The Essential Assessment Toolkit

Misinformation abounds when it comes to annual, summative assessments. Luckily, we’re here to set the record straight through our Essential Assessment Toolkit – the go-to guide for families, advocates, district and school leaders, and State Education Agencies. The below four resources are intended to support critical conversations on why students take an annual, summative assessment,

Driving Towards Equity

How does YOUR state measure up? Speeding ahead? Slowly moving forward? Momentarily stalled? Find out below! Early in January, the U.S. Department of Education approved applications for funds under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Wanting to know more about each state’s intention to equitably use these

Restoring Democracy Through Active Civic Learning

Civic knowledge and participation remain unacceptably low in the United States. Half of Americans are unable to name the three branches of government. When it comes to engaging in civic activities, such as volunteering, donating to nonprofits, or joining a civic group, too many Americans choose to remain uninvolved. One might expect schools to take

Report: State Guidance for High-Impact Tutoring

The recent passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is infusing America’s K12 public schools with unprecedented, desperately needed relief funds to aid in the academic recovery of students in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The $122 billion allocated to K12 public schools represents over seven times current annual Title I funding. As

Recommendations for State Leaders to Advance Equity Using Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act

We’re proud to join with eight civil rights and education organizations in detailing five recommendations for how states can use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to advance educational equity. Recommendations include: Ensuring equity in fiscal policy; Meaningfully engaging stakeholders in decisions about how additional federal funding will be used to support students

New Issue Brief Spotlights De Facto Segregation in Virginia’s Higher Ed System

New Issue Brief Spotlights De Facto Segregation in Virginia’s Higher Ed System High Averages Mask Deep Economic & Racial Inequities  WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 12, 2021) — A new issue brief by Education Reform Now highlights the extent to which Virginia’s leading public and private colleges are choosing to grossly under enroll students from working class,

Education Organizations Release Policy Considerations to Inform Equitable Change for Assessment and Accountability Systems

Education Organizations Release Policy Considerations to Inform Equitable Change for Assessment and Accountability Systems Report from convenings of 100+ experts proposes federal, state actions to address immediate needs and long-term improvements Portland, Ore. and Washington, D.C. (April 6, 2021) – NWEA and Education Reform Now (ERN), in conjunction with multiple organizations representing state departments of

Recommended Uses for K-12 Learning Loss Funds

By Nicholas Munyan Penney, Policy Analyst; Charles Barone, Vice President of K-12 Policy; and Michael Dannenberg, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Higher Education Policy The recent passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is infusing America’s K12 public schools with unprecedented, desperately needed relief funds to aid in the academic recovery of students

The ASPIRE ACT: What You Need to Know

ASPIRE ACT SUMMARY SPONSORED BY SENATORS COONS (D-DE) & ROSEN (D-NV) National Need There are about 80 four-year colleges that have first-time, full-time student dropout rates in excess of 80% –measured six years from initial enrollment. These schools serve approximately 400,000 students. At the same time, schools that do graduate most of their students within

100-Day Policy Recommendations for Biden-Harris Administration

The Biden-Harris Administration will enter office with an unprecedented and unique array of challenges to ensuring equity, fairness, and excellence in our education system. Some of these challenges are not new. Decades-old policies of inequity and systemic racism continue to limit opportunities for students from low-income families, students of color, and others from historically disadvantaged