Topic Descriptions
Accountability
Includes legislation relating to establishing a state or local framework for school accountability.
Aftermath
Includes legislation relating to addressing the aftermath of incidents of school violence, including counseling and other supports for affected schools.
Afterschool
Includes legislation relating to programs outside regular school hours. May be referred to as out-of-school time or extended learning.
Alternative Schools
Includes legislation relating to programs outside of general, choice, special or vocational education.
Apprenticeships
Includes legislation relating to establishing apprenticeship opportunities for middle and high school students and teacher apprenticeship programs.
Appropriation
Includes legislation relating to appropriations for basic elementary and secondary education or its component parts.
Arming School Personnel
Includes legislation relating to explicitly permitting or prohibiting the possession of firearms by school personnel, including teachers.
Assessment and Intervention (Early Education)
Includes legislation relating to required or suggested assessments or education interventions for PreK to third grade students.
Assessments
Includes legislation relating to state and local student assessments or tests.
At Risk
Includes legislation relating to at-risk students, encompassing rules, support systems, and interventions designed to address the challenges and educational needs of students who face factors that may hinder their academic success.
Attendance
Includes legislation relating to school attendance, absenteeism and truancy.
Bonds
Includes legislation relating to bonding or debt service for capital improvement projects.
Budget Augmentation
Includes legislation relating to an appropriation above the prior fiscal year's appropriation.
Budget Reduction
Includes legislation relating to an appropriation below the prior fiscal year's appropriation.
Building Security
Includes legislation relating to addressing school building infrastructure as it relates to improving security and response.
Bullying
Includes legislation relating to rules, policies, and interventions addressing bully, harassment or discriminatory behavior among students.
Career and Technical Education
Includes legislation relating to teaching academic and technical skills to middle and high school students to prepare them for high-demand careers. Includes industry certifications and apprenticeships.
Charter School Accountability
Includes legislation relating to charter school accountability measures and reporting.
Charter School Expansion
Includes legislation relating to permitting additional charter schools within a city and additional campuses for existing charter schools.
Charter School Facilities
Includes legislation relating to charter school buildings and facilities.
Charter School Funding
Includes legislation relating to funding and appropriations for charter schools.
Charter School Governance
Includes legislation relating to charter school oversight, governance and authorizers.
Charter School Performance
Includes legislation relating to how well charter schools meet their accountability standards, how well charter students perform in assessments and graduation rates.
Charter School Teachers
Includes legislation relating to charter school teachers, including credentials, compensation, recruitment and retention efforts, evaluation and staffing policies.
Charter Schools
Includes legislation relating to charter schools broadly, including whether states permit them.
Civic Education
Includes legislation relating to curriculum and school programs that teach political science, law, American history, and related subjects such as media literacy and civic skills and values.
Class Size
Includes legislation relating to school class size.
Classified Staff
Includes legislation relating to classified staff, including paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, bus drivers, etc.
Communications
Includes legislation relating to addressing communication systems between schools and other stakeholders in the event of an emergency.
Community Schools
Includes legislation relating to the structure and requirements for schools actively engaging with community resources and partnerships. Similar terms: collaborative schools, community-based learning.
Community Schools Funding
Includes legislation relating to funding for or related to community schools.
Compensatory Aid
Includes legislation relating to state aid to students living in poverty or learning English.
Computer Science
Includes legislation relating to computer science requirements, coding, digital literacy and other related subjects.
Consolidation
Includes legislation relating to the consolidation of school districts.
Curriculum
Includes legislation relating to requiring or encouraging the development or implementation of standards or curriculum related to school safety.
Curriculum
Includes legislation relating to what is taught in classrooms, materials used by educators, and prohibited concepts.
Data Privacy
Includes legislation relating to protecting the privacy of K-12 student and staff data.
Data Security
Includes legislation relating to security of education data collected by local and state actors.
Data Visualizations
Includes legislation relating to data systems, reporting requirements, governance and visualizations.
Distance and Virtual Learning
Includes legislation relating to digital, online, hybrid, and blended learning.
Dual Enrollment and IB/AP
Includes legislation relating to secondary courses that can earn students college-level credits, as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate.
Dual Language Learners (Early Education)
Includes legislation relating to dual language and English second language students.
