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. School buildings need a major upgrade

2. Recovery stalls as school funding cliff arrives

3. Social Security reform could open teacher talent pool

School buildings need a major upgrade

Students pass by an exposed ventilation duct from the deteriorating heating and air conditioning system at Jackson, Mississippi's Jim Hill High School on January 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Nearly half of America's schools are showing their age. Most buildings are pushing 50 years old, and a third have never had major renovations.

But there is a silver lining — the Department of Energy recently doubled its infrastructure grants to $178M.

• Forward thinking district leaders are jumping on these funds to modernize everything from HVAC systems to classroom tech, but $178M is not nearly enough to go around.

• There's a clear opportunity for innovators who can help schools upgrade quickly and efficiently.

Recovery stalls as school funding cliff arrives

Latest state assessment data reveals a sobering reality:

Across grades 3-8, math improvements hover around just 1% while reading scores show even smaller gains or decline. Most striking? Eighth-grade reading actually dropped 0.2%.

• The data, compiled from 39 states and DC by AssessmentHQ.org, reveals that pandemic recovery efforts aren't accelerating learning fast enough.

• Only 10 states consistently improved math scores since the pandemic, while 12 states and DC remain stuck at their pandemic lows.

This sluggish progress coincides with the expiration of federal ESSER funds, suggesting schools need fresh, cost-effective, and saclable solutions that can drive faster academic recovery without relying on federal funding.

Social Security reform could open teacher talent pool

Congress just passed the Social Security Fairness Act which could unleash a new talent pool for schools.

The bill would allow educators in 15 states to keep both their pension and Social Security benefits — meaning experienced professionals could switch into teaching without sacrificing retirement earnings.

For education innovators: this signals a key moment to rethink talent attraction strategies, from recruitment platforms to training programs, as financial barriers to entering education begin to fall.

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We’ll be back with another edition on Friday. See you then!

To stay up-to-date on all things education innovation, visit us at playgroundpost.com.