Ed Note

Our blog features education research and policy trends, promising practices from states and partners, and anecdotes from our work with state leaders across the country.

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Postsecondary

Sept. 26, 2024

7 Financial Aid Questions for State Leaders to Consider

Although post-high school education is projected to become even more critical in the years ahead, rising costs puts higher education out of reach for many students. While federal financial aid […]

High School K-12

Students sit at their desks taking a test in a middle school classroom. Their teacher is in the background offering support to a student.

Aug. 14, 2024

Holistic Approaches for Determining K-12 Education Funding Adequacy

Although the District of Columbia (comprising D.C. Public Schools and 69 charter local education agencies) continues to make progress on performance benchmarks, many students still don’t have what they […]

K-12

Students lean against a table around their teacher as they building a remote-controlled vehicle as a group.

July 25, 2024

The State of Career Exploration in Middle School

In the U.S., students typically don’t begin career exploration until high school and often as late as junior or senior year. However, experts tend to agree that middle school […]

Early Education (P-3)

Six pre-K students sit on around their teacher on a colorful foam mat in their classroom.

July 2, 2024

How Can State Policymakers Foster Integrated Early Learning Environments?

Integrated learning environments can lead to academic and social benefits for children, however, most early care and education (ECE) programs are largely segregated as a function of both neighborhood segregation […]

Early Education (P-3)K-12 Postsecondary Workforce

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaking at a plenary session during the 2023 National Forum on Education Policy in Minneapolis.

May 17, 2024

Want to Attend the National Forum on Education Policy? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Are you curious about our annual National Forum on Education Policy, but haven’t had the chance to join us in the past? The most important thing to know is that […]

High School K-12

A child holds a small American flag out of a car window. The child is smiling in the reflection of the side view mirror.

May 7, 2024

Civics Education Carved in New Hampshire Granite

In recent years, New Hampshire has reimagined its policy commitments to K-12 civics education. Last spring, the New Hampshire Civic Learning Coalition, convened by NH Civics, championed S.B. 216 — […]

High School K-12

A young student sits on his mother's lap while working on a homework assignment on a laptop computer. The mother is wearing a military uniform.

April 30, 2024

Supporting Academic Success for Military-Connected Students

April holds special significance for military families as communities across the world celebrate the resilience and sacrifices of military-connected students. In support of their families’ military service, these students must […]

High School K-12

The West Virginia state capitol building around sunset. The capitol's reflection is captured in the Kanawha River below.

April 23, 2024

How West Virginia Is Addressing Student Self Harm and Eating Disorders

While health officials and state leaders are still working to understand the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, emerging studies suggest that time away from the classroom has […]

High School Postsecondary Workforce

A close-up view of an interviewer and interviewee at a wooden table. The interviewer holds a resume in their hands.

April 16, 2024

Normalizing Opportunity: Barriers and Supports for Successful Reentry From Incarceration 

As someone who works closely with people reentering society, and as someone who is looking ahead to his own approaching release from incarceration, I’ve seen firsthand the need to ensure […]

K-12

An elementary school teacher sits atop a table speaking to a small group of five students in a classroom during the daytime. Each of the five children are looking up at their teacher.

April 9, 2024

Turning Back the Tide: The Critical Role of States In Reducing Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism has risen drastically in our country — increasing from 16% of students before the COVID-19 pandemic to nearly 30% by the 2021-22 school year. During the 2021-22 school […]

K-12

A teacher is crouched next to a fifth grade student at their desk. The teacher helps the student with a reading assignment.

April 3, 2024

Fostering Proficient Readers After Third Grade

Teaching students to read proficiently is one of the main goals of K-12 education systems. By the end of third grade, students need foundational literacy skills to meet the academic […]

Early Education (P-3)

Grandparents sit on a sofa with their infant grandchild on their laps. They are all reading a storybook together.

April 2, 2024

Building Pre-Literacy Skills in Pre-K Settings

State policymakers have been actively introducing legislation to address literacy development, building on the momentum of the science of reading push in recent years. Despite limited research on the impact […]