Governors Prioritize Student Nutrition, School Choice, and Higher Education Affordability in 2026 State of the State Addresses

As the Trump administration continues to emphasize state leadership in education, governors across the United States outlined their education priorities for 2026 in their annual State of the State addresses. A recent analysis of 39 governors’ speeches reveals a focus on school choice programs, higher education affordability, early childhood services, and, notably, student nutrition. While bipartisan agreement emerged on several fronts, persistent divides remain, particularly regarding school choice and related policies.

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 the majority advocating for the use of public funds for private education. FutureEd reports that several governors proposed expanding existing private school choice programs through increased funding or broadened eligibility.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe proposed an additional $10 million investment in the MO Scholars Program, while 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 the new federal tax credit scholarship program, with South Dakota’s Larry Rhoden praising the program and planning implementation in January 2027.

Concerns regarding accountability were also raised. Governor Hobbs continued to call for increased oversight of Arizona’s universal ESA program, citing potential for waste, fraud, and abuse. Idaho’s Brad Little similarly called for greater accountability within his state’s choice program. Kehoe and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy encouraged supporting more choices within public education, with Kehoe allocating $7.5 million for open school district enrollment and Iowa’s Kim Reynolds proposing per-pupil funding follow students to charter schools.

Higher Education: Affordability and Access

Twenty-two governors discussed higher education, primarily focusing on financial aid and affordability. Colorado’s Jared Polis reaffirmed his commitment to free tuition for the first two years at state public colleges for low-income graduates, and Indiana’s Mike Braun announced a two-year freeze on tuition and mandatory fees at all public universities. The National Governors Association provides links to all state of the state addresses.

Targeted scholarships were also proposed, with Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen promising full scholarships, including housing, to University of Nebraska 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. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the construction and endowment of a new medical school, Idaho’s Little committed $1 million to graduate medical education, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear proposed $25 million for nursing student loan forgiveness.

Workforce Development: Aligning Education with Job Markets

Fifteen governors emphasized workforce development, aiming to align career and technical education with current job market demands. Both Republican and Democratic governors proposed expanding programs connecting students to apprenticeships in skilled trades, healthcare, education, and technology. Hawaii Governor Josh Green proposed construction apprenticeships tied to affordable housing and partnerships to train climate stewards. Kehoe supported expanding a Kansas City nonprofit, Pawsperity, offering financial stability through pet grooming careers.

Governors in Colorado and South Dakota called for stronger state-level coordination, proposing new agencies to track workforce readiness and expand access to career and technical education.

Early Learning and Child Care: Expanding Access and Affordability

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

Seven governors highlighted commitments to universal pre-K, while others suggested incremental expansions. 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.

Student Health: Mental Wellbeing and Online Safety

Six Democrats and three Republicans proposed restrictions on cell phone use in schools, citing improved student learning as a primary rationale. Kansas’s Laura Kelly proposed a ban, stating devices hinder learning and teaching. Student mental health, particularly regarding online safety, was also a concern. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned about the potential connection between AI chatbots and teen suicides, while governors in New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts proposed restrictions on social media use for children.

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

Student Nutrition: A New Priority

Student nutrition emerged as a new prominent area of focus, with ten governors introducing initiatives to improve student nutrition. 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. FutureEd’s tracker provides a comprehensive overview of these initiatives.

Little proposed removing artificial dyes from school lunches, while California Governor Gavin Newsom encouraged removing highly processed foods. Three Republican governors proposed removing candy, soda, and unhealthy foods from programs subsidized by SNAP and Summer EBT, citing health concerns like obesity.