Influence Policy, Advocacy, and Systems Change
Advance policy, legislative, and systems changes that eliminate structural barriers, strengthen educator diversity across the educator workforce continuum—including attraction, recruitment, preparation, hiring, mentorship, support, and retention—and promote culturally relevant and sustaining educators, practices, and systems that create equitable opportunities for current and future educators and learners across Pennsylvania, especially educators of color.
Strategic Narrative
Lasting improvements in educator diversity, educational equity, and culturally relevant and sustaining education require more than individual programs or isolated initiatives. They require policies, investments, partnerships, and systems that remove barriers, expand opportunities, and create conditions for current and future educators and learners to thrive, especially educators of color. While Pennsylvania has made important progress in strengthening the educator workforce and advancing educational equity, significant challenges remain, including educator shortages, barriers to entering and completing educator preparation programs, inequitable access to high-quality learning opportunities, and persistent disparities in educator diversity across the Commonwealth.
As Pennsylvania's only statewide educator diversity consortium, PEDC is uniquely positioned to convene, elevate emerging issues, build consensus, and advance policy solutions that strengthen educator pathways and educational systems. Through research-informed advocacy, coalition-building, strategic communications, public engagement, and relationship-centered leadership, PEDC will continue to work to influence policies, practices, and public investments that support educator recruitment, preparation, hiring, mentorship, retention, and advancement while expanding access to culturally relevant and sustaining education.
PEDC recognizes that meaningful systems change is achieved through collaboration rather than individual action. Advancing this priority will require strong partnerships with educators, policymakers, state agencies, legislators, higher education institutions, advocacy organizations, researchers, community leaders, and other strategic partners who share a commitment to educational equity and opportunity. Through collective action, PEDC will help strengthen public understanding, elevate promising practices, and advance policy priorities that support a more diverse, effective, and sustainable educator workforce.
Over the next three years, PEDC will focus on developing and advancing a proactive policy agenda, strengthening thought leadership and strategic partnerships, and building the infrastructure necessary to sustain long-term policy influence and advocacy capacity. These efforts will position PEDC to serve as a trusted thought partner, resource, and catalyst for systems improvement while helping to shape policies and practices that strengthen educator diversity, expand culturally relevant and sustaining education, and improve outcomes for current and future generations of educators and learners.
Looking beyond 2030, PEDC will continue exploring opportunities to influence emerging policy conversations, strengthen educator workforce pathways, modernize educator preparation and certification systems, advance innovative approaches to professional learning, and position Pennsylvania as a national leader in educator diversity, educational equity, and systems transformation.
PEDC is uniquely positioned to convene, elevate emerging issues, build consensus, and advance policy solutions that strengthen educator pathways and educational systems.
2030 Future State and Success Indicators
Future State
By 2030, PEDC is recognized as a trusted statewide and emerging national leader in policy influence, collective advocacy, and systems improvement that advance educator diversity factors, including recruitment, preparation, hiring, retention, and culturally relevant and sustaining education. Through strategic advocacy, coalition building, research-informed policy solutions, and cross-sector partnerships, PEDC has helped influence significant policy changes, public investments, and systems-level improvements that create more equitable opportunities for current and future educators and learners across Pennsylvania.
PEDC serves as a respected thought partner and resource for policymakers, state agencies, educators, advocacy organizations, higher education institutions, community leaders, and philanthropic partners. Through strong relationships, collective action, and data-informed advocacy, PEDC helps shape policies and practices that remove barriers, strengthen educator pathways, improve educator retention, expand culturally relevant and sustaining education, and increase access to equitable educational opportunities.
PEDC has cultivated meaningful relationships with state and national policymakers, advocacy organizations, researchers, and thought leaders, positioning the organization to elevate Pennsylvania's successes, contribute to broader policy conversations, and advance innovative solutions that strengthen the educator workforce and educational systems for future generations.
Policy and Systems Impact
- Develop, implement, and annually refine a three-year PEDC Policy Agenda.
- Influence or advance 4–6 significant policy changes, funding investments, or systems-level improvements.
- Advocate for the advancement of educator workforce data transparency and statewide tracking of Grow Your Own programs and other educator pathways.
