About Us

We Are All4Ed 

Nearly 70% of beginning students at public two-year colleges must take remedial courses to master material they should have learned in high school. Meanwhile, 82% of employers report that recent high school graduates have at least some gaps in preparation for typical jobs in their companies.

Our students, especially those of color and those living in poverty, are leaving high school unprepared for college and the workplace—but not by choice. In most cases, they simply never had access to rigorous courses, real-world work experiences, and social-emotional supports they need to thrive. Too often, a child’s address, race, or family income determines the quality of education available. At All4Ed, we work intentionally to reduce barriers and support communities that historically have been denied an excellent education based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, and systemic injustice.  

By collaborating with government officials, we advance federal, state, and local policies that give educators the support, incentives, and political will necessary to reimagine and restructure their schools. At the same time, we work alongside district and school leaders to equip them with the tools and resources they need to think differently about student learning and implement practices to improve student outcomes. Through this dual approach, we build collective momentum to expand equitable educational opportunities and dismantle discriminatory structures that have deprived too many students of the high-quality education they deserve.  

Advocating for Smart Policies 

Since our founding in 2001, we have provided objective, nonpartisan research and guidance to help federal and state leaders develop and implement policies that  

advance equitable education strategies

support the education profession

increase student achievement

expand educational attainment

Our work encompasses the entire policy cycle. We analyze data and the impacts of existing polices, develop recommendations, draft legislative language, and advocate for policy adoption. Our advocacy leads to lasting change:  

• In 2008, we secured new federal regulations requiring states to calculate high school graduation rates in a uniform way. This approach provides consistent, accurate data about the percentage of students graduating high school and ensures states do not obscure the performance of certain groups of students. In 2015, this policy was codified into law in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). 
• In 2014, we led a campaign to expand high-speed internet service in schools. As a result of our work, the Federal Communications Commission approved a $1.5 billion increase in E-rate funding and the number of students with access to high-speed internet service in school nearly doubled between 2015 and 2019.   
• In 2015, we secured key provisions in ESSA that require states to identify and support high schools with a graduation rate below 67%. This requirement spurred improvement efforts in approximately 2,000 high schools to ensure more students graduate high school prepared for college and the workplace. 
• In 2020 and 2021, we advocated with our partners for Congress to provide robust federal funding to support COVID-19 relief efforts in schools. Across three relief packages, including the CARES Act, the December 2020 supplemental appropriations act, and the American Rescue Plan Act, K–12 schools and districts have received $190 billion, with funding targeted to the highest-needs communities and dedicated to addressing students’ academic recovery. The relief bills also included $3.2 billion to provide low-income households with discounts on home internet and subsidies to purchase a computer and $7.2 billion to close the homework gap.

Supporting School Districts

Our Future Ready Schools® (FRS) network, which we launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, energizes district leaders to think differently about how schools operate and guides them as they transform their schools into engaging learning environments focused on students’ needs. The Future Ready Framework and planning process is the heart of or work. Together, these research-based tools provide a roadmap district and school leaders can follow to conceive, plan, and implement strategies that

• pair effective technology and quality teaching;
• personalize student learning;
• improve student outcomes; and
• ensure more students graduate from high school prepared for college, work, and life.

The FRS approach engages school and district teams across multiple roles—from the district superintendent to the school librarian—to work toward change collaboratively. Through our leadership institutes and workshops, webinars, implementation guides, and other resources, we

• build the skills of district- and school-level educators to lead the process of restructuring and redesigning their schools;
• provide a community of support for like-minded educators;
• identify and promote innovative instructional strategies; and
• elevate evidence-based practices for creating rigorous and engaging student-centered learning environments.

Since its inception in 2014, FRS has supported more than 3,500 school districts in 30 states and the District of Columbia representing more than 20 million students, and engaged nearly 32,000 educators in its online professional learning communities. What started as a coalition of national partners and a series of regional summits has grown into the nation’s largest network of innovative and passionate educators committed to the same belief: all students deserve equitable access to personalized learning environments anchored in authentic and engaging experiences that prepare them for success in college, work, and life.