More than Overdue: Special Ed 2.0 - A conversation with Miriam Kurtzig Freedman
See the attached PDF for an unedited transcript of the event. What if every child in American schools had the equivalent of an IEP, i.e. we customized the education of every unique student?
The making of a state ESSA plan
On this week's podcast, Checker Finn, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss the drafting of an ESSA plan and what comes next for states that recently submitted theirs to the U.S. Department of Education. During the Research Minute, David Griffith examines the long-term effects of same-race teachers.
A $20 Billion School Choice Tax Credit Program: Yes, No, Maybe, How So?
Since Donald Trump’s election and Betsy DeVos’s selection as Secretary of Education put private-school-choice programs in the national spotlight—after years of steady growth at the state level—advocates across Twitter and the blogosphere have been offering ideas on what a big push at the federal level might look like.
Charters come to the Bluegrass State
On this week's podcast, Kentucky State Senator Mike Wilson joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss charter schools in the Bluegrass State, which recently passed its first charter law. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines efforts to improve content knowledge and comprehension for English language learners.
Amplifying educators' voices
On this week's podcast, special guest Eric Eagon, a senior director at the PIE Network, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss why policymakers ought to pay more attention to teachers and administrators. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the peer effects of computer-assisted learning.
Fat chance for Trump's skinny budget
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and David Griffith discuss President Trump’s education budget. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the effectiveness of contemporary career academies.
The teacher pension crisis edition
On this week's podcast, special guest Sandi Jacobs, principal at EducationCounsel and former vice president for state and district policy at the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss the problems and risks associated with teacher pension systems. During the Research Minute, David Griffith examines the hidden costs of school discipline in California.
The future of choice edition
On this week's podcast, Checker Finn, Alyssa Schwenk, and David Griffith discuss the future of school choice under a Trump administration. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the effects of birth order on non-cognitive abilities.
The great choice-accountability debate
On this week's podcast, Checker Finn, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss the ongoing debate about whether school accountability is best done via the parent marketplace or state assessments. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines whether struggling students are more likely to leave charter schools than traditional public schools.
The Madam Secretary edition
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss how Education Secretary Betsy DeVos can shore up support going forward. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the effectiveness of “instructional scaffolding” for struggling readers.
The Media vs. Betsy DeVos
On this week's podcast, special guest Dakarai Aarons, Vice President of Strategic Communications for the Data Quality Campaign, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss press coverage of Betsy DeVos. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the role high schools play in graduates’ colleges and majors.
The flush with cash edition
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss President Trump’s inauguration speech and what he said about education and globalization. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines how grading systems affect student effort.
DeVos, the day after
On this week's podcast, special guest Andy Smarick, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss Betsy DeVos’s confirmation hearing and what the feds might do to promote school choice. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the effects of New Orleans school reforms on school expenditures.
The 2017 state of the states edition
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss what’s on tap for state education reform in the new year. During the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the effects of math textbooks in California.
Coming together in 2017
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss how the nation, and education reformers, can come together in 2017. And Amber Northern begins the new year by counting down the five best Research Minutes of 2016.
Good riddance to 2016!
On this week's podcast, special guest Marc Porter Magee, CEO & Founder of 50CAN, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to look back on the year that was. During the Research Minute, David Griffith summarizes Undue Process, a study he coauthored with Victoria McDougald that examines why bad teachers are so difficult to dismiss.
The show charters the money edition
On this week's podcast, special guest Nina Rees, president and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, joins Mike Petrilli and Brandon Wright to discuss what the incoming Trump administration and Congress can do to help charter schools. On the Research Minute, David Griffith examines a survey of charter and traditional public school principals in Michigan that uncovers surprising day-to-day similarities between the two groups.
The PISA-TIMSS edition
On this week’s podcast, Checker Finn, Robert Pondiscio, and Alyssa Schwenk discuss America’s performance on two recent international assessments, TIMSS and PISA. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines a U.S. Department of Education guide on how to teach writing.
The reform royalty edition
On this week's podcast, special guest Lisa Graham Keegan, executive director of A for Arizona, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss the pros and cons of a big federal push on school choice. On the Research Minute, David Griffith teams up with Matthew Ladner, Senior Advisor of Policy and Research for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, to examine the effects of teacher turnover on instructional quality.
The states step up edition
On this week's podcast, special guest Chris Minnich, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss state education leadership in the Trump era. On the Research Minute, Victoria McDougald examines the effects of a North Carolina pre-K program on students' elementary school outcomes.
The "right" stuff edition
On this week's podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss what President-elect Trump might mean for the Department of Education and school discipline. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the effects of teaching assistants and nonteaching staff on student outcomes.
The post-election edition
On this week’s podcast, special guest Conor Williams of New America joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss the message Trump voters were sending and what a Trump Administration will mean for America’s schools.
The Batman v Superman edition
On this week’s podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and David Griffith discuss the titanic tussle between two tendentious tenets of school success measurement occurring among the mighty minds of Fordham and spilling out into the greater world. It’s proficiency vs. student growth. KA-THOOOOM! On the Research Minute, Amber tackles an early grade retention policy in Florida.
The civility edition
On this week’s podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and David Griffith discuss how teachers ought to handle this year’s particularly polarizing and cringe worthy presidential election. During the research minute, Amber Northern explains how charter school boards affect school quality.
James S. Coleman's legacy
On this week’s podcast, Robert Pondiscio and Checker Finn discuss James S. Coleman’s legacy, fifty years after the release of his seminal, groundbreaking report. During the research minute, David Griffith examines whether preschool programs improve attendees’ long-term academic, economic, and health outcomes.
The grade inflation edition
On this week’s podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and David Griffith discuss whether teachers should be giving As and Bs to students who aren't on track for success. During the research minute, Amber Northern examines whether sixth graders fare better when they aren't the youngest students in the school.
The special education edition
On this week’s podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright take Texas to task for capping the number of kids eligible for special education services. During the research minute, Amber Northern examines efforts to replicate college mentoring programs at scale using technology.
Trump, Choice, and Discipline
On this week’s podcast, Robert Pondiscio, Brandon Wright, and David Griffith discuss Donald Trump’s school choice proposal and the national debate over school discipline. During the research minute, Amber Northern examines the effect of the charter school authorization process on school quality.
The big summer stories edition
On this week’s podcast, Mike Petrilli, Alyssa Schwenk, and Brandon Wright discuss this summer’s ten biggest education stories. During the research minute, Amber Northern examines the effects of paying teachers for performance.