The excellence gap and underrepresentation at America’s most selective universities
Michael J. PetrilliAmerica’s education system suffers from a variety of “excellence gaps”—sharp disparities in performance by race and class at the highest levels of academic achievement. These gaps explain why college administrators turn to various forms of affirmative action in order to create freshmen classes that more closely represent the nation’s diversity—actions that may soon be declared unconstitutional. But when do these gaps start?
“What do you mean, ‘proficient’?” The saga of NAEP achievement levels
Chester E. Finn, Jr.As I write this, representative samples of fourth and eighth graders are taking National Assessment of Educational Progress tests in math and English.
Evidence, struggling math students, and California’s 2022 math framework
Tom LovelessThe proposed California Mathematics Framework generated a storm of controversy when the first draft was released in early 2021. Critics objected to the document’s condemnation of tracking and negative portrayal of acceleration for high-achieving students.
What does teacher certification contribute to outcomes for students with disabilities?
Jeff MurrayReams of research have reported contradictory outcomes for students with disabilities (SWDs) who are taught in general education classrooms alongside their non-disabled peers versus learning in settings with only SWDs. A new report focuses on teacher certification as a possible mechanism to explain the variations in outcomes.
More data on the impact of remote and hybrid learning during the pandemic
Julia WolfThroughout the pandemic, we encountered much speculation about the impact that remote learning would have on student performance. The expected learning loss was a concern not just of American parents and educators, but of citizens all around the world.
What we're reading this week: May 19, 2022
The Education Gadfly“Many progressives view the [the study of economics] as their adversary. Yet it has often proved to be a singularly powerful ally.” —New Yorker During the pandemic, leniency in college grading and attendance policies made sense.
When it comes to the Charter Schools Program, little details can have big impacts
Christy WolfeAnyone who says the recently proposed Charter Schools Program (CSP) rules are just about scoring grant proposals and otherwise “ordinary” requirements (
Assessing the Nation’s Report Card: Challenges and choices for NAEP
Chester E. Finn, Jr.NAEP is by far the country’s most important source of information on student achievement, achievement gaps and so much more, even though it’s invisible to most Americans. Yet NAEP is far from perfect—and could do so much more than it does. It’s time to wrestle with its challenges, shortcomings, and possible future scenarios.
Stop mandating financial literacy courses for high school students
Daniel BuckGeorgia is the latest on a growing list of states that make financial literacy courses a requirement for high school graduation.
Schools have no choice but to teach social and emotional skills
Nathaniel GrossmanShould public schools strive to teach character to students? One group in Texas says no.
The Federal civil service adopted standardized testing in 1883. Are there lessons for education today?
Christian EggersOne common refrain in debates around education is that standardized exams negatively impact applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
What we're reading this week: May 12, 2022
The Education Gadfly“I just want my kid to learn algebra. Does that make me a culture warrior?” —New York Times Despite the data to the contrary, the myth persists that students have too much homework.
The case for charter schools is stronger than ever
The Education GadflyJust over thirty years ago, the first public charter school law was passed in Minnesota. One year later, City Academy Charter School opened its doors in St. Paul. The charter sector now boasts more than 7,700 schools serving over 3.4 million students nationwide.
Republicans are peddling speech codes when they should focus on school choice
Dale ChuFrom coast to coast, speech codes, library book extrications, and other forms of censorship are animating Republicans around gender policy, critical race theory, SEL, and a laundry list of related grievances. Yet missing from all this energy and attention to schools is a concerted focus on durable systemic change. In the case of Republicans, they’re squandering the chance to put parental choice on steroids.
Using ESSER funds for retention bonuses makes sense if targeted strategically
Dan GoldhaberThe money is pouring in, but so are the education challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically affected student achievement, particularly for poorer students and students of color.
No, social and emotional learning is not a “Trojan horse” for CRT
Robert PondiscioLast week came news that more than 40 percent of math textbooks submitted for review in Florida were deemed incompatible with state standards or contained “prohibited topics” including reference
Shortages, hiring, and retiring: School leaders answer survey questions on pandemic-era staffing
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.With schools and districts across the nation said to be reeling from staffing shortages, calls for action are loud and insistent.
What we're reading this week: May 5, 2022
The Education GadflyThe National Council of Teachers of English is making a big mistake in embracing media literacy when students still need more time on reading and writing.
Can investing in elementary schools prevent crime?
Christian EggersThe nationwide surge in violent crime, which preceded the pandemic but accelerated in 2020, has prompted a range of policy responses, from expanding
National Working Group on Advanced Education: Inaugural meeting summary of discussion
The Education GadflyNOTE: On March 7, 2022, seventeen members of the National Working Group on Advanced Education met in Washington, D.C., to get acquainted and to start identifying evidence-based practices to support the success of high-achieving students.
The little-known test that matters the most
Chester E. Finn, Jr.How do we know whether kids in Pennsylvania are better or worse readers at the end of middle school than their peers in Colorado? We wouldn’t know that or much else without a test that may have escaped your notice altogether, unless you’re some sort of education-obsessed policy maker or policy wonk like me. I’m talking about the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Literature and virtue
Jennifer FreyClassical education is a holistic approach that is geared toward the cultivation of students’ minds, imagination, perception, and emotions so that they can be equipped with character traits that will help them to flourish and thrive both inside the school community and well beyond.
How student outcomes were impacted by the desegregation of schools
Julia WolfThe Supreme Court decision that overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine in Brown v. Board of Education had a great impact on schools across much of the United States. Even though not every school received the same integration orders, and some did not receive any at all, the desegregation of schools had significant effects on Black students’ outcomes.
What we're reading this week: April 28, 2022
The Education GadflyDropping SAT requirements inflated Ivy-league application numbers and made this year’s admissions cycle the most competitive on record.
Announcing the National Working Group on Advanced Education
The Education GadflyThe Thomas B. Fordham Institute is pleased to announce the launch of the National Working Group on Advanced Education. The Working Group’s mission is to promote research, policies, and practices that will develop the full capacities of students with high academic potential, especially Black and Hispanic students and those coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.