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Teachers are shaping the conversation. Two teachers. Two states. One message: prep matters for literacy and math.

Looking for the latest news on educator practice, policy, advocacy and impact?

Read last week’s roundup – and sign up for this week’s:

Indiana House panel weighs tighter school cellphone ban — but districts seek more flexibility • Indiana Capital Chronicle A stricter, “bell-to-bell” ban on student cellphone use was the subject of extended debate Wednesday in Indiana's House Education Committee.

Teach Plus IN Policy Fellow Marissa Tanner testified before lawmakers about the benefits she saw in her classroom after a school cell phone ban.

“Our children were not just distracted, they were addicted. ... Students are talking to one another again.”

More States Are Calling for Math Reform. Will It Improve Student Outcomes? National math scores are sitting at historic lows. But experts disagree on how to raise achievement.

While there is reached broad consensus that schools and districts need to take action to reverse the trend of declining and stagnating math scores, disagreements continue about how to do so and how to identify the best strategies from research evidence.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. - YouTube

Meet Alicia Simba, Teach Plus California TK teacher turning classroom experience into systems-wide policy impact. “How can I use my teacher voice to enact change for myself, for my colleagues, and most importantly, for my students and their families?”

Watch:

20 Under 40: 2026 Our annual list of amazing young alumni

Congratulations to Teach Plus Indiana Policy Fellowship and Senior Writing Fellowship alumnus Ronak Shah on being named one of Indiana University's 2026 20 under 40!

IU highlighted Ronak's extensive education policy advocacy and more than 30 published op-eds.

OPINION | CHERYL RING: When attendance meets the nursery: Teen pregnancy and readiness gap | Arkansas Democrat Gazette Suzie is one of mine. That's not her real name, but her story is real enough to keep me up at night. She's 16, bright, stubborn in the best way, and newly a mom.

How does your school and district support teen parents experiencing chronic absenteeism?

Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Cheryl Ring explains how we could redesign support systems to keep these students in class:

YouTube video by Teach Plus Mississippi students deserve a real path from the classroom to a career #shorts #education #advocacy

25 Teach Plus Mississippi teacher leaders are at the Capitol this week, bringing research-backed solutions straight from the classroom: modernize student data, strengthen college and career pathways, sustain literacy gains, and keep great teachers in schools.

Watch: www.youtube.com/shorts/8oz6L...

The ‘Right to Read’ bill must include teacher preparation The state Legislature appears poised to pass the “Right to Read Act” -- legislation that would require school districts to adopt evidence-based literacy

Only 16% of teacher preparation programs in Massachusetts adequately prepare teachers for effective reading instruction.

Teach Plus MA Fellow Luisa Sparrow shares her journey to teaching evidence-based reading instruction and why it matters for students:

School librarians help children learn to love reading | opinion The state House of Representatives recently passed education bills that seek to improve reading outcomes among elementary school students.

"Once we ensure that students can read, we need to make sure students accidentally or intentionally fall in love with reading."

Teach Plus MA Policy Fellow Caroline Lovett shares how school librarians and staff can get students to become lifelong readers:
www.milforddailynews.com/story/opinio...

Commentary: Why rural students need opportunities to build voice, connection — Joe Brewer Commentary: Connection shouldn’t stop at our school doors, especially in rural and under-resourced communities where the needs of students can’t be met alone. 

Students in rural schools and communities need opportunities and safe places to build connection.

Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship alumnus Joe Brewer shares inspiration for building that connection in local communities:

A push for teachers to improve math skills and instruction My students know all too well that if they need help in math, I’m the last teacher to ask. Math was extremely hard for me in school. Numbers moved around

A New Mexico bill would improve math instruction for student success.

"Teach­ers need pre­par­a­tion that builds deep understanding along­side instruc­tional strategies if we're serious about improv­ing out­comes," Teach Plus NM Fellow Andrea Lopez writes.

Teacher preparation matters for literacy and math.

In this week’s Newsblast: Teach Plus Massachusetts and Teach Plus New Mexico Fellows are making the same case to policymakers: Student results start with how well we prepare educators.

Learn more and subscribe:
cm.teachplus.org/t/r-4A3F87D0...

"After many months and a lot of effort, our math bill is headed to the Governor’s office. Congratulations to our teacher leaders for moving from idea to impact! More NM students will have access to teachers who are better prepared to teach math." - Teach Plus New Mexico Exec. Director Hope Morales

COMMENTARY: We need more men in early childhood education California needs mentorship and scholarship programs that make early education a visible and supported career pathway for men. Research backs this up.

"I have seen the impact male educators like me can have."

Teach Plus California Policy Fellow Anthony Segura shares how we can recruit and retain more male teachers:
edsource.org/2026/male-te...

From op-eds to task forces, AI in special ed, teachers shaping legislative agendas. From Op-eds to Task Forces: How Teachers Get a Seat at the Table

Looking for the latest news on educator practice, policy, advocacy and impact?

Read last week’s roundup – and sign up for this week’s:

East Boston teacher honored with Milken Educator Award Ninth grade teacher Elizabeth Metts was surprised with the Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 prize during a school assembly at Excel Academy in East Boston.

