This week’s highlights: Top News - President Trump has signed an executive order directing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education, marking a historic shift in federal education policy

Across Kansas and Missouri, voters are being asked to weigh in on school bond proposals that will shape the future of their local schools. From basic facility upgrades to new construction, these bonds

As Kansas and Missouri work through their education budgets and consider changes to how they fund schools, special education funding is getting long-overdue attention — and the conversation couldn’t

This week, test results revealed a sobering look at student achievement in the United States. The  National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a nationwide test administered to measure

Aligned believes that informed policy drives stronger education and workforce outcomes. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new Aligned Blog – a space where we will break down the latest

This month’s highlights: Top News - The number of college closures has surged dramatically, with at least 30 institutions shutting down in 2023 and a rate of one per week in 2024, starkly higher than

This week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 35th edition of its KIDS COUNT Data Book. Among all states, Missouri ranked #32, and Kansas ranked #19 in overall child well-being, which examines economic well-being, education, health, and family and community data.

This week, we report on school board election results, which heavily favored incumbents and union-endorsed candidates. We also cover the latest news in Missouri and Kansas.

This week, we highlight the new book by Jonathan Haidt that examines how smartphones and social media use are causing an epidemic of mental illness for American children. We also have updates from the Missouri and Kansas Legislatures.

In yet another tumultuous week within the Missouri Senate, dysfunction reigned supreme as members of the newly formed Freedom Caucus clashed with Senate leaders over the Republican caucus's priority of initiative petition reform. The Senate floor witnessed fiery exchanges, a historic motion, and a filibuster that left observers wondering who, if anyone, emerged victorious.