In our final episode of the 2024 season of Policy Changes Lives, hosts Cara Candal and Adriana Harrington sit down with ExcelinEd CEO Patricia Levesque to recap the 2024 National Summit on Education, revisit our 2024 policy trend predictions and, finally, introduce new trends we expect to see in 2025.   

Tune in for this info-packed episode as we explore what’s next for education policy and how states might tackle these new challenges in the year ahead.  

Time Stamps 

2:11 ExcelinEd National Summit on Education Keynote Recaps 

13:52 Chronic Absenteeism 

16:13 Phone-Free Schools 

18:34 School Accountability 

21:29 Early Literacy  

23:27 Math  

26:11 Private and Public School Choice 

29:04 Artificial Intelligence in Education 

31:34 Leveling Up High School/ High School Redesign 

33:51 Addressing Teacher Shortages 

36:43 Rapid-Fire Recap of our 2024 Policy Trend Predictions 

42:02 Our 2025 Policy Trend Predictions 

Links to Resources 

ExcelinEd’s 2024 National Summit on Education keynotes on our YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLamKh0vaiRJPFN4YtZvMkbQRaO-LIlRx1&si=hBNI6LXHaFDhNL9p 

Save the Date: 2025 National Summit on Education in New Orleans: https://excelined.org/national-summit/  

ExcelinEd’s website, featuring model policies and much more: www.excelined.org  

Early Literacy Matters: www.earlyliteracymatters.org 

School Choice Matters: www.schoolchoicematters.org  

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In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, ExcelinEd’s Founder and Chairman Governor Jeb Bush sits down with Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner from the main stage at the National Summit on Education in Oklahoma City to emphasize the power of student-centered policies. 

Gov. Bush discusses his experience leading transformative education reforms in Florida and shares his vision for states to recommit to foundational skills in math and literacy while also adapting to new challenges like declining enrollment, student wellbeing and social media’s impact on learning.  

Hear how state-level policymakers can tackle emerging trends and more. Gov. Bush’s candid Q&A will offer practical advice for prioritizing education policy goals amidst states’ competing opportunities and challenges.  

Tune in now to his inspiring call to "go big and be bold" to create sustainable pathways for student success.  

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In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Michael Chartier sits down with Tim DeRoche, founder and president of Available to All, to explore the ambitious goal of eliminating school boundary lines by 2030.  

They delve into the origins of these boundaries, tracing their roots back to discriminatory redlining practices and examining how they continue to limit access to quality education for countless students across the nation. Tim shares insights from his book, A Fine Line: How Most American Kids Are Kept Out of the Best Public Schools, and highlights the urgent need for reform to ensure equal educational opportunities for all. 

The conversation also touches on the No More Lines coalition's strategy for achieving open enrollment nationwide and the challenges policymakers face in making this vision a reality. Tim and Michael discuss the first steps states and districts can take to begin dismantling these boundaries and the potential impact of open enrollment on overcrowding and resource allocation. As they look ahead to the 2030 goal, they explore the milestones that will be crucial to maintaining momentum and achieving success.  

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about equal access to educational opportunity and the future of public education in America. 

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In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Quentin Suffren explores the growing movement among state policymakers to ensure that high school graduates are not only prepared for college but also equipped with the skills needed for the workforce.  

Quentin sits down with Taylor White, Director of Postsecondary Pathways for Youth at New America, to talk about youth apprenticeships and the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) initiative. They’ll discuss the states that are leading early adopters of these programs, the challenges they face and student successes so far.  

Tune in to learn more about youth apprenticeships and the important and growing role they’ll play as states seek to better connect the K-12 education system to postsecondary opportunities and the workforce. 

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In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Sonya Yates sits down with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck, a renowned dyslexia expert, author, researcher and educational consultant for a special episode to celebrate Dyslexia Awareness Month.  

Host Sonya Yates and Dr. Hasbrouck discuss the long-term impact of dyslexia on students and states, especially when students don't receive the necessary supports and interventions. The episode highlights how early screening, high-quality instructional materials, and evidence-based interventions can transform the educational experience for students with dyslexia, setting them on a path to success. 

