Education Commission Of The States Your Education Policy Team

Leo Migdal

-Dec 3, 2025, 5:24 AM

education commission of the states your education policy team

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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... 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]

The Leadership Team at the Education Commission of the States oversees strategic direction, ensures the alignment of initiatives with the organization’s mission, and facilitates collaboration among stakeholders to develop non-partisan education policy solutions. They guide the organization in providing valuable resources and insights to state leaders for the improvement of educational systems. The United States has no single national education system. Instead, 50 distinct state systems operate with different priorities, funding mechanisms, and success measures. This arrangement stems from the U.S. Constitution, which grants states primary authority over public education.

The Education Commission of the States was formed in 1965 to help states navigate their responsibilities and serve as a strategic consortium for policymakers. Its creation responded to growing federal influence, strengthening state capacity to lead on education policy. For years, the No Child Left Behind Act imposed prescriptive federal mandates requiring states to meet nationally defined accountability standards. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015 marked a shift, returning substantial authority to states. ESSA dismantled many rigid requirements and let state leaders design their own systems for measuring school performance, identifying struggling schools, and setting educational goals. This renewed state control amplified existing differences.

States now diverge on nearly every major policy aspect. They use vastly different funding models, creating wide resource disparities. They’ve built unique accountability systems reflecting specific values, measuring everything from college readiness to chronic absenteeism. States take widely varied approaches to academic standards, school choice, teacher workforce policies, and what is taught in the classroom. School finance methods determine resources available to students and reflect fundamental decisions about equity and local control. Investment in a child’s education varies dramatically by zip code.

The Education Commission of the States (ECS) is an interstate compact created in 1965 to improve education by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas, experiences, and innovations among state policymakers and education leaders. Forty-nine states, three territories, and the District of Columbia constitute the commission's membership, each represented by the governor and six other individuals: legislators, chief state school officers, state and local school board members, higher-education... The ECS chairmanship and vice chairmanship are held by a governor and a legislator, respectively, alternating between the two major political parties. The Education Commission of the States' status as a nonpartisan organization, involving key leaders from all levels of the education system, creates unique opportunities to build partnerships, share information and promote the development of... ECS obtains financial support through a combination of state fees and contracts, sponsorships, and grants from foundations, corporations and the federal government. ECS, which is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has three operating divisions that work together to provide state policymakers with the services and products they need to make informed policy decisions about education.

The Information Clearing-house gathers, analyzes, disseminates, and serves as a repository of information on a broad range of education topics, from a wide variety of sources–including state legislation, research studies, reports, journals, and news... ECS provides access to this extensive collection of material through its website, through various print publications, and through customized, quick turnaround searches by Clearing-house staff. Through its Policy Studies and Programs Division, ECS identifies, studies, and provides heightened visibility for education trends and issues that are of greatest concern to its constituents. The organization's current areas of focus are accountability, finance, governance, leadership, and teaching quality. The Education Commission of the States (ECS) is a nonpartisan organization that provides educational policy research and analysis to state leaders in the United States. With a focus on improving public education and promoting student achievement, the ECS is dedicated to providing states with valuable resources and information to inform their decision-making processes.

This article will explore the role of the ECS in shaping education policy and its impact on the American education system. The Education Commission of the States is a non-partisan organization that helps states develop and implement effective education policy. Established in 1965, the organization provides research, analysis, and expertise to state leaders, offering them the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about education. The commission also connects state policymakers with experts, practitioners, and researchers, fostering collaboration and innovation in education policy. The commission focuses on a range of education issues, including early learning, K-12 education, postsecondary education, and workforce development. It provides a platform for states to share best practices, learn from one another, and collaborate on solutions to common challenges.

Through its work, the commission aims to improve education outcomes for all students, ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success in the 21st century. The Education Commission of the States (ECS) is focused on addressing key priorities and implementing strategic initiatives to promote excellence and equity in education across the United States. One of the primary areas of focus for ECS is advocating for and supporting state policies that prioritize student success and well-being. This includes initiatives to improve early childhood education, K-12 education, higher education, and workforce development. ECS is also committed to providing states with valuable resources and research to inform education policy decisions. Through their initiatives, they aim to foster collaboration among state leaders, educators, and policymakers to drive positive change in education.

Additionally, ECS is dedicated to promoting equity in education by addressing issues related to access and opportunity for all students, regardless of background or socioeconomic status. Through their work, they seek to create a more inclusive and equitable education system that meets the needs of every learner. 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.

Education Commission Of The States Your Education Policy Team

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