cbsaustin.com/news/local/a...

Austin ISD is one 'F' away from state intervention. Here's what it could look like.

Austin ISD will soon learn its state accountability grades for the 2025-26 school year from the Texas Education Agency, and a failing grade at just one of three

cbsaustin.com

We have now made our data tracking state takeovers of school districts public. Please download and use it if helpful for your work! pedl.stanford.edu/data-tools Thanks to Josh Bleiberg @joshbleiberg.bsky.social for much of the heavy lifting.

I briefed the MA Joint Committee on Education yesterday on "innovative assessment and accountability," an informal 3-hour conversation. I cited @mpolikoff.bsky.social & @bethschueler.bsky.social My opening remarks: andrewho.scholars.harvard.edu/sites/g/file... Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez_U...

www.the74million.org/article/afte...

After Major Learning Growth, D.C. School Reforms Face Political Test

The nation’s capital has seen some of the biggest achievement gains of any city in the country. But today’s mayoral primary could deliver a big shakeup.

the74million.org

🚨Our tutoring meta-analysis is now online at RER. @bethschueler.bsky.social, Grace Falken & I analyzed 263 RCTs. What we learned has important implications for the future of tutoring and the use of meta-analyses to inform policy. Open access: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/... 🧵

Can states run schools better than local boards? cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/school-tak...

Who should run schools — and how should we judge whether they’re working?

From state takeovers to school ratings, this month’s Chalkbeat Ideas roundup looks at the evidence behind big education debates.

cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org

Friends - please help amplify and share in your networks. This small conference will convene multidisciplinary researchers w/ practitioners, non-profit organizers, & policymakers to share cutting-edge research on 🎓+🌎. We have only 25 spots left. Join us!

SustainableED@edsustainable.bsky.social · 4mo ago

‼️ REGISTRATION NOW OPEN ‼️ Limited spots are now available to attend the SustainableED Conference on May 1 in Providence, RI! Join us for an intimate event connecting ed x climate research to practice. Register: bit.ly/41D3Bcx More info: bit.ly/4lYQfAG

Is it possible to capture higher-order thinking skills at scale using extant statewide item-level testing data? New working paper led by John Wang (excellent recent UVA EdPolicyWorks PhD grad!) points to challenges and opportunities: edworkingpapers.com/sites/defaul...

Rare optimistic take -> "I can confidently report that the kids are learning civics again." www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/o...

Opinion | Nothing Beats Polarization Like Civics Education

nytimes.com

What does the public know and think about school board elections? Is public opinion on electoral institutions shaped by in-group political self-interest? New working paper w/ @dmhouston.bsky.social addresses these Qs and more w/ large scale survey & teacher oversample: edworkingpapers.com/ai26-1468

Public Opinion on Electoral Policy: Evidence from U.S. School Board Elections

Changes to electoral systems are relatively rare in established democracies. Conventional explanations for this stability suggest elected officials and citizens who stand to lose influence under new a...

edworkingpapers.com

dailymemphian.com/subscriber/a...

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

The Very American, Very Intense World of High-School Debate

What do kids learn when ethical and political questions become a high-speed game?

newyorker.com

edsource.org/2026/stanfor...

Landmark Stanford research finds California’s education system lacks coherence

"Getting Down to Facts," organized by Stanford University, diagnoses what's holding back student achievement, while pointing to causes for optimism.

edsource.org

We are glad to share a new report just released on the experiences of school board members in the diverse California context live-gdtf3.pantheonsite.io/reports/loca.... It's part of the "Getting Down to Facts III" initiative on the state of the state of CA's ed systems. live-gdtf3.pantheonsite.io

POSTDOC OPENING! We are hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow for a mixed-methods project aimed at supporting and researching implementation of high-quality preschool curricula. The position is 1-2 years and can be in person or remote. More details here: edpolicy.umich.edu/what-we-do/j...

I just discovered the Education Finance and Policy (EFP) journal has a bluesky account. Join me in following them as they transition to new editorial leadership!

