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PODCAST

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast

Policy Changes Lives is a weekly seasonal podcast that spotlights how the states are using thoughtful education policies to change students" lives for the better.From back-to-school in September through November, experts from the ExcelinEd team share their expertise and interview policymakers, educators and researchers about transformative K-12 policies. Each week, we explore a different topic related to states" education policies, such as early literacy, math, the teacher pipeline, funding, the

education social sciences

All Episodes

55:45

Education policy trends to watch in 2026 | Patricia...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/12/11

In thisseasonfinale ofPolicy Changes Lives,ExcelinEdVP of PolicyCara Candalsits down withExcelinEdCEOPatricia Levesqueto break down the most important education policy trends state leaders need to watch as 2026 approaches.From new efforts to strengthen middle-grade literacy to a rapid expansion of math policy reform, Patricia walks through where states are headed—and why foundational skills will continue to dominate legislative agendas. The conversation also explores rising interest in postsecondary

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1:09:34

BONUS: Key takeaways you missed from sessions at the...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/12/04

Couldn’tmake it to the 2025 National Summit on Education—or justcouldn’tbe in three strategy sessions at once? In this special bonus episode, hostDr. Cara Candalpulls together some of the most important ideas,quotesand policy takeaways from across the Summit’s strategy sessions and mainstage conversations.Across three days, state leaders,practitionersand advocates dug into the big questions driving education policy right now:How do we close achievement gaps in reading and math?What does real college

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40:37

From the 2025 Summit Main Stage | Gov. Jeb Bush &...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/11/20

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, ExcelinEd’s Founder, Chairman and 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush takes the main stage with President and CEO of the Daniels Fund Hanna Skandera to open the 17th annual National Summit on Education in New Orleans with a powerful conversation on the future of learning, leadership and opportunity in America.Reflecting on lessons from two decades of education reform and leadership through crises, Gov. Bush shares his vision for helping every student succeed

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27:04

The Data Imperative: How states should “level up”...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/11/13

High school has long centered on traditional courses like biology, civics and earth science—subjects chosen because every student needs a foundation in how their bodies, their government and their world work. But in 2025 and beyond, the demands on graduates are rapidly shifting. In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, co-hosts Adriana Harrington and Lindsey Henderson sit down with Liz Cohen, Vice President of Policy at 50CAN, to explore how high school requirements must evolve to better prepare

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21:46

Adolescent literacy is the new frontier in literacy...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/11/06

Most literacy policies focus on ensuring students can read proficiently by third grade. But what happens when theydon’t? In this episode ofPolicy Changes Lives,ExcelinEd’sDr.KymyonaBurk and Casey Taylor explore the “new frontier” in literacy policy: adolescent literacy.Drawing on new research and national data, they unpack why so many middle and high school students still struggle to read classroom materials fluently—and what it really means to cross the “decoding threshold.” From the

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31:34

What happens to students after they graduate? | Dr....

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/10/30

What happens after students graduate high school? Do the pathways we’ve built truly prepare them for success in college, careers and life? In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Nathan Oakley sits down with Dr. Ken Warden, Commissioner of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education, to explore how states are answering these critical questions with data-driven solutions.Together, they discuss how Arkansas is leading with its return-on-investment analysis of college and career programs. The

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25:04

How phones affect teens & how school districts can...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/10/23

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Adriana Harrington sits down with South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver to discuss the state’sefforts to create distraction-free classrooms. In 2024, South Carolina became one of the first states in the nation to include a cell phone provision in its budget, requiring districts to prohibit the use of personal communication devices—like phones, smartwatches, tablets and gaming devices—during the school day.Superintendent Weaver shares

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36:11

Building Better Teachers: How states can raise the...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/10/16

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Justine Morina sits down with Meagan Comb, Executive Director of the Wheelock Educational Policy Center at Boston University, to unpack one of the most urgent questions in education: How do we ensure every student has a well-prepared, effective teacher?Together, they explore how states are rethinking teacher preparation as part of broader efforts to boost literacy and math outcomes. From Louisiana’s bold math teacher training requirements to Colorado’s

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35:46

Examining "the honesty gap” and school accountability...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/10/09

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Christy Hovanetz sits down with longtime education leader (and ExcelinEd board member) Chris Cerf to examine one of the most pressing issues in American education: the “honesty gap.” Too often, states report student performance in ways that mask real challenges, leaving parents and educators with an inaccurate picture of whether students are truly on track. Christy and Chris dig into why this matters, how school accountability has evolved over the past

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26:53

School districts as education scholarship account...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/10/02

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Ben DeGrow sits down with Keith Jacobs, Director of Provider Development at Step Up for Students, to discuss a groundbreaking expansion for parental choice in Florida. Long known for leading the way in private school choice, Florida is pioneering a new policy that enables and engages public schools and districts to serve as education scholarship account (ESA) providers. This means families using ESAs can purchase individual public school classes,

