Bella DiMarco

2 months ago | the74million.org | Thomas Toch |Bella DiMarco

Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter A version of this essay appeared on the FutureEd blog. One of the most striking features of the troubling results from the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress is the much lower percentage of students scoring proficient on NAEP than on many states’ own 2024 standardized exams.

Oct 8, 2024 | future-ed.org | Bella DiMarco

IntroductionIn 1990, states began allowing students to attend private school at public expense. Most of the early initiatives were small and confined to students who were low-income, had special needs, or attended low-performing public schools.

Apr 25, 2024 | future-ed.org | Bella DiMarco

Teacher pay continues to draw significant attention in state capitols, as it has for the past few years. Last year, at least nine states increased educator compensation by changing salary structures, offering bonuses, or other means. This year, governors from both parties used their state-of-the-state addresses to urge their legislatures to raise educator pay and many have responded. To date, FutureEd has identified 59 bills across 22 states in 2024 aimed at increasing teacher compensation.

Mar 12, 2024 | future-ed.org | Bella DiMarco

Traditionally, schools and school districts take primary responsibility for student attendance. But recently, due to the nationwide spike in chronic absenteeism that began during the pandemic and has yet to abate, state lawmakers are taking a greater role in proposing solutions.

Mar 4, 2024 | future-ed.org | Bella DiMarco

Despite the heightened partisan tensions of an election year, governors of both parties have largely downplayed parental rights bills, book bans and other culture-war controversies in their 2024 State-of-the-State addresses, a FutureEd analysis of 38 of the addresses has found. Rather, they have proposed substantial investments in education and practical ways to strengthen learning.