Policymakers commonly assert that Broad Access Institutions (BAIs) cannot be "all things to all people" when cutting their funding. BAIs were founded with comprehensive missions to generate postsecondary access through low barriers for admission and affordable tuition and promote student-centeredness through institutional foci on…

Purpose: This study investigated the links between states' principal evaluation policies and student achievement. We focused on three levers that policymakers have used to hold principals accountable for improving student achievement: (1) including student academic growth data, (2) mandating observations of principal behavior (site visits), and…

Since 2011, Mississippi has significantly improved its students' literacy rates on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP). However, little attention has gone to understanding how and if, amid such tremendous progress, Mississippi is closing the gap in literacy proficiency…

The 2025 reconciliation bill, signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, included a provision that allows states to opt into participating in a federal tax credit scholarship program. This program would provide a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit, up to $1,700 annually, for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) to…

This policy brief examines the state of period poverty in rural areas of the United States and calls on policymakers to take action. The authors categorize states based on their approach to funding menstrual products in public schools: (1) those providing direct funding [10]; (2) those with an unfunded mandate [10]; (3) those offering optional…

The U.S. education system is in reality 51 distinct systems, each governed by unique rules for revenue generation, allocation, and utilization (Baker, 2021). Despite this decentralization, common trends exist in state funding policies. All 50 US states adjust resource allocation in efforts to address the perceived unique needs of particular…

As employers look for skilled individuals to fill high-demand jobs, registered apprenticeships provide opportunities for people to engage in dedicated on-the-job training in conjunction with related classroom instruction that directly links to a career path. The benefit of related instruction in tandem to on-the-job training is clear; however, the…

There is constant pressure on governments and policy makers to raise the standard of education, and to develop appropriate curriculum and pedagogies for students. It is no easy task. This book presents eight specific case studies of education reform implementation which capture how the design and implementation choices of policy makers are shaped…

"Fostering Youth Transitions 2023: State and National Data to Drive Foster Care Advocacy" is a unique compilation of data designed to inform federal and state policy efforts aimed at making a difference for young people in foster care. This overview brief and detailed profiles of the latest available data from all 50 states, along with…

In this article, Arnold Shober asserts that despite the special challenges of public governance, state boards can effectively serve as beacons of policy. An effective board is driven by effective members whatever its structure, and effective members are committed to a shared agenda and the larger project of providing direction for a state's…

While there is no shortage of scholarship on "equity" in higher education, researchers typically examine whether a policy or practice is (in)equitable rather than how those responsible for designing and enacting a policy or practice make meaning of equity. Using a sensemaking framework and case study approach, I explored the collective…

Eighteen percent of principals leave their posts annually, according to the most recent federal data. Departing principals cite inadequate preparation and professional development as a key reason for leaving. Yet principal preparation programs have been slow to keep up with the changing demands of the profession. This policy update shares how…

This dissertation is about North Dakota's political structures and culture spanning the past 30 years through a case study approach examines the modern identity of politics that derive meaning into how policies are decided upon, and ultimately, the dynamics of those policies for the state's system of higher education. Individual interviews and…

School shooting prevention has become a priority for educational leadership for nearly twenty years. The brutality and significant loss of life distinguish the attacks at Columbine High School and Sandy Hook Elementary School (Jonson, 2017). However, lawmakers encounter difficulty with the wide range of behaviors, program initiatives, and risk…

Background: Recess is an integral part of a comprehensive school physical activity program. Immediately prior to the pandemic, state legislation doubled the amount of required recess, creating an opportunity to better understand how policies and practices influence recess. Purpose: To describe changes to recess due to COVID-19 and extended recess…