In this episode of EdFix , education policy veterans Denise Forte and Andy Rotherham tackle one of the most pressing—and polarizing—questions in American education: should the U.S. Department of Education shrink or shift power to the states? With sharp insights and real-world experience, they unpack the motivations behind efforts to dismantle the department and what that could mean for equity, accountability, and student rights. From civil rights enforcement to federal funding, they explore what...
Jun 03, 2025•48 min
In this episode of EdFix , Judge David Tatel, who served nearly three decades on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit—the nation’s second highest court—shares his remarkable journey from civil rights lawyer to judicial trailblazer. Blind since his mid-30s, Judge Tatel has dedicated his career to expanding access to justice and improving opportunities for all. He reflects on pivotal moments in education law, including school desegregation, affirmative action, and Title IX, while offerin...
Sep 25, 2024•35 min•Ep. 41
The Southern Education Foundation has played a crucial role in transforming education for African American and low-income students in the South. Dr. Raymond Pierce , former civil rights attorney and dynamic President and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation, dives into the organization’s rich history, rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War, and its relentless mission to revolutionize education. In this episode, Dr. Pierce addresses the ongoing challenges of achieving educational equity, hi...
Jun 07, 2024•32 min•Ep. 40
Dr. Ryan Watkins , Professor of Educational Technology at George Washington University, describes artificial intelligence (AI) as computational tools that can do things that, until recently, we thought only humans could do. He believes that platforms such as ChatGPT bring both groundbreaking opportunities and ethical considerations to education. To embrace the reality of AI in our classrooms, he advocates for a shift in teaching and assessment strategies so we can foster the critical thinking sk...
Mar 20, 2024•29 min•Ep. 39
As President and CEO of ETS (Educational Testing Service), Amit Sevak is keenly aware of the growing concern over the perceived value of education and standardized testing. To address these challenges, he is leading a transformation at ETS towards a more human-centric approach, with a focus on educator solutions, global mobility, and professional credentialing. And he believes that crafting assessments that showcase skills in new ways, backed by rigorous research, can help break the cycle of ent...
Nov 01, 2023•33 min•Ep. 38
For nearly three decades, Jack Jennings was the foremost expert on education policy in the U.S. House of Representatives. His legacy spans some of the most significant legislative initiatives, including the Elementary and Secondary Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Higher Education Act. After leaving Congress, Jack founded and led the Center on Education Policy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank focused on the improvement of public schools. In this fascinating conve...
Sep 28, 2023•31 min•Ep. 37
Community colleges welcome learners of all backgrounds and ages with low-cost tuition and open admission policies. According to Robert (Bob) Schwartz , co-author of America’s Hidden Economic Engines: How Community Colleges Can Drive Shared Prosperity , these institutions are also extremely well-suited to forge strategic partnerships with industry leaders, skillfully addressing the demands of local labor markets. Through these collaborations, students, employers, and the community reap the reward...
Jul 26, 2023•28 min•Ep. 36
In October of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court heard two cases challenging race-conscious admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. As a result, most people expect the court’s ruling to end affirmative action policies, significantly affecting the way universities consider an applicant’s race during the admissions process. In this extended bonus episode, esteemed experts Amy Berman , Deputy Director of the National Academy of Education, and Rick Kahlenberg , Professorial ...
Jun 09, 2023•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 35
How does an online secondary school establish a reputation as a legitimate and academically challenging institution? And can we really foster personal connections–so important to youth development–in a virtual environment? Join us as Head of School Alison Mistretta, Associate Head of School Maria Coyle, and GW Professor Michael Corry unveil the striking success story of the GWU Online High School . They share insights into overcoming skepticism around the quality of virtual learning, meeting the...
May 25, 2023•31 min•Ep. 34
Can the lessons from history challenge today's students to stand up to bigotry and hate? If so, are there resources for teachers that can facilitate productive conversations about heavy headlines? Abby Weiss and Dimitry Anselme, from the non-partisan organization Facing History and Ourselves , discuss the professional development and rigorous content that educators need to help young people wrestle with these moments, talk across differences, and understand their place in a complicated world. [ ...
