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sschuller Wed, 02/04/2026 - 15:48

Webinar Recap: Paradigm Shift — States Redefining Standards & the Skills of the Future

February 04 2026

Author

Rich Portelance

EdGate closed out Q4 with a record‑breaking webinar that brought together state leaders, policy experts, and education innovators to explore a critical question facing the industry:

How are states redefining standards—and what does that mean for the skills students need for the future?

Moderated by Richard Portelance, the session highlighted the growing shift from static standards and surface‑level alignment toward future‑ready, skills‑driven frameworks that better reflect workforce, postsecondary, and real‑world demands.

A Clear Paradigm Shift in Standards and Skills

Across states, standards are no longer viewed as fixed documents updated once every decade. Panelists emphasized that today’s standards are:

Evolving more frequently to reflect workforce and economic realities
Increasingly focused on transferable skills, not just academic content
Expected to connect instruction to real‑world application

This shift is creating new pressures for states, publishers, and EdTech providers alike—particularly when instructional materials, data systems, and alignment processes were built for a slower pace of change.

Panel Insights: Perspectives from Policy, Practice, and Technology

State‑Level Realities

From a state perspective, Keven Ellis (Texas State Board of Education) shared how standards, accountability, and instructional expectations must balance rigor with flexibility. As standards expand to include skills such as problem solving, data literacy, and digital readiness, states need clearer visibility into how instructional materials truly support those outcomes.

Policy and Market Alignment

Hillary Rinaldi (Whiteboard Advisors) highlighted how shifts in standards ripple through adoption cycles, procurement decisions, and product strategy. She emphasized that alignment is no longer just a compliance exercise—it has become a strategic differentiator for publishers and solution providers navigating competitive and rapidly changing markets.

Instructional Practice and Student Readiness

Lisa O'Masta (Learning.com) underscored how skills such as digital literacy, AI awareness, and career readiness increasingly intersect with academic standards. Her perspective reinforced that future‑ready alignment must account for how skills are taught, practiced, and assessed in real classrooms—not just how they appear on paper.

The Role of Data and Metadata in Future‑Ready Alignment

A recurring theme throughout the webinar was the importance of structured data and clean metadata. As standards grow more complex, organizations can no longer rely on manual or static alignment processes.

Panelists discussed the need for:

Machine‑readable standards data
Alignment systems that can adapt as standards change
Greater transparency into how content supports specific skills and outcomes

Without these foundations, even high‑quality instructional materials risk becoming misaligned as expectations evolve.

What This Means for Education Providers

The webinar made one point clear: future‑ready alignment is no longer optional.

Publishers, EdTech providers, and curriculum teams must be prepared to:

Move beyond simple correlations to capture intent and skill development
Support state and district decision‑making with clear, trustworthy alignment data
Future‑proof their content and platforms against ongoing standards change

If you’d like to revisit the full discussion, you can watch the complete webinar recording.

Watch Now

Looking Ahead

Building on the momentum of this discussion, EdGate announced its next webinar focused on future‑proofing curriculum through future‑ready alignments, including the role of automation, structured data, and scalable alignment systems.

As states continue redefining what students need to know and be able to do, one thing is certain: alignment must evolve just as quickly as standards themselves.

Please join us on March 25th as we evolve the conversation further.

Thank you to our panelists and attendees for making this our most well‑attended webinar yet. Stay tuned for upcoming conversations on how education organizations can stay aligned, agile, and future‑ready.

What Responsible AI Really Looks Like in Standards Alignment

sschuller — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:38:23 +0000

What Responsible AI Really Looks Like in Standards Alignment

sschuller Tue, 01/06/2026 - 14:38

What Responsible AI Really Looks Like in Standards Alignment

January 06 2026

Author

Sharla Schuller

AI is everywhere in education right now, especially when it comes to data-heavy work like standards alignment. On the surface, it’s easy to see the appeal. AI can scan massive datasets quickly, automate time-consuming tasks, and produce results that look polished and complete.

But anyone who has spent time reviewing AI-generated outputs knows the truth shows up when introduced to complex alignments.

