State of the States: Our Analysis of Governors’ Speeches, YTD

“We have our highest ever College and Career Readiness rate. We are tied for the lowest percentage of chronic absenteeism. Our teachers are earning high marks. And we added 500,000 more credentialed men and women to our workforce.”

Gov. Kay Ivey’s 2026 State of the State education agenda focused on sustaining recent K-12 gains and expanding investment. She pointed to growth in pre-K classrooms and the Turnaround School Initiative which has significantly improved the state’s lowest-performing elementary schools. She also highlighted the Strong Start, Strong Finish program which has led to significant statewide improvement in fourth-grade math and reading; Gov. Ivey attributed this progress in part to the Literacy and Numeracy Acts.

Gov. Ivey also emphasized student safety and wellbeing, noting Alabama’s low chronic absenteeism rate and proposing an additional $50 million for school safety. She cited early results from the FOCUS Act which limits student screen time and supported House Bill 78 to limit screen time for children five and younger in publicly funded early learning centers.

She framed these priorities within efforts to increase education investment, highlighting her final Education Trust Fund proposal—maxing out the budget caps with a $10.47 billion proposal—which would serve as the largest in state history. Ivey noted that added funding includes a 2% teacher pay raise, which alongside a temporary certification pathway for qualified veterans represents a prioritization of teacher support. She also highlighted the CHOOSE Act education savings account program, which serves more than 23,000 students, and proposed adding $250 million in 2026–27 as the program moves toward universal eligibility.

Finally, Gov. Ivey discussed the state’s success preparing students for their futures, citing their highest ever college and career readiness rate. The governor noted Alabama’s leadership in computer science as well as its initiatives to grow specialty school programs related to fields such as cybersecurity, engineering, and healthcare sciences. Gov. Ivey celebrated that the state added 500,000 credentialed workers to the workforce.

• Go deeper:
• Alabama expands CHOOSE Act school options: See which schools accept $7,000 credits [Al.com]
• A new kind of high school diploma trades chemistry for carpentry [Chalkbeat]
• Alabama aims to boost college graduation rates with this funding change [Al.com]
• Budget Watch: Tracking the 2027 Education Trust Fund Budget [A+ Education Partnership]

“In my plan, the original mission of the ESA program – to help kids with disabilities and in military families – remains untouched. But even the program’s most ardent supporters must agree: it’s time we tackle the waste, fraud, and abuse to ensure taxpayer dollars are going towards true educational purposes.”

Gov. Katie Hobbs’ address was not primarily focused on education. The governor briefly mentioned her administration’s work to lower the cost of childcare and support of higher education institutions to educate and train the state’s workforce, before turning to her main educational focus: Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA).

Gov. Hobbs pushed for accountability in the ESA program and addressing the waste, fraud, and abuse, citing several examples of families misusing ESA funds for non-education expenses. Her argument was not to abandon the ESA program, but rather ensure it achieves its original purpose, which is to help kids with disabilities and in military families. 

Gov. Hobbs concluded her message with an urge to renew Prop 123, a 2016 constitutional amendment that expired in June 2025 that provided schools with approximately $300 million more per year. Gov. Hobbs noted that a renewal would mean adequate funding for public schools and a stop to the teacher exodus.

Go deeper: 

• Case Study of Arizona’s K–12 Education Savings Account Program: What State Policymakers Can Learn [RAND]

GOP lawmaker proposes diverting school safety funds for oversight of troubled program [The Arizona Mirror]

“These multi-year investments in education, they are paying off. Just this year, we’ve seen improved academic achievement in every subject area, in every grade level, in every student group. With greater gains in test scores for Black and Latino kids. These gains are particularly pronounced in Los Angeles, the nation’s second-largest school district.” 

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final State of the State reinforced California’s positioning as a national leader on education, workforce, and economic policy, with emphasis on long-term public investment. Framed as proof that sustained funding and aligned systems can deliver results, the address highlighted record education spending alongside reported statewide academic gains across subjects, grades, and student groups. He also called for a significant policy change to the California Department of Education by aligning early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary systems, with a state superintendent that is selected by the state board of education and a part of the executive branch. 

Education investments were explicitly linked to outcomes. Newsom pointed to improvements in test scores statewide, with particularly strong gains for Black and Latino students, and singled out Los Angeles Unified as outpacing state averages and exceeding pre-pandemic achievement levels. The governor tied these results to multi-year investments in universal transitional kindergarten, expanded learning time, community schools, and student supports—positioning California as an example of scale and persistence rather than short-term reform.

Workforce preparation and education alignment were also central themes. Gov. Newsom lifted up the state’s newly completed master plan for career education, continued expansion of apprenticeships, and efforts to modernize education governance. Together, these priorities reflect California’s broader strategy: pairing education investment with economic development, career pathways, and guardrails around emerging technologies like AI.

