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72% of Kansas 8th Graders Aren’t Proficient in Math
In Kansas, an unacceptable number of students are struggling in math. Right now, 72% of Kansas 8th graders are below proficient in math. That’s not just a disappointing statistic. It’s a flashing red warning light for the future of our workforce, our economy, and…
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Missouri’s FY 2026 Budget
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has officially signed the state’s $50.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, including $15.4 billion in general revenue spending. While the budget includes significant new investments in child care and education, Governor Kehoe also issued $300 million in line-item vetoes, signaling a cautious approach as…
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Update – July 2025
This month’s highlights: Top News — Congress passes the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ushering in major tax changes for child care, K–12 education, and workforce training. Missouri Update — The School Funding Modernization Task Force examines local property wealth disparities and begins working group…
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Aligned Case Study: Marquand-Zion R-VI
In one of Missouri’s smallest and most rural districts, Marquand-Zion R-VI is delivering a high-quality pre-K experience for children facing steep barriers to school readiness, often with limited access to child care, transportation, or early learning supports. With help from…
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Aligned Case Study: Stanberry R-II
Stanberry R-II shows what’s possible when small districts have stable support to sustain and strengthen preschool. Using the Missouri Quality Pre-K (MOQPK) grant, the district reduced pressure on local dollars, reinforced early readiness, and built stronger connections with families through regular engagement…
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Aligned Case Study: Branson R-IV
Branson R-IV has built one of the region’s most expansive and inclusive early learning programs — now serving more than 200 children across 11 preschool classrooms. By braiding Missouri Quality Pre-K (MOQPK) grant funding with the state’s 8% ADA foundation formula funding,…
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When Reading Fails, So Does the Future
Children who aren’t reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, yet today, about one-third of Kansas students still read below grade level. With Kansas poised to add 54,000 new jobs by 2030, 80% of which will require education beyond…
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What the One Big Beautiful Bill Means for the Child Tax Credit
On Friday, July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law, ushering in a sweeping set of tax and fiscal changes with long-term implications for the federal budget, families, and state policy alike. One of the most closely…
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Update – June 2025
This month’s highlights: Top News — Federal debates on the child tax credit and student loans gain momentum, while the Supreme Court lets Oklahoma’s religious charter school ruling stand. Missouri Update — Special session ends with new property tax ballot measures; the school funding task force begins work…
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Congress Weighs the Future of the Child Tax Credit
As Congress negotiates the next major federal tax package, the future of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) is once again up for debate. With key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire at the…
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Weekly Update
This week’s highlights: Top News – Recap of 2025 legislative sessions, what’s ahead for Aligned. Additional Highlights – Aligned hosted an education roundtable, bringing together key voices in Kansas City. Read our latest newsletter.
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Weekly Update
This week’s highlights: Top News – The state of school finance reform in both states. Missouri Update – Brief legislative session recap and remembering Kit Bond. Kansas Update – More school bond elections and a look at district cash reserves. Additional Highlights – A fond farewell to Linda Rallo,…