In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host and ExcelinEd Vice President of Policy Cara Candal chats with North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt to explore teacher recruitment and retention.

As schools nationwide grapple with keeping classrooms staffed with qualified educators, Superintendent Truitt shares her insights on the challenges facing North Carolina’s teaching workforce and the innovative strategies she has championed to address these issues. This discussion will highlight the significant impact of policies aimed at supporting teachers, the role of alternative certification routes, team teaching and more. Catherine also reflects on her tenure and offers advice for states facing similar challenges.

Tune in as we delve deeper into the ongoing efforts to improve teacher policies and strengthen the teacher pipeline across America.

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In this episode, we are excited to look behind the curtain in Indiana as dedicated folks break ground on the state’s new Career Scholarship Accounts program. CSAs help students cover costs for a range of training and internship experiences as well as the costs associated with completing them, such as supplies and transportation. It's a fascinating program that begins to tackle the challenges many students and schools face while making these work-based learning opportunities a reality.

It’s worth noting that Indiana has added CSAs to their comprehensive approach to supporting high-quality learner pathways. The Hoosier state is known for undertaking systemic work, such as aligning the K-12 and postsecondary education systems, working to ensure career and technical education programs are high-quality (Next Level!), and sharing outcomes data with students and families through the state’s Graduates Prepared to Succeed Dashboard.

Our resident expert Nathan Oakley and Adriana Harrington touch base with David Buyze, who serves as the Director of Policy and Special Programs for the Indiana Department of Education and executive director of the Indiana State Board of Education, to see how things were going. Listen now, followed by an update and our team’s hot takes.

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In this episode, host and ExcelinEd’s Senior Policy Director of Education Choice Ben DeGrow welcomes Robyn Bagley, executive director of Utah Education Fits All, to discuss the fascinating journey of Utah's education scholarship account (ESA) program.

Robyn is a long-time education advocate and entrepreneur, who has been instrumental in advancing policies that empower families to choose the best educational paths for their children. She shares the story of how Utah’s ESA came to be and the challenges that its supporters overcame to make it a reality. Robyn and Ben also address the future of the program and the potential for other states to learn from Utah's innovative approach.

Tune in to hear more about the impact of the ESA program, the role of parental choice in education and the broader implications for education policy across the United States.

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In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, Dr. Kymyona Burk, ExcelinEd’s senior policy fellow specializing in early literacy checks in with Dr. Sara Morrison, who serves as the Executive Director of the Tennessee State Board of Education, about her state’s important work improving students’ reading outcomes.

Dr. Morrison’s roots are in the classroom, where she taught high school English and served as the literacy lead teacher. She has spent more than a decade with the State of Tennessee, working to develop and implement education policies that put students first.

Listen now to that interview, followed by a crucial update on Tennessee’s early literacy progress.

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In the opening episode of the Policy Changes Lives podcast, hosts Cara Candal and Adriana Harrington investigate the impending public school enrollment drop. Our hosts will be joined by special guest Chad Aldeman who will explain the findings from his recent report, "Interactive: In Many Schools, Declines in Student Enrollment Are Here to Stay," published by The 74.

Aldeman brings an extensive background in education policy, having worked with organizations such as the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, Bellwether Education, and the U.S. Department of Education, to provide in-depth analysis and insights on school finance, the teacher labor market and assessment and accountability policy.

Join us as we explore how states are adopting various measures to mitigate the impacts of declining student enrollment, with some leading the way with innovative approaches.

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Welcome to Policy Changes Lives, ExcelinEd's official podcast! Listen to this trailer to learn more about what we'll bring to your airwaves each week.

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Why should you listen?​

• You'll learn about the latest trends in K-12 education policy.​
• You'll hear from policymakers, educators and researchers who are shaping the future of education.​
• You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how education policy is made.​
• You'll be inspired to engage in the K-12 education systems and policy areas that matter to you.

Convinced? Hit subscribe and follow us to learn from leading education policy experts across the country who are transforming K-12 education with student-centered reforms.

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