Go deeper:

Newsom proposes taking control of California’s education agency [POLITICO Pro, subscription model]

Newsom’s final State of the State speech steeped in rosy view of California, his record as governor [Los Angeles Times]

Newsom rips Trump, offers a presidential preview in California speech [POLITICO]

“High-quality early education prevents achievement gaps, and helps with reading, math, and long term success in school, all while saving families $6,300 a year on preschool and $500 a month on full-day kindergarten.”

In his 2026 State of the State Address—the final of his tenure—Gov. Polis highlighted the state’s continued dedication to expanding early childhood education access, increasing funding for K-12 education, and strengthening postsecondary and workforce readiness for all students.

Gov. Polis highlighted the state’s investment in early childhood education, boosting Colorado from 27th to 3rd in the nation for preschool enrollment, and maintaining 98% of kindergarteners utilizing free full-day kindergarten.

Gov. Polis also celebrated the state’s focus on increasing funding for K-12 schools, moving from just over $8,000 in 2019 to nearly $12,000 in 2026. In parallel, he emphasized the importance of protecting school funding by increasing the state’s budget reserves from 7.25% to 13%.

Gov. Polis also highlighted his NGA Chair’s Initiative, and the importance of connecting the skills students learn in school with those that lead to a good job. He also emphasized how the state is continuing to put the goals of the Initiative into practice, with the deployment of a new dashboard alongside 6 other states to more accurately evaluate if students are prepared and successful after high school.

Go deeper:

Gov. Jared Polis gets more pointed on Trump, reaches for familiar solutions to Colorado’s challenges in final year [The Denver Post]

Gov. Jared Polis reflects on his education legacy in his final State of the State address [Chalkbeat]

“Delaware recently secured a competitive national grant—and with our proposed budget, along with your support—we will make a nearly $50 million investment in early childhood education in the next year and add to that success”

Gov. Matt Meyer began his address asserting Delaware’s commitment to investing in early education. He noted that a year ago the state declared a “literacy emergency,” and that the state is already seeing returns on that decision: Delaware secured a competitive federal literacy grant, placed literacy screeners in every elementary school, and is pushing all schools to adopt the science of reading.

Additionally, he is focused on improving early childhood education and K-12 school performance across the board. He highlighted the work of the Redding Consortium, pointing to their recommendations to consolidate school districts as a necessary step toward greater efficiency and equity. Gov. Meyer emphasized that district consolidation is about ensuring resources are better aligned to student needs and outcomes.

Go deeper:

Redding Consortium Redistricting Materials

Gov. Meyer speaks to lawmakers, guests in State of the State address [Delaware Online]

Delaware gets $8.7M grant to help teachers merge literacy with civics, history lessons [WHYY]

Gov. Meyer pitches Delaware’s next budget. What’s in it for education? [Delaware Online]

“Now, seven years ago, Florida’s school choice options were capped, they were limited. Today, we have universal school choice and rank as the number one state in the union for parental empowerment and education freedom to better measure performance. We replaced high stakes testing with more reliable and consistent progress monitoring.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis began his address by highlighting Florida’s universal school choice program, underscoring the focus on parental empowerment. He highlighted changes to assessment policy, pointing to the replacement of high-stakes testing with through-course progress monitoring, and cited a record high school graduation rate of 92.2% for the 2024-25 school year as evidence of improved outcomes. He also referenced expanded investments in civics education, including what he described as the nation’s most robust speech and debate initiative.

The governor also pointed to significant workforce and governance reforms in education, including nearly $6 billion invested in raising teacher pay, resulting in the highest average minimum teacher salary in the Southeast. He highlighted classroom cell phone restrictions, noting that while not popular at the time, they have proven effective and are now more widely supported.

Go deeper:

In his last State-of-the-State address, DeSantis vows: ‘We will get the job done.’ [Florida Phoenix]

DeSantis’ farewell State of the State [POLITICO]

“Over these last seven years, we’ve put more money toward education and workforce training programs than ever before in our state’s history. In fact, as of this current fiscal year, we have not only fully funded QBE seven times but added an additional $368 million to programs and initiatives that directly prepare workers for good jobs.”

Gov. Brian Kemp began his address by emphasizing his continued commitment to economic development and job creation, citing the over 210,000 new jobs created in the past seven years. He credited a large part of the job creation to the education and workforce training programs, which have received an additional $368 million to prepare workers for good jobs.

He focused on his administration’s commitment to school safety, including the three campus security grants totaling over $184 million so every school system can keep their children safe. He added that his administration is focusing on all aspects of education, noting that this year teacher pay has officially risen by $9,500.

The governor highlighted historic investments in postsecondary education while continuing to reduce costs for students and families, including restoring the HOPE Scholarship to 100 percent of its promise and holding tuition increases to just five percent since 2019. He emphasized that the state is investing more in higher education than ever before, with $2 billion more directed to postsecondary education than when he first took office. He highlighted that his budget invests $325 million in the DREAMS Scholarship program, the first needs-based scholarship of its kind in Georgia history.

