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ExcelinEd in Action Statehouse Spotlights
Your guide to education legislation in the states.
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19. Building on success: Mississippi’s push on adolescent literacy | Superintendent Lance Evans
34:41||Season 2026, Ep. 19In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Mississippi to examine the state’s next phase of literacy reform: a new effort to strengthen reading instruction and intervention for students in grades 4 through 8. After earning national recognition for its progress in early literacy, Mississippi is now building on that foundation through Senate Bill 2294, which requires evidence-based literacy practices aligned to the science of reading in the middle grades and establishes new supports for students who continue to struggle with reading. Ashley is joined by Mississippi State Superintendent of Education Lance Evans to discuss why adolescent literacy became the next priority, what it means to apply the science of reading beyond third grade and how the state is adapting its successful early literacy model for older students with different academic needs. Their conversation explores what schools and educators can expect under the new law, the implementation supports that will be needed and what success could look like for students and families as Mississippi works to sustain literacy growth through middle school. The episode also widens the lens to Mississippi’s broader education package, including expanded math coaching, universal math screening, financial literacy and artificial intelligence instruction, and considers how these reforms fit together as part of a larger strategy to improve academic outcomes and long-term readiness. As other states look for ways to build on early literacy gains without losing momentum, Mississippi’s approach offers a timely example of how policymakers can invest in continuity, raise expectations and keep students at the center of reform. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook
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18. Quick Update: Literacy, pathways and phone-free schools gain ground
11:46||Season 2026, Ep. 18In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins takes listeners on a cross-country tour of the latest education policy developments as legislative sessions begin winding down and states race to finalize their agendas. From Arizona to Pennsylvania, lawmakers are advancing policies designed to strengthen student outcomes, expand opportunity and better prepare students for success in school and beyond. Ashley highlights growing momentum around literacy, with major developments in Louisiana, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, including new investments in evidence-based reading instruction, tutoring and adolescent literacy supports. The episode also explores efforts to strengthen career pathways and workforce readiness through improved career coaching, workforce coordination and return-on-investment analysis, as well as continued movement on distraction-free learning policies and emerging investments in artificial intelligence tools for education. As states approach key budget and adjournment deadlines, this episode offers a timely snapshot of the policies gaining traction and the trends shaping education reform across the country. Whether you're following literacy, math, workforce development or student engagement, these state actions provide valuable insight into where education policy is headed next. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook17. Closing the charter facilities funding gap in Oklahoma | Secretary Dan Hamlin
32:42||Season 2026, Ep. 17In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Oklahoma to examine the state’s newly enacted effort to close one of the biggest barriers to public charter school growth: access to facilities financing. Through HB 3372, state leaders created both a revolving loan fund for charter school capital projects and a bond credit enhancement program designed to help qualifying schools secure more affordable financing for buildings and improvements. Ashley is joined by Oklahoma Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin to discuss why facilities rose to the top as an urgent policy issue, how Oklahoma adapted lessons from other states, what safeguards were built into the model and which schools stand to benefit most. Their conversation also looks at what this kind of financing framework can make possible for school leaders, students and families when high-quality public charter schools have a more realistic path to stable, permanent facilities. The episode also widens the lens to Oklahoma’s broader K-12 policy wins this session, including distraction-free learning, literacy, teacher incentives and student supports, and explores the implementation challenges that come next. As states consider how to expand educational opportunity while maintaining accountability, Oklahoma’s approach offers a timely example of how policymakers can align facilities access, legislative strategy and long-term execution. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook16. Quick Update: Major education policy wins as more state sessions wrap
12:56||Season 2026, Ep. 16In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins takes a step back to examine the major education policy developments emerging as legislative sessions wrap up across the country. With several states officially adjourned and others racing toward the finish line, the episode highlights the proposals, priorities and trends that gained momentum during the 2026 session. Ashley begins in Oklahoma, where lawmakers advanced one of the most sweeping education agendas in recent memory. The conversation explores major reforms related to literacy, math instruction, charter school facilities funding, distraction-free learning environments, teacher compensation and artificial intelligence in schools. The episode also highlights additional developments still moving in states including South Carolina, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Louisiana and Delaware, offering listeners a national snapshot of where state education policy is headed. From science-of-reading implementation and math accountability to workforce pathways, school choice and modernized funding systems, this episode captures the broad range of strategies states are pursuing to improve outcomes for students, educators and communities. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook15. Funding what works: Alabama’s outcomes-based approach to higher education | Sen. Arthur Orr
