Education Commission Of The States Names New Director To Lead National

Leo Migdal

-Dec 3, 2025, 6:47 AM

education commission of the states names new director to lead national

Victoria Ballerini, who has focused her career on broad access institutions, promoted from interim role to help states implement and scale proven reforms to ensure all first-year college students are positioned for success DENVER, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Commission of the States (ECS), a national nonpartisan organization that informs, counsels, and convenes education leaders to create effective education policy, has named a new director to lead its... Victoria Ballerini, who previously served in this role on an interim basis, will continue efforts to partner with higher education system leaders to implement and scale proven reforms to developmental education to ensure all... "Today, across the nation, more than a million students begin college in costly remedial coursework, but many never progress to credit-bearing classes and even fewer graduate," said ECS President José Muñoz. "Research shows there are better ways to ensure first-year students who need learning support can achieve a strong start in college and beyond.

We're excited about the experience and expertise Victoria brings to Strong Start to Finish as we reimagine how we invest higher education leaders in reform efforts, implement policies to scale, and support all students... Ballerini has dedicated her career to improving educational and economic opportunities for students who have been historically and systemically excluded from unjust systems. She brings to her role as Director 20 years of experience in higher education policy, practice, and research through various roles in government, postsecondary institutions, and policy research organizations. She earned her PhD in higher and postsecondary education from New York University. She is based in Denver. Assistant Director, Strong Start to Finish

Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives Our Operations Team members (not listed) — including information technology, human resources and finance experts — are a key part of the success of Education Commission of the States. Sign up for our newsletters or blog to stay up to date on education policy news. Copyright 2025 / Education Commission of the States. All rights reserved. We are excited to announce José Muñoz as the ninth president of Education Commission of the States!

Muñoz brings nearly three decades of dedicated public service, including 23 years in executive leadership positions throughout the United States. In his most recent role as senior director of the Coalition for Community Schools with the Institute for Educational Leadership, he organized national, state and local leaders to advance community schools in urban, rural... ECS Chair Gov. Laura Kelly said that Muñoz is a "proven leader with the skills and vision needed to lead the Education Commission of the States into its next chapter. José’s experience and commitment to working with policymakers from across [the] education spectrum will allow ECS to continue its mission of providing state leaders with the nonpartisan and trusted support needed to create effective... #educationpolicy #educationalleadership

What a fabulous hire! Felicidades José Muñoz! Congrats my brother! I am excited for you and the organization! You are definitely the right person at the right right time. I look forward to finding ways us to partner!

Congratulations José Continue to do great things!!! Congratulations on your new position. Your commitment over the years to positively impact our youth is commendable. Elson Nash to build, sustain strategic partnerships that advance ECS mission, impact DENVER, Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Commission of the States (ECS), a national nonpartisan organization that informs, counsels and convenes state education leaders to create effective education policy, today announced Elson Nash will support its...

Nash will be based in the Washington, D.C. area. His appointment, the first of its kind at the organization, signals the continued momentum of ECS, which this year is celebrating its 60th anniversary. "Elson is a connector, a community builder, an education leader and an invaluable addition to our team at a pivotal moment in the history of our nation and our organization," said ECS President José... "His ability to build meaningful partnerships and align national interests with state education priorities will help strengthen our mission to support state policymakers in advancing educational excellence for all students." Nash brings to ECS extensive experience in education policy and program leadership.

Most recently, he served as the Director of the U.S. Department of Education's Division of School Choice and Improvement Programs. In this position, which he held for more than a decade and across three administrations, he oversaw national initiatives designed to promote educational fairness, community engagement, and policy alignment across states—managing programs with a... His leadership in cultivating partnerships has been instrumental in advancing initiatives such as the Promise Neighborhoods and Full-Service Community Schools Programs, Statewide Family Engagement Centers, and Magnet Schools which foster cross-sector collaboration to improve... Introducing Gov. Mark Gordon's 2025-27 Chair’s Initiative!

Check out the six policy areas guiding our work. Search for enacted and vetoed education bills across the country. Subscribe to our newsletters to receive our latest education policy resources, tracking and events right in your inbox. State leaders require clear, actionable information to guide decisions that advance economic mobility for all. The Education-to-Workforce Indicators (E-W) Framework developed by the Gates Foundation and Mathematica can help leaders and communities assess their data systems, identify gaps and opportunities in data collection, and improve their ability to answer... Education Commission of the States today released findings from a new survey of state leaders that reveals statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDS) ...

Today, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon launched his Chair's Initiative at the opening plenary session of the National Forum on Education Policy in Salt Lake ... Education Commission of the States (ECS), a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that informs, counsels and convenes state education leaders... Education Commission of the States (ECS), a national nonpartisan organization that informs, counsels and convenes state education leaders to create... Education Commission of the States (ECS), a national nonpartisan organization that informs, counsels, and convenes education leaders to create... The Education Commission of the States (ECS) is a nonprofit that tracks educational policy.[1] It is led by over 300 appointed commissioners from across the United States.[2] ECS was founded as a result of...

states, three territories (American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands) and the District of Columbia. The idea of establishing a compact on education and creating an operational arm to follow up on its goals was originally proposed by James Bryant Conant, president of Harvard University. Between 1965 and 1967, John W. Gardner, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and former North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford took up the idea, drafted the proposed Compact, obtained the endorsement of all 50 states and got Congress'... The organization opened its offices in Denver in 1967 and began administering the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test until the Reagan administration in 1982 made the decision to privatize the test, which... That decision threatened the very existence of the commission, leading to the virtual closing of ECS's Information Clearinghouse, the laying off or early retirement of half of its 117-member staff and a 50% cut...

Each member jurisdiction (state, territory, and the District of Columbia) has seven seats on the commission, including the governor and six appointed members, usually including members of the state legislature and education officials, such... The commission gives out three yearly awards. The James Bryant Conant award has been given since 1977 for "outstanding individual contributions to education". The commission also gives out the Frank Newman award to a state or territory, and a corporate award to a corporation or nonprofit organization.[3][4]

Education Commission Of The States Names New Director To Lead National

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Victoria Ballerini, Who Has Focused Her Career On Broad Access

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Muñoz Brings Nearly Three Decades Of Dedicated Public Service, Including

What A Fabulous Hire! Felicidades José Muñoz! Congrats My Brother!