How All 50 States Approach Education Policy Govfacts

Leo Migdal

-Dec 3, 2025, 3:07 AM

how all 50 states approach education policy govfacts

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. Education Commission of the States is the trusted source for comprehensive knowledge and unbiased resources on education policy issues ranging from early learning through postsecondary education. Subscribe to our publications and stay informed.

Need more information? Contact one of our policy experts. State education governance is the practice of coordinating institutions, processes and norms to guide collective decision-making and action. Understanding how key governance roles are structured and relate to each other helps clarify complex systems for policymakers. Every state has the same or similar policymaking roles; however, each of the roles operate differently in the context of each state’s governance model. This resource provides a national overview of the key policymaking roles in K-12 education policy, a summary of each role’s general powers and duties, and some information on how they relate to other policymaking...

Education Commission of the States researched state level education governance roles to provide these three comprehensive resources. For nearly 25 years, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has published the Report Card on American Education, ranking the states based on a variety of performance indicators in K-12 education. The next generation of this important publication, The ALEC Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to Parental Empowerment, will take its place moving forward. This new publication is forward-looking and evaluates each state on essential policies that change students’ lives by empowering parents and families with choice in education. The ALEC Index of Education Freedom focuses on five categories of state education policy: funding and financing programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling, and open enrollment. States are increasingly recognizing that each student has his or her own unique needs, background, and learning style, and these new rankings focus on state-level policies that maximize educational opportunity for all students.

We are in the midst of an educational renaissance in America. At the time of publication, a record 12 states are empowering (or will soon be empowering) every family and… For nearly 25 years, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has published the Report Card on American Education, ranking the states based on a variety of performance indicators in K-12… Raquel Muñiz , Andrés Castro Samayoa, Shane Dunn Education policy in the United States varies significantly and is mainly decentralized, with each state reflecting distinct political ideologies and cultural values in its education system. While there are broad trends that align with political ideologies—often defined by red (conservative) and blue (liberal) states—there are still many nuances in how states approach education.

Below are comparisons of how education policies vary across states, examining key areas like curriculum, sex education, and social values. Red states, typically governed by conservative leadership, include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia,... Blue states, generally led by liberal governments, include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont,... Curriculum: U.S. History and American Exceptionalism vs. Cultural Inclusivity

Approaches to the values emphasized in public education heavily differ by political affiliation. For example, states that typically favor Republicans focus on American exceptionalism, teaching American history through a lens of patriotism and national pride to illustrate the country's unique role in world history. Texas, through its State Board of Education, asserts strong standards that focus on the importance of U.S. history, American exceptionalism, and the free market system. This approach is often criticized, as there's less emphasis on the critiques of U.S. history, such as systemic racism or the complexities of colonialism.

In comparison, states that usually lean Democratic tend to prioritize cultural diversity and an inclusive approach to history. They teach not just the conventional narrative of U.S. history but also highlight the experiences of marginalized groups, such as the history of slavery, civil rights movements, and LGBTQ+ issues. California's Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum mandates the teaching of diverse cultural narratives, with an aim to make students understand the impact of systemic racism and the fight for civil rights. However, this approach is also criticized for potentially overemphasizing certain aspects of history while downplaying or simplifying other important narratives, resulting in an idealized view of the past that doesn't fully engage with the... ECS has updated its 50-State Comparison on Developmental Education policies to provide a national overview of how states structure, implement and report on developmental education.

Drawing from state statutes and higher education system policies across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, it outlines key policy areas, including assessment and placement, instructional methods, corequisite support and reporting requirements. This 50–State Comparison serves as a tool to support state and system leaders in making informed decisions on practices and pathways that enable all college students to succeed in English and mathematics in their... There is a persistent problem among colleges and universities for students placed in developmental courses like math and English. They are not completing the courses and, in most cases, should not be taking them in the first place. While developmental education outcomes are deeply troubling for state and institutional leaders and practitioners, for low-income students, students of color and returning adults who see college as a path to something greater, our collective... Developmental education reforms such as multiple measures for placement, co-requisites, and math pathways are proven strategies to increase student success in postsecondary education.

There is still much to be done to codify these efforts in policy. Policy is key for scale-up and sustainability. This framework provides a guide to move in that direction. This brief examines this misalignment of funding and developmental education reform policies and provides considerations for states intending to (re)align evidence-based reforms to developmental education with effective state funding incentives. (c) 2025 Strong Start to Finish | Privacy Policy | Site Map Teacher unions occupy a unique space in American public policy.

They function as both professional associations advocating for teaching standards… The Trump Administration has managed a comprehensive effort in 2025 to dramatically reduce the size and influence of the U.S.… The United States has no single national education system. Instead, 50 distinct state systems operate with different priorities, funding mechanisms,… One of the primary reasons for founding America's public education system was to prepare young people for active participation in… The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the cornerstone of U.S.

federal education law dedicated to serving children with… With nearly all 50 governors having delivered their 2019 speeches, we analyzed what they said about K-12 education and what it means for potential policies. This latest column focuses on some of the key takeaways from what's happened in state legislatures during the past month. Previous installments of The 50 States of Education Policy, along with an interactive map that breaks down policies in each state, can be found here. By the end of March, 48 of 50 governors will have delivered their 2019 State of the State addresses. For 19 of them — plus former educator and current Minnesota Gov.

Tim Walz — this year's State of the State is their first since taking office. And while there's variation among state officials and what they hope to conquer, as well as what their states already have, education is a common thread across the nation. An analysis by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) found that all 48 governors who have delivered a State of the State address so far this year mentioned education in some capacity, whether... Below are the biggest trends from this year's speeches and what they mean for state education policy:

How All 50 States Approach Education Policy Govfacts

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