On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Kara Arundel, a senior reporter at K-12 Dive, joins Mike to discuss two decades of private school choice in D.C. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a new study investigating the success of science-of-reading interventions in California. Recommended content: “‘Opportunity’ knocked—and stayed: Two decades of private school vouchers in the nation’s capital” — Kara Arundel, K–12 Dive “‘Opportunity’ knocked—and stayed: Successes and flaws of D...
Dec 13, 2023•23 min•Ep. 899
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Jeanette Luna, a production and research associate at the Fordham Institute, joins Mike to discuss the competitive pressures facing America’s largest school districts. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a new study investigating whether post-Covid grade inflation has begun to recede. Recommended content: “The education competition index: Quantifying competitive pressure in America’s 125 largest school districts” — David Griffith and Jeane...
Dec 06, 2023•26 min
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Tim Daly, the CEO of Ed Navigator, joins Mike to discuss the causes and harms of grade inflation—and how to fix it. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a new study that investigates whether exposure to certain peers and teachers explains achievement gains resulting from enrollment in early algebra. Recommended content: “Grade inflation is locking in learning loss, part one” — Tim Daly, The Education Daly “How to fix grade inflation” — Tim ...
Nov 29, 2023•30 min•Ep. 897
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Chad Aldeman, the founder of Read Not Guess and a columnist for The 74 , joins Mike to discuss how the end of COVID relief funds could cause a wave of teacher layoffs. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a new study investigating whether schools gamed their academic gains during No Child Left Behind. Recommended content: “Schools could lose 136,000 teaching jobs when federal COVID funds run out” — Chad Aldeman, The 74 “Fiscal cliff could f...
Nov 15, 2023•24 min•Ep. 896
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Natalie Wexler, host of the Knowledge Matters podcast, joins Mike to discuss the connection between knowledge building and reading comprehension. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber covers a new study on the efficacy of college and workforce partnerships in the P-Tech high school model. Recommended content: “The science of reading isn’t just ‘phonics,’ but what else is it?” — Natalie Wexler, Forbes "Knowledge matters podcast” — Natalie Wexler “Social...
Nov 08, 2023•25 min•Ep. 895
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Tim Donahue, an English teacher at the Greenwich Country Day School, joins Mike to discuss who loses when grades are inflated. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a new study that examines if Tennessee’s new school funding law really is progressive. Recommended content: “If everyone gets an A, no one gets an A” — Tim Donahue, New York Times “Grade inflation is not a victimless crime” — Frederick Hess, The Education Gadfly Christopher Cande...
Nov 01, 2023•27 min•Ep. 894
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Umut Özek and Louis Mariano, researchers at the Rand Corporation, join Mike to discuss whether grade retention helps or harms students. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a new study that examines if cash payouts can improve student attendance. Recommended content: “Think Again: Is grade retention bad for Kids?” — Umut Özek and Louis Mariano, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute “Retaining struggling readers in third grade sounds good–but it’s...
Oct 25, 2023•28 min•Ep. 893
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Kirsten Baesler, the superintendent of North Dakota, joins Mike to discuss her state’s new teacher and principal apprenticeship programs. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a study that examines the accuracy and efficacy of school rating systems. Recommended content: “North Dakota to launch principal apprenticeship program” — The Bismarck Tribune “An overview of Ohio’s new teacher apprenticeship program” — Jessica Poiner, The Fordham Inst...
Oct 18, 2023•27 min•Ep. 892
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Denisha Allen, a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children, joins Mike to discuss if school choice can win a victory in Texas’s special legislative session. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a new study that examines the shrinking wage premium for college degrees. Recommended content: “Advance school choice, because Black minds matter, too” — Denisha Allen “School choice faces special session fight in Texas” — The Hill “What ...
Oct 11, 2023•26 min•Ep. 891
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Richard Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute, joins Mike to discuss how zoning policies price poor people out of high quality schools. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses new research that examines how up-front cash payments affect teacher recruitment and retention. Recommended content: “Excluded: How snob zoning, NIMBYism, and class bias build the walls that we don’t see” — Richard Kahlenberg “Liberal suburbs hav...
