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How We Teach Literacy
This blog post is the first in a series exploring literacy within education policy and practice. Here, we introduce the major methods of teaching reading and the debates surrounding them. Understanding these approaches — what they are, how they work,…
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Op-ed: Why standardized testing still matters in Missouri
This opinion piece originally appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. By Eric Syverson, Director of Policy & Research, Aligned. Across the nation, skepticism toward statewide assessment is rising. Teachers and families increasingly question whether traditional testing supports learning or just consumes valuable instructional…
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Webinar: Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems
On September 10, 2025, Aligned partnered with the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) to host a webinar introducing Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDSs) and their role in aligning education and workforce priorities. SLDSs help states connect data across systems, inform policy, and provide valuable…
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Honoring the Life and Legacy of David Oliver
It is with heartfelt sadness that we learned of the passing of our beloved co-founder and board member, David Oliver. David was a visionary leader, a dedicated volunteer, and a true Kansas City icon. He brought extraordinary wisdom, generosity, and expertise…
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Introducing the Aligned Data Matrix
Money matters. But money alone doesn’t guarantee better results. The Aligned Data Matrix is our education finance data hub that lets you compare funding and student outcomes across Missouri school districts, visualize patterns over time, and identify where investment and achievement diverge. Use it…
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Webinar: Property Taxes & Education Funding
On July 16, 2025, Aligned’s second webinar examined the vital link between property taxes and education funding in Kansas and Missouri. Property taxes remain the primary source of local school revenue, yet reliance on property wealth can create disparities between districts. The session…
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Webinar: Special Education Funding in Kansas & Missouri
On May 14, 2025, Aligned hosted the first webinar in its bi-monthly series, focusing on how Kansas and Missouri fund special education. The session provided an overview of how both states allocate resources for students with disabilities, the fiscal pressures facing school…
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Big Changes Ahead for Employer Child Care Tax Credits
Child care is no longer just a family issue. It is a workforce issue. Across the political spectrum, there is growing recognition that the lack of affordable, reliable care is holding back both parents and employers. In the U.S. mixed-delivery…
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Missouri to Pilot a New Way to Test Students
For years, educators have raised a problem with assessments: testing students only after instruction ends, when it’s too late to help them improve. Traditionally, states have used end-of-year exams to measure student performance against academic standards, but those tests do little to inform day-to-day…
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Investing Early: Missouri Districts Putting Pre-K Policy into Practice
Investing Early: Missouri Districts Putting Pre-K Policy into Practice shows what early childhood policy looks like when it’s implemented well — and what it unlocks for kids, families, and communities. The report highlights how Missouri’s pre-K investments (including foundation formula access,…
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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…
Resources Hub
Access nonpartisan research and news about the policies shaping education in Kansas and Missouri.