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

College, Career, and Civic Readiness

The Standard

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.

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Commentary

States Detail Strategies to Invest in the Early Childhood Workforce in Their ESSA Plans

This commentary outlines ways states are leveraging ESSA to advance early learning policy.

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Policy Update

ESSA's Fifth Indicator: A NASBE Policy Update Series

States have incorporated a variety of “fifth indicators” in their ESSA plans, including: career and technical education, school climate and student discipline, social and emotional learning, chronic absenteeism, and access to high-level course work. This policy update series explores the pros and cons of each and offers key considerations for state boards that are refining their plans for September submission.

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The Standard

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.

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The Standard

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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Policy Update

Advancing the Early Learning Workforce through State Policies

This NASBE policy update examines the US preschool workforce skills gap and outlines ways state boards can strengthen policies to advance the early education workforce and ensure a high-quality education for preschool learners.

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Policy Update

Early Care and Education Legislation in 2016

This policy update provides a rundown of state legislative action on early education in 2016, plus important trends.

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Education Leaders Reports

Opportunities in ESSA for Improving Early Education

A detailed look at the ESSA provisions pertaining to early childhood education and ways states boards can turn those opportunities into action.

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The Standard

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.

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