Early Education Workforce
Includes legislation relating to the early education workforce including compensation and benefits, training, certification, licensing and requirements.
Early Mathematics and STEM
Includes legislation relating to PreK to third grade Science Technology Engineering and Math education programs, requirements and standards.
Early Social Emotional Learning
Includes legislation relating to education programs related to mental and emotional health for early learners.
Education Savings Accounts
Includes legislation relating to publicly funded, government-authorized accounts for families to use for specified educational expenses.
Education Service Agencies
Includes legislation relating to funding for or related to education service agency finance.
Emergency Aid
Includes legislation relating to continuing appropriation or aid in the event of an emergency impacting the operation of schools.
Emergency Drills
Includes legislation relating to encouraging or mandating regular school safety drills, excluding fire and extreme weather drills.
Emergency Response Plan
Includes legislation relating to mandating the development of an emergency response plan or provides a framework for such plans.
English Language Learners
Includes legislation relating to funding for English language learners.
English Learners
Includes legislation relating to English language learners.
Est. Study Committee/Task Force (School Safety)
Includes legislation relating to establishing a study committee or task force to research school safety for the purpose of making policy recommendations.
Expanded Firearm Carry
Includes legislation relating to expanding an individual’s right to carry a firearm into K-12 schools.
Facilities
Includes legislation relating to funding for capital outlays, debt service, technology, supplies and building maintenance.
Facilities and School Conditions
Includes legislation relating to capital outlays, debt service, technology, supplies, building maintenance.
Family Engagement (Early Education)
Includes legislation relating to the parents of PreK to third grade students.
Federal Funds
Includes legislation relating to matters related to funding from federal sources.
First Amendment
Includes legislation relating to free speech, including prayer in schools, display of the national motto, and the pledge of allegiance.
Fiscal Transparency
Includes legislation relating to requirements to make public elements of state and district budgeting.
Flexibility
Includes legislation relating to flexibility in use of categorical funding.
Funding
Includes legislation relating to appropriations for school safety activities.
Funding Formula
Includes legislation relating to intergovernmental aid formulas relied upon to distribute state aid to local education agencies.
Funding Reform
Includes legislation relating to major changes to the existing funding formula.
General PreK to 3rd Grade
Includes legislation relating to students PreK to third grade.
Geographic Cost Adjustment
Includes legislation relating to adjustments for hard-to-staff locations, locations with diseconomies of scale or for cost of living factors.
Governance
Includes legislation relating to local and state boards of education, state departments of education, and other K-12 school governance matters.
Governance (Early Education)
Includes legislation relating to the state entities or established structure for implementing state early education programs and policies.
Grant Programs
Includes legislation relating to an appropriation for a specific grant or categorical program.
Guns in K-12
Includes legislation relating to the possession of firearms in K-12 schools.
High School Dropout Prevention
Includes legislation relating to strategies to support students who are at risk of dropping out.
High School Graduation Rates
Includes legislation relating to the percentage of high school students who graduate.
High School Graduation Requirements
Includes legislation relating to state course requirements for high school graduation.
Higher Education
Includes legislation relating to funding for higher education.
Hold Harmless
Includes legislation relating to hold harmless provisions in the funding formula.
Homeschooling
Includes legislation relating to homeschooling, including regulations, hybrid models, and whether choice programs can be used towards homeschool expenses.
K-12 Finance
Includes legislation relating to appropriations for basic elementary and secondary education or its component parts.
K-12 School Safety
Includes legislation relating to K-12 school safety.
Kindergarten
Includes legislation relating to kindergarten and kindergarten readiness programs and assessments.
Law Enforcement
Includes legislation relating to the role of law enforcement in assisting with school safety measures. Legislation may include collaboration in the development of school safety plans, the assignment of an active duty officer as an SRO or reporting requirements that include reporting to law enforcement. Legislation amending criminal penalties is also included.
Leader Compensation
Includes legislation relating to compensation of school leaders, including pay, loan forgiveness and scholarships, tax incentives, etc.
Leader Employment
Includes legislation relating to requirements and policies around the employment of school leaders such as principals, assistant principals, deans, superintendents, school board members, etc.
