Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2024) – Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Board President and Missouri’s Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven today delivered a State of the States address at the Council’s 2024 Legislative Conference, underscoring the significant investments being made in education across the country and the work to design and implement new systems to prepare students for the future.
“You are leading through change -- be it accelerating or supporting new models or ensuring the right conditions exist within your districts and schools to drive local change,” Vandeven said in prepared remarks. “No matter what this work looks like among our states, we remain committed in our push for innovation and never lose sight of what’s most important at the end of the day: “Student outcomes based on their educational experience.”
Vandeven highlighted state efforts across the country on high-impact tutoring, high-quality summer learning experiences, teacher fellowship programs and initiatives aimed at recruiting and retaining a skilled educator workforce.
The speech also celebrated state education leaders’ commitment to improving literacy skills, citing that all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and Puerto Rico had passed laws or implemented new policies or programs related to evidence-based reading instruction.
“When you look more closely at the way states are approaching this, it’s not just about setting law or a policy on paper. It is about the implementation and the hard work happening on the ground,” Vandeven said in prepared remarks. “It's high-quality instructional materials being adopted AND the aligned professional development happening alongside it. It is about programs being implemented with fidelity that give teachers support they deserve, staying ever mindful of teacher-student interaction.”
Vandeven concluded with praise for states’ leadership in staying focused on the results that matter for students. “I am proud of the ways you are leading – keeping your focus on what’s possible to do in our broad, complex systems to make sure every child, everyday walks into a classroom and feels how invested we are in their wellbeing and future success.”
Vandeven’s full remarks can be viewed here.
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The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, Bureau of Indian Education, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.
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