State leaders have the power to shape systems that support every student’s success
June 24, 2025
Kylie Klein, Senior Researcher, and Jenny Scala, Managing Director, American Institutes for Research (AIR)
Creating the conditions for student support systems to flourish requires intentionality not just at individual schools or local school districts but at the state policy level as well. Many states have successfully leveraged key education policy approaches and best practices which have served to help develop environments that enable student success systems, ultimately reducing chronic absenteeism, increasing graduation rates, and putting more students on the path to post-secondary success. As an organizing partner of the GRAD Partnership, AIR has helped develop student success systems and actively supports their adoption in schools and districts. In this article we share some examples of state level policy contributions which have strengthened the conditions for student success systems to thrive.
Michigan: A Case Study in Strategic Investment
Michigan has invested in the research and evidence-based intervention EWIMS (Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System) in order to support schools in using data to proactively identify and implement interventions. EWIMS is one example of a student success system, implemented at a statewide level. State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice noted in a press release that following the successful adoption of EWIMS, the state saw 2023 Michigan graduation rates increase for all 17 student categories, with 13 of those categories exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Unfortunately, in many states the importance of fostering resilient education systems that attend to individual student needs has not abated; in fact, according to the Education Commission of the States strengthening education as a mechanism for fueling growth and prosperity was a key message in 2025 State of the State speeches. Since state leaders play influential roles in creating the conditions for success, here are a few examples of actions that can help foster student success systems like EWIMS. Student success systems have four essential elements to promote high quality; these examples spotlight state actions that create the conditions for growth and improvement.
Four Ways State Leaders Can Drive Change
Prioritize Predictive Indicators
Chronic absenteeism is more than a statistic—it’s a signal. While the inclusion of chronic absenteeism data on state report cards was required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), many states have gone beyond the basic use of this data as an accountability metric and are utilizing it in combination with other critically important factors such as measures of school climate and culture, post-secondary readiness measures, and school performance measures. For example, in Massachusetts educators are provided with robust dashboards that include key academic milestones related to course performance, attendance, suspension/retention data, meeting assessment expectations for grade level, and, for high school students, access to higher level coursework such as AP and IB classes.
Elevate Student Voice and Belonging
Students are more likely to show up—and succeed—when they feel seen, heard, and valued. School climate and culture data, including student feedback surveys, can provide important insights into how schools create environments that enable students to take agency in their learning and feel a sense of belonging and connectedness to their school communities. When states create opportunities for schools and districts to utilize learning conditions surveys, schools benefit. In Illinois for example, the 5Essential Survey provides meaningful feedback on the environmental conditions within schools. These annual assessments support school leaders and school teams in reflecting on what is working and what needs to be improved to create supportive relationships.
Make Data Accessible and Timely
Data loses its power when it’s locked away or outdated. State longitudinal data systems can increase public access to reliable and timely data and can be used to engage community members in data conversations. Some states, such as Rhode Island, have invested in creating real time data dashboards that update daily to allow for rapid response to trends at the school and district level. The dashboard features prominently in their campaign Attendance Matters; Rhode Island state leaders are promoting awareness of how powerful a predictor of student success attendance data is and increasing access to timely attendance data including highlighting which districts have successfully reduced chronic absenteeism.
Support Continuous Improvement
Systems don’t improve by chance—they improve by design. As states invest in new initiatives, they can intentionally build the capacity of schools and districts to utilize intervention systems that are responsive to student needs and focused on strategic improvement actions. This can take the form of technical assistance from regional state support teams, grants to districts for investments in systems development, or partnerships with intermediary organizations who can provide on the ground support to school staff and leaders. In New Mexico, the Office of Multi-Layered Systems of Supports provides a clear intervention framework, on-going training, coaching, guidance materials, and tools to support educators, student success teams, and school leaders in implementing systems of support including early warning systems.
The Bottom Line: Leadership Matters
State leaders have a unique and powerful role to play. By championing student success systems, they can transform policy into progress and ensure that every student—regardless of zip code—has the opportunity to thrive.
The time to act is now. Let’s build systems that don’t just react to problems but anticipate and prevent them. Let’s lead with data, with heart, and with the unwavering belief that every student can succeed—if we create the conditions for them to do so.