Education Reform Policy

Just Thinking… About Federal Funds, Student Support, and the Future of Education with Eric Reaves

As conversations around the future of the U.S. Department of Education continue to intensify, educators and federal program leaders are facing mounting uncertainty about how federal funds will be managed, distributed, and regulated. At the same time, schools serving historically underserved students remain heavily reliant on programs like Title I and other federally supported initiatives…

Building the Next Generation of Educators Through Apprenticeship Pathways and Workforce-Aligned Training

Teacher shortages aren’t exactly a new headline—but lately, they’ve started to feel a lot more urgent. In some places, schools have gone years without enough fully trained teachers in the classroom, exposing real flaws in how we prepare and retain educators. Add in the rising cost of becoming a teacher and training models that haven’t…

Workforce Alignment, and the New Blueprint for Career-Connected Learning Ecosystems

Workforce shortages, shifting federal and state policy, and rising skepticism about the return on investment of a traditional four-year degree have pushed career-connected learning to the forefront of education reform. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment is expected to increase by nearly 4.7 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, with…

Educational Choice Isn’t Enough—Implementation Will Make or Break It

The U.S. education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as more states adopt education savings accounts (ESAs), signaling a broader push toward personalized, parent-directed learning and broader educational choice. With over a dozen states now offering universal ESA programs, debates around school choice have reached a new level of urgency. Throughout 2024, enthusiasm for…

AI in Education Can Democratize Expertise—But Only If Systems Evolve

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in our everyday lives, AI and education are becoming more tightly intertwined. Many teachers and students are experimenting with AI in education, from personalized tutoring tools to automated lesson planning. While traditional edtech tools struggled to deliver on the promise of personalized learning, today’s generative AI appears poised to…

Will the New Education R&D Bill Spark the Innovation Schools Desperately Need?

Federal lawmakers propose a DARPA-style research hub to fund breakthrough education innovations that traditional funding mechanisms have left behind

ESA Success Requires Strategy, Infrastructure, and Support Beyond Legislation

Implementation of education savings accounts hinges on operational readiness that extends well beyond passing new laws

Tackling All That K-12 Schools Try to Do: The Solutions

Schools grapple with impossible mandates while emerging technologies challenge how education's expanding mission should be divided among institutions

What K-12 Education System Tries to Do And Where It Misses

American schools struggle to balance expanding social missions with declining literacy proficiency among core student populations

Reevaluate IDRs to Ensure Equitable Student Aid and System Durability

Current repayment plans may be worsening the very problem they were designed to solve, prompting calls for fundamental policy reform

Cut Costs, Not Corners for the Future of Higher Education: Redirect Focus to Student Achievement

Institutions must strategically streamline operations while maintaining quality outcomes that prepare graduates for competitive job markets