FutureEd

We're at a crossroads—what's next for education policy and research? Join us at #CALDER2026 on March 2 for a roundtable discussion with Cara Jackson (OBC), Nat Malkus (AEI), Amber Northern (U.S. Department of Education), and @CEDR_US. Register 👉 caldercenter.org/events/17th-an…

Generative AI could transform K–12 tutoring by expanding access at a lower cost, but there has been little rigorous evidence on its impact. In our latest research notes, we examine two studies finding that AI in tutoring can improve student outcomes. One model strengthens human instruction, while the other moves toward replacing it—raising questions about the tradeoffs between cost and the value of personal connections provided by human tutors. Read the full piece: future-ed.org/research-notes…

Governors’ state-of-the-state addresses offer an early look at education priorities for 2026. Our tracker highlights education-related initiatives across states—from early learning and school meals to higher education, workforce development, and school choice. We’ll continue updating the tracker as speeches are delivered. future-ed.org/tracking-educa…

What is a classroom "culture of learning", and why does it matter? A new study led by David Yeager, a FutureEd research advisor, found that a low-cost teacher training program focused on building a culture of learning boosted student achievement and reduced teacher burnout. Read our latest research notes for more: future-ed.org/research-notes…

@thomas_toch , director of FutureEd, joined Eric Worcester and Nathaniel Provencio on the Community Connection podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on how the modern education landscape has evolved—and what its history can teach today’s policymakers and education leaders about school choice and reform. 🎧 Listen to the conversation: future-ed.org/podcast-choice…

📄 2 new research notes are now live on our website: • 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘜𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺: A new study finds that higher local unemployment rates increase the likelihood that adolescents become teachers—and remain in the profession. • 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴’ 𝘛𝘰𝘱 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴: Evidence shows that ranked-choice application systems better match students—particularly disadvantaged students—to their top-choice schools. Read them here: future-ed.org/research-notes… future-ed.org/research-notes…

In a new commentary for @The74 , FutureEd Associate Director Maureen Tracey-Mooney warns that high-impact tutoring—one of the most effective responses to pandemic learning loss—is at risk as the Trump administration’s education budget and the House of Representatives’ funding legislation would gut the federal support needed to sustain it. Read more: the74million.org/article/studen…

“The stricter the policy, the happier the educator and the less in-class distraction they report,” Angela Duckworth said about cell phone policies in schools. FutureEd’s Maureen Tracey-Mooney spoke with Duckworth about Phones in Focus, a nationwide initiative studying how schools across the country are managing the reality of phones in classrooms, with the goal of demonstrating the impact of emerging cell phone policies on student outcomes. Read the Q&A: future-ed.org/qa-angela-duck…

📉 Early Look at 2024–25 Chronic Absenteeism 27 states have released chronic absenteeism data for the 2024–25 school year, and most have continued to make improvements since last year. Based on these states, the national estimate sits at around 21%, down from 23.5% last year but still well above the pre-pandemic rate of 14.5%. This estimate will continue to shift as more states report. We will update the numbers regularly on our chronic absenteeism tracker: future-ed.org/tracking-state….

Notable leadership transitions are underway in education. 🔑James Kvaal, former under secretary of education for the U.S. Department of Education, was appointed incoming vice president of the National Program at Carnegie Corporation of New York. 🔑 Ramón Carranza Jr., former director of legislative affairs in higher education at the U.S. Department of Education, is now vice president of federal policy at Teach Plus. Explore The Churn, FutureEd’s tracker of the latest leadership changes in the education sector: future-ed.org/news/the-churn/

⏰ Just 2 days left to register for our webinar! Join Meredith Fortner, @loeb_susanna, @DeanDawnShinew, and Maureen Tracey-Mooney for a discussion on how schools of education are partnering with K–12 school districts to expand high-quality tutoring, creating a win-win for students and aspiring teachers. 🔗 Register here: future-ed.org/event/webinar-…

