iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Alabama rewrote a 30-year-old school funding formula — $549M more to student needs over 3 years. @carriehahnel.bsky.social and Lynne Graziano on what it takes to turn a new formula into changed practice. 5 lessons ➡️ bellwether.org/publications/alabama…

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

New FY24 data: 7.8M students now get special education services, nearly 16% of K-12 public school students. Federal IDEA funding per student with an IEP? Down 20% since FY16 after inflation, to a new low. Bellwether's Krista Kaput on what this means for states 🧵👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

"The impact of TFA on Denver was astronomical. The Denver story doesn’t look anything like it does without TFA." — Chris Gibbons, founder of STRIVE Preparatory Schools Read the case study 🧵👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

That's the week. What else would you add? Reply below. And follow along for more education news we're watching. Learn more about our work at bellwether.org.

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Ed. Dept. staff say the agency hasn't been dismantled — it's been scattered across other agencies, adding bureaucracy. @jonakimehta.bsky.social @npr.org

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

As the White House reviews new education tax credit rules, questions remain about what one expert called the "largest and least-regulated" federal K-12 program. @lrj417.bsky.social @the74.bsky.social

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The GAO says the Ed. Dept. isn't ensuring states get reliable chronic absence data, after suspending some state oversight this year. Alyson Klein reports. @edweek.org

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

HISD is cutting staff and budgets after enrollment fell nearly 10,000. Texas is one of 40 states projected to lose students by 2030-31 — our research with WestEd puts the stakes at $11.5B a year. @partainclaire.bsky.social @nusaiba.bsky.social @houstonchronicle.com

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A federal judge vacated the anti-DEI directive behind hundreds of millions in cuts to teacher training grants, ruling it unlawful. @annamerod.bsky.social (K-12 Dive)

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A large study of Khan Academy's math program found no added benefit from AI. Students didn't want Khanmigo's answers — or its questions. @jillbarshay.bsky.social @hechingerreport.org

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

At 60, Metco is a success Boston families believe in — but it hasn't expanded in decades, despite deep inequities between city and suburban schools. @iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social @bostonglobe.com

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

@nhannahjones.bsky.social revisits the school choice she made for her daughter a decade ago — and what her now-16-year-old thinks of it. (NYT Magazine)

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

At Bellwether, we follow education news closely. Here's our weekly roundup of the stories shaping schools, students, and policy. 🧵

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

"That's the work of Black parents in America today. Staying on offense." Bellwether's Chantavia Burton Moore reflects on Nikole Hannah-Jones' essay — and why she hybrid homeschools her 8-year-old 👇🏿

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Americans are having fewer babies. That's now a school budget story. Enrollment in K-12 public schools is declining... so what's next for districts? Watch our full YouTube video at the link below 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

AI in schools: revolution or rhetoric? 🤔 Juliet Squire takes up the question Thursday at Emerging School Models, hosted at @harvardeducation.bsky.social — with @ddmeyer.bsky.social moderating. 9/17, 2:30 p.m. ET. In person or virtual 👇 bit.ly/4iWSTYa

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Three takeaways from our new analysis of 2026 K-12 legislation in all 50 states + DC 🧵 (1/5)

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

What does it actually take to move a city's reading scores? 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Iowa made it legal for a microschool to charge tuition. Kentucky attached a list of employers to a diploma. Illinois told evaluators AI can't score a teacher. 2026 K-12 legislation analysis 🧵 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Many parents significantly underestimate how much they already use AI, but they’re not indifferent to it. The questions that surface most consistently are often practical and immediate: Is AI going to replace my child's teacher? How does it help my child learn? These are entry points.

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Every legislative session, states pass hundreds of K-12 bills. Most handle the ordinary business of running schools. But we wanted to know something else: which bills signal where the field is headed in the future?

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Children across the country are missing more school than at any time in recent memory. So what's the path forward? Here are some questions that we think every district, school board and parent should be asking. 🔗 bellwether.org/publications...

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

47% of parents have never received information about their district's AI policy. 57% have never been asked for input. New from Bellwether: early AI parent engagement principles for districts and advocacy organizations: bellwether.org/publications...

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Test scores are the worst they've been in decades — and every fix we've tried runs into the same problem: it doesn't work if the student isn't there. 🧵👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

"I think the promise of AI is that all kids go at their on pace." - Reed Hastings on how AI could benefit students through personalized learning. Catch the full conversation on AI tutoring at the link below 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Reed Hastings & Mike Goldstein don't agree on everything when it comes to #AI tutoring. On Aug 18 we're putting them in the same conversation, live, to understand the promises and pitfalls of this #edtech for students. Join us TOMORROW, 12pm ET → www.linkedin.com/events/74879567082…

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Missing "just" 10 days of school a year doesn't sound like much. But by graduation, it's over half a year of instruction gone. We built out what that could actually look like for students. 🧵👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

When the Eagles won the Super Bowl, Philadelphia schools closed for the parade. When the Chiefs won, so did KC-area schools (twice). Fun for the kids, one more day off an already-shrinking school year. Why the school year is even shorter than you think 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. students are now chronically absent — roughly double the pre-pandemic rate. That’s collectively amounting to more than 200M+ school days missed per year. Read our full analysis on what’s driving the drop: 🔗 bellwether.org/publications...