They will also discuss how states and schools are responding to the latest policy trends in early literacy, the importance of understanding the research behind these approaches and how they can be implemented effectively to support students with dyslexia. Finally, the conversation will touch on the critical role that parents play in advocating for their children’s reading journeys and the best ways they can get involved. 

Tune in as these experts demystify dyslexia and the policies and practices that can help students become confident, capable readers. 

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In this episode, host Lindsey Henderson investigates with Adam Ezring, Deputy Director of the Collaborative for Student Success the urgent issue of declining math performance across the nation and the innovative policies that have the potential to reverse this alarming trend.  

After highlighting the critical challenges that have led to a national math crisis, Lindsey and Adam discuss the importance of implementing policies that prioritize rigorous standards, accountability and evidence-based instructional practices to ensure students are prepared for college and career success. 

Additionally, this episode will dive deeper into the emerging concept of auto-enrollment in advanced math courses, a policy designed to automatically place eligible students into higher-level math classes. This approach can help close achievement gaps by ensuring that more students, especially those from underserved communities, have access to challenging coursework that sets them up for future success.  

Tune in as we showcase which states are pioneering forward-thinking policies and explain why innovative math practices are critical to turning around math outcomes for students nationwide.  

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In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Matthew Joseph hops on the mic. Matthew serves as Senior Policy Advisor at ExcelinEd, where he focuses on helping states improve education through the strategic use of resources and funding.   

This week, we welcome David Mansouri, CEO and President of Tennessee SCORE, to discuss the transformative potential of student-centered education funding. 

Together, these two will share insights into Tennessee’s journey toward implementing a funding model that prioritizes higher-need students, ensuring that resources are allocated more equitably across the state. They’ll also highlight the benefits of this approach and how other states might follow suit. 

Tune in and be sure to subscribe! 

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In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host and ExcelinEd Vice President of Policy Cara Candal chats with North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt to explore teacher recruitment and retention.   

As schools nationwide grapple with keeping classrooms staffed with qualified educators, Superintendent Truitt shares her insights on the challenges facing North Carolina’s teaching workforce and the innovative strategies she has championed to address these issues. This discussion will highlight the significant impact of policies aimed at supporting teachers, the role of alternative certification routes, team teaching and more. Catherine also reflects on her tenure and offers advice for states facing similar challenges. 

Tune in as we delve deeper into the ongoing efforts to improve teacher policies and strengthen the teacher pipeline across America. 

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In this episode, we are excited to look behind the curtain in Indiana as dedicated folks break ground on the state’s new Career Scholarship Accounts program. CSAs help students cover costs for a range of training and internship experiences as well as the costs associated with completing them, such as supplies and transportation. It's a fascinating program that begins to tackle the challenges many students and schools face while making these work-based learning opportunities a reality. 

It’s worth noting that Indiana has added CSAs to their comprehensive approach to supporting high-quality learner pathways. The Hoosier state is known for undertaking systemic work, such as aligning the K-12 and postsecondary education systems, working to ensure career and technical education programs are high-quality (Next Level!), and sharing outcomes data with students and families through the state’s Graduates Prepared to Succeed Dashboard.  

Our resident expert Nathan Oakley and Adriana Harrington touch base with David Buyze, who serves as the Director of Policy and Special Programs for the Indiana Department of Education and executive director of the Indiana State Board of Education, to see how things were going. Listen now, followed by an update and our team’s hot takes. 

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In this episode, host and ExcelinEd’s Senior Policy Director of Education Choice Ben DeGrow welcomes Robyn Bagley, executive director of Utah Education Fits All, to discuss the fascinating journey of Utah's education scholarship account (ESA) program.  

Robyn is a long-time education advocate and entrepreneur, who has been instrumental in advancing policies that empower families to choose the best educational paths for their children. She shares the story of how Utah’s ESA came to be and the challenges that its supporters overcame to make it a reality. Robyn and Ben also address the future of the program and the potential for other states to learn from Utah's innovative approach. 

Tune in to hear more about the impact of the ESA program, the role of parental choice in education and the broader implications for education policy across the United States. 

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