Governors Focus on School Choice, Affordability, and Early Childhood Education in 2026 State of the State Addresses

In their 2026 State of the State addresses, governors across the United States outlined a range of education initiatives for the coming year, with a significant emphasis on school choice programs, higher education affordability, and expanding access to early childhood services. An analysis of speeches from 39 governors revealed both bipartisan agreement and persistent partisan divides on key issues.

School Choice: A Divisive Issue

School choice emerged as a central point of contention, largely along party lines. Thirteen governors – all Republicans except for Arizona’s Katie Hobbs – addressed school choice in their speeches, with most advocating for the use of public funds for private education.

Several governors proposed expanding existing private school choice programs through increased funding or broadened eligibility. For example, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe proposed an additional $10 million investment in the MO Scholars Program [1]. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called for universal access to the state’s education scholarship trust fund, currently limited to low-income families.

Three governors announced their intention to participate in a new federal tax credit scholarship program, with South Dakota’s Larry Rhoden praising the program and outlining plans for implementation in January 2027 [1].

Some governors as well emphasized the need for greater accountability in private school choice programs. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs continued to call for increased oversight of the state’s universal ESA program, citing concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse. Idaho’s Brad Little similarly called for greater accountability in his state’s choice program.

Governors Kehoe and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy encouraged support for more choices within public education, with Kehoe allocating $7.5 million for open school district enrollment and Iowa’s Kim Reynolds proposing that per-pupil funding follow students to charter schools.

Higher Education: Affordability and Access

Twenty-two governors discussed higher education priorities, primarily focusing on financial aid, and affordability. Colorado’s Jared Polis reaffirmed his commitment to making the first two years at the state’s public colleges free for low-income high school graduates [1], while Indiana’s Mike Braun announced a freeze on tuition and mandatory fees at all public universities for the next two years.

Targeted scholarships were also proposed, with Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen promising full scholarships, including housing, to the University of Nebraska for in-state students scoring 33 or higher on the ACT. Georgia’s Brian Kemp proposed a $325 million investment in the state university’s needs-based DREAMS Scholarships.

Five governors highlighted health sector-related higher education initiatives, including the construction and endowment of a new medical school in New Mexico by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, $1 million for graduate medical education in Idaho by Governor Little, and $25 million for nursing student loan forgiveness in Kentucky by Governor Andy Beshear.

Workforce Development: Aligning Education with Job Market Needs

Fifteen governors emphasized workforce development initiatives and the importance of aligning career and technical education with current job market demands. Both Republican and Democratic governors proposed expanding K-12 and postsecondary programs that connect students to apprenticeships in skilled trades, healthcare, education, and technology.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green proposed construction apprenticeships tied to affordable housing initiatives and partnerships between schools and nonprofits to train climate stewards. Missouri Governor Kehoe announced support for pet grooming programs, allocating funding for expanding a Kansas City nonprofit. Governors in Colorado and South Dakota called for stronger state-level coordination to track workforce readiness and expand access to CTE.

Early Learning and Child Care: Supporting Working Families

Twenty governors – Democrats and Republicans – proposed expanding early care and learning opportunities to increase access and affordability for working parents. New York Governor Kathy Hochul pledged to fully fund New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s universal child care program for 2-year-olds, while New Mexico Governor Grisham called for universal child care statewide.

Seven governors highlighted commitments to universal pre-K, while others suggested incremental expansions to early learning programs. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson proposed using private investment to add 10,000 new seats in free early learning programs, and Indiana’s Mike Braun suggested requiring businesses to contribute to reducing child care costs and expanding access.

Student Health: Mental Wellbeing and Online Safety

Six Democrats and three Republicans proposed restrictions on cell phone use in schools, emphasizing improved student learning as a primary rationale. Concerns about student mental health, particularly regarding online safety, were also raised. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned parents about the potential risks of artificial intelligence chatbots, citing concerns about their connection to teen suicides. Governors in New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts proposed restrictions on social media use for children.

Notably, only two governors, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and Wisconsin’s Tony Evers, proposed new investments in K-12 mental health services.

School Nutrition: A New Priority

Ten governors introduced initiatives aimed at improving student nutrition, referencing the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again campaign. Kansas’ Kelly proposed making school meals free for all students eligible for reduced pricing, and Hawaii’s Green extended free school meals to families at 300% of the federal poverty level.

Little proposed a bill to remove artificial dye from school lunches, while California Governor Gavin Newsom encouraged continued efforts to remove highly processed foods from school cafeterias. Three Republican governors proposed removing candy, soda, and other unhealthy foods from programs providing federal subsidies when school is not in session.

The 2026 State of the State addresses reveal a complex landscape of educational priorities, with school choice remaining a contentious issue and bipartisan support for improving student achievement, increasing funding for public education, and expanding access to early childhood services.