EdTrust’s Work: Quarterly Updates

Midwest

EdTrust-Midwest, alongside its partners, secured significant school funding increases for English learners (25%) and students from low-income backgrounds (25%) in Michigan’s FY26 School Aid Budget. In September, we cohosted a convening that drew nearly 75 advocates to discuss budget implications. ETM also co-authored two op-eds that were featured in Bridge Michigan and Crain’s Detroit Business. ETM also convened advocates and partners for a half-day retreat on “Advancing Equity in Education,” which provided real-time updates on Michigan’s budget, as well as an update about recent federal changes and their impact on Michigan’s students.

New York

EdTrust-New York supported the state’s new Portrait of a Graduate, especially its emphasis on culturally responsive education and real-world readiness. In August, we called for truth and transparency following the New York State Education Department’s early release of 2024–25 assessment data. We also responded to alarming NAEP data showing that 12th-grade scores in reading and math have dropped to levels not seen since the early 1990s, reflecting decades of systemic inequity. The New York Equity Coalition updated its Educator Diversity Data Tool to expose persistent gaps in the representation and retention of teachers of color across New York State’s public schools. Additionally, we released new polling that shows strong support among New York parents and voters for a Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) that ensures privacy, improves outcomes, and addresses long-standing inequities.

Tennessee

EdTrust-Tennessee has tracked education policy across the state, providing expertise to legislative working groups and committees while amplifying local voices in crucial decision-making spaces. With school back in session, we’ve prioritized keeping educators and community members informed about new Tennessee laws that directly affect their daily work, covering areas from classroom instruction to resource allocation and student support services. We’ve also introduced Federal Focus, Tennessee Lens, a new webinar series that tracks federal developments, translates policy into practice, and highlights what’s at stake for Tennessee students, families, and educators.

West

Our latest equity alert, Taking the Reins, urged California to take a leadership role in protecting students’ civil rights amid federal rollbacks.  Our Growing Together brief reveals that nearly half of parenting students in the California State University system feel a lack of belonging. EdTrust-West co-hosted a Student Parent Summit, which drew nearly 300 attendees from across California. The Dual Enrollment Practitioner Guides provide actionable tools that emphasize inclusive recruitment, family engagement, and cross-sector collaboration, especially for Black, Latino, and Native American youth.

EdTrust in Louisiana

We expanded Amplify Louisiana into five high schools serving underserved communities and welcomed our first eighth-grade class and partnership with an alternative school. In July, we hosted our annual Teacher Leader Summit with more than 300 educational leaders. We also convened Chalk Talks to advance conversations with policymakers on dual enrollment and pathways. State director Tramelle Howard issued a statement opposing Gov. Jeff Landry’s executive order on accreditation. We also co-founded the Capital Area Literacy Coalition and launched surveys capturing parent, educator, and student perspectives.

EdTrust in Massachusetts

This summer, we convened over 40 members of the Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership (MEEP) for an impactful in-person gathering. We also celebrated a significant legislative win: the passage of the Protect Education Equity Bill, which codifies the right to public education for every child in Massachusetts, regardless of disability or immigration status. In September, we partnered with the MassReads coalition to testify on Beacon Hill, advocating for legislation that ensures every child has access to evidence-based reading instruction and materials. At the same time, we led efforts to keep math at the forefront of policymakers’ minds, publishing a compelling op-ed and blog post.

EdTrust in Texas

We stayed active through two special sessions that led to the passage of House Bill 8. This major reform of the state’s assessment and accountability system aims to provide families and educators with more timely, actionable information while preserving honest results to help close achievement gaps. We hosted multiple media briefings that drew statewide attention to federal threats to K-12 and higher education and worked to ensure that the implementation of state policy changes delivers real benefits to students. We informed hundreds of K-12 and higher education leaders across the state about new “PREP allotment” funds aimed at expanding access to high-quality teacher preparation pathways. We continued to center students in discussions about postsecondary success, supporting our Student Advisory Council members as they engaged with elected trustees and college leaders at a statewide convening for the fourth consecutive year. And we maintained consistent advocacy, demanding clarity and consistency from state leaders following a June court ruling that ended in-state tuition for undocumented students.

Coalition Work

Recently, our partners at the Prichard Committee in Kentucky launched a community schools advocacy campaign urging members of Congress not to rescind funding. The campaign includes sample messaging for advocates, op-eds from community members on what is at risk for local school districts, and interviews with local media.

In Maryland, the Maryland Alliance for Racial and Educational Equity (MAREE) continues to influence the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. In an article, sharlimar douglass, lead advocate and education policy analyst for MAREE, stressed the need to prioritize racial equity, investments in high-quality instruction, early literacy supports, rigorous math curricula, and culturally affirming learning.

In Delaware, EdTrust worked with Rodel to push for a new funding formula. After a months-long codevelopment process, Rodel persuaded the state commission overseeing the funding reform to adopt a community engagement framework.

On the Hill

Following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on July 4th, EdTrust has been actively involved in the regulatory and implementation process. We are closely monitoring the negotiated rulemaking process and providing comments and feedback both individually and in coalition. We are also at the forefront of educating congressional staff and state and local advocates about the policy implications of this sweeping legislation.