The real question isn’t whether AI can move fast. It’s whether the results hold up once accuracy, consistency, and scale actually matter.

When AI Looks Right, but Falls Apart

Many AI tools perform well in controlled scenarios. They summarize content, match language patterns, and suggest relationships that seem reasonable at first glance. The challenge emerges when those same tools are applied to large, constantly changing datasets.

In K–12 and workforce education, standards are never static. States revise frameworks. Career pathways shift. Terminology evolves. Even small inaccuracies can compound quickly when AI is applied without enough context or oversight.

A modest error rate might not feel alarming on paper. But when you’re aligning content across thousands of standards, those gaps can erode trust fast. And once trust is gone, the data becomes harder to use, not easier.

The Issue Isn’t AI. It’s Expectations.

AI isn’t the problem. The problem is expecting it to do work it was never designed to do on its own.

Large language models predict what should come next based on probability. They don’t inherently understand instructional intent, policy nuance, or the subtle differences between standards frameworks. Without reliable, validated data grounding those predictions, AI is left to infer meaning where precision is required.

That’s why the most effective uses of AI in standards alignment treat it as a supporting tool, not the system driving every decision.

Where AI Actually Adds Value

At EdGate, more than 25 years of standards work informs how we apply AI today. Within our ExACT Standards Alignment Platform, AI is introduced after standards data has been curated, reviewed, and contextualized by experts.

That foundation changes everything.

AI supports cross-language comparisons and translations so global standards can be aligned accurately.
It identifies semantic relationships between standards that may use different wording but reflect similar expectations.
It accelerates alignment suggestions using concept and metadata matching, while still allowing for expert validation.
It helps maintain accuracy as standards change by crosswalking existing alignments to new or updated frameworks.
It highlights gaps and evaluates alignment strength, giving teams clear direction on where content improvements matter most.

In each case, AI speeds up the work without compromising the integrity of the results.

Why Guardrails Matter

Automation alone does not improve accuracy. Accuracy improves when AI operates within well-defined boundaries.

ExACT uses vetted AI models for advanced processing, but all data flows back into EdGate’s proprietary system. Client data remains private, secure, and fully owned, while benefiting from AI-driven analysis that is shaped by real standards expertise.

This approach allows organizations to scale alignment efforts confidently, knowing the outputs are grounded in data they can trust.

Why This Conversation Matters Right Now

Standards alignment influences adoption decisions, market expansion, funding opportunities, and learner outcomes. When alignments are inconsistent or incorrect, the downstream impact can be costly.

AI can amplify high-quality data. It cannot fix incomplete, outdated, or misunderstood information.

The organizations seeing real value from AI are not chasing the flashiest tools. They’re applying AI with intention, clarity, and accountability.

A More Responsible Way Forward

The future of standards alignment isn’t about choosing between human expertise and AI. It’s about designing systems where each plays the role it’s best suited for.

When AI supports expert-driven workflows, it becomes a powerful accelerator. When it’s treated as a shortcut, it becomes a risk.

That philosophy is built into how EdGate approaches standards alignment and technology, and it’s a theme we explore more deeply in our recent webinar, Paradigm Shift: How AI Is Reshaping Education Data. The session dives into real-world use cases, common pitfalls, and what responsible AI adoption actually looks like in education.

If you’re evaluating how AI fits into your standards strategy, the conversation is worth your time.

Learn more about ExACT and how we apply AI responsibly to standards alignment, or watch the webinar to hear about where AI delivers value and where caution is essential.

Texas Leads the Way: Building Future-Ready Learners for College, Career, and Life

sschuller — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:56:21 +0000

Texas Leads the Way: Building Future-Ready Learners for College, Career, and Life

State Highlight

sschuller Tue, 11/11/2025 - 09:56

Building Future-Ready Learners for College, Career, and Life

November 11 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

In the latest episode of EdGate Powers Education, host Rich Portelance welcomed Keven Ellis, Member and former Chair of the Texas State Board of Education, to explore how Texas is reimagining student success through aligned policy, innovation, and accountability.

