Looking Ahead: What 2025's Top Education Research Means for Your School Search in 2026
As we bid farewell to 2025 and welcome a new year of possibilities, I have taken some time to reflect on the groundbreaking education research that emerged over the past year. Edutopia's recent roundup of the year's most significant studies offers valuable insights that should inform every family's approach to school selection and placement in 2026.
As an independent educational consultant, educator, and advocate, I have witnessed trends come and go. However, this year's research provides compelling evidence about what actually works in K-12 education, and these findings have direct implications for Baltimore-area families navigating the school search process.
What the Research Tells Us About Effective Schools
1. The Cell Phone Question Is Settled
A massive study involving nearly 17,000 students is just one of several providing conclusive evidence: phone-free classrooms yield better academic outcomes, particularly for new and struggling students. Twenty-two states passed laws restricting phone use in schools in 2025, and the momentum continues to build. While Maryland does not have a cell-phone ban, many individual school districts, counties, and private schools are developing their own policies and frameworks.
What this means for your school search: Ask prospective schools about their cell phone policies. Schools with clear, enforced boundaries around technology demonstrate commitment to protecting instructional time and minimizing distractions. Look for policies that students themselves like, such as social media pledges. The research showed that students who experienced phone-free classrooms became advocates for the restrictions.
2. Handwriting Still Matters, Especially for Young Learners
A study published earlier this year examined the impact of handwriting versus typing practice on the literacy skills of 5-year-old pre-readers learning new letters and two-syllable words. Across nearly all measures, children who practiced letter formation by hand demonstrated superior alphabetic and orthographic skills compared to those who typed. Specifically, handwriters achieved significantly higher accuracy when naming letters (92% vs. 75%) and, even more notably, when writing new letters from dictation (64% vs. 28%).
What this means for your school search: For elementary school families, inquire about the amount of time students spend writing by hand versus typing. According to research, strong elementary programs maintain a "steady diet of pencil and paper work" while gradually introducing technology. When visiting classrooms and on school tours, look for evidence and artifacts of daily writing.
3. Brain Breaks and Recess Aren't Optional; They are Essential!
Researchers have found that student attention begins to decline just five minutes into a lesson. Students who received 90-second microbreaks every 10 minutes outperformed peers by up to 76% on attention measures. In addition, Fourth graders who received 45 minutes of daily recess had 68% less cortisol (a stress hormone) than those with only 30 minutes. The research emphasizes that recess should be frequent, unstructured, and outdoors.
What this means for your school search: During school visits, observe how teachers structure lessons. Do they incorporate movement breaks, brief social interactions, or modality changes? Schools that understand the neuroscience of attention will have these strategies built into the school day. Don't just ask about recess, but also ask how much recess is allocated, how often it occurs, and what it looks like. Schools that prioritize 45 minutes or more of unstructured outdoor play demonstrate a clear understanding of child development and effective stress management.
4. Productive Struggle Builds Confidence
Studies confirmed that when adults intervene too quickly with struggling students, it can signal that solutions are beyond the child's ability, dampening confidence and willingness to take intellectual risks. Even 5-year-olds showed decreased motivation when adults stepped in prematurely.
What this means for your school search: Look for schools that articulate a clear philosophy about productive struggle and scaffolding. During classroom visits, watch how teachers respond when students are stuck. Do they provide hints and guiding questions, or do they give answers? This is especially important for twice-exceptional learners who need both challenge and support.
5. Student-Teacher Relationships Are the Foundation
Two comprehensive meta-analyses covering millions of students confirmed what teachers have long known: trusting, supportive relationships drive academic achievement, improved behavior, executive function, self-control, and feelings of belonging. The impact may be even more substantial for middle and high school students.
What this means for your school search: Class size matters because it affects relationship-building. Ask about advisory programs, teacher retention rates, and how schools support students' social-emotional needs. Schools should be able to articulate how they create a culture where students feel known and valued.
6. The Right Kind of Math Instruction Makes a Difference
Research on middle school math has revealed that students who used "organizational and elaborative" strategies, such as sketching diagrams, categorizing information, and annotating problems, were 29% more likely to solve complex word problems than those who simply highlighted details.
What this means for your school search: Ask how math is taught beyond computation. Do teachers explicitly teach problem-solving strategies? Is there evidence of students working through multi-step problems in creative ways? This is particularly important for students who struggle with working memory or executive function challenges. In my experience, the right kind of math instruction is crucial for success on standardized assessments.
Why Working with an IEC Matters More Than Ever in 2026
The education landscape is increasingly complex. Schools make claims about their programs, support, and structure, but how do you evaluate whether they're actually implementing research-based best practices? How do you know if a school's philosophy aligns with your child's learning needs?
Working with an independent educational consultant can help provide expert school knowledge, personalized matching, assessment preparation and interpretation, admissions strategy, and, ultimately, time and stress reduction.
If you're beginning a school search for the 2026-27 academic year, now is the time to start. Whether you're looking for the proper kindergarten placement, navigating middle school transitions, seeking specialized support for learning differences, or exploring options for twice-exceptional learners, I invite you to reach out.
Let's make 2026 the year your child finds the school where they'll truly thrive!
Dr. Jennifer Schmerling is an independent educational consultant and a member of IECA, based in Baltimore, Maryland. She specializes in K-12 school placement, special education advocacy, IEP support, and working with twice-exceptional learners. Contact SERA Consulting at seraconsulting.com to learn more about how we can support your family's educational journey.
