2025 Legislative Prep Session: Education Challenges and Solutions
Hosted by the Learning Policy Institute
Co-sponsored by Education Commission of the States, National Association of State Boards of Education, and National Conference of State Legislatures
The 2025 legislative session is coming up quickly and brings the opportunity for state policymakers to address their pressing education challenges with evidence-based policy solutions. From rethinking teacher preparation pathways, improving teacher retention, and ending shortages to addressing chronic absenteeism and adjusting to decreased federal funding and declining student enrollment, there are many issues for policymakers to tackle—and they are all priorities.
LPI and partners developed this timely webinar series to give policymakers and others a leg up on the 2025 legislative session with the most up-to-date research, tools, and examples of effective, evidence-based state policy approaches. Participants can tune in to any sessions of interest, whether it’s one or all four.
Building and Retaining the Teacher Workforce
December 3 | State policies impact both teaching conditions and equitable student access to well-qualified teachers. What policy approaches influence teacher supply, demand, and retention, and what can your state consider to better support teachers and students? Watch video recording >
Long-Term Solutions to Teacher Shortages
December 5 | Teacher attrition—a key source of teacher shortages—disrupts student learning and costs districts money. The teachers who are most likely to leave the profession are those who are least prepared. More and more states are turning to teacher residencies and other strategies, such as service scholarships, as they look to simultaneously improve the quality of preparation and provide a long-term solution to teacher shortages. Watch video recording >
Eliminating Chronic Absence
December 10 | The significant decline in school attendance since the onset of the pandemic is concerning since chronically absent students are more likely to fall behind academically, disengage socially, and drop out of school. As state policymakers consider solutions, much can be learned from community schools and other whole child approaches, which have emerged as research-based strategies to address barriers to attendance and help schools reengage students. Watch video recording >
Emerging Topics in Education Finance
December 12 | While every state has unique needs and different approaches to funding education, they all face similar challenges, including declining student enrollment, the needs of different student populations, instability in state budgets, and the reduction of federal funds. Each of these factors reshapes how resources are allocated to schools, with significant implications for students, educators, and communities. Watch video recording >
