Reports

May 21, 2026 | Los Angeles Unified School District successfully implemented its Community Schools Initiative through a robust support structure that centers inclusive environments enabled by restorative practices, project-based learning, and Linked Learning pathways. While all low-income schools in the district are recovering from pandemic-era lows, these schools are improving at substantially higher rates in achievement and attendance.

May 20, 2026 | California’s investment in universal prekindergarten has increased the capacity of local education agencies to expand the accessibility of transitional kindergarten across the state. Ongoing challenges center on staff recruitment and retaintion, meeting the developmental and behavioral needs of younger students, securing facility space, and sustaining funding.

May 18, 2026 | Public schools face mounting challenges, including student mental health, chronic absenteeism, academic achievement, and teacher shortages. Yet the principal's impact is often overlooked. Effective leadership strengthens instruction, builds positive climate, and stabilizes the workforce. Investing in principal preparation, support, and retention is a powerful strategy for improving outcomes and advancing equity.

May 12, 2026 | Texas is navigating high teacher attrition and relying on uncertified teachers who can fill vacancies quickly. While the share of uncertified teachers tripled across the state between 2019–20 and 2024–25, some districts maintained high rates of certified teachers. This study sought to identify those districts and understand the local contexts that might encourage hiring and retention of certified teachers. These findings are especially relevant in the context of newly passed state legislation enabling a significant financial investment in retaining and recruiting credentialed teachers.

April 6, 2026 | Lynwood Unified's deep community roots, existing network of health partners, emphasis on social emotional learning, and focus on building coordinator capacity enabled rapid districtwide implementation. Within two years, all 17 schools became community schools, yielding significant gains in student achievement, attendance, school climate, and family engagement.

March 17, 2026 | The most recent data from NCES’ national teacher and principal surveys highlight persistently high teacher turnover and widespread dissatisfaction. The data also point to strategies for decreasing turnover, including competitive salaries, effective school leadership, improved working conditions, and supports for early-career teachers.

February 27, 2026 | Through a $4 billion investment, California is dramatically increasing access to early childhood education for all 4-year-olds and eligible 3-year-olds through its mixed delivery system. To fully realize equitable, high-quality preschool, California can streamline governance, simplify enrollment, align quality standards, strengthen the workforce, and improve coordination across state and local agencies.

February 6, 2026 | Rural schools often have limited access to academic, social, and mental health resources. In California, a cross-district initiative resulted in a collaborative effort to pool resources and implement community schools, fostering improvements in student outcomes and overall well-being.

December 22, 2025 | To help districts address acute teacher shortages and high attrition, Texas incentivized and expanded paid teacher residences through its High-Quality, Sustainable Residencies Program. Research findings highlight effective program features, sustainable strategies, policy lessons, and actionable guidance for strengthening teacher pipelines in Texas and other states.

December 8, 2025 | Investing in equitable educational opportunities isn’t just a moral imperative—it makes practical and economic sense. Proven interventions reduce longstanding opportunity gaps and can unlock billions in annual benefits while building a stronger, more prosperous future for the nation.