Go deeper:

Gov. Kemp Announces Legislative Package Strengthening K-12 Education

Georgia HOPE Scholarship

“Our vision has been to build an economy that works for all of our people—not just for a privileged few. An economy where working families can afford to stay here, where local talent can grow, and where there is real economic opportunity in our state.” 

Gov. Josh Green’s State of the State address outlined budget priorities across several key areas, including the cost of living, the housing crisis, homelessness, jobs and economic growth, the environment, and healthcare. The speech did not include any specific references to educational initiatives.

“Education will always be my top priority. Our ENDURING IDAHO plan keeps public schools whole and ensures classroom funding is protected. Idaho’s public schools are the heart and soul of our communities—and our children are our future—which is why, even in a year of reduced revenues, schools remain our top priority.”

In announcing the Enduring Idaho plan for this year’s legislative session, Gov. Brad Little said that education remains the top priority for the state. Though many state offices and programs are reducing their budget this year, K-12 schools will maintain funding and receive more discretionary funds to be responsive to local needs. Gov. Little highlighted investment in public education through their literacy programs, increased teacher pay, and advancing new solutions for special education within the state. Gov. Little also announced funding for online schools as an important option in considering school choice for families.

Gov. Little also focused on critical Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs throughout the state, primarily Idaho LAUNCH which provides professional development and career training to allow Idahoans to adapt to the needs of a changing economy. Idaho’s investment in CTE comes with federal support for America’s Talent Strategy. In discussing investment in public health, Governor Little also mentioned a new investment in graduate medical education in the state.

Go deeper:

New report shows LAUNCH aligns with Trump’s Talent Strategy for America

Idaho Launch

America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age

“Last year’s budget had some hard decisions, but the first thing we did was fully fund K-12 education. More money is making its way to teachers and classrooms and less to administrative buildings. We raised starting teacher salaries by $5,000 so we can recruit the best. We’re hitting all time records on literacy scores and graduation rates. Everything we did was based around one simple principle: Parents are in charge of their kids’ education.” 

In his address, Gov. Mike Braun emphasized affordability, economic growth, and workforce readiness as the core priorities shaping Indiana’s 2026 agenda. He highlighted education as a central driver of job creation and economic competitiveness, noting that K-12 education was fully funded despite budget reductions across most state agencies. Gov. Braun pointed to record-high literacy rates and graduation outcomes, along with a $5,000 increase in starting teacher salaries to strengthen recruitment and retention, and a shift in funding toward classrooms rather than administrative costs.

Gov. Braun also emphasized expanded parental control and choice in education, announcing that Indiana has achieved universal school choice, allowing all families to select the school that best meets their children’s needs beginning this fall. He expressed support for legislation limiting cellphone use in schools and granting parents greater authority over their children’s access to social media. The governor highlighted higher education affordability as well—every public university in Indiana has frozen tuition and mandatory fees for the next two years to reduce costs for students and families

Go deeper:

• Governor Braun Celebrates Education Wins for Hoosier Students and Parents
• Indiana’s Public Colleges & Universities Freeze Tuition For Two Years [Forbes, subscription model]
• ‘Away for the day’: Indiana lawmakers take up bill expanding cellphone ban to entire school day [Indiana Capital Chronicle]

“Just last week, at Broadway Elementary in Denison, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and I announced a first-in-the-nation initiative granting Iowa greater control over federal education funding. This marks an important first step toward fully returning education to the states and ensuring federal resources are aligned with Iowa priorities and Iowa student outcomes.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds touted gains made across the state in attendance, literacy, numeracy, and attributed this success to the state’s prioritization of school choice in her 2026 Condition of the State. She also highlighted a key partnership with Education Secretary McMahon on funding Iowa schools, giving the state more control over how dollars get spent. She focused heavily on the success of school choice in the state, highlighting a charter school in Cedar Rapids that opened this past year. Gov. Reynolds proposed a bill to establish pupil-based funding across the state and celebrated universally available Education Savings Accounts for parents to cover the cost of private school. Gov. Reynolds addressed a historic increase in teacher pay which led to a 30% decrease in teacher vacancies across the state. 

Additionally, Gov. Reynolds also proposed a bill that would remove artificial food dyes in school lunches as part of her commitment to health priorities in the state.

Go deeper:

Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program Included in P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 Reconciliation Law

Iowa indicates participation in federal school choice tax credit program

“For seven straight years, we fully funded our public schools. And we’re seeing the benefits of that investment—graduation rates are now the highest they have ever been. We established the Blueprint for Literacy to make sure all Kansas children are reading at or above grade level.”