A Statewide Vision: Talent Strong Texas

Texas has set an ambitious goal — to ensure every learner, from kindergarten through adulthood, is prepared for college, career, or military service. The Talent Strong Texas initiative expands on the state’s original “60x30” goal, now aiming for Texans aged 25–64 to hold credentials of value by 2030.

This work is powered by the Tri-Agency Coalition, uniting the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Texas Workforce Commission to create coherent pathways from education to employment.

Evolving Standards and Skills

Ellis discussed how the State Board of Education shapes curriculum standards through the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which now emphasize critical thinking, communication, and adaptability. Texas has also introduced K–12 character traits such as citizenship, perseverance, and responsibility — reinforcing the importance of developing both intellect and integrity.

Transforming Assessment and Accountability

Texas is replacing the STAAR test with the Student Success Tool (SST) — adaptive, shorter, and more frequent assessments that provide real-time feedback to educators. This shift, Ellis explained, reflects Texas’s ongoing effort to make assessments more meaningful and actionable.

Additionally, updates to College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) metrics ensure that industry certifications and dual credit opportunities align with high-value, high-wage careers.

Empowering Teachers and Local Control

Teacher quality remains central to the state’s strategy. With the Teacher Incentive Allotment and expanded certification pathways, Texas is creating opportunities for educators to advance into six-figure roles while improving retention. The Districts of Innovation model gives local ISDs flexibility over calendars, contracts, and instructional design, fostering creativity within a framework of accountability.

Connecting Education to Industry

Through the Texas Regional Pathway Network, schools and regional partners align programs with workforce demand, ensuring students gain credentials that matter in the local economy.

Technology, Math, and the Future of Learning

While embracing AI and digital learning tools, Ellis emphasized the importance of balancing fluency with conceptual understanding. A recent law also directs districts to place the top 40% of fifth-grade math students on a path to complete Algebra I by eighth grade — advancing academic rigor and readiness.

A Shared Commitment to Students

For Ellis, the key to Texas’s success lies in the collaboration among educators, policymakers, and communities — all dedicated to preparing 5.5 million students for the opportunities ahead. “Vision statements don’t teach children,” he said. “Teachers do — and the students are worth it.”

Listen to the full conversation on the EdGate Powers Education podcast, and join us for the upcoming December 17 webinar featuring Keven Ellis, Hillary Knudson, and Lisa O'Masta.

Building the Future-Ready Learner: Insights from Hillary Knudson on Portraits of a Graduate

sschuller — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 01:06:10 +0000

Building the Future-Ready Learner: Insights from Hillary Knudson on Portraits of a Graduate

Top Stories

sschuller Mon, 11/03/2025 - 17:06

Insights from Hillary Knudson on Portraits of a Graduate

November 03 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

In the latest episode of EdGate Powers Education, host Rich Portelance spoke with Hillary Knudson, Vice President at Whiteboard Advisors, about how states are redefining what it means to be “ready” for the future.

Knudson explained that the Portrait of a Graduate movement emerged from clear feedback from employers: academic skills alone don’t ensure success. Students also need durable skills — communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability — that carry them through college, career, and life.

States Leading the Way

Knudson highlighted examples from Kentucky, which integrated its Portrait of a Graduate through the United We Learn initiative, and Indiana, which connects its Graduates Prepared to Succeed framework to real employment data through a statewide dashboard. These states, she said, are demonstrating how frameworks become meaningful when they are embedded in existing systems — not standalone policies.

The Role of AI and Emerging Competencies

As technology transforms the workforce, several states are now including digital literacy and AI competency in their portraits. Knudson emphasized that the goal is to make AI an additive part of learning — supporting creativity and problem-solving rather than replacing them.

Balancing Standards and Implementation

Aligning academic and CTE standards with durable skills is key to keeping high school learning relevant. However, Knudson cautioned that implementation must not add to teachers’ workloads. Instead, these skills should be integrated naturally through high-quality curriculum and instruction that already promote collaboration and critical thinking.

