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

January 2026Volume 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

Complexity of thought processes and the human mind. Thoughts, creativity, emotions, mental health, vibrant art collage. Psychology, self-analysis, mental disorders and wellbeing, cognitive processes i

States Take Next Steps on Governing AI Use in Schools

In 2026, state boards of education are likely to move beyond issuing AI guidance and toward monitoring implementation and possibly developing policies.
Happy African American teacher and elementary student talking while walking through hallway. i

States Start Up Registered Principal Apprenticeships

A handful of states have been launching federally registered apprenticeships to better prepare new principals, remove barriers to entering the profession, and combat turnover.
A young university student female is practicing her welding skills i

Demonstrating Skills of Value

State education leaders are focused on ensuring students graduate ready for life after high school—but how do students know they’re building valuable, transferable skills, and how will employers and colleges recognize them?

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