Model Education Policy Navigator

Comprehensive Early Literacy Policy Frequently Asked Questions: This overview from ExcelinEd links to specific literacy-related policy documents and provides important questions and answers about the rationale for such policies.

Comprehensive Early Literacy Model Policy Wording: This document from ExcelinEd provides actual policy language for use by state departments and districts to develop their own solid early literacy policy.

Literacy Curricula and Interventions: This set of strategies from Results for America includes findings and content for developing literacy policies for all students.

Advancing Adolescent Literacy Grades 4-8 : This model policy from ExcelinEd provides wording and a template to develop a policy that supports middle school students who continue to demonstrate difficulty with foundational reading and writing.

Comprehensive How-To Guide for Implementing Early Literacy Policies: This ExcelinEd resource will help state policymakers understand the critical elements needed to adopt a comprehensive approach to improving literacy outcomes for students. For education leaders and practitioners, this Guide will support impactful implementation of reading policies by outlining best practices, including strategies that have been successful in other states, and by “unpacking” the fundamental principles of an early literacy policy by translating those principles into action steps. Also useful are ExcelinEd’s 18 early literacy fundamental principles.

Universal Screening K-2 Guidance: This resource from the International Dyslexia Association explains the importance of universal reading screening in the early grades.

Model States with Strong Literacy Policies: This report from the Evidence Advocacy Center identifies exemplary literacy policies and spotlights five states with the elements to compose an effective state and local policy.

Model Standards

Georgia’s 2023 ELA Standards: This report from the These standards were revised to be better aligned to reading science. Click both the arrow on left and the arrow on right to see details.

Florida B.E.S.T. ELA Standards: Florida abandoned the Common Core State Standards in order to better align with research.

Comprehensive K-8 Math Policy: This sample policy from ExcelinEd provides guidance for developing a math policy that prepares all students for success in algebra.

Universal Math Screening: This guidance sheet from ExcelinEd supports districts and states in the development of early screening in math.

Math Knowledge and Skills: This frequently asked questions provided by ExcelinEd, supports the development of math policy and states and districts.

Model Standards

Alabama Numeracy Act: This document describes policy actions and plans in Alabama to improve mathematical numeracy.

Florida B.E.S.T. Mathematics Standards: In 2025 Florida revised their math standards and their math progression to include the development of automaticity with number facts and algorithms.

Improving Behavior in School: This Education Endowment Foundation brief from the UK provides expert guidance to inform elementary and secondary leaders to make evidence-informed decisions about behavior and management policies and practices.

Evidence-Based Practices Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional and Behavioral Needs: These Practice Guides provided by the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) provide the information and guidance needed to form effective behavioral Health polices by state and local education agencies.

Classroom and Behavior Management: This set of resources from the CEEDAR Center provides free resources and course modules to enable state and local education agencies to develop coherent and effective behavioral health and classroom management policies.

Classroom Management: This wealth of guidance reports and findings provided by the Australian Education Research Organisation equips state and local education agencies with the findings and research needed to create thoughtful and effective behavior management policies. Included is an important discussion paper to create safe and supportive classroom environments as well as a Facilitation Guide to enable districts to build into policy a whole school approach to classroom management.

Model Policy to hold state educator preparation providers accountable: This policy model from ExcelinEd is designed to serve as model legislation for states to monitor and evaluate their educator preparation programs to ensure they are successfully putting students on a path to success. It establishes an annual report card that evaluates the extent to which educators are prepared in important subjects, especially reading and numeracy.

Aligning Educator Preparation to the Science of Reading: This policy model from ExcelinEd is written to ensure that elementary education, early childhood and special education educators licensed in the state as well as candidates seeking an instructional leader license have been provided with preparation that delivers a strong foundation in evidence-based literacy instruction and that educator preparation programs provide specific and objective evidence that attest to the quality of their preparation in early literacy.

Teacher Apprenticeship: This model policy from ExcelinEd provides an alternative pathway to enter the teaching profession. Through partnerships with approved educator preparation programs, school districts will have new tools to recruit prospective teachers as early as high school and provide them with on-the-job training and mentorship as they complete a bachelor’s degree and/or a state-approved teacher licensure program.

Educator Supply and Demand Dashboard: This model policy from ExcelinEd example shows the value of establishing a statewide Educator Supply and Demand Data Dashboard (“the Dashboard”) that provides the state, school districts, educator preparation providers, and other stakeholders clear and timely access to data related to educator shortages and retention that can inform policy, programmatic, and hiring decisions.

