On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Jing Liu (University of Maryland) and Seth Gershenson (American University), authors of our latest report, Ready or Not? A New Way to Measure Elementary and Middle School Quality , join Mike and David to explore how tracking students’ future GPAs could offer a clearer measure of school quality. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reviews a new study on young children’s evolving media consumption habits and their effects. Recommended content: Jing Liu...
Mar 05, 2025•40 min•Ep. 959
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, John White, former Louisiana superintendent of education and current CEO of Great Minds PBC, joins David and Amber to discuss the reforms he led in Louisiana and their role in the state’s significant NAEP gains. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber highlights a study on the expansion of “transitional kindergarten” in Michigan and its impact on early learning access and socioeconomic gaps. Recommended content: Kevin Mahnken, “ New NAEP Scores Dash Hope...
Feb 26, 2025•35 min•Ep. 958
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Mike and David discuss what’s really going on with DOGE, including its cuts to IES research grants and the implications for education policy. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber highlights a study on whether the Core Knowledge curriculum helped strengthen kindergarteners’ vocabulary and knowledge. Recommended content: Chester E. Finn, Jr., “ Easy, DOGE. IES matters. ,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (February 11, 2025). Robert Pondiscio, “ Culture war v...
Feb 19, 2025•37 min•Ep. 957
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Delia Pompa, Senior Fellow for Education Policy at MPI’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, joins Mike and David to discuss how the potential threat of immigration agents at school doors is affecting students—and what can be done to keep them coming to class. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a study on the impact of a Hawaii Public Schools policy that raised special education teacher salaries by $10,000. Recommended content:...
Feb 12, 2025•31 min•Ep. 956
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Brian Kisida, Associate Professor at the Truman School of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, joins Mike and David to discuss his recent Education Next article, which reports on what high school students are hearing from their teachers about racism in America. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study about how test-optional policies at elite universities hurt high-achieving, disadvantaged students. Recommended con...
Feb 05, 2025•34 min•Ep. 955
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Tim Daly, CEO of EdNavigator, joins Mike and David to discuss whether America should refocus its efforts on helping our lowest-performing students and explore the best ways to address this challenge. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study on how students prepare for tests and the effectiveness of their strategies. Recommended content: Tim Daly, “ We’re living through an education depression ,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (November 1, 2024...
Jan 29, 2025•30 min•Ep. 954
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Rick Hess, the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Mike and David to discuss education reform (or the lack thereof) during former President Biden’s term and what we might expect from President Trump. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reviews a study on the implementation of college- and career-readiness policies, focusing on the alignment between career and technical education courses and industry-based ...
Jan 22, 2025•34 min•Ep. 953
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Barbara Biasi, assistant professor at the Yale School of Management, joins Mike and David to discuss Wisconsin’s Act 10 and its impact on teacher compensation. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber highlights a study on the underrepresentation of certain racial and socioeconomic groups in gifted education. Recommended reading: Barbara Biasi, “ Wisconsin’s Act 10, Flexible Pay, and the Impact on Teacher Labor Markets ,” Education Next (April 25, 2023). ...
Jan 15, 2025•32 min•Ep. 952
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Alyson Klein, assistant editor at Education Week , joins Mike and David to discuss how President Trump could weaken the U.S. Department of Education without dismantling it entirely. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study examining the impact of early math intervention on student outcomes in Kentucky. Recommended content: Alyson Klein, “ How Trump Can Hobble the Education Department Without Abolishing It ,” Education Week (December 12, 202...
Jan 08, 2025•34 min•Ep. 951
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Checker Finn, Fordham’s president emeritus—and the original Education Gadfly—joins Mike and David to discuss the best and worst news in education reform in 2024. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares the top five research studies of the year. Recommended content: Michael J. Petrilli, “ How much blame does the federal government deserve for America’s mediocre schools? ,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (November 21, 2024). Michael J. Petrilli, “ The ...
