Welcome to Playground Post, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps education innovators ahead of what’s next.

Here’s what we have on deck for today…

1. Billions in federal aid fail to close learning gaps

2. Schools struggle with AI policy vacuum

3. Full-time mentors triple new teacher success

Billions in federal aid fail to close learning gaps

Despite $190 billion in federal aid, new NAEP data reveals a widening divide in American education.

• One-third of 8th graders now read below basic levels, while higher-performing students continue pulling ahead.

• The gap between top and bottom performers has reached unprecedented levels in both reading and math.

However, there are some bright spots. Louisiana exceeded pre-pandemic reading levels through teacher training and knowledge-building curriculum, showing targeted interventions can work.

With federal COVID relief funding ending, there's urgent demand for scalable, cost-effective solutions focused on struggling learners, especially in reading comprehension and basic math skills.

Schools struggle with AI policy vacuum

New data reveals a critical gap in education leadership: 60% of educators report unclear AI policies in their districts.

A survey of 990 teachers and administrators found that uncertainty about AI guidelines is preventing adoption and creating confusion about student oversight.

"Many schools are hesitant to develop clear policies for AI usage," explains a high school tech coach in Virginia. "There's a fear of doing it wrong or setting a precedent that may need revision."

This hesitation creates opportunities for organizations to help districts develop practical AI frameworks and meet the growing demand for structured approaches to AI implementation.

Full-time mentors triple new teacher success

New research from the New Teacher Center reveals a striking insight: teachers with full-time mentors improve student learning three times faster than those without support.

The study examined over 1,000 districts and found that first-year teachers with dedicated mentors perform at the same level as those who have been teaching for three years.

The key?

• Consistent weekly meetings

• Clear mentor selection criteria

• And defined coaching roles — separate from admin duties.

For education organizations, the message is clear — investing in full-time mentors can accelerate classroom impact while building sustainable talent pipelines.

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