Blog

Families, educators, and students themselves need a voice in conversations about education practices and policymaking. Through the EdAllies blog, we elevate diverse perspectives to foster a candid dialogue about what students need and how schools can support them. We also regularly report back on our policy work, keeping our partners in-the-know on key issues.

On The Blog

Understanding Minnesota’s MCA Scores: A Guide for Families, Educators, and Communities

Every year, the release of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) scores ramps up public discussion on the state of our […]

Other Posts

Jennifer Bertram

How Do We Support Children’s Emotional Needs While Managing School Behaviors? Seclusion and Suspension Are Not The Answer.

Guest Post
Satara Strong-Allen

The Quiet Pushout: How Discipline Disparities Are Failing Minnesota’s BIPOC Students

Matt Shaver

Holding the Line for Students in a High-Stakes Session

Guest Post
Swopnil Shrestha

Critical English Language Education to Transform English into a Tool of Agency for Immigrant Students in Minnesota

Guest Post
Jennifer Bertram

Transition Planning Failures Are Leaving Twice Exceptional Students Unprepared for College and Career

Matt Shaver & Madie Spartz

Blind Spots and Bright Spots: A First Deadline Look at Minnesota’s 2026 Education Legislation

Madie Spartz

March 2026 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

February 2026 Research Rundown

Guest Post
Jacinta Moss

Fighting the Tears of a Mother

Guest Post
Nyleve Eiram

Seeing Beyond the Surface: Early ADHD Screening and Real Support in the Black Community!

Madie Spartz & Matt Shaver

Short Session, Big Stakes: EdAllies’ 2026 Legislative Priorities

Madie Spartz

Attendance in the Face of ICE Operations

Madie Spartz

January 2026 Research Rundown

Josh Crosson

ICE is endangering our kids and schools. It’s time to take action.

Madie Spartz

December 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

November 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

October 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

September 2025 Research Rundown

Guest Post
Dr. Tracey Plante

Beyond “I’m Not a Math Person”: How Rigorous Math Builds Confidence and Closes Gender Gaps

Josh Crosson

Statement from Josh Crosson, Executive Director of EdAllies, on the Annunciation Catholic School tragedy

Madie Spartz

August 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

July 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

EdLines from Washington: Tracking Federal Policy and Its Impact on Minnesota

Madie Spartz

June 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz & Matt Shaver

Task Force Awakens: A Deep Dive into Minnesota’s 2025 K-12 Budget Bill

Madie Spartz

May 2025 Research Rundown

Joey Gebin

April 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

Omnibus Turbulence and Bipartisan Bright Spots: A Mid-Session Look at Education Legislation

Madie Spartz

March 2025 Research Rundown

Josh Crosson

Don’t Let Minnesota Make San Francisco’s Math Mistake

Madie Spartz

January 2025 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

Reading the Fine Print: What Governor Walz’s Budget Could Mean for Schools

Matt Shaver

For Good…or Gridlock? Power Sharing Before the Session

Madie Spartz

December 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

November 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

October 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

Reading Between the Lines: What the Read Act 2.0 Means for Your School Year

Madie Spartz

September 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

August 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

July 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

June 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

May 2024 Research Rundown

Matt Shaver

Cutting Through the Noise: What Mattered for Kids in the 2024 Legislative Session

Madie Spartz

April 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

Conference Committees Tackle Final Details on K-12 Bills. Will Key Provisions Get Across the Finish Line?

Madie Spartz

March 2024 Research Rundown

Matt Shaver

2024 Mid-Session Madness: Which Student-Centered Policies Will Advance?

Guest Post
Jennifer Bertram

Attendance Is a Huge Problem, But There Is No Easy Solution

Madie Spartz

How Will New Legislation on Dangerous Holds in Schools Impact Students & Families?