Influence, Thought Leadership, and Strategic Partnerships
- Establish and maintain trusted relationships with legislators, PDE officials, Governor's Office staff, advisory committee leaders, PK-12 and higher education leaders, advocacy leaders, researchers, community leaders, and national policy and advocacy organizations.
- Establish the National and International Leadership Collaborative on Educator Diversity and Educational Equity.
- Increase invitations to provide testimony, presentations, keynote addresses, expert consultation, and participation in state, national, and international policy discussions.
- Increase production and dissemination of policy briefs, articles, publications, media contributions, and thought leadership resources.
Collective Action, Coalition Building, and Public Engagement
- Sustain an active and engaged Policy and Advocacy Working Group.
- Reestablish and sustain the CRSE Working Group as a reliable source of information that educates, informs, engages, and provides resources for educators, families, caregivers, and business, non-profit, and community leaders about the importance of culturally relevant and sustaining education.
- Continue to lead and co-host annual Advocacy Days and provide year-round advocacy and engagement opportunities.
- Increase participation in policy, advocacy, coalition-building, and public engagement initiatives annually.
Sustainable Policy and Advocacy Infrastructure
- Establish a full-time Policy and Advocacy Specialist position.
- Launch a PEDC Policy and Advocacy Fellowship Program.
- Develop and implement policy tools, resources, technology platforms, and advocacy supports.
- Establish sustainable infrastructure to support policy research, advocacy, communications, engagement, and leadership development.
Leadership and Accountability
- Executive Directors
- Director of Research
- Regional Coordinators
- Policy and Advocacy Working Group
- CRSE Working Group (when reestablished)
- Policy and Advocacy Expert (when established)
- Mercury Communications
- Director of Communications and Public Engagement (when established)
- Administrative Coordinator(s)
- Administrative Project Support
- Governor's Office and Advisory Committees
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
- Leadership and staff; Pennsylvania State Board of Education
- Legislators and legislative staff
- Local, state, and national policy and advocacy organizations
- Research partners
- Local, state, and national strategic coalition and community partners
- Board members with expertise, relationships, and influence in policy, advocacy, education, and government.
Strategic Objectives and Three-Year Plan
Develop and Advance a Policy Agenda that Influences Educator Diversity, Workforce Development, and Educational Equity
PEDC will develop and advance a proactive policy agenda that addresses barriers and opportunities across the educator workforce continuum. Through research-informed policy recommendations, legislative and agency engagement, advocacy efforts, and strategic partnerships, PEDC seeks to influence policies, funding investments, and systems-level improvements that strengthen educator diversity, expand and support educator preparation pathways, improve educator recruitment, hiring, and retention, and advance culturally relevant and sustaining education.
Key Actions and Measures of Progress
- Develop and launch a three-year PEDC Policy Agenda informed by research, collaborator input, and emerging policy priorities.
- Strengthen relationships with legislators, PDE officials, city/regional officials, Governor's Office staff, and other key policymakers and decision-makers.
- Develop policy briefs, recommendations, and resources focused on educator diversity, workforce development, retention, certification pathways, Grow Your Own, CTE, apprenticeship, and CRSE initiatives.
- Advance priority policy recommendations through targeted advocacy, coalition-building, and legislative engagement.
- Expand engagement with state and national policymakers, agencies, and advocacy organizations.
- Advance policy priorities through testimony, presentations, policy briefs, advocacy campaigns, and strategic partnerships.
- Sustain and refine the Policy Agenda based on progress, emerging opportunities, and changing policy landscapes.
- Position PEDC as a trusted resource and thought partner in state and national policy discussions.
- Evaluate policy impact, document lessons learned, and share promising practices and policy solutions.
Measures of Progress
- Develop, implement, and annually refine a three-year PEDC Policy Agenda.
- Influence or advance 4-6 significant policy changes, funding investments, or systems-level improvements.
- Advance policy priorities related to educator diversity, workforce development, educator retention, certification pathways, Grow Your Own initiatives, and culturally relevant and sustaining education.
Strengthen Thought Leadership, Strategic Partnerships, and Collective Action
PEDC will strengthen its role as a trusted thought leader, convener, and catalyst by continuing to cultivate and strengthen authentic relationships with policymakers, educators, advocacy organizations, researchers, community leaders, and strategic partners.
