The Future of Education Starts with the States

President Donald Trump recently told Linda McMahon, his choice for secretary of education, "If you do a great job, you will put yourself out of a job, because you're going to be sending it back to the states." 

Returning power to the states has been a consistent message of the new administration—and it echoed throughout McMahon’s confirmation hearing. So if you want to understand what's to come for federal education policy, states are the best place to start.

States have long held the primary responsibility for education, serving as incubators of federal education policy. In fact, over the last 50 years, most major federal policies started in the states. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) emerged after a series of court decisions that affirmed states’ responsibility to educate students with disabilities. The No Child Left Behind Act, signed by governor-turned-president George W. Bush, codified accountability practices that had been tested at the state level. More than a decade later, the Every Student Succeeds Act—championed by another former governor, Lamar Alexander, in the Senate—responded to states’ desire for flexibility from the pressures of that very same law. 

If states are the tea leaves, what can they tell us about what might be in store over the next four years? As president of the Education Commission of the States, a national nonpartisan organization that informs, counsels, and convenes education leaders to create effective education policy, I’ve heard clear priorities from our diverse members. In red and blue states alike, education leaders and policymakers plan to spend the next term:

Teaching Holistic Skills and Cementing Student Pathways
There is a growing recognition that schools must prepare students for lifelong learning and success in an increasingly skills-focused economy. Less understood is how to ensure students are acquiring those specific in-demand skills required to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce. 

To this end, 18 states have developed Portraits of a Graduate, or Profiles of a Learner, frameworks, which aim to define the competencies students need to succeed in a rapidly changing labor market. These profiles go beyond traditional academic achievement to include skills like critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, and communication. By adopting these frameworks, states are not only shaping local curricula but also driving policy discussions about how to better align education with workforce needs. 

Enhancing—and Articulating—the Value of Postsecondary Education
Fueled by increasing costs and concerns about underemployment, public skepticism about the value of higher education is on the rise. In response, colleges and states are working to enhance the value of higher education by better aligning postsecondary programs with workforce demands—and by more clearly communicating these benefits to prospective students. 

More than 30 states have implemented Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems that integrate data from preschool, K-12, higher education, and workforce systems. These systems provide invaluable insights into student outcomes, allowing policymakers to track the effectiveness of education programs and identify gaps in access or outcomes.

Reforming K-12 Finance
Balanced school funding has long been a contentious issue, with disparities in resources often reflecting and perpetuating broader social inequalities. In recent years, states have been taking more decisive action to address these issues.

Late last year, Colorado was among the latest states to enact new student-based funding formulas that allocate funds based on students’ unique learning needs—such as those of English learners, students with disabilities, and learners from low-income families. These reforms aim to close persistent gaps in educational opportunity and ensure resources are directed to the students who need them most. 

Aligning Early Childhood Education Systems
Despite growing consensus on the importance and long-term benefits of early childhood learning, the sector faces significant challenges. Rising costs and a severe shortage of available programs have left countless families without viable options for care and education for their young children. These issues are further exacerbated by fragmented governance structures and inconsistent quality standards, which hinder efforts to provide comprehensive, equitable support for young learners and their families. 

Recognizing these barriers, states are beginning to take action. Since 2020, at least nine states, from Wyoming to New Mexico, have overhauled their state governance structures to create new or modify existing agencies to provide comprehensive oversight of their early childhood education programs. 

Strengthening the Educator Pipeline
Nearly 90 percent of K-12 public schools in the United States report challenges in hiring teachers, with shortages being especially acute in areas like STEM and special education. States are experimenting with a range of solutions to strengthen and expand the educator pipeline. “Grow your own" initiatives encourage community members to pursue teaching careers, while teacher apprenticeships provide hands-on training and mentorship opportunities. 

Some states, like Arkansas and South Dakota, have also increased teacher salaries, offered bonuses, or expanded loan forgiveness programs, recognizing that compensation and professional support are key to recruitment and retention. 

Rethinking Student Wellness and Engagement
The country is facing a crisis of student engagement. Nationally, chronic absenteeism rates have now reached nearly 30 percent—double the pre-pandemic level. In response, states like Mississippi are leveraging frameworks like Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and early warning systems. MTSS provides a structured approach to identifying and supporting students’ academic, behavioral, and emotional needs, while early warning systems use data to flag at-risk students and intervene before challenges escalate. 

At the heart of both strategies is an understanding that schools must address the root causes of absenteeism, such as mental health challenges, food and housing insecurity, and transportation barriers.

These are just a handful of examples of what states are already accomplishing—and they provide a glimpse into what’s possible with further federal flexibility. 

As it turns out, the most effective and transformative ideas for improving education seldom originate from Washington, D.C. Instead, they are forged in these 50 incubators of innovation. By looking to the states, we can gain valuable insights into what’s working—and what’s next—for America’s students.