HCM Strategists Quarterly Newsletter

A NOTE FROM OUR PARTNERS

Our Response to U.S Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that higher education institutions can no longer consider race as a determining factor in admissions decisions by postsecondary institutions.

Though the Court’s decision is disappointing and disheartening, HCM’s charge and mission remains unchanged. At HCM Strategists, we remain committed to helping policymakers and institutional leaders ensure higher education is more accessible and equitable for all students.

READ OUR FULL STATEMENT

As a member of the Higher Ed Equity Network, we have signed on to a statement expressing deep concern about the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling on race-conscious admissions in higher education and the potential impact of the ruling on historically underrepresented students. Read the statement.

New From HCM: The First-Ever Analysis of State Investments in Short-term Credentials

A Typology and Policy Landscape Analysis of State Investments in Short-term Credentials Pathways, by HCM director of state policy and research Stephanie Murphy, employs both quantitative and qualitative research methods to provide a nuanced and evidence-based understanding of state investments and policies around short-term sub-baccalaureate credentials, with a particular focus on quality and equity.

In total, our research found 59 direct, sustained programs in 28 states totaling $3.81 Billion in state funding. The purpose of this scan is to deepen our understanding of state investments in short-term credential programs and pathways, and to identify trends or best practices. By conducting this scan, we aim to leverage this knowledge to allow state policy, investments, and practice to be guided in a more informed and effective way.

The information presented in this report reflects the best available data we could find through our research through June 2023. It is important to note that given the lack of consistent and comprehensive data systems to track short-term credential programs at the state level, we acknowledge that we may have missed some state-funded initiatives. We invite readers to contact Stephanie Murphy at stephanie_murphy@hcmstrategists.com to report any additional initiatives that may not have been captured in this study.

READ THE FULL REPORT

A Word From Our K-12 Senior Affiliates

With the latest research on pandemic learning loss from Economic Recovery Scorecard and the 2023 release of NAEP report cards showing a decades-long decline in academic achievement, there is an increased urgency for parent/school engagement paired with state and district-level interventions to help our kids recover. Below, our K-12 senior affiliates weigh-in on the State of K-12 education.

Featured on CurriculumHQ.com, explore commentary and stories from Jocelyn Pickford, policy expert and former school board member and educator, on how high-quality curriculum can drive student progress and set educators up for success.

Parents: Your Kids Can’t Read. It’s Time to Get Angry—and Act.

HCM senior affiliate Jocelyn Pickford’s op-ed on early child literacy.

HCM Senior Affiliate Chris Mathias Authors Opinion Piece in Idaho Statesmen on Pandemic Learning Loss

Our K-12 senior affiliate and Idaho State Representative Chris Mathias recently authored an Idaho Statesmen opinion piece on the state of Idaho public education based on the recently released national

New Faces at HCM

HCM Strategists is pleased to welcome our newest team member to HCM’s operations team, Mitza!

Mitza Zapata Villalobos, Operations Administrator

Mitza is HCM’s operations administrator and provides HCM’s human resources and operational leadership team with timely executive support including project management, operational and procedural oversight support, and events management.

Connect with Mitza

MEET OUR FULL TEAM