The Education Gadfly Show

This week, Aneesh Sohoni, CEO of Teach for America, joins The Education Gadfly Show to discuss TFA’s impact in the classroom and beyond, why teaching is a compelling opportunity for Gen Z college graduates, what corps members are saying about AI in the classroom. Then, on a special Research Minute, Adam Tyner shares findings from Who’s on Board? School Boards and Political Representation in an Age of Conflict, Fordham’s brand new report by David Houston and Michael Hartney surveying school board members across the country.Recommended content: Could an AI-driven “job apocalypse” push the best and brightest into teaching? —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham InstituteWho’s on Board? School boards and political representation in an age of conflict —David M. Houston and Michael T. Hartney for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute (October 2025)Upcoming webinar on October 14 at 3:00 PM ET: Are school boards out of touch with their constituents?Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

This week, Fordham’s president emeritus Checker Finn and Laura Hamilton of the Center for Assessment join us for a polite debate on whether school quality should be judged by more than test scores.On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner unpacks a massive study of ten million students that tracks how gender gaps in math and reading develop from kindergarten through fifth grade—and what that means for the narrative about boys and school.Recommended contentThe mixed blessing of new school measures —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. FordhamOur assessment systems should reflect the purposes of public education —Laura Hamilton, Center for Assessment#971: A “Quality Check” on school accountability, with Tom Toch and Lynn Olson —The Education Gadfly ShowDo we know how to measure school quality? —Van Schoales, Education WeekGender Gaps in the Early Grades: Questioning the Narrative that Schools are Poorly Suited to Young Boys — Megan Kuhfeld and Margaret Burchinal, Annenberg Institute at Brown University (2025)Redshirt the boys—Richard V. Reeves for The AtlanticFeedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

This week, Chandler Fritz, author of Harper’s Magazine’s cover story The Homemade Scholar, shares what he discovered when teaching in an ESA-funded micro-school—including a lackluster curriculum but undeniably joyful kids.On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner unpacks California’s big school-spending surge—showing that despite major funding increases, starting teacher pay hasn’t risen and staffing levels have barely changed.Recommended contentThe Homemade Scholar —Chandler Fritz, Harper’s MagazineThe “à la carte education” accountability conundrum —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham InstituteStudent experience data is sending a message. Will we listen? —Dr. Deborah A. Gist for the Thomas B. Fordham InstituteWhy I’m wary of universal education savings accounts —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham InstituteDoing educational equity right: School finance —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. FordhamTeacher Staffing Trends in California: Assessing the Impact of Recent Spending —Julien Lafortune, Iwunze Ugo, and Brett Guinan, PPIC (2025)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

This week, Mike Petrilli digs into the latest NAEP results—and explores whether the rise of smartphones and social media might help explain them. It’s another solo episode, just Mike and the mic.On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner shares a new REACH study showing that school voucher programs have boosted private school enrollment by just 3 percent so far—but are already putting upward pressure on tuition.Recommended contentThe Best Takes on the Worst NAEP Scores Ever —Michael J. Petrilli, SCHOOLEDSchools, but not states, should ban phones —Michael J. Petrilli, SCHOOLEDCellphone bans are not enough —Henry Seton for the Thomas B. Fordham InstituteStudent Test Scores Keep Falling. What’s Really to Blame? —Martin R. West, Education WeekPay Attention, Kid!—Daniel T. Willingham, EducationNextThe Effects of Universal School Vouchers on Private School Tuition and Enrollment: A National Analysis —Douglas N. Harris and Gabriel Olivier, REACH (2025)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

Ashley Jochim, principal at the Center on Reinventing Public Education and mom of four, joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith on the Education Gadfly Show to continue our debate on private school choice and regulation. She also discusses how Democrats’ defense of public schools often clashes with families’ real experiences, and why clear, consumer-facing information is essential to making choice work. On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner highlights a new NBER study from Chicago showing that giving principals more autonomy can boost student achievement— though effects vary widely depending on leadership capacity.Recommended content Unfettered Choice Has Not Delivered on Promises to Milwaukee Families —Ashley Jochim, Education NextInnovation, regulation, and school choice, with Mike McShane | Episode 984 of The Education Gadfly Show Overregulated charter schools: Fact or fiction? —Michael J. PetrilliThe mixed blessing of new school measures—Chester E. Finn, Jr.When decentralization works: Leadership, local Needs, and student achievement—C. Kirabo Jackson, NBER (2025)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