Assessing Future-Ready Skills

One of the biggest challenges is assessing these competencies meaningfully. Knudson pointed to initiatives like the Skills for the Future pilot — a multi-state effort involving ETS, Carnegie, and the XQ Institute — as promising models for evaluating non-academic learning outcomes.

Equity and Lifelong Readiness

Equity remains central to the Portrait of a Graduate framework. Knudson emphasized that durable skills should be developed from early grades through high school, ensuring every learner has access to meaningful, future-ready opportunities.

Looking Ahead

Rich Portelance closed the episode with an invitation to the upcoming December 17 webinar, where Knudson will join Keven Ellis, Member of the Texas State Board of Education, and Lisa O’Masta, CEO of Learning.com, to explore how these frameworks are evolving — and how states, educators, and EdTech partners can align to support them.

Listen to the full episode on the EdGate Powers Education podcast.

Read more and register for the December 17 webinar.

Insights from Jill Pierce on the EdGate Powers Podcast

bford — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:10:51 +0000

Insights from Jill Pierce on the EdGate Powers Podcast

bford Tue, 08/19/2025 - 09:10

How Schools Evaluate New EdTech: Insights from Jill Pierce on the EdGate Powers Podcast

August 19 2025

Author

Rich Portelance

The most recent EdGate Powers podcast features a highly engaging episode featuring Jill Pierce, Executive Director of the Tennessee Educational Technology Association. With more than 30 years of expertise on how schools evaluate and adopt new education technology (EdTech) in today’s fast-changing landscape.

Her key message: EdTech adoption is more rigorous than ever before. Schools are taking a strategic, data-driven approach, carefully weighing interoperability, cybersecurity, legislative compliance, and the role of AI in education before making purchasing decisions.

The Evolving Process of EdTech Adoption in Schools

School districts are no longer rushing into buying the “latest tool.” Instead, they are using a structured school technology evaluation checklist to ensure every product directly supports district priorities and integrates with existing infrastructure.

Jill highlighted an important distinction:

Instructional technology - Products that directly impact student learning and outcomes.

Operational technology - Tools that streamline administrative or support services.

For both categories, the first step is identifying a clear need. Vendors who approach districts without aligning to strategic goals risk losing valuable opportunities.

The School Technology Evaluation Checklist Every Vendor Should Know

Jill outlined the criteria that districts use to assess new products. For EdTech vendors, these represent must-have answers when presenting solutions:

Alignment to Strategic Plans – Does the product support the district’s goals for student success and operational efficiency?

Interoperability in Education Technology – Can the tool integrate smoothly with student information systems and existing platforms?

Cybersecurity in Schools – How does the product protect sensitive student data, respond to breaches, and ensure compliance with privacy laws?

Data Privacy in EdTech – What information is collected, and how is it stored and secured?

User Experience – Is the platform intuitive, easy to train on, and supportive of teacher adoption?

Legislative Compliance – Does the product meet current and upcoming state and federal requirements, including those related to AI in education?

Districts aren’t looking for the cheapest tool. As Jill explained, schools aim for the “lowest and best” value—prioritizing effective integration, training, and vendor support over cost alone.

Why Cybersecurity and Interoperability Are Top Priorities

With most school users under 18, cybersecurity in education is not optional—it’s essential. Districts require vendors to clearly explain how they secure student and staff data, prevent intrusions, and remain compliant with strict data privacy regulations.

Equally important is interoperability in education technology. Teachers and staff need a seamless ecosystem, not a cluttered set of disconnected apps. Districts value solutions that unify access and simplify workflows, reducing frustration while improving efficiency.

The Role of Legislation and AI in Education

Jill cautioned vendors that ignoring state-specific EdTech legislation can derail even the strongest product. From wireless device rules to evolving AI in education laws, compliance is now a cornerstone of school technology adoption.

On AI, Jill explained that while artificial intelligence has long existed in basic educational tools, new frameworks are emerging to regulate its instructional use. Vendors must be transparent about:

What data AI systems collect and process

How AI integrates with existing school platforms

How student and employee privacy is protected

Without clear answers, districts may hesitate to adopt even innovative AI-powered tools.

