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Robin Lake

The start of a new year is always a moment for reflection, but 2026 leaves little room for pause. This is not a year for incrementalism or hoping someone else will lead. It is a year that demands decisive action. In education, responsibility for student success has shifted: the federal government has abandoned many of its traditional oversight roles and mandates, and states are now in the driver’s seat.

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Latest Research Publications

  • Research Reports    

The Demand Side of Alternative Education Products

Michael McShane, Paul DiPerna

Survey results show there is potentially a robust market for learning pods, or similar arrangements such as microschools, hybrid homeschools, and homeschool cooperatives.

  • Research Reports    

The Promise and Challenges of Pandemic Innovation in High Schools

Betheny Gross, Sarah McCann

This report summarizes what we observed from a survey of New England high schools as they navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic.

  • Research Reports    

Crisis Breeds Innovation: Pandemic Pods and the Future of Education

Ashley Jochim, Jennifer Poon

This report offers the first in-depth look at families’ and educators’ experiences with pandemic pods.

  • Research Reports    

Student Support That Meets the Moment: The Need for Clarity and Rigor in SEL

Lisa Chu, Michael DeArmond

As stress and disruption have intensified for students over the past two years due to the pandemic, so has interest in and spending on social-emotional learning (SEL) in public education.

  • Research Reports    

“Creativity requires freedom”: What will it take to create space within our education system to think and design creatively?

Sunanna Chand, Betheny Gross

How do we help schools prevent “back to normal” inertia and fuel change?

  • Research Reports    

Pods in Action: Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Paola Gilliam, Sharon Kebschull Barrett

Cleveland came into the pandemic with a history of collaboration among civic organizations and schools.

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