Updated April 14, 2025 Teacher and Principal Policy Toolkit This policy toolkit provides a wide variety of resources around the recruitment, preparation and retention of educators as well as information on teacher shortages and preparation program terminology. Education
Updated June 18, 2025 Pre-K-12 Education Legislation Database The Education database tracks state legislation on more than 50 Pre-K-12 education issues, including curriculum, educators, finance and student supports (2023 to present). Education Database
Updated June 09, 2025 What the NCAA Settlement Means for Colleges and State Legislatures The landmark NCAA settlement will allow for college athletics programs to directly compensate student-athletes for their name, image and likeness, or NIL. The settlement will also provide nearly $3 billion in damage claims to former athletes. Education State-Federal State Legislatures News
Updated May 21, 2025 School Vaccination Debate: Lawmakers Weigh Public Health and Parental Rights In the ongoing debate over school vaccination policies, Utah Rep. Stephanie Gricius (R) and Connecticut Rep. Josh Elliott (D) highlight the complex considerations lawmakers face in the latest edition of State of Play. Education Health State Legislatures News Video
Updated May 12, 2025 Student Loan Debt Toolkit Approximately 44 million Americans owe an outstanding student loan balance and nationally borrowers owe more than $1.7 trillion. Education
Updated May 07, 2025 Student Loans: Recent State Policy Actions Policy brief focusing on state student loan policies and recent legislation. Education
Updated May 01, 2025 To Address Pandemic Setbacks, Districts Put Focus on Effective School Leaders Focusing on the critical role of school principals, NCSL recently spoke with Tricia McManus, superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, to learn more about her strategies for bolstering the principal workforce. Education State Legislatures News
Updated May 01, 2025 Student Loan Database This interactive database tracks state legislation related to student loan debt across several categories, including forgiveness, licensure, oversight and taxes. It includes pending, failed and enacted bills since 2015. Education Database
Updated April 07, 2025 How to Make a School Great? Start With a Great Principal. Research shows that educators are the most important in-school factor contributing to student outcomes. NCSL recently brought together principals and state legislators and staff for a discussion of instructional leadership in literacy and mathematics education. Education State Legislatures News
Updated March 24, 2025 US Students Lose Ground in National Math and Reading Exam The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress shows discouraging trends in how well fourth and eighth graders read and do math, Harvard education professor Martin West says in NCSL’s “Hot Topics in Education” virtual series. Education State Legislatures News
Updated March 21, 2025 FAQ: The Education Department and the Federal Role in Education States are granted plenary authority on matters of education by the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. State and local governments typically provide about 90% of revenues for elementary and secondary education and account for over 40% of revenues at public colleges and universities, the highest share from any source. Education State-Federal State Legislatures News
Updated March 21, 2025 What to Know About Trump’s Order to Close the Education Department President Trump issued an executive order on March 20 directing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take steps within her authority to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education. Education State-Federal State Legislatures News