Dec 18, 2024•33 min•Ep. 950
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Philip K. Howard, chair of Common Good and a bestselling author, joins Mike and David to discuss what it takes to create positive school environments, as outlined in his recent Hoover Institution essay, “The human authority needed for good schools.” Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares an Urban Institute report analyzing states’ demographically adjusted 2022 NAEP performance. Recommended content: Philip K. Howard, “ The human authority needed f...
Dec 11, 2024•30 min•Ep. 949
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Colleen Hroncich, a policy analyst with the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom, joins Mike and David to discuss why pro–school choice ballot measures failed in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Colorado—and what it means for the future. Then, on the Research Minute, Adam shares a study examining 100 years of data on elite private and public colleges, revealing persistent gaps in socioeconomic diversity despite changes in racial and geographic repr...
Dec 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 948
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Jim Peyser, former Massachusetts Secretary of Education, joins Mike and David to discuss voters’ recent decision to eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement and what it means for the future of high school. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares reports exploring the changing landscape of homeschooling in America. Recommended content: James A. Peyser, “ Don’t Abandon Common High School Graduation Exams ” Education Next (2024). Frederick M. Hess, ...
Nov 20, 2024•39 min•Ep. 947
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Dale Chu, a senior visiting fellow at the Fordham Institute, joins Mike and David to discuss how the election results could impact education and whether there’s reason for optimism. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study examining how geographic access to public colleges affects enrollment decisions across different races and socioeconomic groups. Recommended content: Matt Barnum, “ Trump Gears Up for Assault on Wokeness With Education Ov...
Nov 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 946
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Jill Barshay, author of The Hechinger Report ’s “Proof Points” column, joins Mike and David to discuss her recent article on the surprising effects of colleges eliminating remedial courses. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study examining the impact of Washington’s academic acceleration policies on high school students. Recommended content: Jill Barshay, “ A decade of data in one state shows an unexpected result when colleges drop remedia...
Nov 06, 2024•33 min•Ep. 945
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Brandon Wright, Fordham’s Editorial Director and author of the latest Think Again brief, “Are Education Programs for High Achievers Inherently Inequitable?” joins Mike and David to explain why the answer to that question is “no” and why such programs are important. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study examining how individual teachers’ effectiveness shifted when instruction went from in-person to on-line during the 2020-21 school year. ...
Oct 30, 2024•35 min•Ep. 944
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Marc Porter Magee, CEO and Founder of 50CAN, joins Mike and David to discuss “The State of Educational Opportunity in America," 50CAN’s new report based on a survey of over 20,000 parents from all 50 states and D.C. Then, on the Research Minute, Adam shares a study examining how teacher strikes affect compensation, working conditions, and student achievement. Recommended content: The State of Educational Opportunity in America , 50CAN (2024). “Studen...
Oct 23, 2024•33 min•Ep. 943
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, David Deming, a professor of Political Economy at the Harvard Kennedy School, joins Mike and David to discuss his article in The Atlantic arguing that it’s not enough for governments and the private sector to eliminate college-degree requirement for good-paying jobs. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study investigating the “fade-out effect” in early childhood education programs. Recommended content: “We need supply-side education policy” ...
Oct 16, 2024•34 min•Ep. 942
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Parker Baxter, Director of the Center for Education Policy Analysis at the University of Colorado, joins Mike and David to discuss his new report on the impact of Denver’s education reforms. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a RAND survey on teachers’ experiences with school violence and lockdown drills. Recommended content: Parker Baxter, Anna Nicotera, David Stuit, Margot Plotz, Todd Ely, and Paul Tesk, Systemwide and Intervention-Specific...
Oct 09, 2024•36 min•Ep. 941
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Devon Nir, a research assistant at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, joins Mike and David to discuss the complexities of ensuring accountability for education savings accounts. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a study exploring the financial returns of various non-degree credentials and degree programs. Recommended content: “The ‘à la carte education’ accountability conundrum”— Michael J. Petrilli and Devon Nir “Finding the sweet spot on a...
Oct 02, 2024•31 min•Ep. 940
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Sofoklis Goulas, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and the Hamilton Project, joins Mike and David to discuss the Fordham report he just authored, Underachieving and Underenrolled: Chronically Low-Performing Schools in the Post-Pandemic Era . Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study on the effects of Zearn Math on third through fifth grade math performance in Louisiana. Recommended content: Sofoklis Goulas, Underachieving and Underenroll...