Education Finance and Policy Journal@efpjournal.bsky.social · last yr.

Don’t forget to follow us on all our social media channels! LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/efpjournal BlueSky: @efpjournal.bsky.social X: @EFPJournal Don’t miss out! We’re sharing ideas, research, and updates across all platforms. #EFP #FollowUs @aefpweb.bsky.social

Another former Massachusetts state takeover receiver appointed to statewide education leadership: www.mass.gov/news/governo...

Deadline approaching! Apply for a postdoc role studying the politics of education policy at Stanford GSE: postdocs.stanford.edu/prospective/...

To ring in the new year, I'm excited to announce the launch of the Politics of Education Lab (PEdL) at the Stanford GSE. The goal is to advance understanding of the political dimensions of education policymaking to help policymakers and practitioners strengthen school systems. pedl.stanford.edu

The Politics of Education Lab

pedl.stanford.edu

New year, new paper out on the (mixed) impacts of districtwide turnaround in Lawrence, Mass. on postsecondary outcomes. A product of a collab w/ 2 lovely UVA EdPolicyWorks PhD students and MA DESE: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

journals.sagepub.com

www.edweek.org/leadership/w...

Why Hasn't Tutoring Been More Effective?

Recent studies of tutoring programs show small or no effects. Why?

edweek.org

Ah local elections... www.kolotv.com/2025/11/06/e...

Elected official determined by card draw

Two candidates running for the Gerlach General Improvement District each received 67 votes in the last election a card draw at Washoe County Commission Chambers determined the winner.

kolotv.com

It's that time of year to start thinking about who you'd like to nominate for an AEFP award (4 options: early career, dissertation, use of evidence in policy/practice & justice, equity diversity inclusion). Get your noms in by 12/5! And thanks! aefpweb.org/awards @aefpweb.bsky.social

🚨 New working paper alert! 🚨 #econsky Emily Cook, Paola Ugalde, and I are thrilled to share "Political Views and College Choices in a Polarized America" — now out with both @iza.org and @annenberginstitute.bsky.social EdWorkingPapers www.iza.org/publications... edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1280

Prospective PhD Students: I am planning to accept a PhD student for AY 2026-27 in the economics and education program at Teachers College. Apply if you want to use the economics of education to study immigration or politics/political engagement and public schools. :-)

Supported by both the Fordham Institute and @wallacefoundation.bsky.social, Michael Hartney and I explored the extent to which U.S. school board members are politically and demographically representative of the communities they serve. Here's a summary of our main findings: 1/12

Michael Petrilli@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social · 10mo ago

New from Fordham, the Wallace Foundation, @dmhouston.bsky.social & Michael Hartney: Who’s on Board? School Boards and Political Representation in an Age of Conflict fordhaminstitute.org/national/res...

New paper now out in @aerj_journal w/ Liz Nigro & John Wang on 4 different models of state-led district turnaround in Mass., providing positive evidence for building in opportunities for local influence over decision-making. Grateful for reactions! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...

Can States Sustain and Replicate School District Improvement? Evidence from Massachusetts on Multilevel Governance - Beth E. Schueler, Liz Nigro, John Wang, 2025

Limited scholarship has examined school districtwide turnaround reforms beyond the first few years of implementation or efforts to replicate successes in new co...

journals.sagepub.com

edsource.org/2025/califor... @juliemarsh.bsky.social @lsmulfinger.bsky.social

Political tensions and tech shifts complicate roles on school boards, study shows

A USC EdPolicy Hub study found that school board members in California face challenges such as partisan politics, changing technology and uncertain funding, and recommended increased training and comp...

edsource.org

While school districts’ initial pandemic-era school re-opening decisions were intensely partisan, subsequent operational decisions were less so journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/... 1/2

commonwealthbeacon.org/education/as...

As Holyoke schools exit state oversight, new scrutiny for receivership law - CommonWealth Beacon

State takeovers have been employed during the recent era of education reform aimed at closing the achievement gap separating lower-income students and students of color from their better-off, white pe...

commonwealthbeacon.org