Key Actions and Measures of Progress
- Strengthen the Policy and Advocacy Working Group by providing clear priorities, dedicated resources, meaningful engagement opportunities, and coordinated support.
- Reestablish and support the CRSE Working Group as a trusted source of information that educates, informs, engages, and provides resources for educators, families, caregivers, businesses, and community organizations.
- Continue to co-plan, co-lead, and co-host Advocacy Days and increase opportunities for engagement, learning, and promoting advocacy initiatives throughout the year.
- Expand coalition-building and collaborative advocacy efforts with state and national organizations, agencies, and partners.
- Expand public engagement, communications, and resource development efforts that increase awareness and understanding of educator diversity and culturally relevant and sustaining education.
- Expand thought leadership activities through publications, presentations, policy discussions, and media engagement. Design and build support for the National and International Leadership Collaborative on Educator Diversity and Educational Equity.
- Sustain and deepen strategic partnerships and collaborative advocacy efforts that advance long-term policy influence and systems improvement.
- Establish PEDC as a recognized source of thought leadership, policy expertise, and public engagement on educator diversity and educational equity.
- Launch and pilot the National and International Leadership Collaborative on Educator Diversity and Educational Equity.
Measures of Progress
- Establish the National and International Leadership Collaborative on Educator Diversity and Educational Equity.
- Increase invitations to provide testimony, presentations, keynote addresses, expert consultation, and participation in state, national, and international policy discussions.
- Increase production and dissemination of policy briefs, articles, publications, media contributions, and thought leadership resources.
Develop Sustainable Policy and Advocacy Infrastructure and Leadership Capacity
PEDC will invest in the people, systems, tools, and resources necessary for long-term policy influence and advocacy efforts. By establishing dedicated staffing, leadership development opportunities, technology tools, and organizational supports, PEDC will build the infrastructure needed to advance policy priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and expand its influence and impact over time.
Key Actions and Measures of Progress
- Assess organizational capacity and develop a long-term policy and advocacy infrastructure plan to support policy research, advocacy, communications, engagement, and leadership development.
- Develop and track policy communications and engagement, and create advocacy tools and resources that support policy influence and public engagement.
- Design and secure support for a PEDC Policy and Advocacy Fellowship program.
- Hire a full-time Policy and Advocacy Expert to lead, coordinate, and advance PEDC's policy agenda, advocacy efforts, and monitoring of legislative priorities and policy developments.
- Expand policy research, communications, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy systems and supports.
- Launch and pilot the PEDC Policy and Advocacy Fellowship program.
- Sustain and strengthen policy and advocacy infrastructure to support long-term influence, engagement, and impact.
- Evaluate, refine, and scale policy tools, systems, and resources based on impact, effectiveness, and organizational needs.
- Expand and institutionalize the Fellowship Policy program as a leadership development and policy engagement opportunity.
Measures of Progress
- Establish a position for a full-time Policy and Advocacy Expert.
- Launch and sustain a PEDC Policy and Advocacy Fellowship Program.
- Develop and implement a sustainable policy, advocacy, communications, and engagement infrastructure plan.
Innovation Horizon: Looking Beyond 2030
Pennsylvania as a National Blueprint for Educator Diversity
Position Pennsylvania as the nation's leading model for educator diversity by documenting, scaling, and sharing successful policies, practices, and systems that strengthen educator recruitment, preparation, hiring, retention, and advancement.
AI-Powered Educator Preparation and Workforce Development
Explore the use of artificial intelligence, virtual simulations, and immersive learning technologies to strengthen educator preparation, culturally relevant and sustaining instructional practices, classroom management, mentoring, and workforce development.
National Educator Workforce Innovation Lab
Establish Pennsylvania as a policy and innovation testbed for educator workforce solutions by piloting and evaluating promising practices related to Grow Your Own programs, registered apprenticeships, student-teacher stipends, educator retention, and workforce development.
Modernize Educator Preparation, Certification, and Workforce Pathways
Advance policy, legislative, and systems innovations that modernize educator preparation, certification, workforce development, and career advancement pathways.
Global Summit on Educator Diversity and Educational Equity
Launch a recurring international summit that convenes policymakers, researchers, educators, advocates, students, and community leaders to share innovative solutions, emerging research, and promising practices.