Leader Induction and Mentoring
Includes legislation relating to induction programs, early career supports for school leaders, mentoring, including requirements and training for mentors.
Leader Licensing and Certification
Includes legislation relating to the certification of school leaders, including types of licenses or certifications, fingerprinting, background checks, education/preparation requirements, renewal timeline and requirements, revocation, etc.
Leader Preparation
Includes legislation relating to school leader preparation, including authorization and reauthorization of educator preparation programs, traditional and alternative pathways, program or curricular requirements and clinical experiences.
Leader Professional Development
Includes legislation relating to professional learning opportunities and training requirements for school leaders, including in relation to licensure renewal requirements.
Leader Recruitment and Retention
Includes legislation relating to explicit recruitment and retention efforts regarding school leaders, which may include expanded pathways into the profession, monetary incentives, changes to licensure requirements, efforts to increase diversity, etc.
LGBTQ+
Includes legislation relating to policies around LGBTQ+ individuals within educational settings. Similar terms: gender diversity, sexual orientation inclusion.
Literacy
Includes legislation relating to literacy, early literacy and the Science of Reading.
Local Taxation
Includes legislation relating to local tax policy that generates local revenue for public education.
Mathematics
Includes legislation relating to K-12 math curriculum and instruction.
Mental Health
Includes legislation relating to strategies, resources, and support systems addressing the mental well-being of students and staff within schools.
Online Learning
Includes legislation relating to private online learning, including whether choice programs and funds can be used for online schooling.
Open Enrollment
Includes legislation relating to whether students can attend a different public school, either in the same district or in a different district, than where they are geographically assigned to enroll.
Other (Finance)
Includes legislation relating to miscellaneous categories related to education finance.
Parental Involvement
Includes legislation relating to family engagement and parental notification.
Partnership
Includes legislation relating to mandating, encouraging, or allowing collaboration with a private consultant or partner.
Personal Income Tax
Includes legislation relating to changes to personal income tax policy for purposes of funding public education.
Personalized/Competency Based Learning
Includes legislation relating to personalized, competency-based, and deeper learning, among other related concepts.
Prekindergarten
Includes legislation relating to education programs prior to kindergarten.
Private Schools
Includes legislation relating to addressing private school safety requirements.
Productivity
Includes legislation relating to actions taken to improve efficiency, ROI or productivity in the delivery of public education.
Property Tax
Includes legislation relating to changes to property tax policy for purposes of funding public education.
Pupil Count
Includes legislation relating to methods for counting students for purposes of funding.
Reading
Includes legislation relating to curriculum, instruction and standards for reading and literacy.
Reparations
Includes legislation relating to funding intended to provide reparations for historically marginalized populations.
Reporting
Includes legislation relating to outlining reporting requirements related to mental health, firearms, etc.
Restricted Carry
Includes legislation relating to restricting an individual right to carry a firearm into K-12 schools.
Revenue
Includes legislation relating to policies impacting the revenue sources used on state and local levels for public education.
Risk Assessment
Includes legislation relating to requiring districts or third parties to conduct an assessment of potential threats to the safety of the school.
Safety Center
Includes legislation relating to state or regional school safety center establishment, requirements, funding or other programs.
Salaries and Benefits
Includes legislation relating to fiscal policies impacting the compensation for individuals in the education workforce.
Sales and Use Tax
Includes legislation relating to changes to sales, use or excise tax policy for purposes of funding public education.
School Calendar
Includes legislation relating to school calendar including year-round school and four-day school weeks.
School Choice
Includes legislation relating to education choice, including charter schools, education savings accounts, vouchers, tax credits and open enrollment.
School Climate
Includes legislation relating to policies and practices shaping the overall atmosphere and environment within schools to promote a positive and safe setting.
School Discipline
Includes legislation relating to rules, procedures, and alternatives for discipline within educational institutions.
School District Boundaries
Includes legislation relating to the boundaries relied upon for purposes of the intergovernmental aid formula.
School Identification
Includes legislation relating to addressing student and staff identification requirements.
School Meals
Includes legislation relating to school meal programs, including in relation to food sources, services, and waste.
School Resource Officers
Includes legislation relating to school resource officer requirements, regulations, training and assignment.
School Safety Audits
Includes legislation relating to requiring a review of school safety measures including building security and emergency response plans.
