Recapping the biggest education policy changes from the 2026 legislative session | Patricia Levesque
ExcelinEd in Action Statehouse SpotlightsShow Notes
In our season finale of Statehouse Spotlights, Executive Director Patricia Levesque joins host Ashley Mullins to recap one of the most active education policy years we’ve covered. From math and literacy to phone-free schools, teacher policy, pathways, school choice, accountability and responsible artificial intelligence, state leaders moved big ideas through statehouses across the country.
Hear what made the 2026 legislative session stand out, even in an election year, and how states connected policy priorities into stronger systems for students. Patricia highlights momentum in math and K-8 literacy, the rapid rise of distraction-free learning policies, growing attention to student safety and AI guardrails, and new efforts to support teachers, strengthen pathways and make school choice policies work well for families.
As the season closes, Patricia shares a clear message for state leaders: focus on policy, program and perseverance. Strong laws matter, but so does faithful implementation, and states that improve student outcomes keep building, measuring, adjusting and moving forward.
Thanks for joining us this season! We’ll be back with a bonus episode after the November midterm elections to break down what the results could mean for education policy across the states.
Remember to join the conversation on social media.
ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com)
ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram
ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • BlueSky
ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from ExcelinEd in Action Statehouse Spotlights
In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins shares a mid-June update as legislative sessions begin to wind down across the country. With only a handful of states still in session, meaningful education policy is still moving—from math intervention and charter facilities access in Ohio to major literacy reform in Massachusetts, student safety and AI guidance in North Carolina, and new threats to education choice programs in Pennsylvania.
In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Mississippi to examine the state’s next phase of literacy reform: a new effort to strengthen reading instruction and intervention for students in grades 4 through 8. After earning national recognition for its progress in early literacy, Mississippi is now building on that foundation through Senate Bill 2294, which requires evidence-based literacy practices aligned to the science of reading in the middle grades and establishes new supports for students who continue to struggle with reading.
In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins takes listeners on a cross-country tour of the latest education policy developments as legislative sessions begin winding down and states race to finalize their agendas. From Arizona to Pennsylvania, lawmakers are advancing policies designed to strengthen student outcomes, expand opportunity and better prepare students for success in school and beyond.
In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Oklahoma to examine the state’s newly enacted effort to close one of the biggest barriers to public charter school growth: access to facilities financing. Through HB 3372, state leaders created both a revolving loan fund for charter school capital projects and a bond credit enhancement program designed to help qualifying schools secure more affordable financing for buildings and improvements.
In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins takes a step back to examine the major education policy developments emerging as legislative sessions wrap up across the country. With several states officially adjourned and others racing toward the finish line, the episode highlights the proposals, priorities and trends that gained momentum during the 2026 session.