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Advice from new Bellwether research + @carriehahnel.bsky.social for districts facing enrollment decline: → Engage communities early and honestly → Redesign, don't just cut → States: fix "hold harmless" policies → Invest in weighted funding that follows students Full report: bit.ly/4q2Uopb

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Over the last decade: — District enrollment: down ~1.6M students — Charter enrollment: up ~1.5M students 🧵👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Enrollment decline isn't uniform. Cities, distant, and remote schools are losing the most, while fringe communities are growing. Here’s where enrollment losses are hitting hardest — and why it matters for the students who need support the most 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Birth rates are falling. The U.S. fertility rate is at an all time low. Fewer babies = fewer students = less school funding.

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Every big tech company is racing to put #AI in classrooms right now. But not all AI #edtech is created equal. Here's what separates high-quality AI tools from ones that just look impressive in a demo — and what schools should actually be asking before they buy 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Declining enrollment in America’s public schools, by the numbers 🧵👇

Image of empty classroom desks with the headline: America's Public Schools are Losing Students. Is Your District Ready?

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Most state education agencies don't have the technical capacity to vet #AI vendor claims. So what can they do? 🧵👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Not all AI in the classroom is created equal ≠ There's a lot of backlash about phones, screens, and AI in schools — and it's making it hard to tell a genuinely good learning tool from just another app chasing your attention.

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Civics education has always reflected the moment America is living through, helping folks develop the skills to participate in and improve their communities. So why have civic knowledge scores been flat for 25 years? At #America250, the stakes couldn't be higher 👉 bit.ly/4vbZ3Gt

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

We're celebrating 250 years of America's democracy — but most U.S. 8th graders can't identify hallmarks of our democracy such as the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the purpose of the Bill of Rights. More on civics education in public schools at #America250: bit.ly/4xPOOtT

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Declining K–12 enrollment is often framed as a crisis. But Bellwether's @carriehahnel.bsky.social and @wested.org's Jason Willis show how it can be an opening to build more personalized, responsive public schools — if states act strategically. What state leaders can do right now 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

"Grade level"... "Proficient"... "Meets expectations"... There are a lot of terms used to describe a student's progress, but not a lot of clarity on what they mean 👇

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

If you work in education policy, school leadership, or ed tech, our AI in education newsletter translates fast-moving AI developments into clear implications for K-12. Subscribe here: bellwether.org/ai-newslette...

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Enrollment in America's public schools is declining — and 40 states are projected to lose even more students by 2030–31. Short-term fixes won't solve a structural problem. Bellwether + WestEd lay out what states must do instead: bellwether.org/publications... #EducationPolicy #K12 #EduSKy

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Is a "proficient" high school graduate ready for the workforce? For math: mostly yes in the states we analyzed. But reading tells a different story. In 13 of the 16 states, proficient students wouldn't meet the reading demands of nursing, software development, or financial management.

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

"Something I know about #Juneteenth is..." That's a sentence stem. And in the hands of a skilled teacher, it's a powerful tool. Kids need the language before they can engage with the history. We work to close that gap between the #ScienceOfReading research and what happens in the classrooms.

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Pennsylvania invests more per student than almost every state. Its funding system was still ruled unconstitutional in 2023. The problem isn't the dollars. It's where they go. New Resource Realities report from Bellwether breaks it down: bit.ly/44j611e

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Your board's best year yet starts this summer. And this summer starts today. Today at 12 p.m. ET, we're hosting the first-ever National Charter School Board Retreat Summer Kick-Off. Still time to join us. 👇 bellwether-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi…

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Remember last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act? Student loan borrowers will soon see its impacts in action. Two big policy revisions go into effect on July 1 that will affect more than 35 million borrowers in repayment on their federal student loans. So what do borrowers need to know?

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Four questions can lead your charter school board to its best year yet. Bellwether's Charter School Board Retreat Toolkit helps your board answer all four before the school year begins 👉 bellwether.org/blog/ready-set-govern

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Bellwether @bellwetherorg.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

One student. Two states. Two different "proficiencies." The variation is bigger than most people realize, even many education leaders. Here's what proficiency really means, with examples of reading, math problems, and future careers → bellwether.org/publications/profici…

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