We must stand against whitewashing and disenfranchisement, embrace the promise of our founding principles, and reclaim public education as a declarative right that not one single student should be denied an excellent education. https://edtru.st/4flgDTD

As the federal government institutes harmful changes to education, states can take key steps: • Increase school funding • Protect nutrition programs • Protect immigrant students • Ensure student civil rights • Opt-out of the federal voucher program https://edtru.st/4vDLq42

In this part of my conversation with Keri Rodrigues, we talk about math and how we can make all students feel like math students. I hope you tune in! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTL0Nx_zWXw

This great work from EdTrust in Massachusetts highlights some hard truths about literacy not just for MA students but students across the country. https://edtru.st/4xPqKHt

June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and I want to share this powerful story from EdTrust’s blog about a first-generation doctoral graduate and what it really takes to get to and through college. https://edtru.st/3SqcVPP

Two things are about to happen on July 1st: Grad PLUS loans will be eliminated. And new federal loan caps go into effect. The federal government should invest more in lowering costs in public higher education rather than forcing students out of school. https://edtru.st/4oN9yhT

In this clip of my discussion with NPU’s Keri Rodrigues, we delve further into AI and digital literacy. I hope you tune in! https://edtru.st/3Skxqxl

In this part of my conversation with NPU's Keri Rodrigues, we talk about parents and the concerns looming over AI in the classroom. I hope you tune in! https://edtru.st/4eDtX4i

America is in the middle of a profound literacy crisis. The disparities are stark across racial and economic lines. Listen as we chart a course forward. https://edtru.st/4vRetAz

The Department of Education announced an 1% interest rate reduction for some borrowers. We need to make college and career preparedness affordable, not push financial gimmicks that will do little to support students and families. https://edtru.st/3Qvt3yD

The narrative is that students who graduate with debt but no degree simply “couldn’t hack it.” The truth is often far more concerning. We need a system of emergency support that is accessible, readily available, and free from stigma and red tape. https://edtru.st/3RjMURp

In this second part of my conversation with National Parents Union’s Keri Rodrigues, we discuss how families can support the education journey of their older readers. I encourage you to tune in, comment, and share. https://youtu.be/SZ6UIYKZ0zk?si=Ab0tf90L3JEdCUNG

In approving Indiana’s waiver request, the Department of Education abandoned the promise of universal academic excellence. https://edtru.st/4goxZQt

In this must-read article, EdTrust’s Augustus Mays explains the need for equitable state funding for public schools, in the wake of a recent report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation that highlighted the racial disparities in children’s wellbeing. https://edtru.st/4om2icu

Literacy is a civil right and pathway to opportunity AT EVERY AGE. Watch the first part of CEO Insights: Power & Purpose. Denise Forte talks with Keri Rodrigues about the message state and local leaders need to hear on literacy for older readers. https://youtu.be/Z8ZhXQjF2uM?si=EgKthEgFST9MybSd

We do not want our students to simply learn how to do something, but why they are doing it. We are preparing students — not automatons or widgets. https://edtru.st/4x6r848

New NAEP results show that too many Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds are being left behind. Republicans in Congress are focused on education culture wars today. That's not going to change the trajectory for students. edtru.st/4ezdi2V

I am excited to announce my new series called CEO Insights: Power and Purpose. The first episode features NPU's Keri Rodrigues. Keri and I discuss how we support middle and high school readers, as well as the impact of AI in the classroom. We hope you will tune in on Thursday!

Louisiana v. Callais is more than a voting rights case, it is about the access of Black students to an excellent public education. When Black communities lose representation, they also lose power over the systems and schools serving their children. https://edtru.st/4vwh0jC

EdTrust-New York's Out of Reach report reveals that NY's literacy reforms are not adequately serving multilingual learners. Ensuring all students become strong readers requires coordinated action from New York policymakers, educators, and advocates. https://edtru.st/3SmjDpJ

This Pride Month we have to ensure that schools have are places where every student feels seen, respected, and supported. Inclusive curricula, affirming policies, and strong anti-bullying protections aren’t extras — they’re essential to student safety and success. https://edtru.st/4uokeF2

Waiver Alert: Ohio’s proposed ESSA waiver raises serious concerns about changes that could weaken crucial safeguards designed to ensure federal education funding actually reaches the students the Congress intends. https://edtru.st/4alUQs0

Listen to EdTrust’s edUnplugged as we explore how to make pathways work with Alexandria “Ali” Medina, Executive Director of the Oakland Public Education Fund. https://edtru.st/4x36YYN

Listen to EdTrust’s own Aileen Ma share how unclear pathways leave graduates unprepared for what comes next, and what schools and districts can do and are doing to help prepare students for college and career. https://edtru.st/4uEHD5J

