Under the leadership of our chair and executive committee, Education Commission of the States is committed to providing unbiased, factual information and resources to help policymakers make informed decisions to improve public education from early childhood to postsecondary.
We believe that systematic changes in education come from collaboration across all state education leaders, from both political parties, and the business community. The support of the business community is critical to strengthening Education Commission of the States’ ability to help state policymakers address their state’s education challenges in a strategic and collaborative way. Join Education Commission of the States, state policymakers and education leaders as we identify and promote strategies that will improve educational opportunities for all students by becoming a partner. For more information, please contact Tony Sabo, asabo@ecs.org.
Education Commission of the States would like to thank the following partners for their support:
Platinum Partners
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure all people — especially those with the fewest resources — have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. For more information, please visit www.gatesfoundation.org.
Navigate360
Navigate360 is the leader in holistic safety and wellness solutions. Their revolutionary model spans the full spectrum of safety, including threat detection and prevention, mental health and wellness, and safety management and preparedness – backed by research and developed by industry experts. They provide the tools necessary to save and enhance lives. For more information, please visit navigate360.com
The Wallace Foundation
The Wallace Foundation is a national philanthropy that seeks to improve learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children and foster the vitality of the arts for everyone. For more information, please visit www.wallacefoundation.org.
Gold Partners
AT&T
Our first name has always been American, but today you know us as AT&T. We’re investing billions into the economy and providing quality jobs to over 200,000 people in the U.S. alone. Since 2008, we’ve committed more than $600 million to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world. By bringing together solutions that help protect, serve and connect – committed AT&T professionals are leading the future in education for students, for educators and in technology. No company is more invested in America’s future than AT&T. www.att.com/closethegap
ClassWallet
Founded in 2014, ClassWallet is the leading digital wallet and automated accounts payable platform for federal, state and district education. Saving valuable time and overhead costs to track, pay and report on decentralized purchases, ClassWallet is used in 28 states and by 20 state agencies, across 6,200 schools serving 4.1 million students. ClassWallet’s integrated marketplace of leading suppliers and learning curricula includes top retailers like Amazon, Office Depot, Staples, Scholastic, School Specialty, Lakeshore Learning and more. Headquartered in Miami, ClassWallet has been ranked 779 on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. in 2022 and the 56th fastest-growing financial services company in the nation.
Cognia
Cognia has the knowledge to help schools improve. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional services and consulting within a framework of continuous improvement. The result of the merger of AdvancED and Measured Progress, Cognia was formed to bridge the gap between school evaluation and student assessment. As a global nonprofit working in over 80 countries, our 36,000 institutions serve and support nearly 25 million students and 5 million educators every day, Cognia is an undeniable force for enhancing schools, engaging students and driving better outcomes for all. Find out more at cognia.org.
Pearson
Pearson is the world’s leading learning company, providing educational materials and services to learners of all ages around the globe. For more information, please visit www.pearsoned.com.
Texas Instruments
For more than 30 years, Texas Instruments has been an active member of classrooms around the world, empowering teachers and inspiring students to succeed in math, science and STEM. Through our award-winning products, engaging lessons and top-notch professional development, TI is transforming the way teachers teach and students learn STEM subjects. Learn more at www.education.ti.com.
Silver Partners
ACT
ACT is an international, mission-driven, nonprofit organization providing high-quality assessments grounded in more than 50 years of research. The ACT® test is the most widely used U.S. college admissions test, taken in 2015 by 1.9 million high school seniors. Our ACT Aspire® assessment system measures student growth from grades 3 to 10 and links to the ACT to build a complete picture of college and career readiness. More than 3 million people have earned the ACT National Career Readiness CertificateTM — powered by ACT WorkKeys® — to demonstrate they have foundational workplace skills. Learn more at www.act.org.
American Institutes for Research
AIR is one of the world’s largest behavioral and social science research and evaluation organizations. Our overriding goal is to use the best science available to bring the most effective ideas and approaches to enhancing everyday life. For us, making the world a better place is not wishful thinking. It is the goal that drives us. Learn more at www.air.org.