In her final State of the State address, Gov. Laura Kelly highlighted key issues that the state has improved during her tenure. She discussed the turnaround that education in Kansas has experienced over the last decade, highlighting her administration’s dedication to expanding funding beyond requirements, building out literacy programs, establishing the Office of Early Childhood, and committing dollars to special education and school nutrition programs. 

She also emphasized the investment in special education with over $120 million in funds and calling on Washington to cover “its fair share.”

Gov. Kelly urged the legislature to pass a bipartisan bill (SB 302) banning cell phone use during the school day with districts setting enforcement. This state-level effort seeks universal implementation for improved learning and mental health for kids across Kansas.

Go deeper:

• Kansas lawmakers want statewide K-12 cellphone ban by next school year [Kansas Reflector]
• SB 302 | Bills and Resolutions | Kansas State Legislature
• Governor Kelly delivers final State of State, Republicans respond [WIBW]

“I am unapologetically a 100% pro-public education governor. Every budget I’ve proposed has invested in our school systems, starting with our educators. Once again, I’ll be doing what’s right: I’m proposing $159 million for mandatory raises for educators; and a proposal to increase take-home pay by nearly 7%.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear began his speech emphasizing the success of Kentucky’s current economy and workforce expansion efforts, noting that in the past year over 68,000 new jobs were created. He noted that these job-creation efforts have secured Kentucky among the top five in ranking for economic development.

The governor stated how his proposed budget would continue to support these efforts through a $70 million investment in site development, a $100 million investment in infrastructure projects, and a $25 million rural economic development fund.

The governor asserted his commitment to public education, as seen through a proposed $159 million for mandatory raises for educators and $560 million for teacher retirements. He stated his commitment to securing universal pre-K for all children, stating that it is the most effective way to support Kentucky’s kids and bolster the future workforce.

Go deeper:

Executive Order 2025-351 – Team Kentucky Pre-K for All Advisory Committee

Gov. Beshear: State of Commonwealth remains strong, but concerns coming [WKYT]

Beshear unveils Kentucky budget with new spending on pre-K, housing, health care [Louisville Public Media]

Expand pre-K gradually, says group exploring support for early childhood education in KY [The Kentucky Lantern]

“Education opens doors of opportunity—and so, tonight, I am taking another swing at it. Let’s make community college free in Maine permanently!”

In her final State of the State Address, Gov. Janet Mills presented education as the cornerstone of Maine’s economic, social and democratic future. Representing 41% of the state budget, education policy under her administration was framed as a long-term investment strategy linking early childhood learning, public education, higher education, and workforce development into a unified “classroom-to-career” pipeline. 

She celebrated the administration’s wins on expanding higher education funding and investment, including two free years of community college across the state, which she called for the legislature to make permanent. Additional initiatives include providing free school meals for all public school students, increasing pre-kindergarten enrollment, expanding statewide early college programs, and improved funding for research at UMaine. 

In addition to calling for two year community college funding and K-12 school funding at 55% to become permanent, Gov. Mills called for a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in school, citing improved student performance and mental health.

Go deeper:

Free College 2023 – Maine Community College System

Mills rebukes ICE, pivots to affordability agenda in final state of the state address [Main Morning Star]

Some Maine Republicans abruptly leave Gov. Mills’ State of the State [WMTW 8]

“For me, growth starts with education, and no state is doing more. Massachusetts schools—for the first time in eight years—are now ranked Number One in our Nation’s Report Card in every single category. And we’re not resting.”

Gov. Maura Healey celebrated Massachusetts’ high bar for education in the state and the announcement that Massachusetts is ranked first in the nation on the Nation’s Report Card across the board. Gov. Healey announced that the state would reach their goal of universal pre-K funding in all of the state’s major cities by the end of this year, ahead of the goal initially set by her administration two years ago.

She discussed the literacy and numeracy programs introduced in the state to address the learning loss that students have experienced since Covid-19, improvements to high school curriculum to offer students more opportunities to prepare for college, careers, trades, or the military. New graduation requirements are set to raise the already high bar for Massachusetts high schoolers, ensuring that students graduating will have the skills needed to succeed.

Gov. Healey also mentioned the success of the Early College and dual enrollment programs across the state, helping more students get college credits while still in high school and called for increased enrollment in these programs. Additionally, she called for new requirements for social media platforms to protect kids across the state, including parental consent and age verification in the wake of research linking these platforms to increased mental health concerns for teens. 

Go deeper:

State education officials pitch new high school graduation requirements [Bay State Banner]

Massachusetts Early College Initiative

“The real test of Missouri’s education system should be whether students are learning. Whether they can read, write, and do math. Our school grade card will accomplish just that, using a familiar A-F grading scale to clearly present academic performance.”

Gov. Mike Kehoe began his speech by emphasizing his belief that the government has grown too large. To mitigate this, his proposed budget includes a $600 million cut to programs he believes are unnecessary. However, he noted there are no cuts to core higher education funding or changes to the K-12 foundation formula currently. He stated that he was looking forward to the results of the School Funding Modernization Task Force’s work to inform future improvements to the funding formula.

