States Unite on What Actually Improves Student Success

When it comes to helping students succeed, politics might matter less than we think.

The Learning Policy Institute is hosting a groundbreaking webinar in September 2026 that brings together leaders from across the political spectrum. Governors and education chiefs from Connecticut, Colorado, Utah, and Maryland will share their success stories.

The event turns the typical partisan education debate on its head. Instead of arguing about which political approach is right, these leaders are focusing on what actually works in classrooms across America.

The research reveals a clear pattern. States seeing real gains in student achievement share three key strategies: comprehensive and evidence-based teaching methods, sustained support for principals and teachers, and funding systems that direct resources where students need them most.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont will join education commissioners from multiple states to discuss their approaches. These aren't quick fixes or trendy reforms but coherent instructional systems built over time.

Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova and former Utah State Superintendent Sydnee Dickson represent different political landscapes. Yet their states found similar paths to improvement by investing in teacher capacity and support rather than chasing singular reform ideas.

Maryland State Superintendent Carey Wright brings another perspective on how federal, state, and local resources can work together. The conversation will explore how these leaders use available funding to support proven strategies.

The Ripple Effect

This collaboration signals a shift in how America talks about education. When leaders from different political backgrounds share what works, they create a blueprint other states can follow regardless of their political lean.

The webinar demonstrates that student success doesn't have to be a partisan issue. Schools across red, blue, and purple states are proving that evidence-based approaches transcend political boundaries.

Education researchers like Linda Darling-Hammond from the Learning Policy Institute will help translate these real-world successes into actionable insights. The goal is helping more state leaders chart stronger paths forward for their students.

The September event is cosponsored by Education Commission of the States, the National Association of State Boards of Education, and the National Conference of State Legislatures. This broad coalition shows how many organizations want to move beyond political divisions to focus on student outcomes.

When states choose collaboration over competition, every student wins.