diff --git a/.changeset/align-editor-sidebar-handles.md b/.changeset/align-editor-sidebar-handles.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bfd7e32821
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/align-editor-sidebar-handles.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@emdash-cms/admin": patch
+---
+
+Fixes vertical alignment of editor sidebar drag handles with standard and collapsible section headings.
diff --git a/.changeset/stabilize-seo-description-layout.md b/.changeset/stabilize-seo-description-layout.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..95bd31b119
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/stabilize-seo-description-layout.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@emdash-cms/admin": patch
+---
+
+Fixes the meta description field shifting after the first character is entered.
diff --git a/e2e/tests/content-crud.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/content-crud.spec.ts
index 0ad987496e..de549e0a14 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/content-crud.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/content-crud.spec.ts
@@ -90,6 +90,56 @@ test.describe("Content CRUD", () => {
 	});
 
 	test.describe("Edit Content", () => {
+		test("vertically aligns standard section drag handles with their headings", async ({
+			admin,
+		}) => {
+			await admin.goToContent("posts");
+			await admin.waitForLoading();
+			await admin.page.getByRole("link", { name: "First Post", exact: true }).click();
+			await admin.waitForLoading();
+
+			const dragHandle = admin.page.getByRole("button", {
+				name: "Drag to reorder Publish",
+			});
+			const section = dragHandle.locator("xpath=ancestor::section");
+			const heading = section.getByRole("heading", { name: "Publish" });
+			const [handleBox, headingBox] = await Promise.all([
+				dragHandle.boundingBox(),
+				heading.boundingBox(),
+			]);
+
+			expect(handleBox).not.toBeNull();
+			expect(headingBox).not.toBeNull();
+			expect(
+				Math.abs(handleBox!.y + handleBox!.height / 2 - (headingBox!.y + headingBox!.height / 2)),
+			).toBeLessThanOrEqual(1);
+		});
+
+		test("vertically aligns disclosure section drag handles with their headers", async ({
+			admin,
+		}) => {
+			await admin.goToContent("posts");
+			await admin.waitForLoading();
+			await admin.page.getByRole("link", { name: "First Post", exact: true }).click();
+			await admin.waitForLoading();
+
+			const dragHandle = admin.page.getByRole("button", {
+				name: "Drag to reorder Revisions",
+			});
+			const section = dragHandle.locator("xpath=ancestor::section");
+			const disclosureTrigger = section.getByRole("button", { name: /^Revisions/ });
+			const [handleBox, triggerBox] = await Promise.all([
+				dragHandle.boundingBox(),
+				disclosureTrigger.boundingBox(),
+			]);
+
+			expect(handleBox).not.toBeNull();
+			expect(triggerBox).not.toBeNull();
+			expect(
+				Math.abs(handleBox!.y + handleBox!.height / 2 - (triggerBox!.y + triggerBox!.height / 2)),
+			).toBeLessThanOrEqual(1);
+		});
+
 		test("loads existing content for editing", async ({ admin }) => {
 			// Go to content list
 			await admin.goToContent("posts");
diff --git a/packages/admin/src/components/SeoPanel.tsx b/packages/admin/src/components/SeoPanel.tsx
index 06715be7d0..1270b65178 100644
--- a/packages/admin/src/components/SeoPanel.tsx
+++ b/packages/admin/src/components/SeoPanel.tsx
@@ -201,10 +201,8 @@ export function SeoPanel({
 				<InputArea
 					id={descriptionId}
 					aria-label={t`Meta Description`}
+					aria-describedby={`${descriptionId}-count`}
 					className="w-full"
-					description={
-						draft.description ? t`${draft.description.length}/160 characters` : undefined
-					}
 					value={draft.description}
 					placeholder={defaultDescription ?? undefined}
 					onChange={(e) => {
@@ -213,6 +211,9 @@ export function SeoPanel({
 					rows={3}
 					dir="auto"
 				/>
+				<p id={`${descriptionId}-count`} className="text-sm leading-snug text-kumo-subtle">
+					{t`${draft.description.length}/160 characters`}
+				</p>
 			</div>
 
 			<div className="space-y-2">
diff --git a/packages/admin/src/components/SortableContentSettingsSections.tsx b/packages/admin/src/components/SortableContentSettingsSections.tsx
index 090c6c1636..75b105cbc3 100644
--- a/packages/admin/src/components/SortableContentSettingsSections.tsx
+++ b/packages/admin/src/components/SortableContentSettingsSections.tsx
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ export function SortableContentSettingsSection({
 				{...listeners}
 				className={cn(
 					"absolute z-10 grid size-7 touch-none cursor-grab place-items-center rounded-md text-kumo-subtle hover:bg-kumo-tint hover:text-kumo-default focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-kumo-accent active:cursor-grabbing",
-					isSorting ? "end-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2" : "top-3",
+					isSorting ? "end-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2" : disclosure ? "top-5" : "top-3",
 					!isSorting && "end-3",
 				)}
 				aria-label={t`Drag to reorder ${label}`}
diff --git a/packages/admin/tests/components/SeoPanel.test.tsx b/packages/admin/tests/components/SeoPanel.test.tsx
index 5a93688e0c..329919c17a 100644
--- a/packages/admin/tests/components/SeoPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/admin/tests/components/SeoPanel.test.tsx
@@ -60,6 +60,24 @@ describe("SeoPanel", () => {
 		}
 	});
 
+	it("keeps the meta description field mounted while its character count updates", async () => {
+		const screen = await render(
+			<QueryWrapper>
+				<SeoPanel
+					contentKey="page-1"
+					seo={{ title: "", description: null, image: null, canonical: null, noIndex: false }}
+					onChange={() => {}}
+				/>
+			</QueryWrapper>,
+		);
+		const initialField = screen.getByLabelText("Meta Description").element();
+
+		await userEvent.type(initialField, "f");
+
+		expect(screen.getByLabelText("Meta Description").element()).toBe(initialField);
+		await expect.element(screen.getByText("1/160 characters")).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
 	it("renders the existing OG image preview when set", async () => {
 		const screen = await render(
 			<QueryWrapper>