Instructure Launches First-of-its-Kind Education Policy Atlas to Aid in Identifying Funding Requirements for Every State

Rhea-AI Summary

Instructure has launched the Education Policy Atlas, a comprehensive resource outlining federal, state, and funding guidelines for Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence. This first-of-its-kind atlas is designed for K-12 districts, state education departments, and edtech companies, providing specific evidence requirements for each state. The atlas aims to simplify the complex process of navigating state funding requirements, which often vary across states.

Key points:

• 34 states encourage evidence-based programs, while 16 states require at least ESSA Level IV
• The atlas outlines minimum ESSA levels required for Title I Funds and school improvement funds
• It supports educational institutions in maximizing resources and identifying compliant solutions
• The tool can help edtech companies align their solutions with funding requirements, enhancing their market position

This initiative expands Instructure's commitment to evidence-based edtech management and aims to improve student learning outcomes across the country.

Positive

• Launch of a unique Education Policy Atlas to aid in identifying funding requirements for every state
• Potential to help educational institutions maximize available resources and find compliant solutions
• May benefit EdTech companies in aligning their solutions with funding requirements, improving market position
• Expansion of Instructure's commitment to evidence-based edtech management

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

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On the day this news was published, INST gained 0.04%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

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SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In keeping with an ongoing commitment to maximizing edtech effectiveness, Instructure has published the Education Policy Atlas, a valuable new resource outlining the federal, state, and funding guidelines for Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence. Created for K-12 districts, state departments of education and edtech companies, this first-of-its-kind atlas outlines the specific evidence requirements for any state in the country. Instructure already provides comprehensive evidence-based edtech management solutions to K12 organizations with LearnPlatform, and partners directly with other edtech companies to build rigorous, third-party research. This initiative expands upon and democratizes that work by offering a singular resource to use during strategic planning initiatives and to evaluate how edtech tools align with federal and state requirements for funding sources in this new post-pandemic funding landscape.

"Understanding evidence and funding requirements is essential for educational institutions to maximize the available resources and identify compliant solutions that will drive meaningful improvement. Without this knowledge, schools risk missing critical opportunities to provide research-backed interventions that support students and meet their unique needs," explained Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer at Instructure. "Unfortunately, navigating state funding requirements can be incredibly challenging. Information is often scattered across various documents and agencies, making it difficult for decision-makers to pinpoint exactly what is needed to access these crucial funds. Having a one-stop page where administrators can find what they need allows them to reallocate one of their most precious resources — time — to other priorities that can directly impact students."

Not only can stakeholders struggle with finding specific evidence requirements to access funding, these requirements often vary by state. Although all 50 states require interventions, practices, and programs to be evidence-based, there is great variability in how each state defines "evidence-based." Thirty-four states generally encourage evidence-based programs, while 16 states define evidence-based as meeting at least ESSA Level IV or better. Only one state defines evidence-based as meeting at least ESSA Level III or better.

To ease the burden of finding state-wide funding requirements, Instructure's Education Policy Atlas outlines the minimum ESSA Level required for Title I Funds and the minimum ESSA Level required to access school improvement funds. Interested parties can view these requirements in an easy-to-read table view or in map form to compare with other states.

"Although these policy requirements might seem daunting, ESSA is a crucial framework to ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to a quality education. By holding states accountable for academic standards, equity, and student achievement, ESSA aims to close achievement gaps, promote transparency, and empower local stakeholders to address the unique needs of their schools. Compliance with these guidelines is essential to fostering an education system that prioritizes the success of every child," explained Christoper Downs, Director of Government Affairs at Instructure.

Instructure's Education Policy Atlas may also benefit EdTech companies aiming to make their solutions more attractive and impactful for educational institutions. According to one federal estimate, about 92% of schools used pandemic relief funds on edtech. Changes in funding will require educational institutions to be more discerning about how they spend their limited resources. A recent poll found that only 18% of administrators say that a lot of evidence-based information is available about the effectiveness of the digital learning tools used in their school districts. Aligning demonstrated outcomes with funding requirements not only appeals to these institutions but also helps companies position their solutions as leading options in the market.

"As operators in the educational space, we share a collective responsibility to keep improving student learning outcomes. We must ensure our solutions meet the highest level of evidence required," added Loble. "By aligning solutions with funding sources like Title dollars, companies can position themselves as go-to partners, gaining a competitive edge in the RFP process as school districts seek evidence-based interventions that deliver real impact."

Instructure's Education Policy Atlas can be found here: https://www.instructure.com/landing/education-policy-atlas

ABOUT RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
To identify the evidence requirements for each state, researchers used a targeted search strategy. First, researchers conducted a separate online search for each state using the terms "[State] department of education Title I 1003a school improvement funds evidence ESSA." They then reviewed various documents generated from the search using key terms. Only documents published by state education agencies were used to identify the evidence requirements. Researchers recorded relevant primary source text regarding evidence requirements and criteria for identifying CSI or TSI schools in need of improvement. All cases were reviewed by a second researcher to reach agreement on the evidence requirements, and disputed cases were discussed among three researchers until consensus was achieved. The requirements were reviewed in August 2024, so the information may change as new details become available.

ABOUT ESSA
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the primary education law for public schools in the United States, aiming to ensure all children have a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education while closing achievement gaps. ESSA encourages state and local education agencies to follow the school improvement cycle, progressing from identifying needs to selecting and implementing interventions, and then examining the outcomes. The law offers guidance to districts and schools through a tiered framework for determining which programs, practices, strategies, and interventions are effective in specific contexts and for particular students.

ABOUT INSTRUCTURE
Instructure (NYSE: INST) powers the delivery of education globally and provides learners with the rich credentials they need to create opportunities across their lifetimes. Today, the Instructure ecosystem of products enables educators and institutions to elevate student success, amplify the power of teaching, and inspire everyone to learn together. With our global network of learners, educators, partners and customers, we continue to deliver on our vision to be the platform that powers learning for a lifetime and turns that learning into opportunities. We encourage you to discover more at www.instructure.com. 

CONTACT:
Brian Watkins
Corporate Communications
Instructure
(801) 658-7525
brian.watkins@instructure.com 

 

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SOURCE Instructure

FAQ

What is the Education Policy Atlas launched by Instructure (INST)?

The Education Policy Atlas is a comprehensive resource launched by Instructure that outlines federal, state, and funding guidelines for Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence. It provides specific evidence requirements for each state, aimed at helping K-12 districts, state education departments, and edtech companies navigate funding requirements.

How does the Education Policy Atlas benefit educational institutions?

The Education Policy Atlas helps educational institutions maximize available resources, identify compliant solutions, and navigate complex state funding requirements. It provides a centralized resource for understanding evidence and funding requirements, potentially saving time and improving access to research-backed interventions that support students.

What information does Instructure's (INST) Education Policy Atlas provide about ESSA levels?

Instructure's Education Policy Atlas outlines the minimum ESSA Level required for Title I Funds and the minimum ESSA Level required to access school improvement funds for each state. It shows that 34 states generally encourage evidence-based programs, while 16 states define evidence-based as meeting at least ESSA Level IV or better.

How can EdTech companies benefit from Instructure's (INST) Education Policy Atlas?

EdTech companies can use the Education Policy Atlas to align their solutions with funding requirements, making their products more attractive to educational institutions. This can help them position their solutions as leading options in the market and gain a competitive edge in the RFP process as schools seek evidence-based interventions.