The only organization dedicated solely to helping state boards advance equity and excellence in public education.

January 2026 — Volume 26, No. 1
Demonstrating Skills of Value


State education leaders have prioritized making sure that the students who graduate from their high schools are prepared for success in life. How do students know they are gaining valuable skills and competencies they can apply and strengthen in careers and postsecondary education? How do they demonstrate they have acquired these skills, and how will employers and colleges value their attainments?




Articles



Dark blue tint on glass staircase

The Role of State Boards in Making Credentials’ Value Transparent

By Scott Cheney

Not all credentials are created equal, so how will students and families choose?





Different red colored ball between others on abacus. ( 3d render )

Weighing the Value of Industry-Based Certifications against Their Costs

By Madison E. Andrews, Kaitlin Ogden, and Matt S. Giani

A study of Texas’s move to offer bonuses and add accountability measures for attainment reveals some unintended consequences.





Engineer Showing Apprentice How To Measure CAD Drawings

Remaking Transcripts to Better Reflect Students’ Competencies

By Celina Pierrottet and Jon Alfuth

State boards wanting to capture student mastery in new ways have many considerations to take into account.





Magnifying glass focusing a forest

Turning Graduate Portraits into Pathways

By Laura Slover

North Carolina and Indiana are leading in the push toward teaching and assessing durable skills.






Business network concept. Group of businessperson. Teamwork. Human resources. Digital transformation.

Deskilling the Knowledge Economy: Implications for Schools

By Brent Orrell

To foster students’ entry into the workforce, their schools will need to equip them with AI-complementary skills.






Opinion



Flat vibrant vector illustration depicting information technology danger education.

Getting Postsecondary Outcomes Data to K-12 Leaders

By Bill DeBaun

Many education systems are not set up to give leaders and staff the information they need to ensure they are preparing students for their next steps.







Featured Items

Group of high school students throwing colorful confetti in the air, celebrating graduation on a sunny day i

States’ Role in Transforming High School: Evidence, Trends, and the Path Forward

High school sits at the intersection of everything states want for their young people, yet many young people say high school is not working for them. State leaders have numerous levers to incentivize high school transformation.
Children answer the question i

Setting Ed Tech and AI Policy for Young Children

Thirty-seven states have AI guidance for schools, but kindergarten rarely gets attention, and pre-K is left out altogether.
Two female teachers sitting at a table, having a discussion in the lobby area in the school they work at in Gateshead, North East England. They are talking about school issues together while using a laptop. i

Preparing Principals to Lead Innovative High Schools

By better aligning principal preparation, licensure, and support systems, state boards of education can unlock the potential of innovative high school models.

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