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Education Policy By State Ballotpedia

Leo Migdal
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education policy by state ballotpedia

If you have questions or comments, please contact Erin Whinnery. Sign up for our newsletters or blog to stay up to date on education policy news. Copyright 2025 / Education Commission of the States. All rights reserved. The United States has no single national education system. Instead, 50 distinct state systems operate with different priorities, funding mechanisms, and success measures.

This arrangement stems from the U.S. Constitution, which grants states primary authority over public education. The Education Commission of the States was formed in 1965 to help states navigate their responsibilities and serve as a strategic consortium for policymakers. Its creation responded to growing federal influence, strengthening state capacity to lead on education policy. For years, the No Child Left Behind Act imposed prescriptive federal mandates requiring states to meet nationally defined accountability standards. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015 marked a shift, returning substantial authority to states.

ESSA dismantled many rigid requirements and let state leaders design their own systems for measuring school performance, identifying struggling schools, and setting educational goals. This renewed state control amplified existing differences. States now diverge on nearly every major policy aspect. They use vastly different funding models, creating wide resource disparities. They’ve built unique accountability systems reflecting specific values, measuring everything from college readiness to chronic absenteeism. States take widely varied approaches to academic standards, school choice, teacher workforce policies, and what is taught in the classroom.

School finance methods determine resources available to students and reflect fundamental decisions about equity and local control. Investment in a child’s education varies dramatically by zip code.

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If You Have Questions Or Comments, Please Contact Erin Whinnery.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Erin Whinnery. Sign up for our newsletters or blog to stay up to date on education policy news. Copyright 2025 / Education Commission of the States. All rights reserved. The United States has no single national education system. Instead, 50 distinct state systems operate with different priorities, funding mechanisms, and success measures.

This Arrangement Stems From The U.S. Constitution, Which Grants States

This arrangement stems from the U.S. Constitution, which grants states primary authority over public education. The Education Commission of the States was formed in 1965 to help states navigate their responsibilities and serve as a strategic consortium for policymakers. Its creation responded to growing federal influence, strengthening state capacity to lead on education policy. For years, the No ...

ESSA Dismantled Many Rigid Requirements And Let State Leaders Design

ESSA dismantled many rigid requirements and let state leaders design their own systems for measuring school performance, identifying struggling schools, and setting educational goals. This renewed state control amplified existing differences. States now diverge on nearly every major policy aspect. They use vastly different funding models, creating wide resource disparities. They’ve built unique ac...

School Finance Methods Determine Resources Available To Students And Reflect

School finance methods determine resources available to students and reflect fundamental decisions about equity and local control. Investment in a child’s education varies dramatically by zip code.