What we're reading this week: April 11, 2024
The Education Gadfly“Plans for first religious charter school in the U.S.
#915: Eliminating school boundaries, with Derrell Bradford
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Derrell Bradford, the president of 50CAN, joins Mike and David to discuss a new coalit
Lengthy school closures were especially hard on high achievers
Brandon L. WrightTo gauge the magnitude of global learning loss during the pandemic, a team at the World Bank examined data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) from 2018–2022, which tests fifteen-year-olds in math, reading, and science.
School choice need not mean an expensive windfall for the rich
Michael J. PetrilliThe school choice movement continues to rack up dramatic wins nationwide. This growth in “educational freedom,” as many advocates now call it, is a fantastic development. But under the surface of these victories, an important debate is brewing: how to balance the drive for maximum choice with other values, including fiscal responsibility and fairness.
We’ve made teaching impossible or: What I learned talking to 200 teachers
Daniel BuckLast week, I did something unorthodox. I asked teachers to message me directly via X (formerly known as Twitter) to vent their frustrations. Within hours, I received almost 200 messages expressing not only frustration, but also hope, humor, fatalism, and quite a bit of hesitancy to converse with a complete stranger on the internet.
Cross-partisanship vs. bipartisanship in education
Chester E. Finn, Jr.In last week’s Gadfly, Karen Nussle and Lorén Cox penned a thoughtful piece on “cross-partisanship,” a concept they explore at greater length in a very nice paper for the Aspen
Can an upfront cash incentive improve teacher recruitment and retention?
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.A recent study in the Economics of Education Review Journal looks at one promising effort to recruit and retain teachers: providing upfront grants and loans to financially-strapped potential teachers to encourage them to become and remain educators.
What TIMSS and PISA have in common
Jeff MurrayThe Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) are arguably the most important international tests in education. Both have been administered for decades in dozens of countries. Each new set of student outcomes is tracked, analyzed, and endlessly written about.
What we're reading this week: April 4, 2024
The Education GadflyChronic absenteeism remains one of the most persistent problems facing schools post-pandemic. —New York Times “What’s missing from states’ reading laws?
#914: A comprehensive vision for conservative education reform, with Rick Hess
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Rick Hess, the director of education policy studies at the America
Introducing Education Policy Research Barbie
Gadfly KenMattel, in partnership with the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, is proud to announce the latest addition to its iconic Barbie lineup: Education Policy Research Barbie. Modeled after Fordham’s very own Vice President for Research Amber Northern, this groundbreaking doll combines glamour with intellect, empowering young minds to dream big and break stereotypes.
Education may now be a “cross-partisan” endeavor
Karen Nussle, Lorén CoxIn a recent Aspen Institute paper, the authors introduce the notion of “cross-partisanship”—two or more sides agreeing on the same policy outcome for disparate reasons—as a modern alternative to bipartisanship, wherein both sides concede something. They argue that adopting this new approach in education policy may be imperative for success—not just for legislative wins, but for the long-term well-being and prosperity of our children and communities.
How the pandemic affected global education: Insights from PISA
Harry Anthony PatrinosThe closure of schools in response to the seismic disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on education worldwide. As nations grappled with closures lasting varying lengths of time, the implications for student learning became increasingly evident.
Our schools have lost their sense of purpose
Tim DalyEditor’s note: A portion of this essay is excepted from the author’s Substack, The Education Daly.<
What we're reading this week: March 28, 2024
The Education GadflyOne Tufts professor taught a seminar on conservative thought, and students learned about more than just Burke and Tocqueville. —Boston Magazine After Florida passed the first such legislation, lawmakers in several states now are making moves to ban cellphones in classrooms.
#913: Advancing cross-partisan education policies, with Lorén Cox and Karen Nussle
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Lorén Cox, the policy director for the Education and Society p
Students deserve better information about billions spent on education R & D
Dan LipsCongress is currently considering legislation to update the way that the federal government funds education research and development.
All students deserve a “gifted” education
Alina AdamsNew York City public schools offer two types of gifted and talented education.
Toward a more research-informed charter school application process
David Griffith, Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.The findings of Fordham’s latest report, "Do Authorizer Evaluations Predict the Success of New Charter Schools?" suggest at least three takeaways: authorizers should pay close attention to applicants’ education and financial plans; should incorporate multiple data sources and perspectives; and must continue to hold approved schools accountable for their results.
Doing educational equity right: Effective teachers
Michael J. PetrilliThis is the eighth in a series on doing educational equity right.
Colorado charters on the back foot
Dale ChuThe hits just keep on coming: Earlier this month, a motley crew of former Colorado lawmakers helped spur the introduction of a grotesque piece of legislation aimed squarely at dismantling the state’s