One thing Education First has learned in our almost 20 years of partnering with changemakers: In public education, ideas are only as good as their implementation. Real-world hurdles can turn even the best concepts into lost time and frustration. This month we’re sharing our entry in The Thomas B. Fordham Institute 2025 Wonkathon, responding to the question: “What needs to happen next—at the state, district, and school levels—for the science of reading revolution to fulfill its promise and ensure that far more children learn to read well?” Our essay highlights the three implementation challenges we see most—a proliferation of assessments, incoherent instruction and random acts of coaching—and offers vetted solutions and next steps. If you agree with our viewpoints, please share this newsletter with others and vote for us here: https://lnkd.in/edsbCzMa
Education First Consulting
Education Administration Programs
Seattle, Washington 21,699 followers
Experience | Quality | Results
About us
We are mission-driven. Education First is a national strategy and policy organization with unique and deep expertise in education improvement and reform. Our mission is to deliver exceptional ideas, experience-based solutions and results so all students – and particularly low-income students and students of color – are prepared for success in college, career and life. We envision a world in which every student is prepared to succeed—a world in which income and race no longer determine the quality of education. We are a for-profit professional services firm with a not-for-profit soul. We direct our time and talent to support clients that can achieve the greatest impact on education systems, teachers and students. As a professional services firm, we are nimble and responsive, while pursuing our broader agenda of more equitable and effective public education for all. We’ve defined our theory of action, focus areas and services because these direct us to where we can produce the greatest impact. We’re also committed to innovation; we are constantly looking for new and better ways to serve the field. In addition to our client engagements, we set aside resources for pro-bono work that serves the field, advances our mission and spurs innovation.
- Website
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http://www.education-first.com
External link for Education First Consulting
- Industry
- Education Administration Programs
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2006
- Specialties
- Strategy and Counsel, Grantmaking Strategy and Effectiveness, Policy Solutions, Program Design and Implementation, Networks and Collaboration, Educator and Stakeholder Engagement, Results-Driven Meetings and Facilitation, Invest for Impact, Accelerate Academic Success, Expand Postsecondary Options and Success, Research for Action, Design Equitable Strategy, Coach, Convene and Build Capacity, Transform the Teaching Profession, and Cultivate Coherent and Thriving Systems
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
PO BOX 22871
Seattle, Washington 98122, US
Employees at Education First Consulting
Updates
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We are excited to partner with Achievement Network (ANet) and UnboundEd to present “𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀” at #Unbound2025! You’ve invested time and resources into adopting instructional materials. Are they working? Are your assessments amplifying and centering these materials or distracting educators from unlocking their true potential? Education First and Achievement Network will share research, strategies and real stories from their research and publications, informed by the practices of school and district leaders building coherent learning by unlocking the power of instructional assessments. Join Osarugue Michelle Odemwingie, Khaled J. Ismail, Achievement Network (ANet), Education First, UnboundEd and CORE Learning at this free virtual conference for every educator committed to breaking the predictability of historic achievement patterns and meeting the needs of every single student. Learn more and register today at: https://lnkd.in/eCxmZtJD! #Unbound2025 #UnboundEd #CORELearning #GLEAM #Education #ProfessionalLearning
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Tune in! Our very own Partner, Kelly James, has launched a new podcast with Geoffrey MacDougall called 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 features candid conversations with funders like Sasha Rabkin, Kent McGuire, Michelle Shevin and Misty Avila Gereghty about what really shapes the work. Not just portfolios or strategies, but the human side: power, trust, authenticity and what it takes to build relationships that make change possible. If you've ever wanted to pick Kelly’s brain and get a deeper understanding of funder engagement, go give the first episode a listen and subscribe! You can find it here: https://lnkd.in/gwJ2Hx9y or wherever you get your podcasts. We're so proud to see Kelly sharing her wealth of knowledge with the broader community. If you want to learn more about the podcast, have ideas for season 2 topics or would like to be featured as a guest, reach out to Kelly!