Sep 25, 2024•35 min•Ep. 939
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Michael Goldstein, co-founder of the Math Learning Lab in Boston, joins Mike and David to discuss the track record of high-dosage tutoring in mitigating pandemic learning loss. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares a study on the long-term effects of the METCO program, which aims to increase diversity and reduce racial isolation by busing students from Boston to surrounding suburbs. Recommended content: Mike Goldstein and Bowen Paulle, The narro...
Sep 18, 2024•31 min•Ep. 938
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Paul Bruno, an assistant professor of education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joins Mike and David to discuss the pros and cons of universal free lunch. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber explores how mandating Advanced Placement course offerings and waiving AP exam fees impact student participation. Recommended content: “Should All School Meals Be Free?”— Tim Daly “Make School Lunches Great Again”— Max Eden Ian Callen and Christia...
Sep 11, 2024•33 min•Ep. 937
#936: How socioeconomic factors explain achievement gaps, with Eric Hengyu Hu and Paul L. Morgan On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, SUNY Albany’s Eric Hengyu Hu and Paul L. Morgan, authors of Fordham’s recently released report Explaining Achievement Gaps: The Role of Socioeconomic Factors , joins Mike and David to discuss their findings. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a study of differences in grading practices between international and domestic instructors at U.S. pub...
Sep 04, 2024•25 min•Ep. 936
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Starlee Coleman, newly named President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, joins Mike and David to discuss how the charter sector can find success with a Trump or Harris presidency. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a study of how nearby charter schools impact Catholic school enrollment. Recommended content: “How Kamala Harris can move to the center on education”— Michael J. Petrilli “What could a Vice President ...
Aug 28, 2024•27 min•Ep. 935
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Kelly James, a partner at Education First Consulting and Fordham’s 2024 Wonkathon winner, joins Mike and David to discuss how policymakers and practitioners can reduce chronic absenteeism in schools. Then, on the Research Minute, Adam reports on a study about the fiscal effects of states paying districts for the costs of students they no longer serve. Recommended content: “‘Everything, everywhere, all at once’ solutions to chronic absenteeism”— Kelly...
Aug 21, 2024•27 min
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Othiniel Mahone, the principal at GEO Academies 21st Century School in Gary, Indiana, joins Mike and David to discuss effective strategies for implementing and enforcing an “away for the day” school cellphone policy. Then, on the Research Minute, Adam reports on a study about the impact of middle school principals on various long-term outcomes for students. Recommended content: “How to implement a cellphone ban in schools” — Amber M. Northern, Ph.D. ...
Aug 14, 2024•27 min•Ep. 933
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Fordham’s Checker Finn joins Mike and David to discuss the changes in how the College Board is scoring Advanced Placement exams. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber reports on a meta-analysis examining the effectiveness of robot-assisted foreign language learning. Recommended content: “Are AP exams getting easier?” — Chester E. Finn, Jr. “The Great Recalibration of AP exams” — John Moscatiello “The College Board’s new method for raising AP scores” — ...
Aug 07, 2024•22 min
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Vlad Kogan, a professor at Ohio State University, joins Mike and David to discuss what role race, achievement, and enrollment play in a district’s decision to close a school. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a new report that investigates the staffing difficulties and potential academic effects of class size reduction policies in New York City. Recommended content: “Flawed work to close city schools will hurt Columbus for years to come. I...
Jul 31, 2024•22 min•Ep. 931
On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Dale Chu, a senior visiting fellow at the Fordham Institute, joins Mike and David to discuss how Biden passing the torch and Trump picking J.D. Vance could affect U.S. school policy. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a new study that compares the academic impacts of urban versus suburban charter schools. Recommended content: “Vance vs. Pence: How Trump’s VP picks compare on education” — Dale Chu, Fordham Institute “The Democratic replaceme...
Jul 24, 2024•26 min•Ep. 930