Teach Plus congratulates Teach Plus Massachusetts Policy Fellow Elizabeth Metts on being honored with the Milken Educator Award for Massachusetts!

Read more about Elizabeth and how she makes learning accessible for all her students:

Students need stability to learn. Here’s what Arkansas can do. | Arkansas Advocate COMMENTARY: To learn, students need stability. That means focusing on providing counseling for students and trauma-informed training for educators, an Arkansas teacher writes.

Students throughout the nation are struggling under invisible loads of trauma, anxiety, poverty, grief and instability.

Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Chancy L. Ware shares how our schools can support those students through trauma-informed teaching practices:

Teach Plus Teacher-in-Residence Frances Lazette met with U.S. Representative John Moolenaar of Michigan at Hill Day to discuss career and technical education, appropriations priorities, and a shared appreciation for Kilwins Ice Cream.

#teacherleadership #teachersinpolicy #michigan

OPINION | CHERYL RING: When attendance meets the nursery: Teen pregnancy and readiness gap | Arkansas Democrat Gazette Suzie is one of mine. That's not her real name, but her story is real enough to keep me up at night. She's 16, bright, stubborn in the best way, and newly a mom.

Chronic absenteeism impacts teen parents uniquely, Teach Plus Arkansas Fellow Cheryl Ring explains.

"We don't need to change expectations to serve these students. We need to redesign support so students can meet academic & career standards."

She shares how:

Kindergarten readiness varies widely by income, new data shows There’s a roughly 20 percent difference in kids’ readiness for school when comparing reports from the poorest families and the wealthiest.

Nationally, nearly two-thirds of children were reported as on track for kindergarten, regardless of their families’ income. However, the gap in readiness is substantial when comparing reports from the poorest and wealthiest families — a 20% difference.

What’s in Shapiro’s budget for Philly education? Here’s a breakdown. Philadelphia’s schools would get $151 million more under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal. But it’s far from a done deal.

Pennsylvania's newly proposed budget would increase public school funding statewide by more than $660 million.

“The governor is making good on his commitment to fully fund our public schools,” said Teach Plus Pennsylvania Executive Director Laura Boyce.

Commentary: Why rural students need opportunities to build voice, connection — Joe Brewer Commentary: Connection shouldn’t stop at our school doors, especially in rural and under-resourced communities where the needs of students can’t be met alone. 

Students in rural schools and communities need opportunities and safe places to build connection.

What does that look like in your school community?

Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellowship alumnus Joe Brewer shares inspiration for what it could look like:

The AI Educator Award of the Year 2026 Semi-Finalist Round We're so excited to share that we've selected our incredible Semi-Finalists for the MagicSchool AI Educator of the Year award! The submissions were truly inspiring, and we've narrowed it down to eight...

Teach Plus Leading Edge Fellow Heather Gauck is a semifinalist for 2026 MagicSchool AI Educator of the Year. "I've seen increased engagement and confidence, especially from students who typically struggle to participate," she says. Vote for Heather here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

How the Nation's Top Teachers Prevent Burnout Finalists for Teacher of the Year give tips on keeping your sanity and enthusiasm in the classroom.

National Teacher of the Year finalist and Teach Plus Pennsylvania alum Leon Smith shared how his advocacy work has helped him find joy: "I’ve been involved in advocacy, trying to use my experiences in the classroom to speak to groups that can support my students."

When teachers speak up, decision-makers listen.

Explore this week’s Newsblast: cm.teachplus.org/t/r-F1154D33...

Literacy wins, teachers at the Capitol, and an 'Oscar' for teaching. Massachusetts Teacher Leader Wins ‘Oscar of Teaching’

Looking for the latest news on educator practice, policy, advocacy and impact?

Read last week’s roundup – and sign up for this week’s:

Why Boys Are Behind in Reading at Every Age Boys’ reading struggles are not inevitable, research suggests, and addressing the deficit could improve outcomes in school and beyond.

While average scores have declined for everyone, boys are doing much worse. On standardized tests, they score lower than girls in reading in nearly every school district in the U.S., and at every grade level that tests, according to a new analysis.

Nikki Coffee: The people who take care of your children are barely getting by I sat on my couch a few months ago staring at a stack of bills, doing the familiar math of survival. If I paid everything that was due, I would have almost...

"The work that has given me the greatest sense of purpose—the work that matters most—pays the least. I am an early childhood educator."

Read Teach Plus Pennsylvania Fellow Nikki Coffee's story and how PA can stabilize the field for educators and their students:

Addressing Chronic Absenteeism in New Mexico: Recommendations from Teach Plus Policy Fellows - Teach Plus - Leadership Opportunity © Copyright 2026 | Teach Plus is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy | Built by Social Driver

New from Teach Plus New Mexico: "Addressing Chronic Absenteeism in New Mexico" shares in-depth recommendations on how the state can address the chronic absenteeism crisis facing schools and communities.

Read their recommendations here:

COMMENTARY: We need more men in early childhood education California needs mentorship and scholarship programs that make early education a visible and supported career pathway for men. Research backs this up.

"Our youngest learners rarely see men in teaching roles. Nationally, only 2.5% of preschool and kindergarten teachers are male."

Teach Plus California Policy Fellow Anthony Segura shares how we can recruit and retain male teachers into teaching positions: