insights archive

School choice—the ability for students to attend schools outside their residentially assigned zones—is an increasingly influential feature of the American K–12 education landscape. Recent federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), particularly in the form of Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs), indicates an expanding commitment to promoting school choice as a mechanism to support student safety, educational improvement, and parental empowerment.

As the back-to-school season approaches, EdTech companies and education publishers face a familiar challenge: scaling up rapidly to meet surging demand. Yet many delay onboarding variable staffing resources until it’s too late—leading to missed deadlines, lost revenue, and strained internal teams.

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, institutions face mounting pressure to deliver high-quality, engaging, and flexible digital learning experiences. As a result, the demand for content creation tools that are efficient, scalable, and interoperable with Learning Management Systems (LMS) has significantly increased.

As federal and state lawmakers pursue new education policies in 2025, special education stands at the crossroads of opportunity and uncertainty. Legislative proposals at both levels aim to address persistent underfunding, teacher shortages, and systemic inequities—but the potential impact varies widely depending on geography and political will. This white paper explores key proposed legislation, how it affects special education funding, and what it means for school districts in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

K–12 school districts across the United States face persistent and worsening challenges in hiring qualified personnel for hard-to-fill roles, including special education teachers, STEM instructors, bilingual educators, and school psychologists. Traditional district HR departments, often under-resourced and constrained by bureaucratic and budgetary limitations, struggle to keep pace with this evolving talent crisis. K–12-focused staffing agencies offer a strategic and scalable solution. With specialized expertise, broader recruitment networks, and a deep understanding of the education sector, these agencies are uniquely positioned to help districts meet staffing demands while ensuring compliance, quality, and continuity.

North Carolina stands at a critical junction in its educational evolution. As the state aims to increase educational attainment to 2 million adults by 2030 (myFutureNC, 2025), the “2025 Facts & Figures” report by BEST NC presents a comprehensive view of the demographic, fiscal, and systemic shifts impacting students, educators, and school communities across the state.

The back-to-school season represents a pivotal time in the annual operations of education technology (EdTech) companies and education publishers.

The FY2026 education budget proposed by the Trump Administration marks a seismic policy shift: a $12 billion (15.3%) reduction in discretionary funding and a stated intent to “wind down” the U.S. Department of Education. The proposed $66.7 billion budget centers on decentralization, emphasizing state and local control while consolidating or eliminating over 50 federal education programs.

The national shortage of Exceptional Children’s (EC) teachers—those serving students with disabilities and unique learning needs—has reached crisis levels, with significant implications for educational equity and compliance with federal mandates.

In today’s fast-moving professional environments, from bustling classrooms to fast-paced corporate offices, time is a premium. Traditional, day-long training sessions are often impractical — and increasingly, ineffective. Enter micro lessons: short, focused learning experiences that deliver just-in-time training in digestible chunks.

In today’s classrooms, Differentiated Instruction and AI-powered tools like Alef Math Pathways are redefining personalized learning by adapting lessons to each student’s needs. Discover how these innovations work together to create more inclusive, student-centered learning environments that help every child thrive.

By considering the following questions, we are better able to get the root causes of students' readiness for Tier 1 instruction before developing solutions.

The Quantile Measure framework helps track student growth in mathematics and identify the skills they are ready to learn, using a unified scale from kindergarten to high school. Created by MetaMetrics, it supports teachers in selecting the right skills for each student’s progress.

MTSS is an umbrella that represents the systems of support that schools put in place to make sure that all students are successful at school.

Mathematics is more than a classroom subject; it plays a vital role in our daily lives, helping us manage finances, cook accurately, and make informed decisions. By embracing math in everyday tasks, we enhance our problem-solving abilities and become more confident and efficient in navigating life.

In this article, we’ll explore how adopting a growth mindset can foster greater success in math, helping students break free from the belief that they are "bad" at the subject. By focusing on effort, strategy, and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, students can reframe how they see themselves as math learners, opening the door to deeper understanding and lasting achievement.

Quality Tier 1 instruction forms the core of general education, providing a strong foundation that meets the needs of most students. This article explores the importance of Tier 1 teaching and its role in supporting the majority of learners without requiring extra intervention.

Mathematics is essential for developing students' analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and their ability to navigate real-world tasks like managing finances. By fostering critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world, math empowers students to think independently and make informed decisions.

Setting goals is crucial for personal and professional growth, but making sure they're achievable requires the right approach. This article delves into the SMART criteria and how it can transform your goal-setting process for better results.

Curious about how educational evaluation can shape both teaching and learning? This article explores key insights into its role in improving student performance and fostering effective classroom strategies.

Math can seem tough for many students, but with the right teaching strategies, you can make it a subject they love. Here are some best practices to help you create an engaging and effective math classroom.