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Across party lines, the states achieving the strongest and most lasting student outcomes share a common set of evidence-based strategies. From Massachusetts to Mississippi, high-achieving states all invest in equitable and adequate school funding, teacher quality, and coherent instructional systems.
Hanna MelnickMarjorie WechslerVictoria WangSara Plasencia
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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.
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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.
In fall 2025, California reached a historic milestone by expanding publicly funded preschool to every 4-year-old. The briefing reviews California’s first year of universal prekindergarten, highlighting the successes and challenges of increasing access to high-quality early learning within the state’s mixed delivery system.
Steve WojcikiewiczKimberlee RalphJon SnyderJennifer A. BlandMarjorie Wechsler
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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.
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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.
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Well-prepared teachers are essential during early years of learning, which form the foundation for lifelong success. A study examining early childhood credentialing programs in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York sheds light on strategies institutions of higher education can use to promote quality and accessibility of ECE credential programs.
