In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins explores Georgia’s groundbreaking Top State for Talent Act, an initiative designed to strengthen the connection between education and workforce development. Ashley is joined by Representative Matthew Gambill to discuss how the legislation builds on the success of Georgia MATCH, a direct admissions program that has already led to increased college enrollment. The act streamlines students’ pathways from high school to higher education by integrating college eligibility into Individual Graduation Plans, strengthening articulation agreement and implementing a return-on-investment (ROI) analysis to measure the program’s impact.

As Georgia faces demographic shifts and an evolving job market, this initiative is positioned to ensure the state remains a leader in workforce readiness. The conversation highlights how the legislation will help students—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—access higher education opportunities and make informed career choices. Additionally, we discuss the role of industry leaders in supporting this initiative and how lessons from other states have shaped Georgia’s approach. Tune in for a great discussion on the future of talent development and the policies driving student success.

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In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, ExcelinEd in Action’s National Legislative Director Ashley Mullins kicks off the podcast’s revamped format for 2025. She delivers a quick, 15-minute update on key developments from state legislative sessions this week. Ashley highlights major wins for student-centered K-12 education policies, shares updates on key bills making waves across the states and discusses a few surprising turns as legislatures get to work. Tune in for insights into the policies shaping the year ahead and a preview of what’s to come in this dynamic new season of updates!

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In this episode, our National Legislative Director Ashley Mullins sits down with our Executive Director Patricia Levesque to discuss the most significant K-12 education bills to watch in 2025. This discussion highlights legislative trends shaping education across the country. That's a tall order, so we made it easy for our listeners. Scroll down to find timestamps for the education policy areas you might be interested in, along with the states we mention in each section.

Timestamps:

[4:15] – 📚 Early and Adolescent Literacy (Alabama, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Mississippi)

[8:00] – 🔢 Math Education (Indiana, Florida)

[11:11] – 🎒 School Choice & Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) (New Hampshire, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, South Dakota)

[16:07] – 🔄 Public School Choice & Open Enrollment (Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada)

[18:24] – 🏫 Public Charter Schools (Tennessee, Colorado, Pennsylvania)

[19:26] – 🎓 College & Career Pathways (Arkansas, Georgia, Florida)

[24:05] – 📵 Distraction-Free Schools (Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin)

[30:35] – 🍎 Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline (Arizona, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Virginia)

[32:25] – 💡 Final Thoughts & Takeaways

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