Oct 04, 2023•27 min•Ep. 890
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Nina Rees, the president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, joins Mike to discuss the state of charters as she plans to step down after eleven years at the helm. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a new study on the power of teacher union endorsements in school board elections. Recommended content: “Gratitude for Nina Rees, our lead CharterFolk who overcame immense challenge to elevate us all” — Jed Wallace “Our n...
Sep 27, 2023•26 min•Ep. 889
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Frances Messano, the CEO of NewSchools Venture fund, joins Mike to discuss the Building Bridges Initiative and its call to action, A Generation at Risk . Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses new research that finds that attending KIPP middle and high schools dramatically increases students’ rate of college completion. Recommended content: A Generation at Risk: A Call to Action — The Building Bridges Initiative “How to meet students’ social-e...
Sep 20, 2023•27 min•Ep. 888
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Checker Finn, Fordham’s president emeritus, joins Mike to discuss why and how to bring accountability back to American schools. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a new study that measures the differences in teacher effectiveness across generations. Recommended content: “The accountability conundrum” — Checker Finn “We can fight learning loss only with accountability and action” — Michael Petrilli Nhu Nguyen, Ben Ost, and Javaeria Qureshi,...
Sep 13, 2023•25 min•Ep. 887
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Adam Tyner, Fordham’s national research director, joins Mike to discuss disparities by race and socioeconomic status among America’s highest achieving students. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a new report from the ACT that analyzes the evidence of grade inflation since 2010. Recommended content: “Excellence gaps by race and socioeconomic status” — Meredith Coffey and Adam Tyner “America’s highest-achieving students are disproportionate...
Sep 06, 2023•31 min•Ep. 886
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Linda Jacobson, a senior writer at The 74 , joins Mike to discuss why more students are attending in-person classes with a virtual teacher. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a new study on the minimally positive effect of summer school interventions designed to mitigate pandemic learning loss. Recommended content: “Exclusive data: Fueled by teacher shortages, ‘Zoom-in-a-room’ makes a comeback” — Linda Jacobson “Welcome back to school. You...
Aug 30, 2023•23 min•Ep. 885
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, William McKenzie, a senior editorial advisor at the George W. Bush Institute, joins Mike to discuss the state takeover of Houston ISD and its crusading new superintendent. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a study that finds a Los Angeles public school choice policy increased academic achievement. Recommended content: “What Mike Miles can do to transform Houston ISD” — William McKenzie “Texas revamps Houston schools, closing libraries and...
Aug 23, 2023•27 min•Ep. 884
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Daniel Buck, Fordham’s editorial and policy associate, joins Mike and David to discuss the behavioral chaos in American schools post-pandemic. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a new study finding that pandemic-era declines in public school enrollment are likely to persist. Recommended content: “The school discipline disaster” — Daniel Buck “‘There were fists everywhere.’ Violence against teachers is on the rise.” — Wall Street Journal An...
Aug 16, 2023•27 min•Ep. 883
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Rachel Canter, the executive director of Mississippi First, joins Mike to debunk the allegations that her state fudged its notable gains in reading achievement. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines the failure of a federal student loan forgiveness program for teachers. Recommended content: “The truth about Mississippi’s NAEP gains” — Rachel Canter “Mississippi didn’t cheat. Its reading gains are real.” — Todd Collins Brian Jacob, Damon Jones,...
Aug 09, 2023•29 min•Ep. 882
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Aaron Churchill, Fordham’s Ohio research director, joins David to discuss how the Buckeye State’s latest omnibus bill benefits education. Then, on Research minutes, Amber examines a study on whether attending high-performing charter schools reduces risky behaviors like drug use. Recommended content: “Ohio lawmakers pass historic policies on charter schools, private school choice, governance, and literacy” — Aaron Churchill “More dollars follow Ohio s...
Aug 02, 2023•23 min•Ep. 881
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Tom Loveless, a former senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, joins Mike to discuss the problematic practices and research in California’s new mathematics framework. Then, on Research minutes, Amber discusses a depressing new report that finds a degradation in instructional quality that’s making it difficult to recover pandemic-era learning loss. Recommended content: “California’s new math framework doesn’t add up” — Tom Loveless “California ado...
