Harvard’s CEPR Launches New Initiative, States Leading States (SLS), to Identify and Spread Effective Education Policies Across the Country

We’re excited for the launch of the States Leading States initiative by the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University.

Exciting news: CEPR is launching a new initiative, States Leading States (SLS), to identify and spread effective state and local education policies across the country.

The continuing decline in NAEP reading scores announced today highlights both the need and the potential impact of the new initiative. Starting in Spring 2026, SLS will release an annual report on promising state and local policies—such as early literacy reforms, state-organized tutoring programs, or postsecondary programs for older students—aimed at driving state-level policy change across the country.

Funded by a generous $10 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation, this work addresses a critical need to systematically evaluate state policy innovations and share what works, paving the way for enduring impact.

Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/egix9iky

Additional information about the 2026 topic and partners will be announced on CEPR’s website throughout spring 2025.

Spotlight on Education Reform: Tom Kane’s Data-Driven Approach

In a recent feature by Harvard Magazine, Tom Kane, a leading economist and education researcher at Harvard University, is recognized for his groundbreaking work in improving education outcomes through data analysis. As Faculty Director of the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR), Kane has led transformative projects like the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which demonstrated the critical impact of teacher effectiveness on student success. His research continues to guide policymakers in developing evidence-based strategies to address challenges such as learning loss and absenteeism. Kane’s commitment to using data to measure and enhance educational interventions aligns with Waypoint’s mission to support our clients, including Harvard, in driving meaningful social change.

Read the full article

BPC Launches Commission on the American Workforce to Tackle Human Capital Crisis

The Waypoint team is proud to celebrate the launch of the Bipartisan Policy Center Commission on the American Workforce, which will develop a national strategy to strengthen the workforce, expand economic opportunity, and ensure that individual Americans and our country as a whole can remain competitive.

America’s success is fueled by our population’s collective skills, knowledge, and experience – our human capital. The Commission, chaired by former Governors Bill Haslam (R-TN) and Deval Patrick (D-MA), will consider urgent challenges that threaten these assets, including low student proficiency, stagnating college enrollment, barriers to employment, and a widespread skills mismatch between employers and the unemployed.

To this end, BPC has established four expert working groups to focus on critical areas: Elementary and Secondary Education, Postsecondary Pathways, Workers and the Workforce, and Worker Supports. We at Waypoint are thrilled to facilitate the Elementary and Secondary Education group and collaborate with the nation’s leading experts to explore the federal role in K-12 education. For more details, see the BPC Commission on the American Workforce press release