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𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝟯 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁–double pre-pandemic levels. This isn’t just a data point; it’s a systemic challenge. But how can districts shift from reacting to empty seats to proactively addressing the root causes of student disengagement and disconnection? We're proud to share 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, a resource built for district and CMO leaders. Grounded in lessons and resources from our work leading the All in Attendance Collaborative, with Equal Opportunity Schools, this toolkit translates insights into a practical guide for system leaders looking to take action. Instead of just tracking data and reacting, this toolkit helps Superintendents, Chief Academic Officers, Chief Information Officers and Principals to look beyond surface data. It equips leaders with tools to uncover the why behind absenteeism and how to implement equitable, scalable strategies to strengthen student engagement and attendance. Inside you’ll find: ✅Frameworks for analyzing the entire student ecosystem ✅Practical tools for district-wide implementation ✅Models for driving sustainable, system-level success, including a case study from Miami-Dade County Public Schools Download the toolkit to start building a more proactive attendance strategy in your district. https://lnkd.in/eVJFys9T Have questions or want to learn more about this work? Reach out to Chawanna Chambers, Ph.D., NBCT or Tara Czupryk Olivia A. Kelly, Ph.D., Jessica Paulson, Alaina E. Boyle, Ph.D., Tierney Kraft, Charles Jack, Dr. Michelle Ulysses-Grant, Miriam Stewart, Niesha Mack, Robin Atkins, Kristine Rauh #K12 #EducationPolicy #AttendanceMatters #StudentEngagement #SystemsChange
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In the current federal policy environment, state leadership is essential. That's why Education First is supporting work like this to help advise state education leaders. To see more of our federal policy resources, visit our Facts in the Flood page: https://lnkd.in/eZJcCAPx
What state-level policies should education leaders be pushing for in the current federal environment? "We know the federal agenda—what’s ours?" as Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro put it. That was the focus of a nonpartisan policy convening that we facilitated a few weeks ago. Hosted by The Joyce Foundation, the convening brought together national experts (including former US Education Secretary Arne Duncan) and leaders of state policy organizations across the Great Lakes region. Here are some of the big takeaways from those experts: 💡Federalism💡Arne Duncan argued that the need for state leadership has never been higher. As the federal government retreats, will states–and perhaps cross-state coalitions–step up? 💡Budgets💡Rebecca Sibilia, executive director of EdFund, noted that states don't yet understand the impact that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will have on their budgets. Expect a “crowd-out” of education budgets as federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP shift more costs to states. 💡Undocumented students💡Delia Pompa of the Migration Policy Institute highlighted states like Illinois, which has passed a law to protect undocumented students' right to public K12 education, even if federal law changes. 💡Higher Education💡Sameer Gadkaree of The Institute for College Access & Success discussed how federal changes to student loans and supports will likely lead to more student loan defaults. This may have a ripple effect on students’ lives–and the broader economy. 💡Data💡Kate Tromble of Data Quality Campaign said that states need to assess how much of their data infrastructure depends on threatened federal programs, and then build more self-sufficient data ecosystems. Big thank you to Stephanie Banchero, Chibuzo E., Jada Shavers at Joyce; my fellow Education First Consulting facilitators: Dave Powell, Ann Duffy, Susan Pham, and John Luczak; and all the talented leaders of state education policy organizations who shared their insights. #EducationPolicy #EducationMatters #FactsintheFlood
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Join Education First partner Kelly James and three members of the Place-based Funders Network for a discussion at Grantmakers for Education this week. This session will feature Peter Rivera, Jonathan T. R. and Dr. Deirdre Johnson Burel who will lead discussions about how they are leaning into place-based funding principles in a shifting political context. This funders-only session aims to connect national, regional and local funders in dialogue about their support for communities to meet the moment. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g46s2p_F. #EdFunders25 #IgnitePossibility #EducationPhilanthropy
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In a time of shifting education policies, shrinking funding and rising political tension, how do we protect opportunity for students? Join Education First Partner Rashidah Lopez Morgan at the Grantmakers for Education annual conference next week for the session 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀: 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘆, featuring philanthropic leaders Frank L. Gettridge, Ed.D. from The Philanthropic Collaborative for Education, Rotunda Floyd-Cooper, Ed. D from The Wallace Foundation, Saúl Valdez from ECMC Foundation, Marica Cox Mitchell from Bainum Family Foundation and Na'ilah Nasir from Spencer Foundation who are navigating these complex dynamics and exploring what it takes to advance a cross-sector, bipartisan vision for education rooted in fairness, opportunity and safety. Takeaways that participants can expect include: ➕Adaptive grantmaking strategies ➕Tactics for building trust and alignment ➕Examples of how funders are shifting practices ➕Signals of where philanthropy may need to step in We hope to see you there! #EdFunders25 #IgnitePossibility #EducationPhilanthropy
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What do districts wish edtech knew about their work? How do you plug into a high-functioning R&D ecosystem? We’re tackling that and more at EDTECH WEEK. We’re proud to have two of our leaders join conversations on October 22 about how coherence can help innovation take root in education. 💡Ila Deshmukh Towery, PhD, Partner, will speak on “𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥&𝗗 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲,” alongside Melissa M. (Alliance for Learning Innovation) and Auditi Chakravarty (AERDF). 🤖 Tara Czupryk, Principal Consultant, joins Rhianon E. Gutierrez (Boston Public Schools), Alexander F. (Chicago Public Schools) and Tara Carrozza (NYC Public Schools) to discuss “𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗘𝗱𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗞𝗻𝗲𝘄).” If you’ll be at EdTech Week, connect with us or reach out to our speakers to learn how Education First helps systems implement AI and innovation with clarity. #Innovation #EdTechWeek #Leadership #AIinEducation #ResearchandDevelopment
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We’re excited to see this story highlighting how Buffalo State University and Buffalo Public Schools are working together to strengthen math teacher preparation through the 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲! Ed First is partnering with Gates Foundation to facilitate the 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, which brings together educator preparation programs (EPPs) and districts from across the country to explore how faculty and district partners can help future teachers build the knowledge and skills they need to use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) effectively. ✅Check out the article to learn more about how Buffalo State University and Buffalo Public Schools are leading this work: https://lnkd.in/eV6v9dVh ✅And for more on how EPPs can develop curriculum literacy in teacher candidates, check out our Curriculum Literacy Guide: https://lnkd.in/e9gCTgem