov. Roy Cooper vetoes bill to fund private school vouchers, require sheriffs to cooperate with ICE – North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a budget bill that would dramatically expand funding for the state’s controversial private school voucher program, an expansion recently approved by the Republican-dominated state legislature. (NC Newsline) Read More
• Gov. Roy Cooper releases stopgap child care funding, says industry remains in state of “crisis” – Gov. Cooper announced that the Department of Health and Human Services will release $67.5 million in stopgap funding this week to help stabilize the state’s early childhood education and child care centers. The funding is the last scheduled payment of Child Care Stabilization Grants. (NC Newsline) Read More

Oklahoma 

• Interim study discusses child care accessibility, affordability – Lawmakers at the Capitol held an interim study meeting to brainstorm how to increase access to child care in the state. The study brought together child-care advocates, providers, and business leaders to identify ways the state can make child care more accessible for families and more attractive for employees. (KOCO News 5) Read More

Tennessee

• Under the state’s stricter school library law, some books quietly disappear – A recent survey of members of the Association of School Librarians found that more than 1,100 titles have been removed under a recently revised state law broadening the definition of what school library materials are prohibited. (The 74) Read More

Texas

• OPINION: Vouchers would blow a billion-dollar hole in the Texas budget – What Texas Republicans call “school choice” could be very expensive. Voucher programs in other states and analyses from experts show that school vouchers would cost the state billions. (Reform Austin) Read More
• Enrollment growth concerns: Why Texas universities are worried about students’ access to core classes – Universities in Texas are dealing with record enrollment numbers and keeping up with this growth is getting more difficult. It’s raising concerns about students getting access to the core courses they need to graduate. (KXAN News) Read More
• State education commissioner calls for student cellphone ban in schools – Texas Education Agency Commissioner said next year lawmakers should ban the use of cell phones in public schools across the state. (Texas Tribune) Read More

Virginia

• Lawmakers prepare to overhaul decades-old school funding formula – During a bipartisan education committee hearing, lawmakers faced the reality that the transformation of the state’s 52-year-old school funding formula could take a while, with members of the public in attendance and watching online. (Virginia Mercury) Read More
• State Senate Democrats propose school cell phone restriction bill with more exceptions – State Senate Democrats introduced legislation seeking to restrict cell phones in K-12 schools including exceptions and protections against expulsion for violations. (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Read More

National/Federal Updates & Resources

Early Childhood Education

• In 2024, Head Start programs are still funded by a formula set in the 1970s – When Head Start was established in 1965, it was meant to boost outcomes for children from low-income families by offering high-quality early learning and wraparound services, like dental care and mental health support. (The Hechinger Report) Read More
• Technical assistance offered within child care and early education licensing in four states – Although it is common for licensing agencies to provide technical assistance to child care and early education providers, there is little known about how they approach technical assistance or how providers experience it. This report highlights findings from a case study of four licensing agencies’ approaches to providing technical assistance. (Office of the Administration for Children and Families) Read More
• Full-time child care for 2 kids costs 39% more than rent across 100 largest US metros – Child care is expensive and families who pay for child care spend an average of 18.6% of their income on it. According to the latest LendingTree study, the average monthly cost of infant child care is 22.2% lower than the average monthly rent, while the cost to care for two children is 39.4% higher than rent. (Lending Tree) Read More
• The role of employers in our child care system – This guide provides considerations, talking points, and alternatives for advocates and business leaders as they think through whether to support employer-side solutions in your child care advocacy. (Child Care Stories) Read More
• Promoting Research-informed State IECMH Policies and Scaled Initiatives – This project promotes efforts to achieve positive outcomes for infants and young children by highlighting research-informed infant-early childhood mental health (IECMH) state policies and scaled initiatives. (National Center for Children Living in Poverty) Read More
• OPINION: How cutting back the child tax credit led to another year of poverty – While the economy was a key topic of discussion for the two presidential candidates when they met on the debate stage, the duel ended without explicit consideration of those most vulnerable to the vicissitudes of inflation and high housing costs. (MSN) Read More

K-12 Education 

• Takeaways from AP’s report on churches starting schools in voucher states – Some churches are launching new Christian schools on their campuses. State school voucher programs are not the driving reason, but they are making the start-up process easier, pastors and Christian education experts say. (Associated Press) Read More
• The ‘Catastrophic Failure’ of School Vouchers – In 2022-23, more state legislatures adopted new or expanded school voucher laws than in any previous year despite overwhelming evidence showing voucher programs strip funds away from public schools, lack fiscal and academic accountability, and are used primarily by families with children already enrolled in private school. (NEA Today) Read More
• Making districts and providers mutually accountable for student success – Nationally, districts have invested billions of dollars in ed tech tools regardless of student participation or learning gains. Outcomes Based Contracting, a strategic initiative of the Southern Education Foundation, has offered tailored support, technical assistance and expert guidance to nearly 20 school districts – an approach that compels mutual accountability between school districts and providers. (The 74 Million) Read More
• How Strategic Staffing Can Attract and Retain Effective Teachers – Early evaluations show that redesigning teaching roles can help solve one of the biggest staffing challenges, attracting and retaining great teachers and in one model, even equated to an extra half year of learning for students. (National Center on Teaching Quality) Read More
• 5 Reasons To Pay Attention to Local School Board Elections – More than 82,000 school board members in the United States make important decisions about school districts’ budgets, curriculum, and leadership every day. This report lays out five reasons why every voter should participate in their local school board elections and how policy can encourage inclusive elections. (The Center for American Progress) Read More
• Creating Conditions for Success: How Districts Can Build and Sustain a Stronger and More Diverse Educator Workforce – In today’s increasingly diverse world, the future success of our students depends on their access to learning environments led by effective and culturally diverse educators. However, despite the critical need, too many barriers prevent people of color from pursuing and thriving in teaching or school leadership roles. (1 Million Teachers of Color) Read More
• Moving from a ‘parents’ bill of rights’ to a cross-partisan policy agenda to better support parents – There are real opportunities for Democrats and Republicans to work together to support parents, even if they have different goals for the same policies. The purpose of this piece is to explore the possibility of a cross-partisan policy agenda to support parents of school-age children. (Brookings Institution) Read More
• Want Students To Succeed? Don’t Give Up On Parents – Raymond Pierce, President and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation writes “As a society, we must employ a multi-layered approach that includes innovative and improved parent and community engagement strategies for student success.” (Forbes) Read More

Higher Education

• Digital Learning at HBCUs: CCA Reports on Tech Infrastructure and Funding for HBCUs – Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been doing more with less for more than 150 years. Despite chronic underfunding, these institutions are engines of economic mobility for historically excluded students. (Complete College America) Read More
• Preliminary results show strong leadership needed to address serious student aid system weaknesses – The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) preliminary results indicate that the U.S. Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid identified and reportedly addressed significant defects prior to deploying the FAFSA Processing System. GAO recommends ways to address continued challenges as they continue to review the Department’s work on this system. (Government Accountability Office) Read More
• U.S. Naval Academy says considering race in admissions helps create a cohesive military – Attorneys for the U.S. Naval Academy say the officer training school should be allowed to continue using race as an admissions factor because prioritizing diversity in the military makes it stronger, more effective, and more widely respected, according to recent court filings and testimony during an ongoing civil trial in Maryland. (Associated Press) Read More