Patricia Levesque is the Chief Executive Officer for ExcelinEd.
When we talk about our policy work here at ExcelinEd, we talk about it in three ways: policies that will improve the education system as we know it; policies that create alternatives to the existing system; and policies that completely reimagine the system, as if we were able to start from scratch.
Policymakers prioritize different issues each year to meet their states’ needs. That means solving today’s challenges and building solutions that align with future goals.
Strong education policies can shape a better future for our children. Whether we’re talking about improving math and reading outcomes, protecting meaningful accountability systems, keeping distracting digital devices out of classrooms or opening more doors to quality schooling options—we rely on state policymakers to lead with student-centered policies.
This year, they reshaped education in many states. Some new trends have begun to emerge alongside renewed commitments to policies that have proven successful for decades. There are reasons for concern as well as for celebration. All of these policy developments deserve our attention, as they provide the foundation on which lawmakers will build at the state level in the coming year.
In 2024, we took bold steps on multiple fronts: defending and enhancing school accountability, expanding universal parental choice and working across party lines to advance early literacy. We also reimagined high school to better align with real-world workforce demands and championed the benefits of phone-free schools, a movement that has since gained nationwide traction.
These 2024 efforts underscore education policy’s powerful role in impacting students’ lives, creating robust teacher support systems and fostering stronger communities.
As we look ahead to 2025, state lawmakers have an opportunity to build on this momentum and pursue policies that continue to strengthen learning environments and outcomes for students.
Here’s a closer look at the key trends that should be top of mind for every state policymaker committed to driving lasting, student-centered change.
When it comes to K-12 education, school accountability sometimes feels like broccoli—necessary for a healthy diet, but not something that’s going to make big headlines. That’s too bad, because having a strong, stable system in place to measure outcomes over time is one of the most important things a state can do to ensure student success.
A student’s score on the state assessment and whether that score indicates the student is at, below or above grade level performance is the only objective signal the state sends to parents about how an individual child is doing.
In the wake of disappointing outcomes on state tests and the anticipated weak growth on the 2024 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), we anticipate additional state attempts to weaken accountability and lower expectations for student performance.
There are those who say lowering required passing scores or doing away with testing will help “level the playing field” for students. We vehemently disagree. No family or educator wants to hear that a student is falling behind, but without accurate data, how will they ever know that a student has, in fact, fallen behind? There’s no way to solve a challenge you don’t know exists.
Weakened accountability is bad for students, and we will be actively engaging with states to protect against rollbacks in 2025.
High-quality instructional materials in literacy and math are essential for providing students with a solid foundation in these core subjects. When states prioritize the use of HQIM, they ensure that teachers have access to well-researched, evidence-based resources that align with rigorous academic standards.
This alignment helps teachers focus on delivering content that builds essential skills and knowledge incrementally, reducing gaps in student understanding. By equipping teachers with high-quality resources, states can ensure that every student, regardless of their background or where they live, has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Investing in high-quality instructional materials also helps states address educational disparities. These materials support a structured approach to learning that has been shown to be effective for all students, including those who are struggling. They also support educators by adhering to structured literacy approaches, phonics instruction and data-informed math practices.
These methods are vital for helping students develop strong foundational skills and deeper understanding, equipping them with the literacy and numeracy skills they need for lifelong learning.
In 2025, we are looking at ways these types of resources can be developed and shared.
The Texas State Board of Education recently voted to adopt high-quality, content-rich open education resources. Like many states, local Texas districts can choose their own curricula, whether they are high-quality or not. By offering something that is high-quality, free and easy to access, the state is providing an incentive to districts to choose curricula that work. The textbooks are available online, allowing parents and guardians to stay informed about what their child is studying. Teachers also have a letter from each unit of the textbook that they can send home to parents. It’s hard to imagine a more transparent framework.
As we continue to promote policies proven to help students attain their full potential, we expect to see several states working on the issue of math auto-enrollment, where students who are “highly proficient” in mathematics content on end-of-year exams are automatically enrolled in advanced math courses. This allows students to move through math course sequences at a faster pace to be able to access college-level classes in high school.
