If you had to name one place where expanding our definition of excellence could make the biggest difference for students in your context, what would it be? 🎙️ Hear more from Vicki Phillips and international leaders from Finland, Singapore, Estonia, and the U.S. 🔗 bit.ly/4sxfJ9Z

For those already starting to plan for next year, here are a few ways NCEE can support your work. ➡️ Strengthen school and district leadership through NISL NEXT ➡️ Support teachers with TEL2 and the science of learning ➡️ Explore fresh ideas from high-performing systems through our Thinking Differently series ➡️ Start with the end in mind by creating a shared vision for student success and designing backwards from there. The work is different in every community. The goal is the same: helping more students thrive. If you're beginning to map out priorities for next year, we'd love to talk.

Thank you to the many people across Ireland’s education system who made this case study possible, from decision-makers at the Ministry of Education and Youth @Education_Ire, researchers, school leaders, teachers, and others who shared their expertise and perspectives. Your openness and commitment to improving learning for young people help shape a richer understanding of Ireland’s education journey. Download the report: ncee.org/ireland-education-s…

Congratulations to our inaugural cohort of graduates from @freedhardeman on completing the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) program! Thank you for your dedication to leadership, learning, and the success of every student. Here's to the impact you'll continue to make in schools and communities across the region.

We've learned a lot over the past 35 years, and we can't wait to share it with you. Check out the latest from NCEE. ncee.org/research/

We're proud to share our latest #ImpactInAction story and grateful to East Tennessee State University @etsu, their faculty, and the practicing principals and teacher leaders from rural districts across the region who came together for shared learning. This case study offers valuable insights for universities, districts, and regional partners working to strengthen leadership development in rural communities. Download the case study and consider what similar partnerships could look like in your context. 🔗 🔗 bit.ly/43Thbtp

Congratulations to @ClarkCountySch for being recognized on Education Scorecard's 2026 Districts on the Rise lists in math and reading. At a time when conversations about education focus on setbacks, these districts are helping tell another story: improvement is possible. We're proud to partner with these communities. bit.ly/4uli3mj

Over the past few weeks, we've shared a few snapshots from our visit to Estonia. During their visit, our team engaged with stakeholders spanning government, higher education, employers, teachers unions, nonprofits, researchers, educators, and students. We visited schools representing primary and secondary grades, as well as both academic and vocational pathways. The team explored how Estonia assesses future-ready skills, the balance of its accountability system, and the emerging role of AI in assessment. Estonia continues to distinguish itself as a system willing to experiment at the frontier, particularly in its efforts to assess broader “general competencies” such as learning to learn. The visit provided valuable insight into how one of the world's most agile education systems is thinking about the future of assessment and accountability and this will continue to inform the field. A sincere thank you to the many educators, students, researchers, policymakers, and leaders who welcomed us, shared experiences, challenged our thinking, and gave generously of their time.

We are excited to welcome Aayushi Doshi to NCEE! We asked her to share what drives her interest in education policy and research and what she hopes education might look like 50 years from now. "I was inspired to pursue education policy because I believe education is one of the strongest drivers of equity and opportunity. I want to help create systems that ensure all students, regardless of background, have access to the resources and support they need to succeed." Aayushi hopes for a future where education places an even greater emphasis on supporting students as whole people, recognizing that success extends beyond academic outcomes alone. We are delighted to have you on the team, Aayushi. Please join us in welcoming her.

Research on high-performing education systems shows that powerful learning experiences are intentionally designed. They build knowledge, foster student agency, and connect learning to meaningful challenges. Our newly released framework helps make those connections visible. It brings together the key elements of high-quality PBL and shows how they work together across a project to support engagement, deeper learning, and student success. We hope it serves as a useful resource for educators, school leaders, and curriculum designers looking to strengthen their practice. Download the Design Framework for Project-Based Learning: bit.ly/4tkRDj8

This week, our team is on a research vessel @EVNautilus! 🌊 Seeing our curriculum designers learn alongside scientists mapping the seafloor, piloting ROVs, and exploring the depths to bring learning experiences that connect classrooms to the real world. We can't wait to bring this authentic ocean science to students and teachers. Visit bit.ly/43gngjr for a preview.

