The State Strategy Lab provides SEA leadership teams with the resources and coaching support to anticipate and respond to changes in federal funding for education. State teams join WestEd experts and SEA peers in three cross-state learning sessions and three state-specific coaching sessions.
How We Help
Our teams work collaboratively with state leaders during cross-state learning sessions in the following focus areas:
- The Federal Funding Landscape, including discussion of different block grant scenarios, key decision points for state leaders, and tools for strategic resource allocation in response to different scenarios
- Leveraging Block Grants to Advance State Priorities, including strategies for analyzing how the shifts in funding affect different student groups and priority areas, and discussion of how to manage potential program eliminations while meeting the needs of high-need student populations
- Action Planning and Communication Strategies, including communication tools and strategies for engaging with—and conveying the implications of funding changes to—interest holders and techniques for transparent and clear messaging about current and potential shifts in resource allocations
Each of these sessions is followed by customized coaching for state teams to begin implementing the ideas shared during the learning sessions. The coaching sessions will support state teams to make progress on relevant priorities, such as developing a state-specific plan for implementing block grants, scenario planning for revised funding levels, allocation formulas, and requirements for the use of funds, as well as models for reorganized programs and cross-sector collaboration.
SEA teams joining the State Strategy Lab participate in the following:
- three learning sessions (60 minutes each) between September and November 2025
- Session 1: The Federal Funding Landscape. Thursday, September 11, 12 noon ET, 9 a.m. PT.
- Session 2: Leveraging Block Grants to Advance State Priorities. Wednesday, October 8, 12 noon ET, 9 a.m. PT.
- Session 3: Action Planning and Communication Strategies. Thursday, November 13, 12 noon ET, 9 a.m. PT.
- three coaching sessions (75 minutes each) between September and November 2025.
Service Delivery
- Online
Who Will Benefit
The State Strategy Lab is designed for SEA leadership teams of approximately four to six people, including but not limited to, the state chief or chief deputies, directors of federal programs, director of accountability, director of policy and communications, chief of staff, or chief financial officer.
“As Delaware’s Public Education Compensation Committee (PECC) undertook a complex statewide task—reimagining our educator compensation system—WestEd served as a trusted advisor and thought partner every step of the way. They worked closely with me and other senior leaders at the Delaware Department of Education, bringing deep expertise, strong process management, and a collaborative approach that enabled us to navigate difficult conversations and reach critical milestones. WestEd was especially effective in facilitating group processes, engaging diverse perspectives in meaningful dialogue, and keeping the Committee moving forward to meet its charge. Their role was essential in helping the Committee advance this critical work.”
— Dr. Mark Holodick,
Former Secretary of Education, Delaware Department of Education
“WestEd’s education finance team played a pivotal role in the successful rollout of our new education finance formula in Nevada. Leveraging their research-based knowledge and deep understanding of key policy considerations, they expertly guided us through complex changes and are supporting us to assess the early impacts of our investment.”
— Megan Peterson,
Deputy Superintendent for Student Achievement, Nevada Department of Education
Featured Experts
Kelsey Krausen
Jason Willis
Alicia Kielmovitch
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Connecting Research With Practice
At WestEd, we believe that research and data provide essential insights to guide approaches to learning and decision-making. Across all of our work—from informing policy to improving leadership practice—we apply what we know works to remove barriers to learning, provide information to inform decisions, create linkages that facilitate collaboration, and inform innovations that lead to better outcomes for everyone.
As a leading national research organization, we have rapid access to findings and evidence that we will bring to our work with your leadership teams to help you respond to anticipated changes in the federal funding landscape and use funding flexibility to meet the goals for your state, schools, and students.
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