Bellwether

Bellwether's Emily Shisler wrote about how we've lost the plot on the science of reading for this year's The Thomas B. Fordham Institute Annual Wonkathon. You can read her piece, and cast your vote, here: https://lnkd.in/edsbCzMa

Congrats to Bellwether's Carrie Hahnel on her appointment to the Alameda Unified School District board of education!

Join Bellwether, in partnership with Curriculum Associates, for a conversation about what the next generation of balanced assessment systems could look like and how they can better support, rather than disrupt, daily instruction. We’ll look at how thoughtful design choices, including the use of tools like AI, can create more coherent systems that connect what we measure, how we report it, and what teachers do next. The event will feature Michelle Croft, Carla Evans, Dan Farley, and Kristen Huff. Register now!

Education in America needs transformative change to meet this critical moment. At Bellwether, we’ve been working to deliver that change for the last 15 years — and we’re committed to expanding our reach and impact in the years ahead to ensure that all young people can lead fulfilling lives in flourishing communities. We’ll continue to help mission-driven partners accelerate their impact, inform and influence policy and program design, and bring leaders together to drive change on education's most pressing challenges. But we’re also making two key shifts. We will sharpen our strategic edge, elevating portfolios of work that can make the greatest impact. And we will reimagine how we help, expanding our service offerings to be flexible, nimble, and accessible. Read more in our new strategic plan — and get in touch if you’d like to discuss how we can support your work on behalf of young people: https://lnkd.in/eksffsEE

Bellwether is hiring! Join the team as our new Business Systems Administrator! In this role, you'll combine technical expertise and customer service to help Bellwether’s staff work smarter through effective, user-friendly systems. Apply now! https://lnkd.in/ebUidTBf

After a decade of rising revenues, many states are now facing tighter K-12 education budgets — even as many schools face a long climb in academic recovery from the pandemic and in addressing long-standing gaps in student outcomes. Bellwether’s new release by Linea Harding, Indira Dammu, and Bonnie O'Keefe examines the major factors pressuring state education funding and analyzes every state’s funding situation against six risk factors. Overall, we found that 47 states are high risk in at least one indicator, and 30 states are at high risk in at least two indicators. Check out the report to learn more about your state's K-12 funding risk profile: https://lnkd.in/eN7eH7cQ

What, truly, will it take for reading to improve in schools? Personally, I think we've lost the plot. I wrote a piece for The Thomas B. Fordham Institute 's Annual Wonkathon on the topic "What will make science of reading laws succeed?" Check out my blog and join the conversation. https://lnkd.in/gNdTB6RX Literacy loving friends--"You come too." Marissa Fraser Leigh Anne Rayburn Lauren Berry Emily DiMatteo Kelly A. Blair Daren Dickson, LMFT Linda Lentz Seneca Rosenberg Mary Broydrick Carrie Coker Elena Knappen Allegra Villarreal Susan Seaton Amanda Hageman Ashley Gillett Kyrlyn Chatten Sarah Leach Craig Hinkle Sarah Nager Addie C. Davis Alison Kilfoyle Allison Leedie Arliea Cloer Tara Lim Sharon Abraham Sharon Foley, ACC, CPCC Roberto Martinez Dr. Brandon S. Abdon Claire Hagen Alvarado, Ed.L.D. (As I started tagging all of my literacy loving friends, I realized this list would create the backbone of an incredible wonkathon of its own. Someone call the Gates Foundation and get us in a room together!) Also - shameless plug - should you find yourself nodding along with my article, please cast a vote for me! Bellwether

ESAs are having a moment, but how do we ensure these programs actually work for families? Join Bellwether, in partnership with Curriculum Associates, and our panelists to explore how to move from a concept to a successful ESA program, lessons learned from states across the country, and takeaways for the Department of the Treasury as it issues regulations and guidance for the federal tax credit program included in the One Big Beautiful Act earlier this year. Featuring: Liz Cohen, Justin D., Jackie Guglielmo, MST, and Juliet Squire.

Interested in how to thoughtfully integrate AI into your organization's work? Join one of Bellwether's AI cohorts for nonprofits, charter schools, and charter networks! While AI brings promise for education organizations and school leaders, it also requires careful planning, risk mitigation, thoughtful change management, and clear guiding principles. By the end of each Bellwether cohort, participating orgs and schools will have a clear, actionable AI plan, a tested pilot, and strengthened capacity to lead responsibly through AI-driven change. Interested? Learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eBF9uVzQ

“Parents shouldn’t have to need a glossary to understand what schools and districts are saying,” says Andrew Rotherham, Co-Founder of Bellwether. Parents want to be involved in their child’s learning, but edu-jargon can make information confusing or inaccessible. Clear, simple communication helps families engage, builds trust, and strengthens student success. Read more in the new report, Centering Families in the Future of Education: Insights & Perspectives From 10 Years of Research: https://lnkd.in/eM3cWfbe #LearningHeroes10