Updated November 11, 2024 Forecast ’25 Special Report From education to the environment, from elections to energy, the stories in this State Legislatures News special report offer insights from NCSL experts on what lies ahead for state lawmakers in 2025. Civil and Criminal Justice Education Elections Energy Environment and Natural Resources Fiscal Health Human Services Labor and Employment Military and Veterans Affairs Technology Transportation State Legislatures News
Updated January 04, 2024 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 January 14, 2025 Supporting Safe and Inclusive Schools: A Report Focused on Prevention, Response, and Positive Climate A report highlighting state policies that support safe, inclusive schools through prevention, mental health, positive climate, and crisis response strategies. Education
Updated January 09, 2025 America’s Future Teachers Could Be Hiding in Plain Sight The United States suffers from a teacher shortage, and the solution might come from innovative programs designed to get middle and high school students thinking about a career in the classroom. Education State Legislatures News
Updated December 20, 2024 Shaping the Future of Higher Education Join Utah Sen. Ann Millner and Oregon Sen. Michael Dembrow for a discussion on the future of higher education and the roles federal and state policymakers play in shaping higher education policy. Education Video
Updated December 19, 2024 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 December 02, 2024 NCSL Post-Election Forum Predicts Top 2025 State Issues At a recent forum for NCSL Foundation members in Washington, D.C., Kate Blackman and Natalie Wood, NCSL vice presidents of state research and policy, shared their forecasts for key issues likely to dominate the 2025 legislative sessions. Education Energy Fiscal Health Labor and Employment Technology Transportation State Legislatures News
Updated November 19, 2024 State Lawmakers Discuss Cellphone Bans in Schools Seventy-two percent of high school teachers report cellphone distractions as a significant problem in their classrooms, according to a June 2024 survey from Pew Research. And while 10 states have laws or policies regarding cellphones in K-12 classrooms, the debate over banning cellphones in schools continues. Education Video
Updated November 14, 2024 Legislative Action on Nondegree Credentials and Skills-Based Hiring In their 2024 legislative sessions, state lawmakers continued their efforts to integrate nondegree credential options into their larger postsecondary and career-training ecosystems. Education Labor and Employment State Legislatures News
Updated November 14, 2024 Teacher Shortage Areas by State View state teacher shortage areas reported annually to the federal government using this interactive dashboard. Filter by grade level, subject area and year. Education Database
Updated November 13, 2024 Microschools Offer a Student-Specific Alternative to the Classroom Experience The small private learning institutions known as microschools grew in popularity as families sought pandemic-era options to remote learning at public schools. Education State Legislatures News
Updated November 11, 2024 Lifting Students at Both Ends of the Educational Journey State legislative hot topics for 2025 in education include systemic educational changes; student leaning loss; academic and emotional well-being; and higher education affordability and outcomes. Forecast ’25 Education State Legislatures News