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

Jan. 19, 2023

Creating Equitable Access to Computer Science Education

Computer science education is part of a well-rounded educational experience. It provides course opportunities for students while also emerging as an economic necessity. According to a Code.org report, “Computing occupations […]

K-12

Dec. 20, 2022

2022 Data Privacy Legislation in Review

Data privacy and security continue to be a priority in education, especially among parents and students who wish to minimize risks of unintentional or malicious disclosures of student information. Our […]

K-12

Dec. 7, 2022

Trends and Changes in Approaches to School Safety

In response to school shootings and other incidents of school violence, state policymakers have sought to protect students and improve school safety through steady legislative interest over the last several […]

K-12

Dec. 6, 2022

Measuring Students’ Mental Health While Protecting Their Privacy

The COVID-19 pandemic’s full psychological toll on youth remains unknown, but alarming evidence of that toll — including a rise in suicide attempts — has education leaders scrambling to understand […]

Early Education (P-3)K-12 Postsecondary

Nov. 15, 2022

2022 Election Outcomes and Implications for State Education Policy

With the dust settling on the 2022 election season, Education Commission of the States is here to analyze the state results. Races for governor, chief state school officers, state boards […]

Early Education (P-3)K-12 Postsecondary

Nov. 14, 2022

Meet the New Governors: Education Priorities of Governor-Elects

On Nov. 8, Americans in 36 states cast their ballots to elect their state governor. In eight of these races, no incumbent was on the ballot because of term limits, […]

K-12

Nov. 11, 2022

How Illinois Supports School Districts in Closing Equity Gaps

The recent release of National Assessment of Educational Progress data highlights the scale of interrupted learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and points to the exacerbation of existing inequities in […]

K-12

Nov. 3, 2022

The Nation’s Report Card Is Back: What Do the Results Say?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, administered by the National Center for Education Statistics in the U.S. Department of Education, offers trend data that is comparable across states. NAEP is […]

K-12

A teacher with dark brown skin and a bald hair style smiles while helping two students with a math problem. One student has brown skin and natural hair and the other has light brown skin and long, dark-brown hair. The bottom left corner of the image says “guest post.”

Oct. 28, 2022

Trends in State Allocations of ESSER Funds

After passing the Sept. 30 deadline for states to allocate CARES Act relief funds, states are on track to spend the first round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief […]

K-12

Oct. 24, 2022

South Carolina Expands Access to Computer Science Education

Computer science is required for many of the fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs in our country. However, according to the latest State of Computer Science report, only 53% of high schools across […]

Early Education (P-3)

Oct. 17, 2022

How Music and Play Enhances STEAM Education for Early Learners

My parents noticed early in my life that I had an inclination for memorizing song lyrics. They told me that, before I could speak, I would park myself in front […]

K-12 Postsecondary

Oct. 11, 2022

The Current Landscape for Transgender Student Athletes

Over the past few years, champion athletes and transgender women Cece Telfer and Lia Thomas have elevated discussions about transgender athletes’ participation in competitive sports. The conversations about transgender athlete […]