Waypoint is proud to highlight our ongoing work with the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and Teach Plus on the Future of the American Teacher initiative. Our team has provided strategic counsel and support for this project, which centers teacher leadership in the national conversation on strengthening educator recruitment, retention, and long-term career sustainability.

A cornerstone of this initiative is the newly released research from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation, “Teaching for Tomorrow: Staying Power — What It Takes to Make Teaching Affordable and Sustainable”. The report reveals that while 67% of teachers plan to remain in K-12 education for their entire careers, many are forced to work multiple jobs to make the profession financially viable. Importantly, the research shows that teaching-related side work, such as tutoring or mentoring, can actually strengthen instruction and longevity, while non-teaching gigs often contribute to burnout.

This work has already sparked a significant national dialogue, including a recent deep dive by CNN on how the structure of teaching must evolve to support long-term careers in the classroom.

Looking ahead, Waypoint is supporting a Congressional Briefing hosted by BPC, Teach Plus, and Gallup on March 12, 2026, at the U.S. Capitol. This event will bring teacher voices directly to policymakers to discuss insights from the Gallup findings and the BPC Commission’s recommendations for modernized career pathways and family-supportive policies

Waypoint continues to support the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University in its vital mission to track and communicate academic recovery data across the United States. Through our work on the Education Recovery Scorecard, we help translate complex district-level data into actionable insights for leaders and the media.

The impact of this work was recently showcased in a powerful New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof, titled “These Three Red States Are the Best Hope in Schooling.” The article explores the remarkable academic gains in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana—states that have defied expectations by prioritizing metrics, accountability, and the “science of reading.”

Kristof highlights the research of our partner, Dr. Tom Kane of Harvard, who notes that these “Southern Surge” states prove that evidence-based policies and meticulous execution can lift student trajectories regardless of geography or budget. As Dr. Kane told the Times: “States around the country have a lot to learn from what Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana are doing.” Waypoint is honored to amplify these findings, ensuring that the “no excuses” success of these states serves as a roadmap for educational equity nationwide.

Margaret Spellings, former U.S. Secretary of Education and now President & CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), recently sat down with the George W. Bush Institute to share lessons from decades of public service. She underscored how bipartisan work can still move the needle, pointing to BPC’s long push to expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit as proof that persistence and coalition-building deliver results.

Reflecting on No Child Left Behind, Spellings stressed the importance of accountability, data, and a relentless focus on student achievement—principles she believes are urgently needed again as reading and math gaps widen. She also highlighted the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, which she helped launch, as a model for preparing the next generation of service-minded leaders.

Her leadership, shaped by years alongside President and Mrs. Bush, continues to center on character, humility, and the pursuit of common ground—values that guide both BPC and the Bush Institute, and align with Waypoint’s mission to support cross-sector solutions that last.

In a recent announcement from the Virginia Governor’s Office, state leaders highlighted across-the-board gains in student achievement on the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments in math and reading for the 2024–2025 school year. The improvements are especially notable given that this year’s tests required students to master 30–40% more content to pass than in previous years.

Governor Glenn Youngkin, Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, and State Superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson credited the progress to Virginia’s ALL In VA campaign, which has invested more than $418 million in reducing absenteeism, expanding tutoring, and accelerating implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act. Leaders also emphasized the role of teachers, families, and communities in driving improvement.

The results reflect the administration’s focus on raising expectations, strengthening standards, and addressing learning loss from COVID-19 closures. At the same time, the Virginia Board of Education is working to close the “honesty gap”—the difference between state and national assessments—and has overhauled the accountability system to provide clearer information on school performance.

Waypoint is proud to partner in this work, supporting Virginia’s efforts to give every student the opportunity to succeed through higher standards, stronger supports, and transparent data.

Read the full article here.

A new article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation highlights how career-connected learning can bridge the gap between what students learn in school and the skills employers need. Recent surveys show that most high school graduates feel unprepared for life after graduation, while many employers remain skeptical about hiring Gen Z workers. Both groups, however, want stronger connections between education and the workforce.

The piece points to promising models like Township High School District 214 in Illinois, where students combine core academics with career pathways and graduate with credentials or college credits. It also showcases the Chamber’s own Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC), which bring businesses, schools, and students together to solve real-world problems. Programs like these, along with virtual career exploration opportunities, show how business and education can collaborate to build stronger pipelines of talent.

As the article notes, today’s high school students are tomorrow’s workforce—and career-connected learning offers a practical, widely supported way to prepare them for success while meeting employer needs.

Anne Wicks, Managing Director of Opportunity and Democracy at the George W. Bush Institute, testified before the Senate HELP Committee on school choice and literacy. She highlighted alarming NAEP results—only about a third of students are proficient readers—and urged policymakers to ground instruction in the “science of reading.” Drawing on her own parent advocacy, Wicks showed how shifting to evidence-based practices boosted outcomes in her Texas district. Her recommendations stressed stronger teacher preparation, ongoing coaching, high-quality materials, early intervention, and transparent assessments—reflecting the Bush Institute’s commitment to ensuring every child learns to read.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is spotlighting the critical role of summer learning in preventing learning loss and helping students recover from pandemic setbacks. Research shows students can lose up to 30% of their academic gains over summer break, making high-quality programs a key tool for boosting math, reading, and social-emotional growth.

Examples like Alabama’s SAIL program and Georgia’s BOOST initiative demonstrate how state investments can yield measurable results. But with many districts facing tight budgets, the business community has an important role to play. Companies can partner with existing programs, create internships for youth, or design their own initiatives—from career exploration camps to reading challenges.

The message is clear: learning shouldn’t stop when school doors close, and businesses have both the opportunity and responsibility to help sustain year-round growth for students.

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.

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

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