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Education Policy
Welcome to Ballotpedia's education policy project. Ballotpedia’s education policy content covers a variety oftopics, providing data, in-depth research and analysis, and voices from all sidesclearly, factually, comprehensively, and neutrally.
We contribute through comprehensive overviews and detailed deep dives into specific trends or topics, including school choice, K-12 curriculum, school board authority, rules governing school board elections, and more. Our education policy content references and works hand-in-hand with our elections coverage — from local school boards to state education executives and legislators — across the United States to give you the information you need to make political engagement on education issues easier.
Education news coverage by Ballotpedia News
A weekly newsletter designed to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and education policy
Below are Ballotpedia's most comprehensive and current education policy projects, including a survey of school board authority—and constraints on that authority— in the 50 states, and our research on the impact of school choice on rural school districts. The links below take you directly to the articles, studies, and analyses we have produced on each issue.
Covers the authority school boards have according to state law, and constraints on that authority
Covers research and case studies on the effect ofschool choice on rural school districts
Covers news events regarding curricula development across the U.S.
Offers a deepdive into how education policy across the nation is developed
Details the federal school choice tax credit scholarship enacted by theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act
Below are Ballotpedia's top education election coverage articles, including data and analysis for elections across the 50 states. The links below take you directly to the articles, studies, and analyses we have produced.
Contains links to school board elections covered by Ballotpedia in 2025 by state
Analyzes school board election data from 2024
Serves as a portal to Ballotpedia's school board and school board elections coverage
Covers state laws and regulations that govern school board elections across the U.S.
State executive official elections, including state superintendents
Below are Ballotpedia's featured educational data articles, including data and analysis for elections across the 50 states. The links below take you directly to the articles, studies, and analyses we have produced.
Contains links to every school district in every state
Analyzes school district sizes by enrollment numbers
Lists all state-level education agencies in the United States
Lists state education executive officers across the United States and includes analysis such as selection method
Gives an overview of the history of education policy in the U.S. and lists common goals of education policy
Lists federal legislation related to education policy
Gives an overview of the federal NCLB Act which influences education policy across the U.S.
Provides an overview of the American education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English-language arts and mathematics at each grade level from kindergarten through high school
Provides an overview of policies regarding school district open enrollment and attendence zone drawing
Provides an overview of the types of public school districts in the United States
Provides several terms and definitions related to public and private school choice.
This page provides an overview of the federal school choice tax credit scholarship program.
This article includes information about states that have opted in to the federal education tax credit scholarship program.
This case concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs.
Blaine Amendments refer to language in state constitutions that prohibits public funding for schools or educational institutions run by religious organizations. The language in each state constitution varies.
This page provides data regarding and an overview of states that have implemented policies that provide families with taxpayer funding for private education or homeschooling.
This page provides data about which states have cellphone use policies in K-12 schools.
This article provides information on Donald Trump's education-related executive orders.
This article provides an overview of Parental Bills of Rights in state laws across the U.S.
This case concerned whether parents could opt their children out of instruction on gender and sexuality against their parents' religious convictions.
This article provides an overview of critical race theory, arguments about it, CRT-related legislation, and more.
Tune into education policy conversations on Ballotpedia's podcast,On the Ballot. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or straight from our site:
On the Ballot: Ohio's Parent's Bill of Rights + Shifting Power Between States and School Boards | On the Ballot: Rural school choice in America, Part 1 | On the Ballot: School budget season |
Ballotpedia has several archived education policy projects. The links below take you directly to the articles, studies, and analyses we have produced on each issue:
- Survey ofeducation policy by stateRead more
- Survey ofpublic education information by stateRead more
- Survey ofhigher education' by stateRead more
- Survey ofschool choice information by stateRead more
- Survey ofcharter school information by stateRead more
- Survey ofhigher education curriculum standards by stateRead more
- Survey ofK-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the statesRead more
- Survey ofK-12 education content standards in the statesRead more
- Analysis of school district and board member characteristics, 2022Read more
SeeBallotpedia's index of articles related to education policy for a full list of education policy articles.
See also
Other policy coverage areas:
- Administrative StateCovers U.S. government administrative and regulatory activitiesRead more
- Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance Policy (ESG)Developments in environmental, social, and corporate governanceRead more
- FederalismCovering the separation of powers between national and local governmentsRead more
- Unemployment InsuranceInformation about the joint federal-state unemployment insurance programRead more
- Work RequirementsCovers work requirements for public assistance programsRead more
- Criminal Justice PolicyPolice collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) in all 50 states and top 100 citiesRead more
