This month's guide to the nexus between government and education

I TENNESSEE TRIES NEW ANTI-BULLYING LAW

Tennessee is trying a new approach to stop bullying this year. The state legislature passed a law that would revoke the driving privileges of teens convicted of bullying offenses. The new law includes both in-person and cyberbullying, with those convicted losing their license for one year. The law allows first-offenders to apply for a restricted license allowing them to drive to essential activities, including school, work, and church services. Those on a restricted license will not be allowed to drive to social events or after-school activities.

I TEEN VOTING

In July, the United Kingdom lowered the national voting age from 18 to 16. As a result, about 1.6 million teenagers will be able to vote in the country’s next general election, expected to happen by 2029. The new rules cover England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The UK is also allowing 16-year-olds to vote in local and devolved government elections, like elections for the Scottish Parliament or Northern Ireland Assembly.

I PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST

The Presidential Fitness Test is returning to schools this year. The test ran from the late 1950’s until 2013, when President Obama replaced the test with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which differed from the Presidential Fitness Test in that it focused on individual health and a broader view of fitness instead of focusing on competition. President Trump is also bringing back the Presidential Fitness Award for students who achieve high scores. President Trump cited declining health and fitness in American youth as the reason to bring back the competition.

>> Learn more about the Presidential Fitness Test here.

I MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING

States have begun a mid-decade redistricting fight in an effort to influence which party controls Congress following the 2026 midterm elections. Texas began its effort to redraw its maps to flip five U.S. House seats from Democrats to Republicans at the behest of President Donald Trump. As Texas was passing its final map, California’s legislature passed bills to start the redistricting process in that state. In California, voters will decide on a ballot question in November that would give the state legislature the power to draw the state’s maps. California voters gave the power to draw congressional districts to an independent commission in 2010.

>> Dig deeper into the policies around the latest redistricting push here.

I PUBLIC BROADCASTING CUT

On August 1, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it was ending its operations. The decision followed Congress passing a recessions package requested by President Donald Trump that pulled the CPB’s $1.1 billion in federal funding. President Trump and Congressional Republicans had accused the CPB and public media organizations like NPR and PBS of having a liberal bias. Analysis from the CPB found that about half of the rural stations it supported relied on federal funding for 25% or more of their annual budget.

>> Learn more about the rescissions package that include CPB cuts here.

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