Identified primary legislation

Analyzed HB 7004 to understand the policy's structure, funding mechanisms, and legislative intent.

Reviewed government data

Located and examined the 2021 House Education Committees Summer Study as the primary data source.

Conducted academic literature review

Searched peer-reviewed journals and reports to find supporting and opposing perspectives on learning loss, third-grade retention, and capacity building.

Applied Critical Policy Analysis framework

Evaluated the policy through an equity lens — centering marginalized students and challenging traditional power structures.

Synthesized quantitative and qualitative data

Combined test score data, enrollment numbers, and funding figures with scholarly critiques to build a comprehensive analysis.

Developed policy recommendations

Translated research findings into three actionable recommendations for policymakers focused on equity and long-term student outcomes.

Policy analysis and legislative interpretation

Read and interpreted complex legislative text to extract key components and implications.

Academic research and source management

Synthesized 11 sources across government reports, peer-reviewed journals, and journalism using APA citation.

Data literacy

Interpreted bar charts showing test score trends broken down by student demographic group across multiple years.

Equity-centered critical thinking

Applied a Critical Policy Analysis framework to center the experiences of economically disadvantaged students, English learners, and students of color.

Connecting theory to practice

Linked scholarly frameworks (McDonnell & Elmore, Ladson-Billings, Dweck) to real-world policy outcomes and decisions.

Public policy writing

Communicated complex research findings clearly for a policy audience through a structured, professional brief.