WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education released a planning framework designed to give state education agencies greater capacity to set research priorities and direct resources using evidence, supporting the Trump administration’s broader effort to shift more education decision-making from the federal government to states.
The Learning Agenda Playbook provides states with a facilitator’s guide, implementation exercises and worksheets, a template for developing state-specific agendas and a tool for assessing existing capabilities and areas for improvement.
The department developed and tested the framework with education agencies in Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and Institute of Education Sciences worked with the National Comprehensive Center and the eight states on the project.
Under the framework, a state education agency can develop a multiyear learning agenda identifying its most pressing challenges, formulate questions around those priorities, develop evidence and use the findings to guide allocation of state resources.
The approach is intended to strengthen states’ ability to make evidence-based decisions independently as the administration pursues its policy of transferring greater education authority to state and local levels. The Education Department has separately been granting some states greater flexibility over federal education programs and requirements.
“The Learning Agenda Playbook delivers a rigorous, field-tested framework of best practices, eliminating the need for states to reinvent the wheel,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. “With a clear process and proven tools, states can lead more boldly and drive better outcomes for students and families.”
State officials involved in developing the framework described different potential applications. New Hampshire officials said the process is being used as the state develops a statewide literacy plan, while Wisconsin officials said their work focused on adding capacity to an existing strategic plan involving early childhood.
Idaho officials said participation helped the state develop a framework for evaluating initiatives and priorities and improve coordination around student-outcome goals. Kansas officials cited greater alignment among priorities, resources, research and evaluation.
The playbook is part of the administration’s “Returning Education to the States” initiative, under which McMahon has been visiting states and promoting greater state and local control over education policy.
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