In 2024, college and career pathways remained a focal point across the nation, with states committing more than $105.6 million in new funding to drive meaningful progress in this policy area. This investment signifies the growing recognition of the need to align our education system with workforce demands.
Looking ahead to 2025, ExcelinEd will work closely with states hoping to develop and implement robust policies that guide students toward credentials of value and equip them with skills relevant to today’s job market.
In Indiana and Florida, efforts will focus on enhancing pathways tied to credentials of value—industry-recognized qualifications that improve students’ employability and earning potential. By strengthening these programs, both states aim to create clear, accessible routes to stable, high-demand jobs for students across various backgrounds.
In Ohio, a comprehensive return-on-investment (ROI) analysis of its college and career pathways initiatives will help the state determine the economic value of its programs, identifying which pathways yield the greatest benefits for students and taxpayers alike.
Florida will also expand hands-on, career-connected learning through policies promoting intermediaries and Career Scholarship Accounts, which offer high school students real-world work experience and scholarships toward career education. These initiatives not only enhance students’ skills but also bridge the gap between education and employment, helping young people enter the workforce more seamlessly.
In Tennessee, state leaders will explore opportunities to enhance college and career pathways for students. This work will include evaluating and improving existing programs to ensure they align with the state’s evolving workforce needs, supporting the ultimate goal of helping all Tennessee students graduate ready for the path to college or career.
By helping states build and refine policies, ExcelinEd remains committed to expanding pathways that connect students to in-demand careers, making education a true springboard for opportunity.
In 2023, Texas led the way with a groundbreaking policy that rewards community colleges for helping students earn degrees and credentials that hold real value in the workforce. Through outcomes-based funding, Texas has created incentives that align financial support with meaningful student achievements, ensuring that public investment directly translates into better opportunities for students.
Building on this momentum, in 2025 states are exploring adopting similar models, establishing incentives for enrollment, enlistment and employment across high schools, community colleges and universities.
Outcomes-based funding encourages institutions to center their programs around student success. By tying funding to student outcomes—such as earning recognized credentials, gaining employment in relevant fields or meeting enlistment requirements—states can create a system that prioritizes students’ readiness for enrollment, enlistment or employment upon graduation. ExcelinEd is supporting efforts to implement this model so that each stage of a student’s education builds toward a successful transition to the next.
This approach can include rewarding high schools that increase the number of students completing dual-enrollment courses or career and technical education programs; offering incentives for community colleges that demonstrate high rates of student completion in programs aligned with in-demand jobs; and strengthening the alignment between postsecondary institutions and workforce needs.
By prioritizing outcomes-based funding, states are beginning to align their education systems more closely with their workforce needs and student aspirations, including supporting the design and implementation of tailored funding models that encourage accountability and drive measurable progress.
When funding is based on outcomes, institutions have a stronger incentive to provide programs that equip students with the skills and credentials that truly matter in today’s economy, helping students across all backgrounds to graduate ready to thrive.
School choice was picking up steam before the pandemic. It has grown in leaps and bounds since then, with more than 70 programs operating in more than 30 states.
Policymakers are eager to meet parents’ demand for different types of educational options and opportunity. We expect continued growth in 2025, with some key states that have long lacked educational choice programs likely to join the movement.
School choice is a leading agenda item in Texas and Tennessee, and several states, including Arkansas and Indiana, are likely to push for expansions to their existing programs.
With the launch of SchoolChoiceMatters.org at the 2024 National Summit on Education, policymakers now have a powerful new tool to track and improve school choice options across the nation.
Much like EarlyLiteracyMatters.org, this new site will offer state-specific data and insights that illuminate how each state fares in the availability and quality of school choice policies, covering 40 different policy options across public and private education, as well as homeschooling and open enrollment. By equipping policymakers with this comprehensive view, School Choice Matters can drive both policy improvements and the introduction of new initiatives in 2025.