Cambium Assessment
For over twelve years, Cambium Assessment has served at the forefront of the online assessment industry, and continues to grow. Their continuum of capabilities and services has enabled numerous states and education consortia to transition from paper-pencil testing and into online-assessment systems almost instantaneously. All of these tests were processed with the rapid scoring and reporting turnaround essential for educators to identify their students’ strengths and needs promptly. Learn more at www.cambiumassessment.com/
Curriculum Associates
Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates is a leading educational technology and publishing company with a mission to make classrooms better places for students and teachers. Its research-based, award-winning print and digital instruction and assessment products provide educators with the tools necessary to personalize learning for every student and help all students become college and career ready. Learn more at www.cainc.com.
MetaMetrics
MetaMetrics® is an award-winning education technology organization that offers the only scientifically valid, universal scales for measuring reading and listening (Lexile®) as well as math (Quantile®). The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks measure student ability and the complexity of the content they encounter. Lexile and Quantile measures and related technologies link assessment to instruction and provide next steps for students of all ages and abilities. The measures also provide valuable insights about students’ potential for growth. MetaMetrics’ measures, products and services help achieve that growth. For 35 years, MetaMetrics’ work has been increasingly recognized for its research-based approach to improving learning. For more information, visit metametricsinc.com.
NWEA
NWEA™ is a research-based, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating assessment solutions that precisely measure growth and proficiency — and provide insights to help tailor instruction. For 40 years, NWEA has developed pre-K-12 assessments and professional learning offerings to help advance all students along their optimal learning paths. Our tools are trusted by educators in 140 countries and more than half the schools in the U.S. Learn more at www.nwea.org.
Project Lead The Way
Project Lead The Way provides transformative learning experiences for K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. We create an engaging, hands-on classroom environment and empower students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills they need to thrive. We also provide teachers with the training, resources, and support they need to engage students in real-world learning. Learn more at www.pltw.org.
Renaissance Learning
Renaissance Learning is a leading provider of cloud-based assessment and teaching and learning solutions that fit the K12 classroom, improve school performance and accelerate learning for all. Renaissance Learning enables educators to deliver highly differentiated and timely instruction while driving personalized student practice in reading, writing and math, every day. For more information, please visit www.renaissance.com.
Saga Education
Saga Education is a leader in high-impact, in-school tutoring that leverages both the power of human capital and technology to accelerate student outcomes and create more equitable learning for students. Rigorous research shows Saga’s program works–not only to raise math scores, but to foster the confidence and sense of belonging that underpin all academic success. They invented high-impact tutoring as a core component of the school day, so that students can go deeper, teachers can move faster, and families can dream bigger. Their vision is to establish this approach as an integral part of a student’s education, as a proven response to educational inequity. To achieve this, they help districts managing their own school-based tutoring initiatives implement high-quality programs by providing technical assistance and by offering a suite of tools and resources, including a free standards-aligned tutorial curriculum.
SAS
Some educators see data as facts and figures. But it’s more than that. It’s the lifeblood of your schools. It contains history. And it can tell you something about the future. SAS helps you make sense of the data. As the leader in education analytics software and services, SAS transforms your data into insights that give you a fresh perspective on your students and schools. You can identify what’s working. Fix what isn’t. And discover new opportunities. Please visit sas.com/k12.
Teachers of Tomorrow
Teachers of Tomorrow is the largest teacher certification program in the country. What began as a small Texas program in 2005 has now expanded into Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona and North Carolina to help solve the teacher shortage by recruiting, training, certifying and placing over 50,000 mid-career professionals. The high-quality online program combined with field based mentors who support the candidates has achieved an outstanding 70 percent five year retention rate and student achievement on par with standard programs. Over 45 percent of program graduates are non-white providing much needed diversity into the teaching work force. www.teachersoftomorrow.org
Waterford
Waterford.org is an early education nonprofit with a mission to achieve universal literacy for children through equity, access, and family empowerment. Waterford develops educational tools that guide students along adaptive, individualized learning paths toward fluent reading and lifelong learning. Waterford empowers parents as a child’s first teacher and supports teachers in taking the right actions at the right time for their students. Currently, Waterford.org serves over 300,000 children across the country every year. Waterford’s programs have been supported by a variety of governmental and philanthropic organizations, including support from a federal EIR grant, The Studio @ Blue Meridian, and TED’s Audacious Project.
WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 130,000 students nationwide and has more than 277,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 25 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News and CNN and in The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu and wgu.edu/impact.
Bronze Partners
BookNook
BookNook is a comprehensive literacy intervention program, providing instruction through a synchronous teaching and learning platform, standards-aligned curriculum and tutoring services. BookNook is committed to bridging the literacy opportunity gap by scaling technology innovation to reach disenfranchised communities through its network of experienced and vetted tutors. Visit www.booknook.com to learn more.
Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR)
Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) is a strengths-based model that provides schools with a comprehensive approach to meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of all students. Schools within the BARR Network harness the power of data and relationships to empower all students to thrive within and outside the classroom. Designed by an educator, the BARR model is rooted in the belief that growth is possible and within reach for every school, with the same students and the same teachers. Learn more at www.barrcenter.org.
ClassLink
ClassLink is a global education provider of identity, access and analytics products that create more time for learning and help schools better understand digital engagement. As leading advocates for open data standards, we offer instant access to apps and files with single sign-on, streamline class rostering, automate account provisioning, and provide actionable analytics. ClassLink empowers 19 million students and staff in over 2,500 school systems. Visit classlink.com to learn more.
College Board
College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit membership organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, College Board helps more than 7 million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success–including the SAT, the Advanced Placement Program, and BigFuture. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools.
Data Recognition Corporation (DRC)
For decades, DRC has maintained a tradition of excellence in educational assessment publication, administration and reporting. DRC offers assessments for the pre-K, K–12 and adult education markets, across the U.S. and internationally. Their customers include state and national government agencies; public, private, and charter schools and districts; and other educational organizations. DRC serves millions of students and education professionals across the nation, and delivers assessments to more than 50,000 schools, districts and testing centers in all 50 states, three U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and international locations. Learn more at www.datarecognitioncorp.com.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education in partnership with the Stem Careers Coalition provides a PK-12 customized state toolkit focused on empowering educators and bringing real-world learning opportunities into the classroom to prepare students for careers of tomorrow. Discovery Education partners with states, districts and trusted organizations serving over 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide. Recently Arizona, Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina have launched statewide partnerships with Discovery Education. Explore the future of education here.
ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification; English language learning; and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education; and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC ® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.ets.org.
Lexia Learning, A Rosetta Stone Company
Lexia Learning is committed to helping all students become proficient readers and confident learners. Lexia partners with K-12 educators to provide personalized instruction, actionable data and professional learning to promote student achievement. Learn more at: www.lexialearning.com.
NAF
NAF helps solve some of the biggest challenges in education and the workforce by transforming the high school experience. NAF’s educational design promotes open enrollment, small learning communities, work-based learning initiatives — including paid internships — and a career-focused academic experience. For more than 40 years, our cornerstone has been fostering public-private partnerships to ensure high school students – especially those coming from under-invested in communities – are college, career, and future ready, while bolstering state and local economies in the process. For more information, visit www.naf.org.
New Meridian
New Meridian is an assessment design and development company committed to advancing equity in education by developing assessments that focus on the skills that matter: critical thinking, deep understanding, and effective communication. Data from our assessments enable educators to be more responsive to students’ learning needs to ensure all students have the opportunity to master critical grade-level learning standards and graduate prepared for future success. For more information, visit www.newmeridiancorp.org/
Smarter Balanced
Smarter Balanced is committed to providing teachers with high-quality tools and resources to prepare students—regardless of background or ability—for successful, productive futures and choices after high school. Learn more at smarterbalanced.org.
Student Success Agency
Student Success Agency (SSA) is a cutting-edge, effective, and sustainable solution to expand learning seamlessly. Our mantra is that if NBA superstar Lebron James has an Agent so should every student regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic background, or geographic location. SSA’s Agents work across 20 states and more than 500 schools to provide communities with timely afterschool and weekend support like tutoring, mental health coaching, and post-secondary guidance. Schools with SSA have increased learning time by 76,000 minutes, equivalent to an additional school year.