In our season finale of Statehouse Spotlights, Executive Director Patricia Levesque joins host Ashley Mullins to recap one of the most active education policy years we’ve covered. From math and literacy to phone-free schools, teacher policy, pathways, school choice, accountability and responsible artificial intelligence, state leaders moved big ideas through statehouses across the country.

Hear what made the 2026 legislative session stand out, even in an election year, and how states connected policy priorities into stronger systems for students. Patricia highlights momentum in math and K-8 literacy, the rapid rise of distraction-free learning policies, growing attention to student safety and AI guardrails, and new efforts to support teachers, strengthen pathways and make school choice policies work well for families.

As the season closes, Patricia shares a clear message for state leaders: focus on policy, program and perseverance. Strong laws matter, but so does faithful implementation, and states that improve student outcomes keep building, measuring, adjusting and moving forward.

Thanks for joining us this season! We’ll be back with a bonus episode after the November midterm elections to break down what the results could mean for education policy across the states.

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In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins shares a mid-June update as legislative sessions begin to wind down across the country. With only a handful of states still in session, meaningful education policy is still moving—from math intervention and charter facilities access in Ohio to major literacy reform in Massachusetts, student safety and AI guidance in North Carolina, and new threats to education choice programs in Pennsylvania.

The episode highlights Ohio’s SB 19, which heads to Gov. Mike DeWine with new requirements for evidence-based math and reading interventions, school-level math improvement plans, advanced math access for high-performing students and high-quality instructional materials. Ashley also previews continued movement on Sen. Andy Brenner’s SB 311, a charter and private school facilities bill expected to return in the fall.

Listeners will also hear why Massachusetts is nearing a major literacy milestone, how North Carolina is addressing social media safeguards and responsible AI use in schools, and why Pennsylvania’s latest proposals could sharply reduce scholarship access and charter school funding.

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In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins heads to Mississippi to examine the state’s next phase of literacy reform: a new effort to strengthen reading instruction and intervention for students in grades 4 through 8. After earning national recognition for its progress in early literacy, Mississippi is now building on that foundation through Senate Bill 2294, which requires evidence-based literacy practices aligned to the science of reading in the middle grades and establishes new supports for students who continue to struggle with reading.

Ashley is joined by Mississippi State Superintendent of Education Lance Evans to discuss why adolescent literacy became the next priority, what it means to apply the science of reading beyond third grade and how the state is adapting its successful early literacy model for older students with different academic needs. Their conversation explores what schools and educators can expect under the new law, the implementation supports that will be needed and what success could look like for students and families as Mississippi works to sustain literacy growth through middle school.

The episode also widens the lens to Mississippi’s broader education package, including expanded math coaching, universal math screening, financial literacy and artificial intelligence instruction, and considers how these reforms fit together as part of a larger strategy to improve academic outcomes and long-term readiness. As other states look for ways to build on early literacy gains without losing momentum, Mississippi’s approach offers a timely example of how policymakers can invest in continuity, raise expectations and keep students at the center of reform.

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