Stronger States, Stronger Outcomes

Aligning SEA Structure and Resources to Improve Student Outcomes in South Carolina
SC Ambitious student goals require an agency structure that aligns people, priorities, and resources around the outcomes that matter most. South Carolina will share how the Department of Education reorganized its work through a “1-4-1-4” strategic framework connecting a statewide 2030 goal to multiyear objectives, annual alignment priorities, and 90-day actions. Cross-functional teams bring together SEA offices, LEAs, state partners, and industry around foundational skills, career pathways, civics, and community partnerships. The state is also aligning investments to evidence-based strategies, including LETRS and Palmetto Math. Participants will learn how South Carolina is using shared goals, cross-office governance, and strategic resource alignment to strengthen coherence, build accountability, and support implementation across the agency.
Ellen Weaver, Abbey Duggins, Rebecca Gunnlaugsson

From Data to Action: Building a Unified Statewide Attendance Strategy in Rhode Island
Improving attendance at scale requires more than isolated initiatives; it requires aligned systems, timely data, and coordinated support for schools and families. Rhode Island will share how the Department of Education partnered with the Governor’s Office and teams across data, communications, school improvement, student support, accountability, and community engagement to build a unified statewide strategy. Through #AttendanceMattersRI, the state combines real-time attendance leaderboards, monthly heatmaps, professional learning, family engagement, and cross-office governance. Since the height of the pandemic, Rhode Island reports reducing chronic absenteeism by more than 12 percentage points and regaining more than 3.7 million hours of instructional time. Participants will learn practical strategies for aligning SEA teams, strengthening local capacity, and turning attendance data into action.