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to join Michael Petrilli to discuss the “myth of local control.” We need state education agencies (SEAs) to move beyond compliance and recognize the responsibility they have to support schools and students. https://edtru.st/4aae2J9

Last week Secretary of Education Linda McMahon gave Louisiana "flexibility" in how it spends some of its federal education dollars. Join us in pushing back against waivers designed to take money away from Congress’ intended recipients. https://edtru.st/4uyWej3

EdTrust-Midwest’s groundbreaking report examines access to advanced coursework across Michigan — and finds deep and troubling opportunity gaps for students with the greatest needs. We're addressing the barriers to college and career readiness. https://edtru.st/4a0EPaN

Listen to part 2 of EdUnplugged’s first episode. It explores how the principal role has evolved, what’s being asked of school leaders that no one talks about, and what’s at stake if they continue to be unsupported. https://edtru.st/4dmcZIk

Join me on May 27, as I take part on a panel to challenge the persistent myth of local control and explore what state leadership can truly accomplish. States have the responsibility and ability to deliver better student outcomes. https://edtru.st/3RbEawZ

Every child deserves access to high-quality, research-based reading instruction that gives them the foundation to thrive academically and beyond. Great work, EdTrust-New York! https://edtru.st/42IcthO

Higher education advocates and policymakers must keep a close eye on the upcoming demographic plunge and protect equitable pathways to higher education. https://edtru.st/495s4LT

I want to share this great work from four EdTrust higher education research interns. It is a warning of how proposed federal limits on graduate student loans could reshape access to advanced degrees. https://edtru.st/4dnsVIS

This is a great, must-read piece from Arn St. Cyr II, a school leader in Atlanta Public Schools, that highlights the unprecedented challenges school leaders of color face in today’s political climate. https://edtru.st/3PpfEb1

I am excited to share the first episode of EdTrust’s new podcast: EdUnplugged. I encourage you to listen to this inaugural episode that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges facing public school leaders today. https://edtru.st/4trXNxZ

As Teacher Appreciation Week draws to a close, I want to share this important new research on the teacher pipeline from EdTrust-Texas. Importantly, it highlights the potential positive impact when we make the right changes to policy. https://edtru.st/3Pnc2Gs

EdTrust's Boot Camp came to a close today. This year we laid the groundwork to build a math movement. It’s time students know that every single one of them can access this gateway to opportunity.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, we need to resolve to: • Build stronger pipelines into the profession • Implement retention strategies that support teachers of color • Devise policies that treat educators as essential contributors to our nation’s future

For many college students, the greatest barrier to a degree isn't the coursework, but their personal circumstances. EdTrust highlights how stronger, student-centered emergency aid programs that can improve retention and support long-term success. https://edtru.st/3RjMURp

Look at what’s happening in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: “[Private schools] either reject a disabled student outright or admit them, only to push them out when they become too much work.” Ensuring an excellent and equitable education IS NEVER “too much work.” https://edtru.st/4t7YU5K

A budget is a statement of values, and the president’s budget proposal would weaken our ability to know what works and how students are doing. This great blog piece from Ivy Morgan, EdTrust’s director of P-12 research and data analytics, explains what is at stake. https://edtru.st/4n9fSj2

I’m happy to share this op-ed, co-authored by EdTrust’s William Freeman about how Michigan can transform the higher education learning experience for incarcerated individuals. https://edtru.st/3Oyho1j

A proposed $13B cut to public education would eliminate literacy, family, and civil rights programs. This isn’t just policy, it impacts real students, real classrooms, real futures. Tell leaders: invest in students, don’t cut opportunities.

This new report shows that tens of thousands of qualified New York students are passed over for Algebra I in 8th grade. The solution is straightforward: automatically enroll qualified students. This one policy could open the door for 20,000+ more students every year. https://edtru.st/4mUxyi9

We Are Fierce Advocates Demanding Bold Change! We are committed to ensuring that every student has the support and resources they need to receive a high-quality education that prepares them for an enriching life. That’s equity, and that’s the movement we are building.

I was so happy to read this great piece from EdTrust in Texas’s state director Jonathan Feinstein. He explains how a new law in Texas is going to give more students an opportunity to be taught by great teachers. Great work, Jonathan and EdTrust in Texas! https://edtru.st/4trHXEh

Let’s celebrate the great work from EdTrust-West. Last week, the team released their 2026 #Equity8 — an annual set of eight state budget items and bills with the greatest potential to advance educational equity in California. https://edtru.st/4cwq8wM

We should be doing everything we can to set our kiddos up for success from their earliest years. At a moment when public schools are under attack, we must ensure students have equitable access to a high-quality education. Strong investment in pre-K may be one way to do so. https://edtru.st/3Qgt7C7