Building Successful EdTech Partnerships with Schools

Jill’s closing message centered on fidelity– ensuring that technology implementations are not only purchased but also planned, resourced, and executed in alignment with strategic district goals.

For EdTech vendors, this means:

Taking the time to understand district needs.

Demonstrating strong commitments to privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance.

Delivering solutions that are easy to integrate and simple to use.

Acting as long-term partners in student success, not just product providers

Listen to the full episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast to hear Jill Pierce’s complete insights on EdTech adoption, AI in education, and how schools are shaping the future of instructional technology.

Smartphone Bans & HQIM: Why Alignment Matters

bford — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:03:14 +0000

Smartphone Bans & HQIM: Why Alignment Matters

bford Fri, 08/08/2025 - 12:03

Statewide Smartphone Bans & High-Quality Instruction: Why Alignment Matters

August 08 2025

Author

Bryan Ford

Upcoming Statewide Classroom Cell Phone Bans

Since the arrival of smartphones in classrooms, schools worldwide have grappled with how to reduce their impact on student learning and academic benchmarks. This past year, many states have begun taking decisive action against student-owned smart devices, with certain states, such as New York, soon requiring bell-to-bell restrictions statewide. Several states’ smart device bans, including those in Texas, Utah, and North Dakota, are poised to take effect by the beginning of the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. States such as California and Colorado will begin enforcing their bans by the 2026-2027 school year.

Some stakeholders view these actions as too strong a step in the wrong direction, noting that many specialized learning tools rely on students using their own devices. Others have claimed this to be a necessary step forward in changing classroom culture for the better. While creating aligned, high-quality educational content is undoubtedly valuable, it is just one part of a bigger equation involving classroom culture and policy – one that EdGate is here and ready to help you navigate.

How High-Quality Instructional Materials and Classroom Culture Intersect

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, investments in K-12 education funding have increased significantly, largely due to billions of dollars in federal pandemic relief aid. With these newly available funds, thousands of districts across the United States have been able to adopt and reform curricula, as well as obtain high-quality instructional materials, tools, and devices aligned to state education standards. This unprecedented funding has been instrumental in enabling schools to meet rising educational needs and has presented new opportunities for education companies. However, getting these high-quality materials to be successfully used in modern classrooms requires additional alignment and forethought.

As classroom culture changes and schools around the United States are becoming more technology-integrated than ever, EdGate helps your product retain effectiveness and relevance. With ExACT’s many innovative tools, ensuring that your educational content is fully aligned and delivered to today’s classrooms is made simpler, regardless of the format. Automatically aligning to new standards and policies in our changing world is no longer an issue, either, as ExACT allows you and your team to fully streamline the process, keeping you ahead of the competition.

Throughout the ever-changing educational landscape, EdGate will always be here to help you adapt to any changes and challenges that arise. Do you have any questions? Our highly experienced, expert team is always happy to discuss how we can support you and your team.

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up?

sschuller — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:53:06 +0000

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up?

sschuller Thu, 06/05/2025 - 09:53

Does Your Alignment Solution Measure Up? A Closer Look at Standards Coverage and Access

June 05 2025

Author

Sharla Schuller

How confident are you that your current alignment process is keeping up with today’s fast-changing education standards? If you're still relying on spreadsheets or outdated systems, you might be missing critical gaps, and opportunities.

When it comes to curriculum development and instructional materials, access to comprehensive, exportable, and up-to-date academic standards isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity. Whether you're a publisher aligning content across multiple states or an educator building lessons that meet local standards, your alignment solution needs to do more than just “check the boxes.”

At EdGate, we’ve been providing standards data and alignment tools to educational publishers, platforms, and institutions for over 25 years. While others may be celebrating the addition of new content to their systems, EdGate has quietly been offering that content, and much more, for decades.

What Others Are Just Launching, EdGate Has Long Delivered

Some platforms recently announced the availability of Health and PE, World Languages, and Computer Science standards across 50 states. That’s great news—for those just getting started.