Jul 26, 2023•25 min•Ep. 880
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Perpetual Baffour, the research director at the Learning Agency Lab, joins Mike to discuss her creation of an AI Chatbot designed to give teachers and school leaders research-based advice. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a study covering the negative impacts on teacher pay of a Texas policy to expand alternative teacher certification. Recommended content: “Creating a custom Chabot to give evidence-based education advice”— Learning Agenc...
Jul 19, 2023•24 min•Ep. 879
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Fordham’s Adam Tyner joins Mike to discuss his latest report on the inequalities or lack thereof in education funding. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reviews an evaluation of a teacher-led course for college advising. Recommended content: “Think Again: Is Education Funding in America Still Unequal?”— Adam Tyner “Another Nail in the Money Doesn’t Matter Coffin”— Adam Tyner The study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Joshua Hyman, “ Coll...
Jul 12, 2023•20 min•Ep. 878
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Jim Peyser joins Mike to discuss education reform’s tendency to overpromise, and how we can avoid that in the fight against learning loss. Then, on the Research Minute, Adam discusses a study on how the pandemic affected the academic growth of high- and low-achieving students. Recommended content: “Settle for better”— James Peyser “Education reform is alive and well, even if the Washington Consensus is dead...
Jul 05, 2023•24 min•Ep. 877
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Alia Wong of USA Today joins Mike and David to discuss what’s causing chronic absenteeism and ways to fix it. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a California study that investigates the extent to which a small group of teachers exacerbates racial gaps in school discipline. Recommended content: “Showing up to school was hard amid COVID. Why aren’t kids (or teachers) returning to class?” — Alia Wong “When students feel unsafe, absenteeism gr...
Jun 28, 2023•31 min•Ep. 876
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Kevin Teasley, of the Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation, joins Mike Petrilli to discuss his charter high schools where students take dual-enrollment courses at local colleges and earn associate degrees. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a study that investigates how states’ early literacy policies affect reading and math achievement. Recommended content: “Case Study: Delivering K-16 Outcomes with K-12 Dollars” — The 74 “Attend ...
Jun 21, 2023•28 min•Ep. 875
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Nick Colangelo of the University of Iowa joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss the recommendations in the new report from the National Working Group on Advanced Education. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a California study that investigates how within-school differences in school quality contribute to educational achievement gaps. Recommended content: The National Working Group on Advanced Education’s new report: “ Building ...
Jun 14, 2023•30 min•Ep. 874
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Paul DiPerna of EdChoice joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss the results from the EdChoice survey on teacher satisfaction and wellness across the district, charter, and private school sectors. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a study that investigates the negative long-term effects of Reading Recovery . Recommended content: “Where are teachers thriving?”— Mike McShane “Teacher job satisfaction rebounds from last year’s low....
Jun 07, 2023•27 min•Ep. 873
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Kathleen Porter-Magee of Partnership Schools—a network of Catholic schools in New York City and Cleveland—joins Mike Petrilli to discuss the debate over religious charter schools. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a Virginia study that compares labor market outcomes between community college students from higher and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Recommended content: “3 reasons why religious charter schools should give us pause” — Kathl...
May 31, 2023•23 min•Ep. 872
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Tom Kane of Harvard University joins Mike Petrilli to discuss his findings from The Education Recovery Scorecard Project . Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a New York City study that investigates how external principal hires and internal principal promotions affect various measures of school quality. Recommended content: “Parents don’t understand how far behind their kids are in school” — Tom Kane and Sean Reardon “Pandemic learning loss...
May 24, 2023•27 min•Ep. 871
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss his new book, The Great School Rethink . Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses a Massachusetts study that found a connection between teachers’ scores on CTE licensure exams and the long-term earnings of their students. Recommended content: “How can we liberate students from drudgery? It’s time for a Great Rethink” — Rick Hess “Education commentary...
May 17, 2023•34 min•Ep. 870