May 05, 2023•31 min•Ep. 33
Dr. Holden Thorp believes that education research is as crucial as research in the “hard” sciences—a surprising perspective coming from the Editor-In-Chief of the Science family of journals, a chemist by training, and former Chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill. He warns that scientists' tendencies to emphasize facts and memorization has led to a lack of appreciation for the critical role of pedagogy and a public misunderstanding of how knowledge is produced. These oversights have real-world implicatio...
Apr 10, 2023•32 min•Ep. 32
According to Dr. Eric (“Rick”) Hanushek , the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, pandemic learning losses will result in a 6% reduction in a student's lifetime earnings. And since a country’s economic growth is tied to the skills of its labor force, he also projects that the United States' gross domestic product will dip 3-4% over the remainder of this century. But is it possible to counteract these shortfalls and get back on track? Dr. Hanushek b...
Feb 27, 2023•33 min•Ep. 31
Dr. Randy Bennett , the Norman O. Fredericksen Chair in Assessment Innovation at ETS, describes tests as “cultural artifacts,” many of which were created at a time when our country was much less diverse. So what does that mean for school accountability or university admissions testing today? In an article* for the journal Educational Measurement - Issues and Practice , Dr. Bennett argues that we need to change the way we test - in content, format, and interpretation - to best fit the needs of a ...
Jan 18, 2023•30 min•Ep. 30
In recent years, both racially motivated hate crimes and antisemitism have been on the rise. But does the experience of common oppression necessarily lead to coalition? And can we better prepare teachers for conversations that fight bigotry? Dr. Dwayne Wright , GW Director of DEI Initiatives and Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration, and Dr. Benjamin M. Jacobs , GW Associate Research Professor of Experiential Jewish Education, talk about intersectionality, inclusion, and the com...
Nov 16, 2022•31 min•Ep. 29
Is a college degree really worth the investment? And does higher education improve inequality in America or make it worse? Dr. Sandy Baum and Dr. Michael McPherson , economists and authors of the book, “ Can College Level the Playing Field: Higher Education in an Unequal Society ,” discuss the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of our post-secondary education system, and whether it can help to create a more equitable society. [Transcript for Episode 28 is available on EdFixPodcast.com]...
Sep 20, 2022•26 min•Ep. 28
The COVID pandemic has demonstrated the danger of irrational, non-scientific thinking. According to Dr. Bruce Alberts , a preeminent molecular biologist, professor, and past president of the National Academy of Sciences, the American public’s willingness to accept misinformation points to a failure in science education . Dr. Alberts suggests that changes to science curricula and teacher preparation could better equip society to distinguish fact from fiction, with broad implications for our democ...
May 18, 2022•28 min•Ep. 27
Since the 1983 report "A Nation At Risk," America’s international reputation for K-12 education has been mediocre at best. But is this really the case? Dr. Robert Hauser , Executive Officer at the American Philosophical Society, examined the data and disagrees. In fact, he has found a U.S. school system that could be used as a model for success. In this episode, Dr. Hauser shares what he learned about international rankings and the quality of U.S. education for his paper, " What is the Matter wi...
Mar 21, 2022•29 min•Ep. 26
School systems depend on sound decision-making for the safety and well-being of their communities. So what happens during a crisis like COVID-19, when opinions can vary widely on the best path forward? Dr. Jennifer Clayton , Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at GW, and Dr. Jared Cotton , Superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools in Virginia, talk about the tough choices he has faced during the pandemic, the skills district leaders need to manage crisis situations effectively, and h...
Dec 17, 2021•30 min•Ep. 25
Think tanks engage in research and advocacy, often influencing policy and shaping the national discourse. But are they really home to independent thinkers and scholars, or is their research swayed by the priorities of their funders? Dr. Rick Hess , Senior Fellow and Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), shares his insight into the world of think tanks--what motivates their work and how they can play a productive role in responsible truth seeking. [Trans...
Nov 12, 2021•29 min•Ep. 24
According to Dr. Deborah Loewenberg Ball , mathematics has the power to disrupt white supremacy unlike any other subject in school. As a professor and former Dean at the University of Michigan, Director of TeachingWorks, and elementary school math teacher herself, Deborah pushes back on the notion that math is culturally neutral. In fact, she believes that changing the way we teach math could help break patterns of inequality and injustice that are perpetuated in our classrooms. [Transcript for ...
