Whereas the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the Association for Middle Level Education have declared the month of March 2026 as National Middle-Level Education Month;

Whereas schools that educate middle grade students play a critical function in the Nation’s educational system in that they are responsible for educating young adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15 (grades 5 through 10) who are undergoing rapid and dramatic changes in their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and moral development;

Whereas, each day, over 18,000,000 young adolescents are engaged in school, deserving what research and practice have shown to help middle grade students achieve, including challenging and engaging instruction, teachers and administrators who are knowledgeable and prepared to provide young adolescents with a safe, challenging, and supportive learning environment, and organizational structures that banish anonymity and promote personalization, collaboration, and social equity;

Whereas neuroscience indicates that the majority of middle grade students are in a critical stage of brain development that promotes productive adulthood;

Whereas the habits and values established during early adolescence have a critical, lifelong influence that directly impacts the future health and welfare of the Nation;

Whereas research has found that the academic achievement of eighth grade students has a larger impact on their readiness for college by the end of high school than anything that happens academically in high school;

Whereas research has found that middle-level education is underfunded, creating a missing middle in Federal education funding;

Whereas, in order to improve graduation rates and prepare students to be lifelong learners ready for college, career, and citizenship, a deeper public understanding of the distinctive mission of the middle level is necessary; and

Whereas the month of March 2026 has been declared as National Middle-Level Education Month by numerous educational groups: Now, therefore, be it