Performance-based funding is a funding approach where state appropriations are allocated based on how a postsecondary institution performs on a defined set of measures. These formulas are designed to incentivize institutions to prioritize student success over enrollment numbers through increased retention and completion efforts. Some common metrics include course or program completion, workforce participation and transfer. A growing number of states also include metrics that track the number of degrees completed in specific fields. In most instances, performance-based funding is used in conjun ..read more

As state agencies collect more data to best serve residents, effective data governance practices can ensure that decisionmakers get the information they need to solve the most pressing education issues while protecting residents’ data. In 2023, Education Commission of the States worked with state leaders to identify six key principles that support strong data governance. This Policy Brief features interviews with agency leaders in three states — Connecticut, Hawai'i and Indiana — who all employ these principles and share insights on how they’ve created effective data governance systems. Intere ..read more

Nearly two million people are incarcerated across federal, state, local and tribal systems in the United States. Among those, 95% of people will be released to rejoin their communities, but many lack access to training and education that will help them transition successfully.   This is a missed opportunity for safer communities. Research shows that higher education access in prison increases the odds of securing employment after release and decreases the likelihood of recidivism, providing a cost savings for states since every dollar spent on prison education programs results in four to ..read more

This post comes to us from Mushtaq Gunja, executive director, and Sara Gast, deputy executive director, at the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. All views expressed in this post are those of the authors. If you have any questions regarding changes to the Carnegie Classifications, you can contact the organization. Since 1973, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has served as the predominant framework to classify American colleges and universities. It was originally created for researchers as a way of organizing the higher education sector ..read more

This 50-state comparison provides comprehensive information on private school choice policies specific to vouchers, education savings accounts and tax credit scholarships. Private choice programs use public dollars to fund education options in the private sector, often at private schools. These programs include vouchers, education saving accounts and tax credit scholarships. Originally, private school choice programs targeted specific students groups, including students meeting household income qualifications, students eligible for special education services or students in schools identified f ..read more

View individual state profiles on private school choice by selecting a state below, or view 50-State Comparisons on each data point. The post Private School Choice: State Profiles appeared first on Education Commission of the States ..read more

This post comes from Jennifer DePaoli, senior researcher, and Jennifer McCombs, chief of research, with the Learning Policy Institute. All views in guest posts are those of the authors. A rise in the number of school shootings over time has increased focus on school safety, adding to other longstanding school safety concerns, like fighting or bullying. In addition to immediate physical harms, school violence can have long-lasting effects that undermine students’ engagement and mental health.   There is widespread agreement that addressing safety threats in school settings should be a ..read more

This guest post comes from Alyssa Rafa, policy manager, and Maria Spinetti, state policy analyst, with the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. All views in guest posts are those of the authors.  The science is clear that the prenatal to age three period profoundly affects a child’s future learning, behavior and well-being. However, these early years often bring substantial challenges for families — including trouble accessing high-quality and affordable child care, and difficulty locating needed services. These short-term challenges can have longer-term impacts on a child’s ability to ent ..read more

In 2023, 14 governors noted the importance of literacy in their State of the State addresses. Ten governors specifically highlighted efforts to improve early grade literacy for kindergarten through third grade students. While this is not a new issue, recent National Assessment for Educational Progress reports have shown declining reading scores nationwide and re-elevated it.   Third grade retention is often discussed as a policy option to improve early grade literacy. A preliminary update to our 50-State Comparison found that 13 states plus the District of Columbia require retention ..read more

Education Commission of the States tracks education-related proposals from governors’ annual State of the State addresses. Click on a state in the map below to view annual state-specific proposals. (Purple indicates the 2024 summary is available.) Education Commission of the States has tracked, analyzed and identified trends in education policy accomplishments and proposals featured in governors’ State of the State addresses every year since 2005. Click on the links below the map to see past years' addresses, or read our full reports highlighting the education-related topics covered in governo ..read more