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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K-12

Sept. 28, 2023

Nevada Teen Partners With Policymakers to Champion Mental Health

When Robert Barsel, a 17-year-old high school senior living in Nevada, began leading peer support groups, he could not have imagined the impact it would have on him. Reflecting back […]

K-12

Sept. 18, 2023

Centering Students in CTE Program Criteria

Secondary career and technical education program approval is a key component of administering CTE programs. Program approval ensures that approved programs in the state address the core elements required for […]

K-12

Sept. 13, 2023

4 Models States Use to Fund Secondary CTE

Secondary career and technical education programs support a wide range of initiatives to ensure students succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce. CTE programs rely on various funding sources including […]

K-12

Aug. 8, 2023

Elevating the Teaching Profession With Data-Driven Salary Increases

This guest post comes from Ellen Sherratt, president of the board at Teacher Salary Project and Lisa Lachlan–Haché, director of the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders at the American Institutes for Research. All views in guest […]

K-12

June 30, 2023

As Four-Day School Weeks Gain Popularity, States Look to Evidence

This guest post comes from Emily Morton, research scientist at NWEA. Views expressed in guest posts are those of the author. Four-day school weeks are rapidly expanding in rural areas across […]

Early Education (P-3)

June 27, 2023

AEP and ECS Are Bringing the STEAM This Summer!

Over the past two years, the Arts Education Partnership and Education Commission of the States have collaboratively led a preschool through fifth grade STEAM education initiative for state leaders around […]

High School

June 23, 2023

New Rhode Island Graduation Requirements Driven by Community Feedback

The Rhode Island Department of Education began the process of changing the state graduation requirements as a result of the analysis of the Rhode Island high school student experience provided […]

K-12

Several young students in a special education class sit in a circle while a teacher reads and acts out a story.

June 23, 2023

How Georgia is Tackling Special Education Teacher Shortages

In 2019, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp elevated the need to better recruit and retain special education teachers after a listening tour with State School Superintendent Richard Woods and district superintendents. […]

Postsecondary

May 31, 2023

Bridging Computer Science Pathways From K-12 to Postsecondary

Several states are ramping up to expand students’ access to computer science courses and career pathways, and 50 governors signed the Governors’ Compact for Computer Science. Comparably, in the postsecondary […]

K-12

May 25, 2023

How Connecticut’s Home Visit Program Improved Chronic Absenteeism

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many states have struggled to reengage students who are chronically absent from school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 72% of schools reported an […]

Early Education (P-3)High School K-12 Postsecondary

May 22, 2023

Connect and Strategize at the 2023 National Forum

This summer, we’re excited to invite you to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the 2023 National Forum on Education Policy. Minneapolis, a vibrant and diverse city, boasts an encouraging motto, “En Avant,” […]

K-12

May 18, 2023

Connecticut Uses ESSER Funding to Evaluate Long-Term Investments

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding has provided a historic investment in public education. States have leveraged ESSER funding to support a number of innovative initiatives, including extended […]