State Education Standard State Education Standard

NCOSEA Voice: The Struggle to Control Academic Content


Because they reflect local values about what students should learn during their K-12 years, academic standards are inherently political. Through a variety of ways, federal, state, and local actors have long sought to control decisions about what constitutes “official knowledge.” From book bans to state laws restricting curricular choices, the politics of academic content is once again making news. A review of the legal framework for these content decisions may provide helpful context for state boards of education.


NCOSEA Voice: The Struggle to Control Academic Content





Featured Items

Group of students working on an algebra project in classroom setting, engaging in collaborative learning while sitting around table and sharing ideas on assignment i

Leaders Back Statewide Plans to Improve Math Learning

Leading states have been launching or expanding plans to bolster students’ math learning.
Library education reference books on math and science STEM subjects vital for academic study in computer science, AI and engineering. i

Seven Questions State Boards Should Ask about High-Quality Instructional Materials

A shared curriculum holds the entire educational enterprise together.
Complexity of thought processes and the human mind. Thoughts, creativity, emotions, mental health, vibrant art collage. Psychology, self-analysis, mental disorders and wellbeing, cognitive processes i

States Take Next Steps on Governing AI Use in Schools

In 2026, state boards of education are likely to move beyond issuing AI guidance and toward monitoring implementation and possibly developing policies.

Upcoming Events

From the States