What We’re Reading to Stay Focused on Kids

Hi everyone, Kunjan here.

This summer has been a masterclass in staying steady amid noise. Between funding delays, legal curveballs, and shifting political winds, many of us have spent the season in triage mode — and for good reason. That’s where the fire is.

But even as the federal conversation gets louder, we’re staying anchored in what matters most: students.

Below are a few pieces that have sparked our thinking about classrooms, systems, and how states can better serve students.

What We’re Reading

Opinion | How to track educational performance? Here’s a good start. 

• We love the saying, “What gets measured, gets done.” For several months, we’ve been working with Colorado Governor Jared Polis to develop a method of measuring school readiness. From The Washington Post editorial board, this piece gives you a sneak peek. 

Why Most Teachers Mix and Match Curricula—Even When They Have a ‘High-Quality’ Option

• Even when teachers have high-quality materials, most still mix and match. This Education Week piece shows why, and what it means for building coherent instructional systems.

Some States Are Seeking to Deregulate Child Care. Advocates Are Fighting Back

• This The 74 Media piece tells the story of what happens when policy decisions prioritize cost-cutting over quality. As some states look to lower requirements for child care providers, advocates are raising the alarm about what’s at stake for kids, families, and the workforce that holds the system together.

States Forum: Let’s Tidy Up State Government

• Jennifer Pahlka makes a compelling case for states to clean up bloated regulations and build faster, fairer government. As she says, “legislation doesn’t need to add to the clutter; in fact, it can be written to clean up the mess.”

LISTEN: The Ezra Klein Show: ‘We Have to Really Rethink the Purpose of Education’

• Ezra Klein poses a deceptively simple question: What are schools really for? I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

How Nebraska Is Reimagining Special Education — and Seeing Promising Results

• We love a good “what’s working” story. This one by The Hechinger Report is thoughtful, hopeful, and packed with lessons for other states.

The Quiet Story of Chicago Public Schools: Enrollment, Cost, and Consequence

• This joint piece from ProPublica and Chalkbeat is a sobering look at what happens when systems shrink but structures stay the same. As schools across the country face declining enrollment and smaller budgets, this story shows the human cost of policy inaction and what other states can learn.

Let’s Get Muddy

We’re always on the lookout for smart, interesting reads — especially the ones that help us think more clearly about what it takes to keep students at the center.

Seen something worth reading? Drop it in the comments.