This brief highlights recommendations for policymakers with guidance on strategies and action steps to drive the transformation of K-12 education systems to meet the needs of every student. Policymakers, at every level, need to ensure the nation's education systems are fit for purpose, equity-driven, capable of preparing all students -- rather than only a portion -- to graduate with the knowledge, abilities and dispositions necessary to achieve success, to contribute to their communities and to advance society. These recommendations move states forward from their current state of education to a future state with equity-driven systems of excellent educational opportunities by rethinking accountability, redesigning and aligning systems of assessments, building educator capacity and creating system coherence.