Madie Spartz

Parents—Save Those Receipts! Information on K-12 Tax Credits

Madie Spartz

February 2024 Research Rundown

Matt Shaver

More Progression this Session: A Look at EdAllies’ 2024 Policy Priorities

Guest Post
Erin Sandsmark

Dangerous Hold Protections for Kids Are Simple and Don’t Need to be Repealed

Madie Spartz

January 2024 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

Decoding Literacy Incentive Aid

Madie Spartz

December 2023 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

November 2023 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

October 2023 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

September 2023 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

August 2023 Research Rundown

Madie Spartz

What Can Families Expect to See from the READ Act?

Madie Spartz

July 2023 Research Rundown

Matt Hager

EdAllies Gets amplifiED

Madie Spartz

June 2023 Research Rundown

Matt Shaver

A Wrap on the 2023 Session: Tenacious DFL

Madie Spartz

May 2023 Research Rundown

Josh Crosson

Going Backwards on PreK-3 Suspensions & Expulsions

Madie Spartz

At the Capitol, Dual Credit Programs Fail to Make the Cut

Matt Hager

Community Action Team: Eliminating Barriers for Prospective Teachers of Color

Matt Shaver

A Big Session Lies Ahead for Kids. What Are We Working On This Year?

Teacher engaging in the classroom

Josh Crosson

Why Do Prospective Teachers of Color Walk Away? Join the Community Action Team

Empty offices

Josh Crosson

MDE is Getting a New Commissioner. Who Should Gov. Walz Appoint?

Hands touching Scrabble tiles

Guest Post
Jennifer Bertram

Twice Exceptional Students and their Educational Rights

MCA proficiency trend lines drop for both math and reading between 2018-22, with math falling further than reading

Tim Essenburg

Benchmarking Student Data Is Key to Understanding Proficiency

Tim Essenburg

July 2022 Research Rundown

Guest Post
Riyan Said

The Broken Promise of Advanced Coursework for Students of Color (Like Me)

Guest Post
Matt Shaver

A Wrap on the 2022 Session: Nothing Happened in the Room Where it Happens

Guest Post
Virginia Gutierrez

Legislators Need to Know What I Learned About Exclusionary Discipline

Guest Post
Abigail Catalan

A Student Take: 7 Ways to Improve Student Mental Health

Guest Post
Jazmin Roldan

Students are Fighting Mental Health Challenges Every Day. Who’s Going to Help?

Guest Post
Mindy Chang

What Are You? Putting an End to Guessing Games with Disaggregated Data

Guest Post
Kara Cisco

Racist Incidents are Increasing. Can Ethnic Studies Address the Problem?

Guest Post
Abigail Catalan

MN Youth Can’t Succeed without Proper Access to Mental Health Support

Guest Post
Riyan Said

Experiencing MN’s Patterns of Exclusion in Advanced Coursework

Guest Post
Jennifer Bertram

Fighting for Our Kids: Special Education Services Need an Overhaul. But Will MN Invest?

Matt Shaver

In the Homestretch of Session, What’s Up for Debate in Education? Kids Deserve a Deal

Guest Post
Suleiman Adan

The Time to Prioritize Literacy is Now

Guest Post
Mindy Chang

New Bill Would Put Free, Accessible Period Products in Schools—and Keep Kids in Class

Matt Shaver

Buckle Up! A Unique Session Ahead with High Stakes for Kids

Guest Post
Kara Cisco

Four Qualities of an Effective Ethnic Studies Teacher

Matt Shaver

Attention Minnesota Teachers: New Literacy Training is Here

Guest Post
Ruth Davis & Reggie Evans

We’re Tackling School Nutrition. Here’s Why Policymakers Should Care Too.

Guest Post
Kara Cisco

Students Don’t Need Mindful Moments. They Need Change.

Krista Kaput

December 2021 Research Rundown

Krista Kaput

November 2021 Research Rundown

Krista Kaput

Less Than Half of MN Students Completed the FAFSA. It’s Time for State Action.

Guest Post
Keenan Jones

Black Boys: Love Them, Nurture Them, Empower Them

Krista Kaput

October 2021 Research Rundown

Guest Post
Myisha Holley

From Parent to Parent: Seeing Each Other Amidst Uncertainty