What role do politics play in where students decide to go to college? A new commentary by FutureEd Research Associate Giana Loretta, also published on @The74 , explores how college applicants’ political views are increasingly shaping enrollment decisions. The piece highlights new research by @riacton, Emily Cook, and Paola Ugalde Araya, which finds that many students are willing to pay thousands more in tuition to avoid classmates with opposing political views. Read the commentary here: future-ed.org/research-finds…

Good afternoon from Day 2 of the #HuntMayors Fellowship in Fort Worth! Fellows are back together to focus on the local policies and partnerships that strengthen city education ecosystems. Photos from our first session. What does “school choice” really look like across cities? Fellows are hearing from @FutureEdGU, @OSSEDC, and @Hunt_Institute’s own Dr. Terri Conrad about how mayors can ensure transparency, accountability, and equity in local choice systems. #HuntMayors

🚨 New Report 🚨 Education is a powerful engine of opportunity, but it often cannot overcome the broader structural barriers that shape children’s lives. In "How Inequality Works: The Public Policy Barriers to Social Mobility in Urban America", FutureEd Senior Fellow Josh Anderson examines how policies in housing, health care, education, employment, banking, criminal justice, and the social safety net interact to perpetuate inequity and limit economic mobility for millions of Americans. Drawing on decades of social science research, the report explores how disadvantage compounds over a lifetime—and highlights the need for coordinated, cross-sector policies to expand opportunity. Read the report here: future-ed.org/how-inequality…

💰Tracking waste and fraud in K–12 education. A new study offers a framework for identifying sources of financial fraud and waste in the K–12 system. The researchers warn that greater school choice, a reduced role for traditional public school systems, and market-based accountability can increase the risk of fiscal waste in education. Read our latest research notes written by FutureEd Research Associate Giana Loretta: future-ed.org/research-notes…

📺 Webinar: A Win-Win: How Teachers in Training Are Supporting High-Quality Tutoring Schools across the country are implementing high-dosage tutoring to accelerate student learning, but many face challenges finding tutors and sustaining them now that federal relief funding has ended. Schools of education are stepping up to fill the need by having their undergraduates tutor students in partner schools—adding a new component to their teacher training programs in the process. Join @FutureEdGU for a conversation on this new “win-win” strategy. In conversation: Meredith Fortner, executive director of @EduTutorVA @loeb_susanna, professor at @Stanford and director of the SCALE Initiative at Stanford University @DeanDawnShinew, dean of the College of Education and Human Development at @bgsu Moderated by Maureen Tracey-Mooney, associate director at @FutureEdGU 🗓️ November 12, 2025 | 12pm ET 🔗 Register here: future-ed.org/event/webinar-…

📊 Education, by the numbers: 1,073 school districts rely on Impact Aid, a federal program that supports districts with tax-exempt federal land. The government shutdown has halted payments, affecting 15% of U.S. public school students. For more educational statistics, check out the FutureEd Index: future-ed.org

🎥 In case you missed it: @GovofCO Jared Polis, @MargaretEdu (Bipartisan Policy Center), @TequillaBrownie (TNTP), @FrancesMessano (NewSchools), Chris Walters (University of Chicago) joined @VanSchoales (Keystone Policy Center) to discuss the past, present, and future of school measurement. 🔗 Watch the full recording: future-ed.org/webinar-school…

The Trump administration has reduced the Education Department to less than 40 percent of its prior personnel, threatening vital supports for the nation’s most vulnerable students. In a new FutureEd commentary, @thomas_toch and Maureen Tracey-Mooney warn that hollowing out the agency undermines its mission and jeopardizes those most in need. Read the commentary: future-ed.org/latest-educati…

How do we define and measure school quality? Our CEO @TequillaBrownie joins @FutureEdGU + @KeystonePolicy for a national conversation with @GovofCO, Margaret Spellings, Frances Messano, & Chris Walters on measuring what matters most. Join the convo: future-ed.org/event/webinar-…