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34:33

Math Policy 201: When should students take Algebra I...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/09/24

When should students take Algebra I—and how can states design math policies that expand opportunity without setting students up to struggle? In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Lindsey Henderson, Policy Director for Math at ExcelinEd, sits down with Dr. Thomas Dee, Professor of Education at Stanford University, to explore what the research really says about Algebra I timing, readiness and state policy solutions.Together, Lindsey and Dr. Dee examine the evidence behind guaranteed

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28:12

The funding policy that helped Idaho charter schools...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/09/18

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Matthew Joseph welcomes Terry Ryan, CEO of Bluum and Board Chair of the Idaho Charter School Network, to explore how Idaho is leading the way in helping charter schools save on facility costs and invest more in student learning. At no cost to taxpayers, the state has developed a strategy that begins with no-interest revolving loans for new charter schools in their early years, followed by the use of the state’s “moral obligation” to help those schools

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38:16

What’s up with federal education policy? | Patricia...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/09/11

In this episode, host and ExcelinEd VP of Policy Cara Candal kicks off season two of Policy Changes Lives by tackling the biggest federal education headlines with Patricia Levesque, CEO of ExcelinEd, and Lindsay Fryer, founder of Lodestone DC.Together, they break down the White House proposal to close the U.S. Department of Education, the potential reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and how states are navigating new waiver requests. They also dive into provisions in

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1:26

2025 Season Trailer: We’re back for a second season!...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2025/09/04

Welcome back to Policy Changes Lives, the official podcast of ExcelinEd! Listen to our Vice President of Policy Cara Candal give a preview of our 2025 season. We’re highlighting leaders who are breaking down old boundaries and putting students first.Our goal? To inform, inspire and equip policymakers and advocates who care about student success and what’s next in education policy.So hit that follow button and join us this season on Policy Changes Lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

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51:26

Education policy trends to watch in 2025

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2024/12/05

In our final episode of the 2024 season of Policy Changes Lives, hosts Cara Candal and Adriana Harrington sit down with ExcelinEd CEO Patricia Levesque to recap the 2024 National Summit on Education, revisit our 2024 policy trend predictions and, finally, introduce new trends we expect to see in 2025.Tune in for this info-packed episode as we explore what’s next for education policy and how states might tackle these new challenges in the year ahead.Time Stamps2:11 ExcelinEd National Summit on

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39:28

From the Summit Main Stage | Gov. Jeb Bush & IN...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2024/11/14

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, ExcelinEd’s Founder and Chairman Governor Jeb Bush sits down with Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner from the main stage at the National Summit on Education in Oklahoma City to emphasize the power of student-centered policies.Gov. Bush discusses his experience leading transformative education reforms in Florida and shares his vision for states to recommit to foundational skills in math and literacy while also adapting to new challenges like declining

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33:17

No More Lines: The push for open enrollment by 2030 |...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2024/11/07

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Michael Chartier sits down with Tim DeRoche, founder and president of Available to All, to explore the ambitious goal of eliminating school boundary lines by 2030. They delve into the origins of these boundaries, tracing their roots back to discriminatory redlining practices and examining how they continue to limit access to quality education for countless students across the nation. Tim shares insights from his book, A Fine Line: How Most American Kids

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26:03

How states are ensuring more high school grads are...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2024/10/31

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Quentin Suffren explores the growing movement among state policymakers to ensure that high school graduates are not only prepared for college but also equipped with the skills needed for the workforce.Quentin sits down with Taylor White, Director of Postsecondary Pathways for Youth at New America, to talk aboutyouth apprenticeships and the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) initiative. They’ll discuss the states that are leading early

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43:45

Demystifying dyslexia and the policies that impact...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2024/10/24

In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Sonya Yates sits down with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck, a renowned dyslexia expert, author, researcher and educational consultant for a special episode to celebrate Dyslexia Awareness Month.Host Sonya Yates and Dr. Hasbrouck discuss the long-term impact of dyslexia on students and states, especially when students don't receive the necessary supports and interventions. The episode highlights how early screening, high-quality instructional materials, and

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23:38

Math policies that can help fix the nation’s math...

Policy Changes Lives, an ExcelinEd podcast ·

2024/10/17

In this episode, host Lindsey Henderson investigates with Adam Ezring, Deputy Director of the Collaborative for Student Successthe urgent issue of declining math performance across the nation and the innovative policies that have the potential to reverse this alarming trend. After highlighting the critical challenges that have led to a national math crisis, Lindsey and Adam discuss the importance of implementing policies that prioritize rigorous standards, accountability and evidence-based

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