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

State Education Standard

January 2019 — Volume 19, No. 1

Student Safety and Wellness

The horrific school shootings in Florida and elsewhere in 2018 sparked new rounds of questioning across the country about how to prevent such tragedies and keep students safe.


September 2018 — Volume 18, No. 3

Getting to the Core of School Finance

While most state boards do not directly make funding decisions in their states, they still have the opportunity to review budget requests and appropriations and provide guidance to school districts to ensure that school spending is adequate to serve the needs of all students.


May 2018 — Volume 18, No. 2

Fresh Start on School Improvement

Through the Every Student Succeeds Act, state policymakers can reset how they address low-performing schools and provide support by capitalizing on the added flexibility and approaches already adopted in many states and districts.


January 2018 — Volume 18, No. 1

Stepping Up for Early Childhood Education

The impact of early childhood education is undeniable. Yet access to high-quality early education across the country remains uneven, and many children still enter elementary school unprepared.


September 2017 — Volume 17, No. 3

Building on State ESSA Plans

After submitting their plans for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2017, states face challenges in ensuring the implementation of their plans keep faith with the spirit of ESSA.


May 2017 — Volume 17, No. 2

Aligning a Standards-Based System

The Every Student Succeeds Act gives state boards of education an opportunity to reevaluate, improve, and align education policies to student learning standards to drive a comprehensive system of improvement for all schools.


January 2017 — Volume 17, No. 1

Charter Schools

State boards of education must think more systematically about how charter schools fit into their overall vision for education and offer guardrails for decision making.


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September 2016 — Volume 16, No. 3

The Future of Schools

As they look to the future of schools, state boards of education must ask the “what if” questions necessary to shape policies that can help ensure students have the opportunities to enter their own futures with confidence.