The governor celebrated the inclusion of $50 million in general revenue funding last year to strengthen the MO Scholars program, which works to expand school choice options for students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and students living in low-income households. Gov. Kehoe asserted his belief that the next step in expanding choice options is to allow for open enrollment across the state, allowing families to choose the public school that best meets their children’s needs. He included $7.5 million in the budget to go towards these open enrollment efforts.

Finally, the governor signed an executive order creating a statewide school accountability A-F grading system to evaluate each school and provide a letter-grade based on student performance. The system will be “grounded primarily in academic performance and growth, [and] can provide families and communities with a simple, comparable, and rigorous picture of school quality while maintaining alignment with state and federal law.” 

Go deeper:

Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force (Executive Order 25-14)

MO Scholars: Parents and Students

Executive Order 26-01 – School Accountability Grade Card

“I was the first governor in the country to sign an executive order indicating Nebraska’s intent to opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit—a move that could bring millions of federal dollars into our state to support all kids in our schools—public, private, and homeschool. It’s a gamechanger.”

Gov. Jim Pillen touched briefly on education in his address, highlighting his support for the new federal tax credit scholarship and framing his priorities around preventing indoctrination and the repealing of a law that prohibited kindergarten, first, and second graders from being suspended. The governor framed his priorities as part of a broader effort to ensure that Nebraska’s education system remains focused on learning, workforce readiness, and student success.

Go deeper: 

• Gov. Jim Pillen calls Nebraska ‘recession-proof’ in State of the State [Nebraska Examiner]

“When they told us that we’d have to decide between supporting our children or easing the property tax burden, what did we do? We increased funding for our K-12 schools to their highest levels in history—AND delivered more property tax relief than any administration in history.”

In his final State of the State address, Gov. Phil Murphy began his speech highlighting positive progress made within the state, including raising the minimum wage and increasing funding for K-12 schools. He asserted New Jersey’s commitment to embracing AI, noting that his administration understands both the benefits and the real costs of its implementation.

The governor continued his discussion of technology, celebrating the legislation signed last week establishing a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in K-12 schools. He asserted his belief that there should be even more restrictions on social media usage for children. 

Go deeper:

Gov. Murphy signs bill to ban cellphones in classrooms [The New Jersey Monitor]

Phil Murphy says goodbye to New Jersey in final State of the State [POLITICO]

Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Establishing Phone-Free Schools in New Jersey

“Increasingly—and with tremendous benefit to our state—New Mexico’s young people are choosing to continue their education after graduating high school. Since 2021, college enrollment has grown by nearly 15%, making New Mexico one of only two states in the nation to see growth since 2020. Last year alone, we sent more than 40,000 students to college and trade schools through Opportunity Scholarships. We’ve jumped 20 spots in state higher education rankings in seven years—from 40th in 2019 to 20th today.”

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gave her final state of the state address this Tuesday, boasting impressive growths across all ages of education. New Mexico was the first state to offer universal free child care to families, increased wages for child care educators, and improved standards to support kindergarten readiness.

Growth and improvement continues to be a theme for K-12 schools in New Mexico. The state adopted a new literacy program focused on the science of reading that led to an 8% jump in literacy proficiency. Literacy rates for elementary and middle school students drastically grew, and high school graduation rates reached an all time high. Gov. Grisham called for an established Office of Special Education to help families work with the system and a state-wide ban on cellphones at schools. She encouraged continued debate over establishing a 180-day school year, but did not go so far as to introduce a bill or mandating the legislature to do so.

Gov. Grisham also discussed the improvements to higher education made in the state, like the expansive use of Opportunity Scholarships, increased college and trade school enrollment, and impressive move in the state higher education rankings from 40th in 2019 to 20th in 2026. 

Go deeper:

New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship

Universal Child Care – New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care

Crime, healthcare and education among governor’s priorities for 2026 legislative session [KRQE]

New Mexico Ranks No. 20 Nationally For Higher Education [LA Daily Post]

“One year ago, I stood on this very stage and placed our state on the path to Universal Child care. Today, I stand before you with a clear roadmap to show how we’ll get there. Building on over $8 billion in child care investments that my Administration has made since 2022, this plan will ultimately deliver Universal Child care for every single family in New York. Full stop.”

In her 2026 State of the State address, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined a forward-looking agenda centered on affordability, public safety, and economic growth.

At the K-12 level, Gov. Hochul highlighted her administration’s focus on reading instruction and announced a new statewide focus on improving math education. She argued that strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy skills is essential to preparing students for future careers. As well as a reference to the state’s bell-to-bell cell phone ban as a key achievement. 

Gov. Hochul described major investments in early childhood education, including a roadmap to universal child care and universal pre-K for all four-year-olds by 2028.

