As the Trump Administration works to return education to the states, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) today unveiled the Learning Agenda Playbook (the Playbook), a resource developed alongside states to strengthen their capacity, enable them to take greater ownership of education, and drive improvement at the state and local levels.
Returning education to the states means ensuring state leaders have the tools to identify their own priorities, use evidence to determine what works best for their students and communities, and then direct resources accordingly. By strengthening states’ ability to make evidence-based decisions independently, the Playbook helps shift education away from Washington, D.C. and closer to the students, families, educators, and communities they serve.
The Playbook brings fundamental tools together in one place for states:
- Facilitator’s Guide: a step-by-step resource for those supporting state teams through the Learning Agenda process;
- Facilitator’s Toolbox: slides, exercises, and worksheets that support hands-on implementation;
- Learning Agenda Template: a structured format to guide states in the development of their own agendas; and
- Capacity Continuum: a tool to help states assess current capabilities and identify areas for growth.
“As the monumental shift to return education to the states continues, the Trump Administration is ensuring state leaders have the tools and support necessary to take on this expanded role with confidence,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Learning Agenda Playbook delivers a rigorous, field-tested framework of best practices, eliminating the need for states to reinvent the wheel. With a clear process and proven tools, states can lead more boldly and drive better outcomes for students and families.”
Background:
A Learning Agenda is a strategic, multi-year plan that guides SEAs to identify their most pressing challenges, ask the right questions, build the evidence to answer them, and invest state resources where they will have the greatest impact.
The U.S. Department of Education, through the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Institute of Education Sciences and in collaboration with the National Comprehensive Center, worked alongside eight state educational agencies to develop, test, and refine the Learning Agenda Playbook. Participating states included: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.
The goal is not more data, but better evidence to drive better decisions and, most importantly, stronger outcomes for students.