5 Evidence-Based Strategies To Improve U.S. K-12 Math Achievement in Wake of 2025 PISA Results ReportSeptember 16, 2026 5 Evidence-Based Strategies To Improve U.S. K-12 Math Achievement in Wake of 2025 PISA Results As newly released scores on the global PISA exam show U.S. students trailing other advanced nations in mathematics, federal and state policymakers must act urgently to invest in math education and prepare students for economic competitiveness. Sep 16, 2026 Weadé James, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Olivia O’Connell
Weighted Student Funding: Successes and Challenges in the K-12 Education Landscape ArticleAugust 25, 2026 Weighted Student Funding: Successes and Challenges in the K-12 Education Landscape As more school systems adopt student-based funding, early evidence shows that it successfully targets resources to students with greater needs and boosts academic achievement. Aug 25, 2026 Olivia O’Connell
Miami-Dade eliminated free school meals. They won’t be the last. In the NewsAugust 12, 2026 Miami-Dade eliminated free school meals. They won’t be the last. In an op-ed for K-12 Dive, Paige Shoemaker DeMio warns that the Trump administration's safety net cuts mean Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the nation's third-largest district, will not be the last to eliminate free school meals for students. Aug 12, 2026 K-12 Dive Paige Shoemaker DeMio
The Trump Administration Moves To Tighten Grip on Colleges ReportJuly 14, 2026 The Trump Administration Moves To Tighten Grip on Colleges New rules would gut key student protections on program quality and give the federal government leverage to exert ideological control over American higher education. Jul 14, 2026 Evan Yi, Madison Weiss, Sara Partridge
Career and Technical Education Policy: A Multistate Case Study on Employment Outcomes ReportJuly 13, 2026 Career and Technical Education Policy: A Multistate Case Study on Employment Outcomes There is growing interest in scaling career and technical education, yet barriers to advancement remain. This report offers policy recommendations and case studies from states to expand these opportunities for more students. Jul 13, 2026 Veronica Goodman, Weadé James
‘Workforce Pell’ Is Here: How Governors Can Make It Work for Students In the NewsJuly 7, 2026 ‘Workforce Pell’ Is Here: How Governors Can Make It Work for Students Madison Weiss writes in Governing about the expansion of the Pell Grant program. Jul 7, 2026 Governing Madison Weiss
Fact Sheet: Congressional Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Access to Free School Meals Fact SheetJuly 7, 2026 Fact Sheet: Congressional Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Access to Free School Meals A new CAP analysis estimates that families could be forced to spend an additional $1,900 to $2,200 per year to cover the cost of school meals. Jul 7, 2026 Evan Yi, Mimla Wardak, Paige Shoemaker DeMio
Congressional Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Access to Free School Meals ReportJuly 7, 2026 Congressional Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Access to Free School Meals Students across the country could lose access to free school meals, forcing the typical family with two children to spend $1,900 to $2,200 more per year for school meals. Jul 7, 2026 Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Mimla Wardak, Evan Yi
Making Workforce Pell Deliver: 9 Options for States To Improve Outcomes for Students and Employers ReportJuly 6, 2026 Making Workforce Pell Deliver: 9 Options for States To Improve Outcomes for Students and Employers Governors can help tailor Workforce Pell programs to provide high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand training that meets their state’s labor market needs. Jul 6, 2026 Madison Weiss
How Early Childhood and K-12 Systems Can Work Together To Support Early Literacy ReportJune 29, 2026 How Early Childhood and K-12 Systems Can Work Together To Support Early Literacy Amid declining reading scores, early childhood education and K-12 systems should work together to improve reading achievement for young children. Jun 29, 2026 Casey Peeks, Weadé James
Trump Rule Changes Would Kneecap Head Start In the NewsJune 26, 2026 Trump Rule Changes Would Kneecap Head Start In an op-ed for The Progressive Magazine, Hailey Gibbs argues that a proposed Trump administration rule change would exacerbate child care shortages, keep educators trapped in poverty-level wages, and ultimately harm children and families. Jun 26, 2026 The Progressive Magazine Hailey Gibbs
6 Things To Know About Vocational Education ArticleJune 17, 2026 6 Things To Know About Vocational Education There is a growing demand for vocational education that prepares students for work and leads to higher earnings. Jun 17, 2026 Veronica Goodman, Weadé James