At the postsecondary level, the governor highlighted the expansion of free community college for adult learners in high-demand fields—more than 11,000 New Yorkers have already enrolled. The governor also proposed adding new career pathways such as logistics, air traffic control, and emergency management, aligning education and training more closely with workforce needs across the state.

Go deeper:

• Governor Hochul Launches New York’s Free Community College Program for In-Demand Fields
• New York State Phone-Free Schools Law
• Gov. Hochul calls for math instruction overhaul in State of State address [Chalkbeat]
• Governor Hochul Announces Child Care Expansion Pilot Partnerships With 3 Counties as Part of Statewide Investments in Universal Child Care

“We want to Make North Dakota Healthy Again by promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles in communities across the state through initiatives focused on nutrition, exercise, and reducing the risk of substance abuse, just to name a few.”

Gov. Kelly Armstrong spent the majority of his speech focused on his commitment to the Make North Dakota Healthy Again Initiative through promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles with a focus on nutrition and exercise. Education was not mentioned as a priority. He celebrated the $199 million in federal funds awarded for the Rural Health Transformation Program, noting that this was only possible because of the focused approach North Dakota citizens had taken in supporting the application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The governor’s speech focused on the four pronged approach to the funds: promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles, strengthening the rural health care workforce, bringing high-quality health care closer to home, and improving the healthcare system through integrating data analysis. There was no specific reference to educational initiatives.

Go deeper:

ND awarded $199M for Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen care in rural communities

Armstrong delivers state of the state: Governor forsees health strides with new federal grant [Minot Daily News]

Gov. Armstrong urges lawmakers to stay focused on rural health care as North Dakota session opens [North Dakota Monitor]

“No career pathway program, no workforce initiative, no intervention later in school can succeed if students cannot read well.”

Gov. Kevin Stitt delivered his final State of the State address, reflecting on his administration’s accomplishments over the past five years. He highlighted increased public education funding and pointed to Oklahoma’s consistently low unemployment rate as evidence of economic progress under his leadership.

The governor then turned to the idea of the American Dream, arguing that while its definition may vary, it begins with access to a strong education. He contended that Oklahoma’s education system is fundamentally flawed, describing it as overly regulated, government-run, and based on a one-size-fits-all model that fails to meet all students’ needs.

Gov. Stitt emphasized that expanding competition within the education system has driven improvement, citing the open transfer rule, expanded access to charter schools, and the Parental Choice Tax Credit as key examples. He argued that empowering parents and fostering competition and excellence leads to better educational outcomes. He concluded by asserting that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction should be appointed by the governor rather than elected by voters.

Go deeper:

• Open Transfer District Openings and Guidelines
• Education was big focus of Gov. Stitt’s final State of the State address [KOSU]
• Oklahoma Gov. Stitt delivered his final State of the State address. Here’s what he said [KOSU]
• Big Updates to the Parental Choice Tax Credit in Oklahoma – What Families and Schools Need to Know

“We’ve invested a record amount of money in public education, and created a brand-new formula that drives that money out to the schools that need it most.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro put youth development and education at the center of economic development and improvement in the state and used his State of the Commonwealth to look towards how new initiatives can improve the state. 

Gov. Shapiro discussed the success of a program aimed at increasing the pay and training for childcare providers provided last year and called for an increase in these programs during this upcoming legislative session. He focused on the overhaul of the funding formula for education in the state, and the success the state has already had in transitioning from foundational K-12 investments to a “multi-pathway” approach for the workforce. He called upon the legislature to mandate recess for all kids to improve their health and academic performance.

Gov. Shapiro criticized the lack of guardrails for online safety, especially for children, and called for the state to hold developers and tech companies accountable. He called for bipartisan action to regulate AI chatbots, specifically requiring age verification and parental consent to protect lonely or vulnerable teens from unregulated medical advice and harmful content. Likewise, the Governor called for a legislative ban on cell phones in classrooms.

The budget also increases CTE investment and introduces red tape reforms that allow vocational students to graduate without repeating general education credits. These efforts are complemented by an initiative to eliminate the GED waitlist for over 7,500 adults, alongside a new performance-based funding model for major universities like Pitt and Penn State that rewards graduation rates in high-demand fields. Finally, the address highlighted the BOOST initiative as a critical expansion of afterschool programming, framing youth engagement as a core pillar of the state’s successful strategy to reduce gun violence.

Go deeper:

• Pennsylvania BOOST Program
• Pennsylvania Senate passes bill that would ban student cell phone use during school day [FOX 43]
• Governor Shapiro proposes $2.5M boost to ease adult education waitlists in Pennsylvania [WNEP 16]
• School cellphone ban passes Pennsylvania Senate: “We want our students focused on learning” [CBS News Philadelphia]

“For the third year in a row, we’ve reduced chronic absenteeism, adding 3.7 million hours of student learning through our Attendance Matters initiative. Thanks to this work—and the hard work of our teachers, staff, parents, students, and RIDE—Harvard’s Education Recovery Scorecard confirmed Rhode Island is leading New England in academic recovery from the pandemic.”