State Policy Levers to Address Teacher Shortages: This brief from the Education Commission of the States provides policymakers interested in strengthening the teacher workforce information to better understand the forces that contribute to teacher shortages and the nuances in how these shortages play out in schools and communities. While there are gaps in data regarding the teacher pipeline, several high-level observations may assist policymakers in shaping effective interventions.

Preservice Teachers Recommendations for Policy: This document prepared by Association for Education Finance and Policy in Live Handbook provides clear recommendations for the improvement of educator preparation and the importance of cooperating teachers in clinical placement. The findings will provide guidance to develop effective policies that every state education agency should take into account.

Pathways to cost effective and high-quality paths into teaching: This policy guide from Deans for Impact addresses the issues and needs to build an effective teaching force by creating accessible, high-quality pathways into teaching. Teacher preparation is the starting point – the place where aspiring teachers develop the foundational knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed to succeed and stay in the profession.

Michigan framework and recommendations to optimize the pipeline of talent into special educations: Recognizing their special education staffing shortage, Michigan developed recommendations that have increased special education teachers and school psychologists. These recommendations can provide guidance to many states experiencing similar shortages.

Reciprocal Teacher Licensure: This model policy developed by ExcelinEd enables teachers who are qualified to teach in one state to teach in another state without facing unnecessary barriers to entry, such as re-taking courses or exams. Reciprocity allows teachers to easily move from one state to another and to teach virtually, across state lines. Strong reciprocal licensure policies can strengthen teaching pipelines and retain qualified teachers in the profession.

Key Findings on Teacher Licensure to inform policies: The Association for Education Finance and Policy’s Live Handbook provides critical findings to strengthen licensure systems and assessments to ensure a quality workforce. These findings can be used by states, educator preparation programs, and accreditation organizations to develop policies to improve licensure requirements.

The Evolution of Accreditation as Professional Quality Assurance in Teacher Preparation: This report prepared by the Learning Policy Institute and reported by the National Academy of Education is intended to support improvement in accreditation policies and especially to impact the two major accreditation organizations: CAEP and AAQEP.

Educator Continuing Education Needs Fixing: This report prepared by the Evidence Advocacy Center addresses the changes needed to improve both licensure renewal requirements and ongoing, in district and school professional development. Specific recommendations can be used to develop state and district policies.

Distraction-Free Schools: This policy summary document from ExcelinEd provides six recommendations that outline strategies both state education agencies and policymakers can leverage to strengthen cell phone and social media guidelines in states and districts, as well as examples from pioneers who have already done so.

Digital Policies: This source from ExcelinEd provides example policies, and support for ways policymakers can address the digital divide to support all students.

A-F Grading: ExcelinEd provides this model related to grading. The purpose of a school accountability system is to spur school improvement and increase student performance by providing transparent, objective information to parents, educators, and the public about school effectiveness. A, B, C. This policy is from ExcelinEd.

A-F School Grading Summary: From ExcelinEd this summary provides fundamental principles and examples from states.

Designing an Intervention Approach in Secondary Schools: This guidance document from the Australian Education Research Organisation provides excellent recommendations for developing a policy and practices to support a multi-tiered system of supports in secondary schools.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports: This website from the Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) by AIR provides every element of an MTSS approach to intervention to enable states and districts to develop effective policies.

MTSS Infrastructure: This infographic from the Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) by AIR explains the support mechanisms, knowledge, resources, and organizational structures necessary to operationalize and implement MTSS.

Supports for Multilingual Students: This brief from EdResearch for Action explores complex issues related to multilingual learners and suggests remedies and practices that can inform policy.

Rhode Island’s Model Briefs for Multilingual Learners (MLLs): This series of briefs provides an example of policies and regulations to support language instruction, to support educations working with MLLs, and to support local education agencies in the development of dedicated English language development.

K-12 Curriculum Policy: This report of findings prepared by Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) in Live Handbook provides guidance for the development of state and local education agencies policies to manage the use and selection of curriculum materials. Key findings important to policy decisions include the results of research on district-level materials adoption, the need for stronger implementation support, and the importance of curriculum-specific professional learning.

Evaluating Policy Guide: This guide from Results for America aims to help state, local and tribal governments develop an evaluation of evidence-based governance and policy making that prioritizes key principles including rigor, relevance, independence, transparency, ethics and equity. Second, it offers strategies, tools and frameworks for integrating the results of evaluations—evidence of effectiveness—into budget, policy and management decisions.

State Evidence-Based Budgeting Guide: This guide from Results for America outlines five action steps for defining and prioritizing evidence in state budget systems and evaluating the impact of these investments; and highlights how leading state government leaders have implemented these steps to advance economic mobility. This guide will support the development of evidence-based budgeting policies.