Really helpful summary of how public school spending: has evolved over time, varies betweens states and student groups, and does not all flow to teacher salaries (particularly in recent years).

Chad Aldeman@chadaldeman.bsky.social · 3w ago

One. Trillion. Dollars. Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social on where that money is going --> www.the74million.org/article/amer...

One. Trillion. Dollars. Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social on where that money is going --> www.the74million.org/article/amer...

America’s Trillion-Dollar School System: 5 Trends Explain Where the Money Goes

Aldeman: Enrollment is down, spending has risen substantially and staffing has expanded, yet pay has stagnated and student outcomes remain uneven.

the74million.org

{new} I have a piece @the74.bsky.social on what I call The Lexington Problem. Basically, what should a state do about districts getting decent reading outcomes despite choosing a weaker reading program?

The Lexington Problem: Beating the Literacy Odds Without the Science of Reading

Aldeman: As Massachusetts implements a new literacy mandate, officials must not lose sight of the ultimate goal: helping more students learn to read

the74million.org

Kindergartners' Math and Reading Scores Can Predict Their 3rd Grade Performance: But their academic trajectories aren't set in stone, and early intervention is key, researchers say.

Kindergartners' Math and Reading Scores Can Predict Their 3rd Grade Performance

But their academic trajectories aren't set in stone, and early intervention is key, researchers say.

edweek.org

"Pensions do not improve teacher effort or selectively retain high-performing teachers." www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

College should be hard www.slowboring.com/p/hard-work-...

Love education data? The Strategic Data Project is looking for data fellows for placements in Texas, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Trenton, and NOVA/DC. Position description and requirements: docs.google.com/document/d/1... Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET on 6/21

[Job Posting] Strategic Data Project Fellow Cohort 18

The Cohort 18 application will open on Monday, September 29, 2025. Position: Strategic Data Project Fellow Location: Multiple US Locations (see below) Duration: Summer/Fall 2026 through Summer 2028 ...

docs.google.com

{new} The *threat* of holding students back if they can't read properly is a warning to schools to make sure each child is on track in literacy --> www.the74million.org/article/3rd-...

3rd-Grade Retention Isn’t Really About Kids — It’s About Adults Who Teach Them

Aldeman: Threat of holding students back if they can't read properly is a warning to schools to make sure each child is on track in literacy.

the74million.org

Federal data on enrollment, teacher pay, school spending, safety, and more has gone stale — raising questions about what the public can still know about American education.

What happens when the federal government stops updating facts about schools?

Federal data on enrollment, teacher pay, school spending, safety, and more has gone stale — raising questions about what the public can still know about American education.

bit.ly

A huge winner on both politics and substance — pay higher salaries to the most effective teachers. www.slowboring.com/p/we-should-...

We should pay more for the best teachers

A popular, compelling, correct idea

slowboring.com

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time at @Arnold_Ventures, it’s that nobody submits proposals early. So, consider this a friendly last‑minute reminder: Letters of interest for our Cell Phones in Schools RFP are due this week (5/1). Details: bit.ly/47n9e1L

An important contrarian take of mine — dogs aren’t people, they don’t need anti-discrimination legislation or public subsidies. www.slowboring.com/p/dogs-arent...

Dogs aren’t people

One of my hottest takes

slowboring.com

If you win the Masters back to back you should get green pants

"Get kids reading fluently. As much as you can. Have them read and write about books." That was my attempt to very concisely summarize a new book on how to translate the science of reading into classroom practice. Read my full review @the74.bsky.social here: www.the74million.org/article/new-...

New Book Helps Teachers Implement Science of Reading in Their Classrooms

Aldeman: Practical guide offers concrete tips and embedded QR codes that link to videos of teachers putting those strategies into practice.

the74million.org

📢Just launched: the SPARC Center Scholars Program! This program aims to support early career scholars in conducting rigorous research on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Learn more and apply by May 1: sparccenter.org/sparc-center...

Thanks to backloaded compensation and high cost of living, lots of blue states with high average teacher salaries are actually pretty unattractive places for *entry-level* teachers. www.slowboring.com/p/is-a-new-t...