Gov. Dan McKee began his address asserting that following the tragic events at Brown University, his administration is committed to ensuring all Rhode Island colleges and universities review security protocols and improve mental health support access for students. 

The governor reaffirmed his commitment to supporting students at every stage of their educational journey, highlighting his proposal to establish Rhode Island’s first permanent child tax credit. He underscored his strong support for higher education, pointing to the success of the RI Promise at the Community College of Rhode Island and the Hope Scholarship at Rhode Island College in reducing tuition costs for students. He also reiterated his ongoing commitment to higher education through a proposed $215 million bond to modernize and upgrade facilities across the state’s three public colleges.

The governor celebrated investments in K-12 education through initiatives like Learn365RI and Attendance Matters, expanding learning opportunities, reducing chronic absenteeism, and strengthening support for students statewide. As a result, Rhode Island now leads New England in academic recovery and has significantly closed achievement gaps in reading and math. He proposed Rhode Island’s first dedicated CTE bond of $50 million to build and upgrade CTE classrooms across the state. 

Go deeper: 

• K-12 chronic absenteeism rates decline for third consecutive year in Rhode Island [Rhode Island Current] 
• Embattled McKee highlights affordability, takes on Trump in 2026 State of State [Rhode Island Current] 
• McKee pledges affordability, infrastructure upgrades in State of the State Address [Turn to 10] 

“A free state is one where students are able to learn in a commonsense way. We emphasize innovation through competition, excellence, and new pathways to brighter career opportunities.”

Gov. Larry Rhoden was proud to announce that the state was prioritizing education by leveraging federal funding for education choice. He mentioned that schools across the state were already implementing bans on cellphones in schools without need for a state mandate, and discussed other youth mentorship programs designed to get kids off devices and exploring the outdoors through fishing and hunting.

Gov. Rhoden celebrated the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway, which supports paraprofessionals in getting credentials while still filling important vacancies in schools, and praised K-12 reforms like the state-wide Science of Reading initiative and updates to math standards. He proposed more funding for College and Technical Education investment in high schools and technical colleges, knowing the benefit they provide for economic development in the state, and announced that his Department of Education would be proposing legislation on giving school boards more flexibility to find alternative settings for disruptive students.

Gov. Rhoden was proud to announce that South Dakota will be opting into the federal school choice tax credit program established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to expand school choice throughout the state. 

Go deeper:

• Over 50 Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway Graduates Signed Teacher Contracts in SD – News
• Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program Included in P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 Reconciliation Law | Congress.gov
• Science of Reading professional development available for educators

“Today, not only do our scores outpace the national average, but since 2022, Tennessee is a top five state for gains in reading and math.”

In his final State of the State, Gov. Bill Lee celebrated education wins that Tennessee has seen during his tenure, from teacher pay to literacy and numeracy gains. Gov. Lee touted the historic $2.5 billion investment in schools since 2019 and credited the K-3 literacy program with increasing the state’s reading scores. The governor also underscored the state’s commitment to the teaching profession by highlighting a 42% increase in teacher pay since the start of his administration, noting that starting salaries are on track to reach $50,000 by 2027 thanks to recent legislation.

Gov. Lee also hopes to expand school choice in the state; he discussed the high demand for the Education Freedom Scholarships, which provide vouchers to families for private school in the state. He called on the legislature to double the amount of scholarships available to meet the surge of 54,000 applicants seeking alternatives to traditional settings. 

Gov. Lee highlighted the expansion of high school CTE programs and GIVE grants for community colleges as essential tools for teaching specialized trades like welding to Tennessee students. These initiatives work alongside a $1 billion investment in the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) to eliminate waitlists and provide a skilled workforce for the state’s growing nuclear and manufacturing sectors.

Go deeper:

• THEC Announces New Round of GIVE Grants
• Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Program
• Gov. Bill Lee aims high for voucher expansion in tight budget year [Chalkbeat]
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Tennessee

“Our goal is this: every child reading well, early, and with confidence. That means high standards and individualized support for struggling readers. Literacy is a policy choice. It means families, schools, and the state pulling in the same direction. Literacy is moral infrastructure—and if we want our children to grow up and live free, purposeful lives, we must give them a strong foundation today.”

Gov. Spencer Cox briefly highlighted priorities for this upcoming legislative session during his state of the state address. The very first priority on the Governor’s legislative agenda was an early literacy initiative that will be brought forth during this legislative session with the goal of improving early literacy rates and ensuring all children read proficiently.

Gov. Cox emphasized the importance and need for a bell-to-bell phone ban as a “commonsense guardrail” for protecting children and encouraging learning in schools. The governor also criticized social media companies for their addictive algorithms and called for accountability as a “moral responsibility.”

