Hannah Melnicoe

HMelnicoe
Hannah Melnicoe
Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Early Learning Policy,
Learning Policy Institute

Hanna Melnick is senior policy advisor and director of early learning policy at the Learning Policy Institute, where she co-leads the early childhood learning team. Her work focuses on policies that strengthen early learning systems in California and other states, particularly in preparing a high-quality, diverse educator workforce. She is a member of the Deeper Learning team, with a focus on school climate and social-emotional learning. She was previously a senior program manager at Pivot Learning (now part of UnboundEd), where she worked with high-needs school districts across the country to develop solutions to educational equity challenges and support student readiness for college and career. She was an analyst fellow with Education Pioneers in Marin County and began her career as a public school teacher in East Palo Alto and San Jose, California as a Teach for America corps member. Melnick earned an MPP from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

updated 2025

Publications by Hannah Melnicoe
A Rural District’s Response to COVID-19
COVID-19 has disrupted California’s education system in fundamental ways.
This brief discusses how the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) in California is addressing the challenges of COVID-19 through family engagement and instructional access for English learners. The district has a history of serving all…
The Implications of Marin’s Rising Pension Costs and Tax Revolt for Increasing Education Funding
Marin County's schools face rising costs, particularly for pensions and declining enrollment, which is not sustainable. Teacher salaries and recruitment are affected, with limited public awareness of district flexibility to respond to rising pension…
This case study examines the looming deficit faced by Sacramento City Unified School District and the challenges it poses for students, including declining enrollment, increasing special education and pension costs. It also highlights the impact of…