Wake County school board vice chairman John Tedesco may find himself overseeing all of the state's public schools.

In a statement today, Tedesco said that he will decide after New Year’s Day whether to run in 2012 for state Schools Superintendent. It could pave the way for a battle between Tedesco and state Schools Superintendent June Atkinson or state Rep. Rick Glazier, who has announced he’s considering running for the position.

“While there are several opportunities for me to consider right now, at this time my focus is my coming wedding, continued service to the children of Wake County, and sharing the holidays with family and friends,” Tedesco said today in a written statement. “In the beginning of the new year I will evaluate further.”

A new state law is mandating that school systems, community colleges and public universities allow students at least two excused absences a year for religious observances.

This formalizes what has largely been an informal, though mostly smooth process in which parents or students simply work out their days off with teachers, principals or university professors.

But there are concerns about this new law.

Here's the story.

State legislators will be focusing on the issue of diversity in public schools in light of the controversy taking place in Wake County.

As noted in today's article, the General Assembly approved the creation of a legislative study commission on diversity in public schools. The commission could recommend school districts adopt diversity policies and maybe even suggest changing the way the state funds schools to encourage those kind of busing efforts.

The reason for the state attention, backers acknowledge, is all the talk about the Wake school board scrapping the socioeconomic diversity policy.