The interactive, online resource enables policymakers to see at a glance how their state’s school choice landscape compares with others, fostering an environment of healthy competition and continuous improvement. As they see where their state stands, more policymakers may be inspired to expand and enhance educational options that address the diverse needs of families and communities.
As ExcelinEd supports state leaders in 2025, we hope School Choice Matters will serve as a central resource, inspiring new initiatives and helping states create robust school choice ecosystems. With access to this tool, policymakers can make data-driven decisions, leading to more effective and equitable school choice options that empower families to choose the best educational fit for their children.
As teacher shortages and workforce challenges persist, states across the country may prioritize innovative teacher recruitment and support policies in 2025. Building on the successes of 2024, ExcelinEd has introduced a new suite of strategic model policies aimed at strengthening and diversifying teacher pipelines, offering creative incentive, and ultimately ensuring that schools are equipped with highly qualified educators who reflect the diversity of their communities.
Our model policies emphasize building accessible, effective pathways into the teaching profession. State-sponsored teaching apprenticeships, for instance, provide aspiring educators with hands-on experience and mentorship, creating a structured pathway for individuals from various backgrounds to enter the profession. Additionally, expanded alternative certification options allow career-changers and individuals with diverse expertise to bring fresh perspectives and skills to classrooms, enriching the educational experience for students.
Our approach also includes targeted incentives to make teaching a more appealing and sustainable career choice. Policies that offer family leave provide crucial support for educators balancing work with family responsibilities, while deferred retirement options can help retain experienced teachers who might otherwise leave the profession.
To recognize and retain high-performing teachers, ExcelinEd also promotes policies that allow these educators to advance their careers by becoming instructional coaches and mentors.
In 2025, we look to see continued interest in teacher policy in Arizona, Michigan and North Carolina as well as new movement in South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama and Georgia.
As states consider their 2025 priorities, ExcelinEd’s suite of model policies offers concrete solutions to address teacher shortages, improve retention and strengthen the overall quality of the teaching workforce. By adopting these targeted policies, states can create more sustainable, supportive career paths that attract a diverse array of talented individuals to the profession, ensuring that every student has access to skilled and dedicated teachers.
Following the phone-free momentum from ExcelinEd’s successful 2024 National Summit, an increasing number of states are exploring policies to limit cell phone use in schools, recognizing the importance of distraction-free learning environments for students’ academic success and mental health. ExcelinEd’s will continue to support these efforts in 2025 by helping states understand their options for establishing effective, sustainable phone-free policies that minimize distractions, promote engagement and improve classroom environments.
A range of approaches are being implemented across states, from offering guidance on best practices to providing funding for districts that adopt phone-free policies. ExcelinEd’s work includes highlighting successful examples, such as policies where students store phones in designated lockers or use pouches that restrict usage during class hours, giving teachers greater control over classroom distractions.
In response to mounting public pressure and concern, states like Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio have not only enacted statewide policies but also are providing resources to support effective implementation. This recent analysis examines how these states are working to ensure phone-free policies are successfully supporting schools in establishing distraction-free learning environments.
In addition to policy support, ExcelinEd aims to help states track and measure the impacts of phone-free policies on student outcomes. Early evidence from schools that have gone phone-free shows potential for improved academic performance, reduced behavioral issues and more meaningful social interactions among students. By gathering and sharing these findings, ExcelinEd will equip policymakers with the data they need to continue making informed decisions about expanding or refining phone-free policies across districts.
The future of education depends on the strategic decisions state lawmakers make today to address the challenges and opportunities in our schools.
By prioritizing innovative policies in areas such as school choice, teacher recruitment, college and career pathways, phone-free schools and outcomes-based funding, states have the power to shape a more effective and equitable education landscape.
As we look forward to the 2025 legislative sessions, I encourage policymakers and partners to connect with ExcelinEd’s team of experts for guidance and insights on how these seven trending education policy areas can be tailored to their states’ unique needs.
Together, we can ensure that every student is equipped with the resources, support and learning environment they need to succeed. Now is the time to build a stronger foundation for the future of education, one where students, parents and teachers are all empowered to thrive.
