ExcelinEd

"When I was governor, Florida leaders made it a priority to adopt high academic standards, rigorous, meaningful assessments and an A-F school grading system parents could count on. It was transparent and honest. It was rigorous. And it worked." https://lnkd.in/eDKvA3uv

States have made historic investments in early literacy. But what happens when a student reaches middle or high school and still struggles to read? On this week's episode of the Policy Changes Lives podcast, host Dr. Kymyona Burk, Ed.D., ExcelinEd's senior policy fellow of literacy, sits down with Jeanne Schopf M.Ed., NBCT, C-SLDI, literacy expert and co-author of "Reading Isn't Optional: Fulfilling the Promise of Literacy for Secondary Students," to explore what it takes to build a literacy system that supports students all the way through K–12. If you work in education policy or literacy, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/dpftTNHd

Gov. Jeb Bush: "It’s time for state leaders across the country to step into the breach and ensure technology serves human flourishing rather than exploiting developing minds." https://lnkd.in/dq_y56hb

Treasury has released proposed rules for the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, launching Jan. 1, 2027. What does it mean for states, families, and schools? Our latest analysis breaks down the key provisions, deadlines, and implementation considerations. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dk8RppAN

Mississippi is more than a literacy reform success story, it is a blueprint for other states of how strong implementation leads to real change. That is one of the many topics that will be covered at this week's "All In on Mississippi" summit hosted by Mississippi Today! We are proud to say our own Dr. Kymyona Burk will be a featured panelist on the topic of "The Literacy Launching Point and What Comes Next." We thank Mississippi Today for the opportunity to share Dr. Burk's story and to education reporter Devna Bose for moderating the discussion. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dRi9hPaU

California has become the largest state to require annual math screening for students in kindergarten through 2nd grade, joining 13 other states with similar early identification policies. In Education Week's latest coverage, ExcelinEd's Lindsey Henderson, Senior Policy Director for Math, shares her insights on what California's move could mean for the rest of the country. Because of the state's size, demand for high-quality diagnostic tools could spur vendors to build products that other states can use too. She also stresses that implementation will determine whether the law moves the needle on student outcomes, and she points to key policy elements ExcelinEd recommends that the law doesn't yet include. A must-read for anyone working on math policy or early intervention. 📖 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dQwMWnGy

How can states put the new federal scholarship tax credit program into action? On the latest episode of ExcelinEd's Policy Changes Lives podcast, hosts Ben DeGrow, ExcelinEd's Senior Policy Director of Education Choice, and Abigail Burrola, ExcelinEd's Associate Director of Education Choice Policy, sit down with Luke Ragland, Chief Impact Officer at the Daniels Fund and former president of Ready Colorado, to break down the 2025 federal law and recent U.S. Treasury guidance — including what states need to consider as they decide whether to participate and how to certify scholarship-granting organizations. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/dEVW8VuT

Good pathways require more than good intentions. They require governance. ExcelinEd’s new 50-state analysis found that 29 states have no formal governance structure for connecting K-12, higher education, workforce agencies and employers around education-to-career pathways. In a new blog, Managing Director of Policy Adriana Gobbo Harrington and Policy Director Suela Cela examine four approaches to pathways governance and outline five recommendations for states — including establishing clear authority, bringing the right partners to the table, aligning funding and building data systems that drive decisions. The goal: move from ad hoc coordination to durable systems that can deliver better pathways for students and meet the needs of employers. Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/db6GN-Wy

How should states measure academic growth in school accountability systems? Student growth measures can provide an important complement to achievement data, but not all growth measures answer the same question. Comparing a student’s progress with that of other students does not necessarily tell us whether that student is moving toward grade-level proficiency. In a new article for the National Association of State Boards of Education, ExcelinEd Senior Policy Fellow Christy Hovanetz, Ph.D. examines the differences between norm-referenced and criterion-based growth measures and makes the case for measuring meaningful progress toward proficiency. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dRxeHDps