CAP Comments on HHS’ Notice Rolling Back Progress Toward Wage and Benefits Improvements for Head Start Workforce ArticleJune 11, 2026 CAP Comments on HHS’ Notice Rolling Back Progress Toward Wage and Benefits Improvements for Head Start Workforce The Center for American Progress recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing the revocation of a 2024 rule improving Head Start staff and educator wages and benefits. Jun 11, 2026 Hailey Gibbs, Casey Peeks
CAP Comments on Individual Tax Credit for Qualified Contributions to Scholarship-Granting Organizations ArticleJune 2, 2026 CAP Comments on Individual Tax Credit for Qualified Contributions to Scholarship-Granting Organizations The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the pending rules for the new individual tax credit program, which provides a federal dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 to individuals who donate to scholarship-granting organizations. Jun 2, 2026 Weadé James, Paige Shoemaker DeMio
Nearly Two-Thirds of Governors Prioritize Child Care and Early Learning in Their 2026 State of the State Addresses ReportMay 26, 2026 Nearly Two-Thirds of Governors Prioritize Child Care and Early Learning in Their 2026 State of the State Addresses Amid federal funding cuts that strain state budgets, CAP analysis finds that governors are highlighting child care and early learning as priorities for their constituents. May 26, 2026 Hailey Gibbs, Casey Peeks
Measuring America’s Licensed Child Care Supply ReportApril 29, 2026 Measuring America’s Licensed Child Care Supply Analysis conducted in 2025 measuring families’ access to child care programs, a crucial first step to mitigating the child care supply crisis. Apr 29, 2026 Hailey Gibbs, Won F. Lee, Gabrielle Pepin, 2 More Katharine Sadowski, Aaron Sojourner
America’s Licensed Child Care Deserts ReportApril 29, 2026 America’s Licensed Child Care Deserts Eight years after our initial report, CAP’s 2026 analyses of U.S. licensed child care supply reveal that just fewer than half of the nation's young children still live in child care deserts. Apr 29, 2026 Hailey Gibbs, Casey Peeks
Executive Summary: America’s Licensed Child Care Deserts Fact SheetApril 29, 2026 Executive Summary: America’s Licensed Child Care Deserts Lawmakers must address the nation’s child care supply crisis; according to CAP’s 2026 analysis, nearly half of young children are in licensed child care deserts, with rural areas facing the worst shortages. Apr 29, 2026 Hailey Gibbs, Casey Peeks
Successful Cellphone Bans Require Partnerships With Families In the NewsApril 28, 2026 Successful Cellphone Bans Require Partnerships With Families In an op-ed for Inside Sources, Weadé James writes that parents and caregivers are essential in helping to curb excessive cellphone use in schools. Apr 28, 2026 Inside Sources Weadé James
Stabilizing and Strengthening State Funding for Public Higher Education After the Big Beautiful Bill ReportApril 20, 2026 Stabilizing and Strengthening State Funding for Public Higher Education After the Big Beautiful Bill Despite steep federal funding cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill, states can continue to support public higher education by creating progressive state tax revenue streams and strengthening rainy day funds to support postsecondary student success and degree completion. Apr 20, 2026 Sara Partridge
Federal and State Policy Outlook for Community Colleges Past EventApril 15, 2026 Federal and State Policy Outlook for Community Colleges Join the CAP and the Community Colleges Coalition to explore how community colleges are adapting to new federal and state policies. Online via Zoom Apr 15, 2026
CAP Urges the Department of Education To Strengthen Safeguards for Workforce Pell Grants and Protect Students From Low-Value Programs ArticleApril 14, 2026 CAP Urges the Department of Education To Strengthen Safeguards for Workforce Pell Grants and Protect Students From Low-Value Programs The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the Department of Education to ensure the program is accountable and valuable to students. Apr 14, 2026 Madison Weiss
10 Reasons the Ten Commandments Should Not Be Posted in Public School Classrooms ArticleApril 7, 2026 10 Reasons the Ten Commandments Should Not Be Posted in Public School Classrooms Some state legislatures continue to advance bills despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that such displays are unconstitutional. Religious instruction is best left to families and houses of worship. Apr 7, 2026 Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons
CAP Urges the Department of Education To Protect Access to Graduate Degrees and Lower Costs for Student Loan Borrowers ArticleMarch 10, 2026 CAP Urges the Department of Education To Protect Access to Graduate Degrees and Lower Costs for Student Loan Borrowers New Trump administration student loan policies will make postsecondary education more expensive and create new barriers for students seeking to earn graduate degrees. Mar 10, 2026 Sara Partridge, Madison Weiss