24:58||Season 2026, Ep. 15In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Alabama to explore the state’s newly enacted approach to outcomes-based funding in higher education. Signed into law alongside the state budget, the College and Higher Education Excellence and Results (CHEER) Act ties a portion of public college and university funding to measures, such as degree completion, job placement, wages and long-term economic mobility. Ashley is joined by Senator Arthur Orr, Chairman of the Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, to discuss what prompted this shift, how the policy is designed to work and what it could mean for students, institutions and Alabama’s workforce needs. The conversation explores how lawmakers built consensus around a major funding reform, the challenges of defining meaningful student outcomes and how the state is balancing workforce alignment with broader educational priorities. As more states examine how public investments in higher education connect to long-term student success, Alabama’s approach offers a timely look at how policymakers can align funding, accountability and economic opportunity. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook14. Quick Update: From appreciation to action—how states are supporting teachers
12:18||Season 2026, Ep. 14In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins marks Teacher Appreciation Week by taking a closer look at how states are moving beyond recognition to implement policies that strengthen and sustain the educator workforce. Rather than focusing on a single bill or state, this episode highlights a growing national trend: lawmakers advancing thoughtful, long-term strategies to recruit, support and retain high-quality teachers. Ashley walks through key areas of momentum across the country, including efforts to expand pathways into the profession, improve teacher preparation and support and rethink compensation and career advancement. From new approaches to certification and mobility to investments in mentoring, pay and leadership opportunities, states are beginning to take a more comprehensive view of what it takes to support educators at every stage of their careers. As challenges like teacher shortages and burnout continue to shape the education landscape, this episode offers a timely snapshot of how states are responding—not with quick fixes, but with structural changes designed to make teaching a more sustainable and impactful profession over time. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook13. Ohio’s final push to make math policy a top priority | Sen. Andrew Brenner
27:13||Season 2026, Ep. 13In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Ohio to explore a growing priority across states: strengthening math outcomes for students. As more lawmakers turn their attention to math, Ohio is advancing a comprehensive policy approach designed to support students at every level, from those who need early intervention to those ready for advanced coursework. Ashley is joined by Senate Education Chair Andrew Brenner to discuss what’s driving this push, how the proposal is designed to work in practice and what it could mean for classrooms, families and long-term workforce readiness. The conversation explores key elements of the policy, including screening and intervention, instructional quality and access to rigorous coursework, while also unpacking what it takes to move a major academic reform forward during an active legislative session. As other states consider similar efforts, Ohio’s approach offers a timely look at how to build a coordinated strategy to improve math outcomes and better prepare students for future success. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook12. Quick Update: The K-8 literacy surge in the states
16:14||Season 2026, Ep. 12In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins highlights the growing wave of K–8 literacy legislation advancing across the country as states enter the final stretch of their 2026 legislative sessions. From early literacy to adolescent supports, lawmakers are prioritizing comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to ensure students become proficient readers. Ashley walks through major developments across the nation, including in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming, where policymakers are strengthening literacy systems. The episode also highlights a key shift in focus: extending literacy supports into grades 4–8 to ensure struggling readers do not fall behind as academic content becomes more complex. At the same time, Ashley underscores an important reality of policymaking—while many states are seeing significant progress, not every proposal crosses the finish line. Listeners will hear updates from states like Nebraska and Kansas, where strong literacy efforts faced legislative hurdles, offering insight into the ongoing, iterative nature of education reform. The episode concludes with a quick look at legislative sessions nearing adjournment in Iowa and Tennessee, where several major education policies are still advancing. Listeners will come away with a clear, timely snapshot of the nationwide literacy surge, the policies shaping reading instruction and the continued momentum to strengthen student outcomes through thoughtful, sustained reform. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook11. Unlocking earned autonomy for Idaho schools | Sen. Lori Den Hartog
22:57||Season 2026, Ep. 11In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Idaho to explore a policy gaining traction: earned autonomy for high-performing schools. Idaho lawmakers recently passed legislation designed to reward strong student outcomes and sound operations with greater flexibility, allowing qualifying schools to make decisions that better meet student needs while maintaining clear accountability for results. Ashley is joined by Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, a key champion of the legislation, to discuss how the idea took shape, how the policy will work in practice and what it means for schools across the state. The conversation explores how earned autonomy shifts the focus from compliance to outcomes, why the policy applies to both charter and traditional public schools and how Idaho leaders balanced flexibility with guardrails. As more states look for ways to scale success and empower high-performing schools, Idaho’s approach offers a timely look at how earned autonomy can help expand opportunity while keeping student outcomes at the center. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook