ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÊÓ

After returning from Thanksgiving break, anxious educators turned their eyes this week to the fate of the tax bill in Congress.

The bill, currently on the Senate floor, touches on many contentious educational issues, including whether to continue federal deductions for state and local taxes, a change that could upend school finances. Legislators also need to hash out differences on deductions for teachers’ out-of-pocket expenses and school choice. ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÊÓ’s Carolyn Phenicie explores the multiple educational issues wrapped up in the legislation. Read her analysis here.

Meanwhile, across the country, very different issues are driving local education conversations. Here are seven storylines we’re watching this week from states that are home to America’s dozen biggest school districts — and more than 4 million public school students:

Illinois — An finds good news beyond tests scores.

Texas — More than 20,000 children in Houston following Hurricane Harvey.

Florida — Florida public school by 8,000 after Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico.

California — New California law expands access to for low-income parents.

Pennsylvania — Universal Companies, which helped reshape Philadelphia schools, suspended its president and CEO after .

Nevada — After outcry, Nevada officials delay controversial vote on

New York — New York City pins the on a Lower East Side elementary school.

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