Governors’ 2024 Education Priorities: Early Childhood, Curriculum, School Choice, Mental Health

March 13 2024- In the 2024 State of the State addresses analyzed by FutureEd, governors from both parties have largely avoided emphasizing parental rights bills, book bans, and other culture-war controversies, despite heightened partisan tensions during an election year. Instead, they have focused on proposing significant investments in education and practical measures to enhance learning. While some education issues still divide governors along partisan lines, such as universal pre-kindergarten programs and public funding for private schooling, there is bipartisan support for increasing teacher pay, addressing teacher shortages, expanding access to higher education, and promoting college and career readiness in high school. Interestingly, both Republicans and Democrats have supported initiatives traditionally associated with their political opponents, such as Republicans addressing youth mental health and Democrats advocating for reading reform.