Throughout the 2024 campaign cycle, post-election messaging, and proposed administrative appointments, the incoming Trump Administration has sent a clear message that undermining educational access for marginalized populations will be a priority. The most direct threat has been the repeated promise of closing the federal Department of Education…

As Congress negotiates the fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations package, another year of level funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) would result in more children losing access to child care, with estimates that 24,000 fewer children will have access to child care through CCDBG in FY26. The compounded impact of two years…

"Pathways to Implementation" highlights innovative strategies and effective models in career pathways policy, implementation, and programming, as well as challenges states encounter in this work. This seven-part series addresses the key elements of Bellwether's framework for career pathways policy implementation. Each brief defines the…

Sustainability is an important but often elusive goal in educational improvement. This article presents six strategies that are usually present in successful long-term professional learning initiatives--and missing in efforts that start off with potential but fall by the wayside. Although some of these strategies can get a boost from financial…

In May 2025, a deadlocked US Supreme Court left in place an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling barring faith-based schools from eligibility in the state's charter school program. "Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond" (consolidated with "St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond") carries no…

In June 2022, Bellwether published the "Pragmatic Playbook," which explored how organizations can employ three strategies to maximize their impact--Direct Impact, Widespread Impact, and Systemic Impact. Over the past three-plus years, dozens of organizations across the country have adopted this framework for strategic decision-making and…

This publication presents an institutional perspective on the state of university finances in Europe. Drawing on findings from a large-scale survey on the financial sustainability of universities, it offers a key evidence base, gathering insights from institutions across Europe. While EUA's research indicates that funding trends have been largely…

This publication provides information on the flow of government funding for vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. The publication is based on 2024 data provided by the Australian, state and territory government departments responsible for administering funds for Australia's VET system.

In June 2022, Bellwether published the "Pragmatic Playbook," which explored how organizations can employ three strategies to maximize their impact--Direct Impact, Widespread Impact, and Systemic Impact. Over the past three-plus years, dozens of organizations across the country have adopted this framework for strategic decision-making and…

Families may choose to save for college or elementary and secondary education expenses using tax-advantaged qualified tuition programs (QTPs), also known as 529 plans. This report provides an overview of the mechanics of 529 plans and examines the specific tax advantages of these plans. Specifically, this report is structured to first compare…

In 2008, America's largest government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)--the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)--recorded combined net losses of $109 billion. This figure surpassed the GSEs' cumulative net income over the prior 40 years, and the federal government placed both…

It is generally accepted that the nation's community colleges are underfunded, especially given the job that society expects of them. Accordingly, practitioners and scholars have long argued for new revenue sources and funding models. This essay briefly explains one such alternative model, namely funding adequacy. This concept has a long history…

While prior research has indicated increased funding to higher education has resulted in positive outcomes related to enrollment, retention and graduation rates, and degree and certificate completions (Cummings et al., 2021), there is more to learn about disparities in funding to institutions and target student populations. With this aim, the…

Teach for Australia was announced by the Australian Government in 2008, at a corporate dinner sponsored by Swiss multinational investment bank UBS, hosting New York Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. Conceptualising Teach for Australia as a polycentric policy network anchored in venture philanthropy, this paper examines how networks mobilise major…

For non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the world of funders can be difficult to navigate. The question isn't just whom to approach for a grant. Equally important is how to make a successful pitch for money. This tip sheet how NGOs can approach funders. Two categories it covers are: (1) Know your funder; and (2) Customise your pitch. [For a…