The Southern Education Foundation (SEF), in its over 150-year history, has maintained a voice advocating for education opportunities and education equity in the South. The document presented here is a continuation of that history of advocacy through a statement of principles and positions covering what we at SEF consider to be critical issues of policy in K – 12 public education. This document offers sound policy positions supported by credible research and data designed to better inform public education policy development and related legislation in the southern states. This document expands upon and provides foundational support for SEF’sLegislative Positions released in December 2018. Our December 2018 Legislative Positions centered around three specific issues in K – 12 public education policy: (1) Education Reform, (2) School Governance, and (3) School Funding.