Our latest research shows that career-connected learning works best when it’s designed intentionally at the system level. Building Pathways, a case study, shows what that looks like in practice. It highlights how education systems are intentionally designing pathways that: 🔹 Build coherence across levels of schooling 🔹 Connect learning and credentials over time 🔹 Support student agency and informed decision-making 🔹 Reduce dead ends while keeping options open Together, the brief and the case study offer a clearer picture of how systems can move from isolated initiatives to coherent pathways built on purpose. 🔎 Explore Building Pathways and see how the research comes to life. bit.ly/4kvSoDd

In a new article from @AASAHQ, former student representatives Rida Karim and Luke Lippitt reflect on their experiences serving on school boards, the learning curve and challenges faced, and the supports that helped them succeed. bit.ly/43dwT2o Their message to #EdLeaders: inviting students to the table is only the first step. Ensuring they have the preparation, support, and influence to contribute meaningfully is what creates lasting impact. The National Student Board Member Association exists as a resource. bit.ly/4394ZEJ

It was a privilege to work with @empoweredprg on a segment exploring how education systems can better prepare students for the future. Here is a glimpse into our every day as a think-and-do tank, bringing together research, policy, and practice to help build the education system our future demands. Huge appreciation to the entire team for making your film debut.

We're always energized by the work happening in @FontanaUnified. #EdLeaders have created space for meaningful conversations and shared learning, most recently around mutual behaviors that support effective teams. Building stronger systems starts with leaders who are willing to lean into thoughtful dialogue and continuous improvement. 📸 Michael Bobo

Further reflections from Estonia 🇪🇪 … As our team continues benchmarking how leading systems are thinking differently about assessment, accountability, and the future of learning, one theme we were particularly interested in is AI integration in schools. In Estonia, the focus has been to roll out AI tools thoughtfully, testing what works, and continually measuring impact. Student learning remains at the center alongside a commitment to upholding the country's language, culture, and values. There is a strong focus on evidence, trust, leadership, and partnership, and a shared belief that innovation only matters if it improves learning for students and supports teachers in meaningful ways. Follow along for more reflections from our benchmarking work, and thank you to our team for bringing back global insights that help spark conversations here at home.

For educators and ed leaders, rethinking how learning connects to the world beyond school, Educurious is one to follow. Their recent article shares what it looks like in practice and why it matters. 👇 Explore how Project Based Learning supports deeper engagement and real-world skills: bit.ly/4vfXiZm

Across NCEE’s 2026 Global High Performers, several common patterns emerge: 🌐 Teaching is treated as a respected, knowledge-rich profession 🌐 Curriculum and assessment remain stable enough to support deep learning 🌐 Student well-being and academic rigor are pursued together, not in tension 🌐 Policy decisions are aligned with long-term national goals rather than short-term cycles These systems look different culturally and politically, but their success reflects a shared commitment to coherence, continuity, and investment in people. 🎙️ Hear more from Vicki Phillips and international leaders from Finland, Singapore, Estonia, and the U.S. 🔗 bit.ly/4sxfJ9Z 🖥️ Explore what's possible 🔗 bit.ly/3PlXQgr

Superintendents across the nation tell us the same thing: "Our most experienced principals are retiring. Good teachers are leaving. And the leadership pipeline feels thinner every year.” The question underneath it all: How do we build the next generation of leaders? A few practical moves districts are making right now: 🔍 Identify leadership potential early, not just the loudest voices, but the quiet system thinkers 🧭 Make leadership development job-embedded, not something leaders do after hours 🤝 Create cohorts, so emerging leaders don’t grow in isolation This is the gap NISL NEXT for School Leaders is designed to fill, helping districts grow leadership capacity before vacancies become emergencies. If building your leadership bench is a priority, take a closer look at NISL NEXT → ncee.org/nisl/

We’re honored to convene a statewide funder collaborative in Pennsylvania focused on strengthening the educator pipeline. Through support from the William Penn Foundation, philanthropic partners across the Commonwealth are exploring sustainable solutions to teacher recruitment, retention, and educator success. bit.ly/4uRD3B7