One thing education policymakers share is a desire to create positive change for students around the globe. As they navigate the day-to-day challenges of today’s education systems, there is always an eye on the long-term implications of students and their ability to succeed in an ever-changing society. As we navigate the ups and downs of 2026, here are six trends education policymakers are watching.
Addressing Learning Disruption
Across the globe, educators must navigate challenges to learning disruption. Whether its children in a refugee camp, children afraid to go to school due to violence and political activities, or a community with a high migrant population, educators often have to pivot to meet students where they are. A question that policymakers have long asked is how do we create stable learning environments for these children? There is also a recognition that there’s only so much policy can do when children are coming from enormously unstable, uncertain, and volatile environments.
Fortunately, educators always find a way. Current solutions include partnering with NGOs and grassroots organizations to provide wraparound services that offer stability, fostering an enhanced learning environment.
Understanding Pandemic-Related Learning Loss
The disruption to learning is especially evident among kindergartners and first graders around the globe, who were infants during the pandemic. Researchers are gathering information on the long-term ramifications of the disruption to learning in real-time, while working to build programs, interventions, and curriculum materials to compensate for the loss.
As more information comes to light about what is successful and what is not, educators will be able to use these findings to mitigate learning loss.
Shifting from Access to Equity
The education infrastructure in the United States has gone through many shifts over the decades. Initially, the priority was to get students into the classroom. Then, it became about access—for girls, for immigrants, for students of color, and for students with disabilities. Now, it is about creating equitable and robust educational environments.
Consequently the pedagogy surrounding teacher training and educational leadership training is adapting to facilitate this shift in priority. Similarly, policymakers are becoming more involved in developing processes to support a more equitable education infrastructure that provides a higher quality experience.
Navigating Federal Actions
Today’s federal administration has significantly curtailed the scope and authority of the Department of Education. As part of that, the Civil Rights Division is significantly reduced in its ability to enforce protections for students from vulnerable and marginalized communities.
The day-to-day implications have been evident in classrooms across the country, but the long-term impact on learning remains unknown.
Balancing Academics and Well-Being
Globally, education policymakers are seeing educational systems prioritize student academic outcomes based on assessments and standardized testing. While these do appropriately measure on one set of indicators, they overlook the role of student belonging, social-emotional learning, and overall student well-being. For many systems, however, the prioritization of academics over well-being means limited resources to support struggling students.
For policymakers, the question is how to shift the focus to the whole child while preparing educators to navigate these challenges and priorities.
Rebranding Higher Education
The public perception of higher education has changed dramatically in recent years. Costs have skyrocketed as public funding has decreased, inhibiting access to advanced education. An enrollment cliff is looming as the youth population shrinks, and students are gravitating toward perceived “lucrative” majors, threatening the future of well-rounded liberal arts education. Simultaneously, the narrative around higher education has gotten increasingly more negative—even as funding for public K-12 education remains relatively popular.
Policymakers see this as an opportunity to reframe higher education as a shared and effective social and public good, much like the public K-12 systems.
With so many challenges affecting education systems around the world, there will always be a need for well-trained policymakers who can observe, assess, and implement change. If you’re looking to gain the foundational skills to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing our education systems, a graduate degree from the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development may be the path forward for you. Coursework within the master’s in education policy studies and doctorate in education with a policy concentration prepares students to understand the design, implementation, advocacy, and impact of educational policies. Students learn from nationally recognized researchers and practitioners, while being immersed in hands-on research and analysis experiences. Learn more about our programs and how you can help set the standard for education reform.