EdGate has long offered these standards for all 50 states and D.C., along with coverage that goes far beyond the basics. Our repository includes subjects that are critical to a well-rounded curriculum, including:

Arts Education
Career Development
Early Childhood Education
English Language Learners
Financial Literacy
Gifted Education

Health and PE
Language Arts
Library Media
Mathematics
Professional Development
Religious Studies

Science
Social Studies
Social and Emotional Learning
Special Skills
Technology Education
World Languages

If your alignment solution isn’t covering these, it might be time to reassess.

Curious how your current alignment solution compares?

You can try ExACT free for 30 days and explore the difference for yourself.

Start Your Trial Today

Exporting Standards Shouldn’t Come with Errors

Some “open access” tools boast that users can view and export standards freely. But upon closer inspection, publishers often hit a wall when trying to export data, receiving error messages unless they create specific registered accounts or meet eligibility criteria.

At EdGate, exports are seamless. Our standards data is ready for integration into SIS, LMS, assessment systems, and beyond. Whether you’re a publisher looking to align across all 50 states or a district needing local coverage, our systems are built to support scale, speed, and accuracy, without the headaches.

Built for More Than Educators

Some platforms prioritize access for individual educators. While helpful, this approach is often limited. An educator may only need access to a single subject in one state. In contrast, publishers and edtech platforms typically require access to multiple subjects across multiple states and in multiple formats. That’s where EdGate truly excels.

Our platform and premium tools, like the ExACT Standards Alignment Platform, are designed with publishers and content developers in mind. With automated alignment, export-ready data, and expert-backed insights, ExACT gives curriculum teams the tools they need to clearly see how their content aligns, or doesn’t, with state and national standards.

Don’t Settle for Partial Solutions

If your current solution requires workarounds, limited access, or narrow subject coverage, it might be time to upgrade. EdGate delivers the comprehensive standards data, deep alignment support, and dedicated service that today’s educational ecosystem demands.

EdGate’s Correlation Services set the industry standard with an unparalleled, patented alignment methodology that ensures precise crosswalking across all state and international educational standards. Unlike other providers, EdGate offers a comprehensive and scalable approach that guarantees educators, publishers, and EdTech companies seamless alignment to global curriculum frameworks. With a commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and innovation, EdGate delivers exclusive services that empower organizations to meet diverse learning objectives with confidence. This ensures your content remains relevant, compliant, and accessible across every market.

Curious how EdGate stacks up against other solutions?

Check out our side-by-side comparison chart to see how we measure up in coverage, access, and value.

Not sure if your current alignment solution is keeping up? Try ExACT for free and find out

Reach out to learn how your alignment strategy can go further—with less effort.

Questions Asked Most Frequently at ASU-GSV 2025

sschuller — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 23:24:26 +0000

Questions Asked Most Frequently at ASU-GSV 2025

sschuller Mon, 04/28/2025 - 16:24

Questions Asked Most Frequently at ASU-GSV 2025

April 28 2025

Author

Gina Faulk

As always ASU+GSV in San Diego was buzzy and loud, air-conditioned to a state of uncomfortableness inside, but sunny and lovely outside. Education celebrities were circulating: Arne Duncan, Sal Khan, Colin Kaepernick, will.i.am and more. Old friends who have been in EdTech and traditional K-12 educational publishing for years could be found left and right. Newer companies with exciting new AI products were prolific.

U.S. Secretary of Education

Probably the highest profile event at ASU+GSV 2025 was the Tuesday morning interview featuring Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education. As evidence of its prominence, the building was secured with limited entrances/exits, secret service was in attendance, and a small group of protesters stood outside the conference venue. As is widely known, under the direction of the U.S. President, McMahon has been tasked with preparing to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. This executive order would require an act of Congress. As part of McMahon’s mission, she vowed to “return education to the states”, as declared during her February 2025 confirmation hearing and in her speech that can now be found on the U.S. Dept. of Ed. site.

What Does Return to the States Mean?

From our vantage point as the leading educational standards consulting company, EdGate has been pondering what this “return to the states” means for state curriculum standards/frameworks. Sure enough, the questions I received most often while at ASU+GSV were “What does this shift back to the states mean for learning standards?” and “Is Common Core dead?”

