Education First Consulting: Shaping Equitable Education and Global Understanding

Education First Consulting stands as a national strategy and policy organization, a trusted partner for education changemakers across all 50 states. But there is also Education First Consulting is a small local company that helps families navigate the college application process without stress. These are two different organizations. Let's explore each one of them.

Education First: A National Force for Education Reform

Mission and Vision

At its core, Education First is driven by a powerful mission: to deliver exceptional ideas and experience-based solutions that empower all students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds and students of color, to achieve success in college, career, and life. This mission is anchored in a clear vision: a world where every student is equipped to thrive, and where socioeconomic status and race no longer dictate the quality of education one receives.

This vision translates into a commitment to equitable and effective public education for all, guiding the organization's focus areas and services to maximize its impact on education systems, teachers, and students. Education First operates as a for-profit professional services firm with a not-for-profit soul, directing its expertise and resources to support clients who can drive meaningful change in education.

A Nimble and Responsive Approach

Education First prides itself on being a nimble and responsive organization. This agility allows them to adapt to the evolving needs of the education sector and provide tailored solutions to their clients. Innovation is a key element of their approach, as they constantly seek new and better ways to serve the field and address the challenges facing education systems.

Strategic School Staffing

Education First views strategic school staffing as more than just a teacher retention strategy. It is an opportunity to redesign systems around academic and talent priorities. This includes creating space for educators to utilize high-quality instructional materials, build stronger relationships with students, differentiate instruction, partner with families, and better support teachers entering the profession.

The Department of Education has issued guidance clarifying how states and districts can use Title II funds to support strategic staffing components such as differentiated roles and compensation, team-based instruction, support for new teachers, and clinically rich teacher preparation models. Education First's work in this area, including their strategic staffing landscape scan, highlights the critical role of state education agency leadership in scaling these models.

Instructional Coherence

Instructional coherence is essential for student success. While it happens at the classroom level, teachers can't create it on their own. The Council of Chief State School Officers has identified three essential elements, grounded in real school examples and state insights, for states to create the conditions for instructional coherence.

Engaging with NAEP

Education First recognizes the power of the Nation's Report Card (NAEP) to drive positive change in education systems and spur student learning gains. They are supporting Next Gen NAEP to engage local, state, and national stakeholders whose experience with NAEP administration and with using NAEP results will inform recommendations.

Navigating Federal Education Policy

Education First provides analyses and resources on federal education policy. They launched Facts in the Flood, a series with analyses and resources about federal education policy.

The organization acknowledges the significant role of the federal government in education through funding, regulation, data, and accountability, while also recognizing that states have more control over education policy.

Education First provides resources and analysis to help SEA leaders align federal resources with state priorities.

History

Jenn Vranek founded Education First in 2006 to provide excellent consulting and advising delivered by practitioners and policy advisors. Starting with an initial team of six, the organization has grown to include more than 80 team members across the nation.

Culture and Values

Education First emphasizes a positive, inclusive, and equitable workplace. The firm is virtual, with team members across the country.

Education First is an incredibly collaborative work environment. The core values are at the heart of the hiring process.

Professional learning and reflection are a top priority. Professional growth at Education First comes in three ways: learning, doing and watching. The firm provides a nurturing environment that includes mentorship, internal training programs and opportunities for continuous learning.

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Education First Consulting: Guiding Families Through the College Application Process

Education First Consulting is a small local company that helps families navigate the college application process without stress. They work with families of children of all ages and adults who want to go back to school or change a profession.

Services

Education First Consulting advises families on the best strategies to ensure getting into a dream school. They offer college application-related services such as:

College application step-by-step guidance
Essay coaching
SAT/ACT preparation
Building a resume
Creating a college list
Looking for sports and merit scholarships

Services for International Families

Education First Consulting also works with international families, offering:

English as a Second Language lessons and webinars
Explanations of the differences between American and other countries' systems of education

EF (Education First): Opening the World Through Education

Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies with a mission of opening the world through education, offering language, academic, cultural exchange, and education travel programs. EF operates in over 50 countries.

International Educational Programs and Travel Experiences

EF provides international educational programs and culturally rich travel experiences. Their programs open the world to students and travelers in ways that challenge biases, overcome barriers, and pave the way for a more understanding world.

EF Adventures

EF Adventures creates space for confidence and for presence amongst our travelers. Their tours allow people to focus less on navigation and more on what’s happening around them, and who they’re sharing it with.

EF Adventures introduces a new Alps tour collection, including a shorter, more focused journey through Chamonix, Zermatt, and Grindelwald. Each itinerary in their Alps collection is designed with care, informed by people who know the Alps.

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