WestEd

09/04/2026

Every child and adult deserves to feel confident about their ability to engage in math and science learning.

That’s where Count Play Explore (CPE), a statewide California initiative to make STEAM instruction joyful and immediately useful, comes into play.

Matilda Soria, Executive Director of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS) Child and Family Success Division, shares how CPE is working toward its north star: improving outcomes for children in math, science, and computer science while helping them find joy in learning these subjects.

A key part of that work is helping early educators develop positive mindsets so they can create engaging learning experiences for young children. Through professional development, coaching, and family engagement supports, CPE helps educators and children see that math can feel approachable, engaging, and even fun.

Read the new In Their Words Q&A about CPE to learn more about its approach: https://bit.ly/4hMfk1N

09/03/2026

WestEd experts are showing up to strengthen community schools and advance student success! Join us at the 2026 California Community Schools EMPOWER Summit, September 10–11, hosted by the State Transformational Assistance Center (S-TAC).

Presentation Details: https://bit.ly/4chNSp7

WestEd will lead or colead seven sessions showcasing evidence-based strategies, implementation lessons, and real-world successes from education partners throughout California.

From participatory data practices and sustainable funding strategies to family engagement, student wellness, and community-driven leadership, attendees will leave these sessions with practical guidance they can apply in their own community schools efforts.

If you're planning on attending, add our presentations to your conference schedule and connect with Amber Valdez, EdD, Ashley Boal, Jenny Betz, Lisa Eisenberg, MPP, MSW, Nakanya Magby, MA, Rebeca Cerna, Sara Martinez, and Timothy Ojetunde!

09/03/2026

A new school year is a new opportunity to build strong partnerships with families to support math learning — both inside and outside the classroom. 🚀

In WestEd's recent Leading Together webinar, Dr. Kylie Flynn and Dr. Ashli-Ann Douglas explore why early math skills matter for students' long-term academic achievement into middle and high school, and share classroom strategies to advance early math education.

• One key finding: frequent teacher communication about early math is linked to families engaging more often in math activities and discussions.

• One resource highlighted: Count, Play, Explore organizes books, games, and videos by age level, giving families of children of different ages materials they can use at home.

• Watch the full webinar to support early math learning in the 2026–27 school year and beyond: https://bit.ly/463GKJq

• Discover more of WestEd's work in Mathematics Education, including Early Math workshops and services: https://www.wested.org/focus-area/mathematics-education/

09/02/2026

WestEd experts Anne Porterfield and Cali Kaminsky will speak to codesigning systems that elevate student voice, agency, and learning at this year's Portrait of a Learner IGNITE 2026 Summit, September 27–29, hosted by Scaling Student Success!

Joined by Dr. Ron Pirayoff, Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction at the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, they will present concrete strategies for developing a Portrait of a Graduate—including polling, bilingual surveys, analysis using large language models, and focus groups.

Participants will explore how to meaningfully engage students and community members in shaping a portrait that reflects all learners.

Presentation details 🗓️
• Date: Monday, September 28
• Time: 3–4:30 p.m. PT
• Title: Amplifying Student Voice Through Portrait of a Graduate

If you are attending IGNITE 2026 this year, drop a comment below or save this post to add it to your summit schedule! 👋

08/31/2026

"I look at the research of WestEd and think about it really personally as the types of changes that occurred in the lifetime of my family across three generations to make education something not only that we valued, but could create opportunities and access for kids like me." — Jannelle Kubinec, Chief Executive Officer at WestEd

In our WestEd at 60: A Retrospective series, Jannelle reflects on sixty years of turning evidence into sound solutions that have shaped how students learn to read, improve math skills, develop language, and much more. She also describes why these innovations matter: to make classrooms a place where every student feels welcomed so they can thrive in their careers and lives.

For WestEd and our partners, expanding opportunity and strengthening early care, education, and community well-being are a daily commitment, and one that will continue to drive our work and our impact.

Watch Jannelle's full reflection and explore the series 🔗 https://bit.ly/4wZKLdh

08/30/2026

As a new school year kicks off, we know education leaders are already working on plans to drive continuous improvement. We're ready to partner with you to build on that momentum for the 2026-27 school year!

Our latest E-Bulletin shares practical, research-driven insights to help you navigate your biggest priorities this fall—from designing stronger accountability systems and optimizing school finance to building coherent assessment models.

📚 Explore the full issue to strengthen learning through accountability: https://bit.ly/45PoGmg

08/29/2026

For most local education agencies, the start of a new school year kicks off improvement planning. Does last year's accountability data become a brief summary in a compliance report or the starting point for improvement?

In a new WestEd Insights and Impact blog, researchers Melissa Wylen and Mitch Herz describe four organizational conditions that can help schools and districts use accountability data to understand where improvement is needed, test changes, and learn what works over time.

Read about how Arkansas is turning evidence into inquiry, inquiry into action, and action into learning, and learn how WestEd can support your state or district doing the same 🍎 ↪️ https://bit.ly/3SZ3Wpc

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08/29/2026

“Assessment [exists] to give a measurement. For every assessment on your calendar, ask what’s it telling you, who’s acting on it, how are we using this data, and why do we need this data?”

As a new school year begins, Sarah Quesen, Director of Assessment at WestEd, shares why education leaders need to be critical consumers of assessment data in order to keep the focus on improving student outcomes.

How will you build accountability systems that do more than measure this year? Check out this new WestEd Spotlight to explore how we can help you move from identifying needs to acting on them: https://bit.ly/4gyn9G1

08/27/2026

Join WestEd at the 2026 First 5 California Summit! We're looking forward to sharing research and resources related to this year's conference theme, "Their Futures First."

🗓️ From August 31–September 2, Early Childhood experts Camille Mays, Kerry Kriener-Althen, Bianca Reyes, Mirella Almaraz, Ed.D., and Danielle Singley from the El Dorado County Office of Education will discuss:

- Two newly developed Cohort Learning Facilitation Guides

- WestEd’s Program for Infant/Toddler Care Program Assessment and Reflection System (PITC PARS)

- California’s Early Learning and Care Coaching Framework and Coaching Companion

We hope to see you there! Learn more about our sessions: https://bit.ly/4q4eHCS

08/26/2026

The U.S. Department of Education is encouraging states and districts to ask an important question about education technology: Does the technology we invest in actually improve learning?

The Department's new Dear Colleague Letter highlights the importance of aligning education technology investments with desired outcomes, which was also part of the focus of WestEd research on outcomes-based contracting.

Commissioned by the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting, our rigorous study of eight early-adopter districts examined how OBC can help ensure investments in instruction-focused services, including edtech, tutoring, and professional development, are tied to improved academic outcomes.

🔑 A key finding: thoughtful contract design and clearly defined outcomes are essential to ensuring that investments deliver results.

🔍 Explore the report for more! https://bit.ly/4x8dMDv

📩 Read the U.S. Department of Education's Dear Colleague Letter: https://bit.ly/4wK6aql

🤝 Learn how WestEd can help your state make more effective and sustainable use of education resources: https://bit.ly/45En2mW

This WestEd evaluation of Outcomes Based Contracting across eight early-adopter districts examines its impact, implementation, and drivers of success.