Susan Kemper PatrickTiffany S. TanJulie FitzCathy Yun
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California’s investment in teacher residencies has led to the recruitment and retention of a racially and ethnically diverse teacher workforce with higher passing rates on the state assessment and higher entry rates into the profession than other preparation pathways. Through residencies, candidates receive financial support and year-long guidance from a mentor in the classroom, while completing coursework.
Dion BurnsJennifer A. BlandJonathan KaplanPatrick M. Shields
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More than 1.5 million U.S. students experienced homelessness in 2023–24, yet federal McKinney-Vento funding, which provides housing and educational protections for people experiencing homelessness, has limited reach. Washington is among the few states that provide funding beyond McKinney-Vento. As a result, the state is seeing improved identification, school stability, and graduation rates.
Dion BurnsJennifer A. BlandJonathan KaplanPatrick M. Shields
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More than 1.5 million U.S. students experienced homelessness in 2023–24, yet federal McKinney-Vento funding, which provides housing and educational protections for people experiencing homelessness, has limited reach. Washington is among the few states that provide funding beyond McKinney-Vento. As a result, the state is seeing improved identification, school stability, and graduation rates.
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More than 700,000 young children from low-income families rely on Head Start for preschool and other support. A proposed federal rule could make the program harder to access and lower quality, with potential ripple effects for public schools.
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LPI Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Early Learning Hanna Melnick provided testimony at a child care innovation hearing. Her remarks focused on how early care and education (ECE) are critical for families and the economy, and that while states are taking innovative approaches to improve access, they need more federal support to make quality ECE accessible to all.
Teacher residencies pair a full year of mentored clinical practice with financial support and a service commitment, strengthening preparation while addressing teacher shortages. Research shows residency graduates are effective and more likely to remain in the profession, helping districts staff high-need fields and build a stable, diverse workforce aligned with local needs.
There is no one state that holds all the answers to raising student achievement. To plot a strong path forward, we should be asking high-achieving and steeply improving states—red, blue, and purple—what is actually working and how they got there.
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The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, takes effect in 2027, but many implementation details are still emerging. This slide deck is designed to serve as a primer about the program for states and other stakeholders based on information available as of July 15, 2026.
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Transforming high schools requires assessing strengths, identifying opportunities, and developing a roadmap for lasting change. This practical tool guides school teams using three research-backed redesign principles: creating engaging, relationship-centered learning environments; providing challenging and engaging instructional design; and building professional capacity for culturally responsive, inquiry-based learning.