I had the opportunity to write this week for HMH’s Policy in Motion about what to watch as the FY2027 federal appropriations process gets underway. Early signals from Congress could shape education funding debates in the months ahead. bit.ly/4rbHlkn

Federal funding: What to watch for this year | HMH

With the approval of the 2026 federal budget for education behind us, and  the President’s annual budget request for next year around the corner, many education leaders are asking the same question: W...

bit.ly

{new} In Maryland, a district called Worcester County is producing some of the best academic results in the state. What is it doing differently? Check out my latest piece @the74.bsky.social -->

The Maryland School District ‘Doing the Improbable’ in Teaching Kids to Read

Aldeman: Worcester County posts the highest 3rd-grade reading proficiency in the state despite its poverty level. Here's how they do it

the74million.org

Analysis from @chadaldeman.bsky.social: How 12th grade math and reading scores have changed over time

How 12th Grade Math & Reading Scores Have Changed Over Time

In the past three decades, the performance curve looks flatter with a few more high scorers but a lot more low performers.

the74million.org

I’m really glad to see that our paper is now out at Ed Researcher! We examine turnover among the half of school employees who are not teachers to understand how their turnover compares. Using Oregon data (2007-23) for all public school employees, there are 3 new patterns that we document: A 🧵

Revolving School Doors? A Longitudinal Examination of Teacher, Administrator, and Staff Contributions to School Churn - Emily K. Penner, Yujia Liu, Aaron J. Ainsworth, 2026

Non-teaching staff comprise over half of all school employees, and their turnover may be consequential for school operation, culture, and student success, yet w...

journals.sagepub.com

Value-added models (VAMs), also referred to as growth models, are used in education research and policy to estimate the impacts of districts, schools, and teachers on student outcomes. Read Cory Koedel's chapter to learn more about this topic: livehandbook.org/k-12-educati...

{new} The rate at which teachers leave the profession has been remarkably stable for the last 40 years. Read my latest for @educationnext.bsky.social --> www.educationnext.org/are-teachers...

Are Teachers Abandoning Teaching?

On the contrary, data show teacher turnover remains consistently low

educationnext.org

I almost let this go without saying anything, but I can't. This issue of the non-value (to student test achievement) of the generic MA is such an old one (e.g., www.jstor.org/stable/20439...). Why aren't we learning from the evidence? www.the74million.org/article/is-a...

Is a Master’s in Education Really Worth It? Probably Not, Research Shows

Aldeman: Educators take on huge debt to earn advanced degrees, and taxpayers foot the bill for higher pay. But an M.A. doesn't make teachers better.

the74million.org

{new} It makes sense that for kids to learn, they should be gradually eased into more challenging material. But how gradual is too gradual? A powerful new book argues that America’s classroom literacy practices are moving far too slowly --> www.the74million.org/article/in-n...

In New Book, Researcher Calls Out Dumbed-Down Method of Teaching Reading

Aldeman: In 'Leveled Reading: Leveled Lives,' Tim Shanahan argues that protecting students from difficult texts puts them on a treadmill with no exit.

the74million.org

I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.

College Prices Have Not Risen Dramatically in the Last Decade—But Will That Change?

Higher education is facing a crisis of confidence among the general public, and much of that is driven by concerns regarding affordability. For example, about 80 percent of Democrats and Republican…

robertkelchen.com

Watch: These schools are beating the odds in teaching kids to read @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.youtube.com/shorts/8hec1...

These Schools Are Beating the Odds in Teaching Kids to Read

YouTube video by The 74

youtube.com

When satire is actually pretty good advice. theonion.com/nation-s-par...

Nation’s Parents Release Annual Ranking Of Top 50 ‘Perfectly Good’ State Schools

The list includes dozens of totally fine schools where students can learn all the same things they’d learn at one of those expensive colleges on the East Coast.

theonion.com

I'm on the job market! My JMP studies the role of high school teachers in preparing students for college success I find significant positive effects of high school teachers on 🔹College admissions test scores 🔹College enrollment 🔹College performance 🧵(1/10)

I love this lede from NYT's Victor Mather on the death of the penny