Patricia Levesque is the Chief Executive Officer for ExcelinEd.
The landscape of American education continues to face a period of significant transition. The most recent data from the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as “The Nation’s Report Card,” show math and reading scores have experienced historic declines across nearly every state.
To address these challenges and build toward a stronger future, ExcelinEd has released its 2026 Education Policy Playbook. This document serves as a comprehensive resource for state leaders, distilling a decade of research into actionable, student-centered policy solutions.
The playbook follows a three-pronged roadmap: (1) improving the existing system; (2) creating alternatives for families; and (3) reimagining our current landscape into the framework we’d like to see.
The stakes for literacy could not be higher. Statistics show that students who are not proficient readers by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. For students from low-income backgrounds, that risk jumps to eight times. Because 90% of high school dropouts struggled with reading in the third grade, literacy isn’t just an academic issue. It’s a critical life skill.
The playbook outlines a comprehensive approach grounded in the Science of Reading. This evidence-based body of research focuses on five essential components: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. To implement this, the playbook suggests states move away from ineffective “three-cueing” methods that encourage students to guess words based on context and toward structured literacy.
Mississippi serves as a national exemplar. By adopting 17 of the 18 fundamental principles of literacy, including universal screeners three times a year and a statewide network of trained literacy coaches, Mississippi rose from 49th in the nation in 2013 to 9th in 2024 for fourth-grade reading. Notably, their Hispanic and low-income students now claim the top spots nationwide, proving that demographics do not determine destiny when sound policy is in place.
But Mississippi isn’t the only proof point: South Carolina and Tennessee have followed this model and seen a rise in student outcomes and proficiency because of it. Many states also are beginning to push into adolescent literacy policy to ensure students in late elementary and middle school have the support they need to succeed as readers.
Literacy often dominates the conversation, but math proficiency is an even stronger predictor of a child’s long-term earnings. With “math occupations” projected to grow by 29% by 2031, the current proficiency rates—39% for fourth graders and 27% for eighth graders—represent a significant economic threat.
The playbook challenges the myth that some people simply aren’t “math people.” Instead, it points to policy solutions like the Alabama Numeracy Act. This statute requires 60 minutes of daily math instruction and places math coaches in every elementary school. By prioritizing instructional time and high-quality materials, Alabama became one of the few states to show a significant recovery toward pre-pandemic levels, rising to 31st in the nation in 2024.
Emerging policies in this area also include Guaranteed Access to Advanced Math. Too often, high-performing students are held back by bureaucratic barriers or a lack of awareness. By automatically enrolling students who score “highly proficient” into advanced tracks, states can ensure that academic progression is based on merit rather than ZIP code.
A policy without measurement is merely a polite suggestion. Strong assessment and school accountability systems are the primary drivers of school improvement. When parents, teachers and policymakers have access to transparent, objective information, they can make informed decisions.
Research indicates that the transparency of a clear letter grade under an A-F grading system encourages schools to adjust their instructional practices in ways that lead to measurable gains.
For example, Louisiana’s “Grow, Achieve, Thrive” framework holds schools accountable for three clear goals: reaching grade-level proficiency, ensuring individual growth for every student and prioritizing the progress of the most struggling learners. This clarity has paid off. Louisiana’s students rose from 49th in the nation in 2019 to 15th in fourth grade reading in 2024.
The quality of a teacher is the most important in-school factor for student success. However, the profession faces a perennial crisis, with one in eight teaching positions nationwide currently vacant or filled by uncertified staff. The playbook moves beyond simple calls for “more funding” to suggest structural changes to the teacher pipeline. Apprenticeship programs and stipends to offset the costs of becoming a teacher are strong examples of how states can incentivize individuals to enter the teaching profession.
States should also prioritize retaining great teachers. One solution is the Advanced Teaching Roles (ATR) model utilized in North Carolina. This system creates a tiered career ladder where highly effective teachers are financially rewarded for taking on mentorship and coaching roles. This allows the best educators to increase their impact and their earnings without having to leave the classroom.
Additionally, the playbook suggests expanding the use of adjunct teachers. By allowing subject matter experts such as engineers or accountants to receive temporary certificates to teach, schools can meet local needs in high-demand and high-wage jobs like STEM and advanced manufacturing—and expand students’ horizons from experts in their field—while maintaining rigorous standards through mentorship and annual evaluations.
Despite decades of progress in school choice, many children are residentially assigned to schools that simply do not fit their unique learning styles. To solve this, the playbook champions the expansion of Education Scholarship Accounts or ESAs as the most flexible form of education choice. Unlike traditional vouchers, ESAs allow parents to direct their child’s funding to a variety of approved uses, including private tuition, individual courses or even saving for future college expenses.
Florida remains a leader in this space. Nearly half of Florida students attend a school other than the one to which they were assigned. This competition has not harmed the public system; rather, research shows that in Florida districts where choice is abundant, public school students have seen higher standardized test scores and lower rates of suspension. By adopting a unified funding formula under which money follows the student, states can ensure that every family has the resources to find the best educational fit.
Finally, the playbook addresses the transition from high school to the real world. Research projects that 72% of all jobs will soon require postsecondary training, yet current attainment rates fall short.
States like Indiana and Arkansas are leading the way by requiring a Return on Investment (ROI) Analysis of K-12 and postsecondary programs. By analyzing employment and wage data for graduates, these states can identify which degrees and certifications hold real value for students and for the economy.
Indiana has further reimagined the high school experience by creating flexible diplomas with readiness seals that guarantee college admission, direct job interviews or a pathway to military service, ensuring that a high school diploma is a bridge to a career rather than a simple piece of paper.
The 2026 Education Policy Playbook is built on the belief that success is never final, and reform is never finished. It provides evidence, data and state-level success stories necessary to build a student-centered framework. For policymakers, the task is to align this vision with the courage to make hard choices that put students at the center of every decision.