Jul 21, 2021•30 min•Ep. 23
As a clinician in K-12 education, Adjoa Asamoah witnessed too many injustices in our schools. So she decided to pivot her career to the intersection of policy and politics, where she has worked to tackle systemic inequities across our country. Her efforts to actualize liberty and justice for all have been noticed, and during the last presidential race, she was tapped to be the National Advisor for Black Engagement for the Biden-Harris Campaign based on her ability to engage the community and her...
Mar 22, 2021•32 min•Ep. 22
Caroline Adegun began her career as a human resources recruiter. Then a stint working for a celebrity in Los Angeles inspired her to open The Hollywood Wingwoman Talent , the first non-profit talent development firm serving low-income (and sometimes homeless) artists trying to make it in the industry. And recently, she has become a force on social media, taking the new Clubhouse app by storm. With more than 50,000 members now (and growing daily) in her faith-based "club," Caroline channels her b...
Feb 08, 2021•26 min•Ep. 21
Rehabilitation counselors provide independent living support and job readiness training, empowering people with disabilities to integrate more fully into the community. According to Drs. Maureen McGuire-Kuletz and Kenneth Hergenrather, directors of the Center for Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Education , there is a pressing need for more rehabilitation professionals as a generation of counselors prepares to retire. They discuss the intersection of disability and poverty, why this popula...
Jan 08, 2021•28 min•Ep. 20
When Titilola Harley’s plan to become a teacher got derailed, she decided to channel her business acumen to make a difference in schools. Now she approaches education as a consultant, helping schools and organizations work through challenges they’ve struggled to address on their own. But even though she uses management tools to guide her recommendations, she firmly believes that teachers are the experts whose voices need to be heard for lasting change to happen, especially for our most vulnerabl...
Aug 06, 2020•23 min•Ep. 19
The GW Center on Education Policy (CEP) is celebrating 25 years as a trusted, independent source for education policy research and analysis. Since its founding, citizens and policy makers at all levels have turned to CEP for nonpartisan, evidence-based information about our system of public education. Maria Ferguson, Executive Director of CEP, shares how access to research without “spin”—especially related to controversial programs—is crucial to help create the conditions for better public schoo...
Jan 31, 2020•25 min•Ep. 18
Dr. Michael Usdan has had a long and distinguished career in education: as a teacher, school board president, university professor, college president, state commissioner of higher education, and institute president. Drawing from many years of experience in K-12 and secondary ed, he shares his thoughts on the advantages and challenges of our highly decentralized system, and whether its possible to address the variability across the U.S. in light of changing demographics and increased inequality. ...
Dec 16, 2019•26 min•Ep. 17
What is the real impact of technology and process transformation on American workers? Are we doing enough to prepare the modern workforce at a time of growing inequality and stagnant wage growth? Dr. Mary Kay Vona, Principal in Ernst & Young LLP's People Advisory Services, and Dr. Ellen Scully-Russ, Associate Professor of Human and Organizational Learning, discuss the changing nature of work, talent shortages in the U.S., and curricula to support the jobs of the future. [Transcript for Episo...
Nov 26, 2019•30 min•Ep. 16
In today’s world of instructional design, there are more tools available than ever before. Educational technology is incorporated across all learning environments, from K-12 and higher education to corporate, government, and military training. So how can teachers design quality instruction using technology to meet a variety of learners’ needs? Drs. Michael Corry and Natalie Milman discuss new information delivery methods, artificial intelligence tools, and whether the use of technology in school...
Oct 30, 2019•28 min•Ep. 15
Heterosexual Black women have the 2nd highest rate of HIV infection as a group; however, Black women in college are nearly ignored in the HIV literature. Dr. Delishia Pittman discusses her research on the shared and unique risk factors of this population, whether online dating has increased the risks, and ongoing racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes. [Transcript for Episode 14 available on EdFixPodcast.com]...
Jun 25, 2019•28 min•Ep. 14
"Global education” builds cultural competencies, encourages the exchange of ideas and people, and develops human capital. Could the policies and practices of other countries shed light on ways to improve our own schools and colleges, especially in our neediest communities? Dr. James Williams and Dr. Laura Engel discuss lessons learned from abroad, how the U.S. is faring compared to other countries, and whether the rise of nationalism is leading to the end of the golden age of internationalizatio...
May 15, 2019•27 min•Ep. 13
