As we begin 2026, our education system stands at an inflection point. With the economy being reshaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and global interconnection, students will need to develop durable skills—like critical thinking, problem solving, and ethical reasoning—that allow them to keep learning and navigate an increasingly complex world throughout their lives. The challenge ahead is not to replace core academic expectations, but to refocus them—ensuring that every student masters essential skills in literacy and numeracy while also developing the adaptability and self-direction needed to thrive in an unpredictable world. We believe Massachusetts can lead the way in the critical effort to align learning with the needs of today’s students. But where do we start?
Our annual Condition of Education week served as a jumping-off point for this critical conversation. Below is all the research, data, and discussions we shared during the last week of January.
JANUARY 26: DATA DASHBOARD
This year, we launched a new feature on our interactive data dashboard! The Dashboard continues to track a wide-ranging set of indicators in the Massachusetts education system, from early education through college and career. The latest feature offers key insights on select data trends.
JANUARY 27: REPORT RELEASE
We released the first in a forthcoming Action Guide series focused on strengthening Massachusetts’ education system to better prepare students to thrive amid profound economic, social, and technological shifts. The first Action Guide examines how we can use the state's education standards to adapt teaching and learning through three shifts: identify and prioritize essential academic foundations required to access complex content; move from grade-specific standards to mastery-based progressions; and refocus standards to emphasize durable skills.
JANUARY 28: COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
We released a recorded conversation where our team shares insights from this year's Action Guide. The video also features a discussion with practitioners about the need to adapt our education system to prepare students for the modern day and future workforce.
JANUARY 29: 2026 CONDITION OF EDUCATION EVENT
On Thursday we hosted a conversation on the future of our education system featuring Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and all three state education commissioners: Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, and Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega.