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 choice barriers create opportunities for innovation

2. 7 shifts that reshaped K-12 education in 2024

3. What education innovators must know about school lunch reform

School choice barriers create opportunities for innovation

Despite political buzz around school choice, national data shows only 3 in 10 K-12 students actually participate.

Why? The roadblocks are real:

1. Rural families have limited options

2. Desirable schools are scarce

3. Application processes are daunting

4. Families often lack reliable info to make confident decisions.

Here's the opportunity…

Develop tools that help families evaluate options, streamline applications, and access school performance data.

7 shifts that reshaped K-12 education in 2024

EdWeek identified seven curriculum trends that shaped 2024:

1. Religious content is making a comeback

2. Laws restricting classroom discussions about race and bias are slowing

3. The "science of reading" movement is gaining momentum

4. Teen literacy is gaining attention as older students struggle with reading

5. Math instruction debates continue over effective teaching methods

6. Career readiness is becoming a bipartisan priority

7. Teachers are avoiding political discussions in the classroom

For education innovators, these shifts signal key opportunities in literacy tools, workforce development, and curriculum design as schools navigate changes while strapped for resources.

What education innovators must know about school lunch reform

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s pledge to eliminate processed foods from school lunches sounds promising, but the reality is far more complex.

• School meal programs operate on razor-thin margins, serving thousands of daily meals with limited staff and equipment.

• While healthier options are desirable, previous reform attempts show that success requires balancing nutrition goals with practical constraints.

his presents both challenges and opportunities — from developing cost-effective kitchen solutions to creating training programs that help cafeteria staff transition to scratch cooking.

The key question isn't just what to serve, but how to make meaningful change sustainable.

If you enjoyed this edition of Playground Post, please share it with your friends!

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

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