Science
Includes legislation relating to K-12 science curriculum and instruction.
Social and Emotional Learning
Includes legislation related to the integration of educational programs and resources for developing students' social and emotional skills.
Social Studies
Includes legislation relating to K-12 social studies curriculum, including history, geography, and political science. Also includes curriculum about specific people groups.
Special Education (Finance)
Includes legislation relating to funding for special education activities.
Special Education
Includes legislation relating to special education.
Special Services Providers
Includes legislation relating to school audiologists, counselors, nurses, physical or occupational therapists, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, etc.
Standards
Includes legislation relating to state or local curricular standards establishing what students should be taught and demonstrate mastery.
STEM
Includes legislation relating to science, technology, engineering, and math.
Student Athletics
Includes legislation relating to K-12 student athletics, including in relation to coaches, athletic trainers, student participation and eligibility, and sports-related emergencies.
Student Health
Includes legislation relating to physical health of students within the school environment.
Study Committee
Includes legislation relating to establishment of a formal committee or task force to review state education funding and finance.
Summer Programs
Includes legislation relating to guidelines, funding, and objectives for educational initiatives provided during the summer break. Similar terms: summer enrichment.
Task Forces, Pilot Programs, and Committees (Early Education)
Includes legislation relating to early education task forces, pilot programs and committees.
Tax and Expenditure Limit
Includes legislation relating to limits on tax rates or expenditures of specific revenue streams.
Tax Credits and Deductions
Includes legislation relating to tax credit ESAs, tax credit scholarships, and individual and business tax credits and deductions as they relate to education choice.
Tax Policy
Includes legislation relating to tax policy broadly impacting funding for public education.
Tax Swap
Includes legislation relating to the reliance on one tax revenue source for another.
Teacher Compensation
Includes legislation relating to compensation of K-12 teachers, including pay, loan forgiveness and scholarships, post-retirement employment and pay, tax incentives, etc.
Teacher Employment
Includes legislation relating to the employment of K-12 teachers, including staffing policies, employment requirements and other teacher policies.
Teacher Evaluation
Includes legislation relating to K-12 teacher evaluations, including system requirements and use of evaluation data.
Teacher Induction and Mentoring
Includes legislation relating to induction programs, early career supports for teachers, and mentoring, including requirements and training for mentors.
Teacher Licensing and Certification
Includes legislation relating to the certification of K-12 teachers, including types of licenses or certifications, fingerprinting, background checks, education/preparation requirements, renewal timeline and requirements, revocation, etc.
Teacher Preparation
Includes legislation relating to K-12 teacher preparation, including authorization and reauthorization of educator preparation programs, traditional and alternative pathways, program or curricular requirements and student teaching or clinical experiences.
Teacher Professional Development
Includes legislation relating to professional learning opportunities and requirements for K-12 teachers, including in relation to licensure renewal requirements.
Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Includes legislation relating to explicit recruitment and retention efforts regarding K-12 teachers, which may include expanded pathways into the profession, monetary incentives, changes to licensure requirements, efforts to increase diversity, programs targeting specific grade levels or subject areas, etc.
Teacher Substitutes
Includes legislation relating to substitute teachers, including employment, pay and credentialing.
Technology in Education
Includes legislation relating to the internet, digital devices, artificial intelligence, and the use of other technologies in education.
Threat Penalty
Includes legislation relating to addressing the penalty or reporting requirements for a threat against a school.
Time and Learning
Includes legislation relating to policies impacting the school day (or year) and the length thereof, or out-of-school learning.
Training
Includes legislation relating to requiring completion of a training program related to school safety.
Transportation (Finance)
Includes legislation relating to funding of transportation of students.
Transportation
Includes legislation relating to school transportation services, safety, and staffing.
Tutoring
Includes legislation relating to rules, standards, and support mechanisms for the provision of instructional support for students. Similar terms: academic support, individualized instruction.
Unhoused Youth
Includes legislation relating to funding for youth experiencing homelessness.
Vouchers
Includes legislation relating to programs that permit families to use funds typically spent by a school district on a student's private school tuition.
Whole Child
Includes legislation relating to policies and practices encompassing comprehensive development, covering academic, social, emotional and physical well-being.