The Education Policy Hotlist

Top news in U.S. education policy for the week of June 19 - 23

Jun 21, 2023

Welcome back to the Education Policy Hotlist!

This week’s update features two top items:

FutureEd released a new report on early literacy. The analysis explores states' implementation challenges as they put the science of reading policy changes into practice locally.
The EduRecoveryHub has released a new podcast on education advocacy in New Mexico. Tune in for a discussion with Jim Cowen of the Collaborative for Student Success and Amanda Aragon of New Mexico Kids CAN.

Be sure to read the rest of the Hotlist for the latest updates on federal relief funds, student leadership in K-12 education, and other state and national education policy news.

Share The Education Policy Hotlist

THE WEEKS AHEAD

Today, at 3:00 p.m. (EST), AASA is hosting a webinar titled Generative AI and Data in U.S. K-12 Education. Register here.
The Aspen Ideas Festival will be held June 24 - 30. Learn more here.
ISTE is holding its annual conference June 25 - 28 in Philadelphia, PA. Learn more here.
Education Commission of the States is hosting its National Forum on Education Policy on July 12 -14 in Minneapolis, MN. Learn more here.
The Colorado Succeeds & Colorado Business Roundtable hosts the Future of Work: Maximizing Human Potential event on July 18 at 9 a.m. (MT). Learn more here.

EDUCATION FUNDING

States implementing ESAs require funding reforms to accommodate new fiscal pressures [Education Next].
A new survey covering all 50 states details how states allocate additional funding to schools serving low-income students [ExcelinEd].
Chiefs for Change released a report recommending how the federal government can continue to support educational opportunities created through federal relief funding [C4C].
Edunomics says that districts are taking down their help-wanted signs and must prepare for a roller coaster year ahead. Check out their virtual training opportunity [Edunomics].

FutureEd studied local expenditures posted in California’s ESSER III spending portal and interviewed some state and local leaders [FutureEd].

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EDUCATION

Leaders argue that as AI advances, the future of work must emphasize social and emotional skills [K12 Dive].
The New Meridian leader speaks with Dale Chu about the role of AI in assessment [Assessment HQ].
The Government Accountability Office briefly summarized some critical considerations for generative AI across sectors [GAO].
There are essential hurdles to consider for future AI regulations [Brookings].

STATE POLICY

An Alabama bill to ban divisive concepts in schools failed for a second session in a row [AL].

Financial literacy will now be required for high school graduation in Michigan [MI].
Oregon leaders are concerned about a funding proposal to use a state funding carve out for an early literacy initiative [OR].
In response to growing multilingual student needs, state policymakers should consider removing barriers to multilingual teacher licensure programs [The74].
Rhode Island remedies misalignment between high school graduation requirements and postsecondary admission policies [ECS].

STUDENTS LEADING

NCEE is an organizational incubator for the new association, the National Student Board Member Association [NSBMA].
Fewer Black students rated school safety an A compared to peers identifying with other races [The74].

DATA AND RESEARCH

An interesting rebuke of the latest CREDO national charter school study [Fordham].
A new infographic visually represents how meaningful access to data on education and workforce pathways can benefit key community members such as business leaders and policymakers [DQC].
A new poll of U.S. public school teachers reveals that 74% of teachers say their top challenges Include students’ behaviors and discipline [NAPCS].

FEDERAL POLICY

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved North Dakota’s application for $68 million in federal funding to help finance the construction of 13 career academies in the state. Federal relief funds are also being used to support at least one of the academies [ND].

ICYMI

Chad Aldeman has been busy writing a series of pieces for the74 and Bellwether on pensions and charter schools. Check it out:

“It’s past time that state leaders grappled with questions about how to ensure all kids have access to high-quality education without assuming that local school districts, as currently conceived, are the only way to accomplish that mission” [Read in the74].
“With declining enrollment and the end of emergency federal funding straining school budgets across the country, it’s never been more important for policymakers to understand and reckon with the state of their teacher pension systems” [Read more at Bellwether].