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

June 28, 2016

2016 STEM Legislative Activity

STEM continues to be the focus of significant legislative activity. Dozens of 2016 enactments – both statutory provisions and appropriations bills – create, amend or fund provisions for K-12 through […]

K-12

June 23, 2016

Education Innovation in Idaho Program

This blog is a guest post by Sen. Steven Thayn. Idaho’s Advanced Opportunities program reduces the cost of college to students, their families and the taxpayers of the state. The […]

Postsecondary

June 21, 2016

Interpret with Caution: New state-level student loan repayment data

The way borrowers repay their federal student loans has changed dramatically over the past several years. It used to be that borrowers could only repay over different periods of time—they’d […]

K-12

June 15, 2016

2016 Dual Enrollment and AP Legislative Enactments

In many states, the dust is settling on yet another legislative session. Dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP) and other avenues for high school students to earn college credit once again […]

K-12

June 2, 2016

ESSA: Various perspectives

Following the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December 2015, and with the newly released ESSA regulations from the U.S. Department of Education, many stakeholders are eager […]

May 25, 2016

For the love of the game? Legislators Address College Athletics

The squeak of sneakers on the hardwood court. The scratch of skates on the ice rink. The crack of a fastball hitting the leather of a baseball glove. The ping […]

K-12

May 19, 2016

Do We Really Need to Fund Gifted Programs?

The goal of a high-quality P-12 education system is to allow every student to excel in either the workforce or a postsecondary environment. State school funding formulas recognize the need […]

K-12

May 12, 2016

Ed Talks at this Year’s National Forum on Education Policy

Modeled on the popular Ted Talks, Education Commission of the States incorporates from the heart, personal and inspirational Ed Talks throughout the three-day National Forum on Education Policy. Real experts […]

K-12

May 11, 2016

The Arts Education Partnership, ESSA and a Well-Rounded Education

As the new Director of the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), I am eager to build on AEP’s 20-year legacy of working to ensure all students have access to the benefits […]

Postsecondary

May 10, 2016

Moving From Single to Multiple Measures for College Course Placement

A slow but steady movement is emerging to rethink – and revise – the single test, single cut score approach that sorts new college students into remedial or credit-level courses. […]

Postsecondary

May 6, 2016

Numbers Tell the Story: State Policymakers Face Tough Financial Aid Decisions

This post originally appeared in the USA Funds (now Strada Education Network) Completion With a Purpose blog (completionwithapurpose.org). Three numbers are of paramount importance to the financial aid policy community: $11.7 […]

Postsecondary

April 29, 2016

Distance Education Students and Their Access to State Financial Aid Programs

Students, postsecondary institutions and policymakers are turning to online education to meet individual educational needs, support presumed reductions in college costs and expand access for post-traditional students. Nationally, one […]