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

State Education Standard


July 2025Special Issue: Volume 25, No. 3

The Educators Students Deserve: Four State Policy Approaches

State education leaders have long prioritized efforts to recruit and retain effective teachers. Yet persistent challenges, including high turnover rates and teacher shortages in key subject areas, continue to strain the educator workforce.

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Featured Articles from this Issue

Valuing Teachers and Their Educational Impact

By Conra D. Gist and Travis J. Bristol

All students need effective teachers, and all aspiring teachers need equal opportunities to become effective.



A staircase rising up to an open sky

Modernizing Educator Preparation in Texas

By Natalie Brown, Judith Cruz, Jonathan Feinstein, Nathan Kriha and Sandra Rodriguez

Robust in-school clinical experiences and integrated coursework are key.



May 2025Volume 25, No. 2

Transitions

State policymakers have a role in ensuring that schools work together to prepare students to transition well.


January 2025Volume 25, No. 1

Connecting Schools and Communities

Authors in this issue of the Standard suggest myriad ways in which communities can be force multipliers for ensuring that all children are engaged in learning and prepared to thrive as adults.


September 2024Volume 24, No. 3

Technology in Education

Savvy state leaders will set their sights on ways to broaden access to technology’s benefits, solve problems confronting educators, and protect students against the risks of misuse.


May 2024Volume 24, No. 2

Preschool for All

The state role in early education keeps growing. This Standard details the ways that states have expanded access to quality preschool, the research that supports these efforts, and the growing pains these initiatives are likely to experience.


Business people sitting on books with text reading: State Education Standard, Curriculum That Counts, and January 2024. Image credit: iStock
January 2024Volume 24, No. 1

Curriculum That Counts

Authors in this issue of the Standard draw lessons from a spectrum of state policies that are being used to increase the adoption of high-quality curriculum.


September 2023Volume 23, No. 3

Engaging All Students

Authors explore the reasons why students increasingly feel uninspired and disengaged at school and outline steps state leaders can take to help schools and districts increase students’ engagement and connectedness.


May 2023Volume 23, No. 2

High Schools That Matter

This issue of The Standard reimagines the high school experience, illuminating the data, policy reforms, and engagement with students, families, and educators that must align to make redesign possible.


Photo Credit: iStock
January 2023Volume 23, No. 1

Leading and Governing

Is there another domestic policy space more complicated than state education governance? In the face of the 50-plus ways of constructing state systems of public education in this country, the authors in this issue of The Standard attempt to tease out what constitutes strong leadership and effective governance.