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Six Policy Priority Areas Prepare State Leaders for Impact

As state education leaders face changing contexts, Education Commission of the States developed six policy priority areas to serve state policymakers' most critical needs. These policy priority areas will inform our organization’s work over the next two years.

To identify education policy issues likely to be the most pressing for state education leaders, our staff analyzed:

Trends in legislative activity, executive action and state board policy.
Inquiries from policymakers and other state leaders.
Governors’ State of the State addresses.

We invite you to dig into each policy priority area, review our current resources on the topic and join us over the next two years as we build a suite of support for state leaders through key resources, events and services to states.

Policy Priority Areas

Creating Accessible, Affordable and High-Quality Early Care and Education Systems

Many families lack opportunities to enroll their children in high-quality early care and education programs, and state leaders seek solutions to improve program affordability, accessibility and quality. ECS can support states in creating innovative funding mechanisms and program structures designed to operate a mixed-delivery system to sustainably serve families in the environment and schedule that works best for them.
Resources: 50-State Comparison: State K-3 Policies and Early Care and Education Governance Models

Improving Student Attendance, Engagement and Wellbeing

States have been looking at ways to combat chronic absenteeism, including providing health resources and services to students in school settings and ensuring students feel safe and engaged at school. ECS can support states as they take a more holistic approach to student attendance, engagement and wellbeing so schools can focus on ensuring students are present for learning opportunities and well-positioned to make the most of their time in school.
Resources: Elements of Student Health Support and State Information Request on Chronic Absenteeism

Strengthening the Educator Pipeline

States are experiencing persistent educator shortages due to compensation, difficult working conditions and a lack of effective professional development. ECS can support states in starting, continuing and strengthening the teaching profession and other educator roles from preparation to recruitment through retention.
Resources: 50-State Comparison: Teacher Recruitment and Retention and State Policy Levers to Address Teacher Shortages

Reforming and Refining K-12 Finance

Economic conditions will inevitably shape school finance conversations in years to come and these conditions vary from state to state. ECS can support states in exploring and expanding strategies for leveraging state revenues along with alternatives to local property taxes to fund public education — all while considering the dynamic changes in enrollment and economic conditions.
Resources: 50-State Comparison: K-12 Funding and K-12 Funding Toolkit: A Strategic Guide for States

Building Holistic Skills and Aligned Pathways

Anticipating the skills and pathways necessary for the future citizenry and workforce is key for education leaders. Students will need to build literacies across domains from traditional subjects like reading and math to cross-cutting topics like artificial intelligence (AI) and media literacy. ECS can support states in creating and aligning policies to prepare students for citizenship, college and career while removing barriers to personalized and adaptable pathways to economic opportunity.
Resources: State Policies to Advance Student-Centered Pathways and 50-State Comparison: High School Graduation Requirements

Enhancing the Value of Postsecondary Education by Preparing for the Future of Work

As demands and perceptions shift, there is a need for postsecondary education systems to define value in the evolving context. ECS can support states in developing policies that affect institutions’ and systems’ ability to adapt to new demands in the workforce and build robust processes that deliver meaningful economic opportunities for students. Strategies include incentivizing and supporting institutional innovation, supporting students with the resources they need to attain valued credentials and creating data systems to inform students, programmatic needs, policy and robust evaluations of return on investment.
50-State Comparison: Postsecondary Education Funding and Lessons in Data Governance for State Education Leaders

We welcome those interested in collaboration to join us as we deliver these key supports to states over the next two years. We thank our Future Issues Committee and Steering Committee Members for their work in developing this initiative.

Questions or interested in getting involved? Contact Deven Scott, senior director of state and board relations.

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Published:

April 9, 2025

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