It’s widely known that every state already has its own standards (a.k.a. competencies). So in some ways, when our team is aligning K-12 education content to standards, we tend to think of the U.S. as fifty tiny countries. Although all states have adopted learning standards that basically teach the same concepts (adding fractions, verb tenses, photosynthesis, etc.) the emphasis put on individual concepts, the way individual standards are written and published, and at which grade level concepts are introduced differs from state to state. State standards often reflect the unique history, economy, and politics of each state. This is especially evident in subject areas like Social Studies and Career and Technical Education (CTE). For instance, some states emphasize healthcare or agriculture in their CTE standards, while others focus heavily on information technology—clearly aligning with the dominant industries and workforce demands within their regional economies.

A healthy share of companies that engage with EdGate come to us with their content already aligned to the Common Core standards. At that point, they have a good baseline to start with. After all, the Common Core State Standards were created in 2010 to establish consistent educational expectations across the fifty states, ensuring all students receive a comparable education in English language arts and mathematics. EdGate continuously links all of the state learning standards to a core taxonomy of concepts so we can take the existing Common Core alignments and map those Common Core alignments to the other 49 states. So is Common Core dead? No, but the states that have kept the Common Core verbatim are rare and after every state standard update cycle the standards become increasingly further removed from the original Common Core. Treating ELA and Math standards like social studies, where every state is bespoke, is closer to reality.

Helpful Resources

EdGate created a very useful and freely available state-by-state learning standards comparison visual on our website. Click on any state to see the differences between state standards and Common Core, NGSS, C3 and other widely used libraries. Check it out and see you next year at ASU+GSV!

What is high-quality curriculum (HQIM)?

sschuller — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:30:07 +0000

What is high-quality curriculum (HQIM)?

sschuller Tue, 04/22/2025 - 10:30

What is high-quality curriculum (HQIM)?

April 22 2025

Author

Naomi Morton

First, Let’s Define Curriculum

In basic terms, curriculum is the what, why, and how of student learning. It encompasses the lessons and tools teachers use and the timeframe in which they are implemented. While materials terminology evolves and changes, at its core, HQIM is knowledge-rich, engaging instructional materials that develop critical and creative thinking skills, fostering deeper student learning, while realizing a range of societal demands and government policies. Materials should reflect evidence-based best practices in relevant content areas and support all types of students including English language learners, students with disabilities and students identified as gifted or talented. Texas, as an example, has specific criteria that materials must meet to reach HQIM status.

Collaborative for Student Success

CurriculumHQ is a project of the Collaborative for Student Success whose goal is to “provide leaders with the information and examples they need to enable high-quality materials adoption and curriculum-based training in their communities.” In 2024, CurriculumHQ conducted a comprehensive scan by state and created a map that allows viewers to explore how states and districts are using high-quality learning materials. For example, Pennsylvania utilizes the Standards Aligned System (SAS) and Voluntary Model Curriculum, Indiana creates and revises a High-Quality Curricular Materials (HQCM) advisory list annually. Arkansas supports the Arkansas Initiative for Instructional Materials (AIIM). Virginia follows a curriculum review process under the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA).

Seven Hours Per Week

Sources indicate that teachers spend approximately seven hours per week searching for instructional resources, much of it from online sources and not always vetted, resulting in approximately 30% of teachers nationwide using high-quality materials consistently. Providing teachers with equitable access to HQIM and professional development support is important for the education ecosystem and helps ensure students acquire the necessary skills to be successful.

Standards alignment is one of the most important uniting factors regarding HQIM. Implementing HQIM that is aligned to rigorous state standards leads to improved student outcomes.

Want to learn more about HQIM and how adoption processes vary by state?

Check out our webinar on Texas adoption requirements for a deep dive into one of the most structured review processes in the country. Or explore the latest updates in our blog article on Florida's 2025–2026 instructional materials timeline.

Contact the EdGate team to learn how we can support your organization with accurate standards alignment and crosswalk services across all 50 states.

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption

sschuller — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:21:44 +0000

Streamlining State-Level K-12 Curriculum Adoption

ExACT