Go deeper:

Governor Cox gives annual State of the State address, highlights literacy, housing, and social media [ABC 4]

Gov. Cox asks Utah Legislature to pursue happiness — and a bell-to-bell phone ban [The Salt Lake Tribune]

“Act 73 will deliver the targeted support students need and build a structure to carry out other reforms to provide universal afterschool programs focused on literacy, create accountability, increase quality, and much more.”

“Education transformation is not optional, it’s essential to growing our economy, to building a strong skilled workforce, to supporting businesses.”

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s speech emphasized his commitment to transforming Vermont’s public education system through the reforms in Act 73. He underscored that Vermont’s current system cannot deliver equal educational opportunity or predictable funding. 

The governor celebrated the passage of Act 73 as a positive step in the direction of redesigning both how education is funded and how school districts are structured. He stressed that the passage of the act must be met with structural changes. He asserted that the Act will expand pre-K, CTE curriculum, and increase salaries for teachers. 

The governor recommended that the legislature prioritize drawing new district lines to decrease the number of districts and streamline education. He noted the decline in test scores in Vermont, citing a report from the Boston Globe that Vermont had fallen the farthest in the past years in early reading. He asserted his belief that redrawing the district lines would improve test scores in Vermont by consolidating resources.

Go deeper:

Vermont NEA – Vermont’s Education Bill

Act 73 of 2025 – Vermont Agency of Education

Gov. Phil Scott insists on lawmakers ‘keeping our word’ on education reform in State of State speech [Vermont Public]

Gov. Scott makes State of the State address all about education reform [Waterbury Roundabout]

Schools are closing across rural America. Here’s how a battle over small districts is playing out in one state [The Hechinger Report]

“And here’s another historic milestone—thanks to the generosity of the Ballmer Group, the state will receive upwards of a billion dollars to invest in free early learning programs that help kids and hardworking families. I’m proud to partner with Sen. Claire Wilson and Rep. Steve Bergquist on a bill that allows us to utilize the incredible gift from the Ballmer Group to pay for up to 10,000 additional spots for our kids.”

Gov. Bob Ferguson’s address was not primarily focused on education. His discussion on the budget included his proposed Millionaires’ Tax would go to K-12 schools and hopefully bolster Washington students’ access to education.

The governor asserted the state’s continued commitment to early education, acknowledging the investment of upwards of a billion dollars from the Ballmer group to support free early learning programs for kids and paying for up to 10,000 additional spots for children in childcare. 

Gov. Ferguson concluded his address by discussing barriers to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). He noted that while nearly half of Washington households qualify, they rank 47th out of the states for completing the FAFSA. To mitigate this issue, he recently signed an executive order establishing the “Washington Completes FAFSA” campaign.

Go deeper:

• Washington Completes FAFSA Campaign – Advisory Board
• What WA Gov. Bob Ferguson said, and left unsaid, in his State of the State address [The Washington State Standard]
• SB 5872 – 2025-26 – Establishing the Prek-12 Promise Account 
• Governor Ferguson, Ballmer Group announce new grant to fund early learning for 10,000 Washington kids
• Executive Order 25-08 – Establishing the Washington Completes FAFSA Campaign

“Educators who complete the LETRS training end up demonstrating significantly stronger understanding in how reading develops and how to teach it, this is really important. I’ve talked to a lot of governors about this. Mississippi, they were once at the bottom of the national educational rankings before they implemented it—they moved up a lot. Now West Virginia can as well.”

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrissey briefly mentioned education during his State of the State this past Wednesday, including a proposed 3% increase in pay for all state workers, including teachers, and an increase in funding for higher education. The governor’s statewide priorities like reforming child welfare, supporting faith-based communities, and economic development were emphasized. He proposed a “School within a School” and a truancy diversion initiatives to support at-risk middle schoolers before they enter the child welfare system. School within a school programs offer focused support and academic recovery, while also tailoring supports to meet students needs to keep students engaged and prevent dropout. 

As far as K-12 initiatives, Gov. Morrissey touched on three topics: the state-wide school voucher program, investment in early literacy, and improving students’ digital literacy. Gov. Morrissey was proud to announce that the Hope Scholarship, West Virginia’s school voucher program, was fully funded and proposed that it be pre-paid for next year as a commitment to this policy.

The governor also announced the implementation of LETRS (developed by Lexia), which helps West Virginia achieve the goals set out by the Third Grade Success Act (HB 3035) by providing sustained professional development to K-5 educators in the science of reading. LETRS was previously used in Mississippi to drastically improve the state’s public education ranking, Governor Morrissey is aiming for similar growth in West Virginia. The governor briefly mentioned improving digital literacy in schools to support all students in career readiness. 

Go deeper:

• West Virginia will expand school program for at-risk children to prevent foster care placements [West Virginia Watch]
• LETRS (developed by Lexia)
• Third Grade Success Act