Resources

Economic Vitality and Education in the South, Part II: Projections for a Post-Pandemic South

The Southern Education Foundation has released Economic Vitality and Education in the South, Part II: Projections for a Post-Pandemic South (EVES II). The report examines what may become a defining line in American education: the COVID-19 pandemic and the era that followed.

Unlocking Opportunity: Progress on Moving More Students Toward Good Jobs

Released in partnership with the Community College Research Center (CCRC), Unlocking Opportunity: Progress on Moving More Students Toward Good Jobs highlights early outcomes from the first 10 colleges in the Unlocking Opportunity network. The report demonstrates that community colleges can rapidly increase enrollment in high-value workforce and transfer pathways while reducing enrollment in or improving programs with weaker labor market and bachelor's degree outcomes.

Roadmaps to Power

This month, CJSF is proud to release Roadmaps to Power — a report years in the making, produced in partnership with Nellie Mae Education Foundation and the USC Equity Research Institute. Download your copy of Roadmaps to Power, CJSF’s new research report on how community organizers are building co-governing power, strengthening community safety nets, and transforming public education systems.

Tracking Lawsuits Challenging the Trump Administration’s K-12 Education Agenda

Since January 2025, the Trump administration has issued executive actions reshaping federal education policy, including efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and withhold funding from institutions supporting DEI or transgender rights. Rachel M. Perera and colleagues at UC Law San Francisco's Center for Racial and Economic Justice maintain a regularly updated litigation tracker and policy brief monitoring these actions and the legal challenges against them.

A Playbook for State Policymakers and Place-Based Partnerships

As a part of our 2025-27 Chair's Initiative under the leadership of ECS Chair and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, we are pleased to share our Playbook for State Policymakers and Place-Based Partnerships.

No matter their entry point, this playbook is designed to help state policymakers create durable, community-driven place-based partnerships that improve learner outcomes across the pre-K-to-workforce spectrum.

Assistant Principals: Growth and Implications for School Leadership

This report documents the proliferation of assistant principals in public schools–where they work, what they do, and what additional support they need.