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. What the latest funding law mean for innovators

2. COVID’s ‘Long Tail’ affect on graduation rates

3. Why trust is essential for childcare

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Join thousands of education innovators who tune in weekly to discover which ideas could transform tomorrow's classrooms.

Be a judge → Vote for your favorites and see if you can spot the next education unicorn before everyone else.

What the Latest Federal Funding Law Means for Innovators

With the latest continuing resolution, the federal government avoided a shutdown, but the funding law lacks specific line items for many key education programs.

While core funding streams remain largely untouched, the law's structure gives the executive branch significant discretion over allocating resources. Programs like Title II grants ($2.2 billion), charter school grants ($440 million), and homelessness support under McKinney-Vento ($129 million) aren't mentioned by name at all.

With the uncertainty comes potential opportunity for education entrepreneurs if they are able to help schools do more with potentially less funding.

COVID’s Long Tail Affect on Graduation Numbers

New research from the Grad Partnership reveals a troubling trend: 26 states have seen high school graduation rates decline following the pandemic. In 2020, ten states boasted graduation rates of 90% or higher. By 2022, only five could make that claim.

What makes this data particularly tricky to interpret is that many states temporarily relaxed graduation requirements during the pandemic. California and New York waived course and exam requirements, which actually pushed the national graduation rate to an all-time high of 86.6%.

Organizations that help schools identify and support students early in their high school careers, especially those who missed critical developmental milestones during pandemic disruptions, may be able to create new partners, eager to boost rates.

Trust is Essential for Childcare

When it comes to choosing who will care for their children, parents prioritize trust above all else. According to the latest RAPID Survey from Stanford's Center on Early Childhood, nearly 40% of parents rely on friends, family, and neighbors (FFN) for childcare rather than traditional centers.

While affordability, availability, location, and hours also factor into parents' decisions, the fundamental need for a trusted caregiver drives many families toward informal arrangements. 26% use unpaid care from people they know, and 13% pay friends or family members.

Early education innovators can help by strengthening the informal networks parents already trust, rather than just focusing on traditional centers.

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