Mike McShane, Director of National Research for EdChoice, joins us on the Education Gadfly Show to debate tradeoffs when it comes to regulation and innovation in the charter school and private school choice sectors.Then, on the Research Minute, Adam Tyner shares a report from the Urban Institute looking at college and career indicators and how they relate to research on post-high school outcomes. Recommended content: On school choice:Overregulated charter schools: Fact or fiction? —Michael J. PetrilliSchool choice should take the road less traveled —Robert Enlow and Michael Q. McShane, Education Next Charter school regulation means keeping the destination in sight —Thibaut DelloueFrom the Research Minute:Which college and career readiness standards best align with positive outcomes after high school? —Kristin Blagg, The Urban Institute (July 2025) The vibes for career-tech programs are great. But they’re too rare. —Michael J. Petrilli--Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

Jonathan Travers, President of ERS and expert in school district finance, joins the conversation to tackle the complexities of managing budgets during unpredictable times. He discusses the impact of fluctuating revenues and housing values on educational funding. Additionally, Travers critiques the effectiveness of master’s degree premiums in teacher compensation, suggesting smarter spending for better outcomes. The episode also weaves in playful anecdotes about the excitement surrounding the upcoming football season.

On this week’s solo episode, Mike shares his thoughts on whether it’s ever okay to let schools opt out of state standardized tests and use nationally normed assessments instead. Then, on a special Research Minute, Fordham’s own Adam Tyner and David Griffith share results from their brand new report about the pressure on teachers to give higher grades in the name of equity. Recommended content: Welcome to Lake Wobegon, Oklahoma —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham InstituteWhen private schools take public dollars: What's the place of accountability in school voucher programs? — Michael J. Petrilli, Chester E. Finn, Jr., Christina Hentges, and Amber M. Northern for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute (2009)Evaluating the content and quality of next generation assessments —Nancy Doorey and Morgan Polikoff for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute (2016)--“Equitable” grading through the eyes of teachers —David Griffith and Adam Tyner for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute (2025)Grade inflation: Why it matters and how to stop it —Adam Tyner, Thomas B. Fordham Institute--Don’t forget to sign up for a special webinar on equitable grading practices hosted by Jessica Grose of the New York Times on Wednesday, September 10 from 12-1 pm ET:Does "equitable" grading lower expectations for students?--Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? Send them to Alicia Anderson at aanderson@fordhaminstitute.org.  

This week, Matthew Kraft, professor of education and economics at Brown University, joins The Education Gadfly Show to discuss the intersection of education policy and climate change.Then, on the Research Minute, Adam Tyner examines whether an elite “exam school” led to better educational outcomes for its students.Recommended content: On education and climate changeEducation and climate change: Synthesizing the evidence to guide future research —Matthew Kraft, Sohil Malik, and Grace Falken, Anneberg Institute EdWorkingPaper (2025)Does spending on school facilities raise student test scores? —Amber M. Northern, Ph.D., Thomas B. Fordham InstituteHow school HVAC systems affect learning —Ali Schalop, Thomas B. Fordham InstituteThe Research MinuteOptimal school system and curriculum design: Theory and evidence —Glenn Ellison & Parag A. Pathak, National Bureau of Economic Research (2025)Threading the needle on selective enrollment public schools —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham InstituteFeedback welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? Send them to Alicia Anderson at aanderson@fordhaminstitute.org.  

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show, Ben Austin, Founding Director of Education Civil Rights Now, joins us to discuss why the Democratic Party lost its way on education policy—and what it must do to rebuild credibility and improve its chances in national elections.Then, on the Research Minute, Adam shares a new study on state takeovers of school districts, examining who benefits and how these interventions impact district finances.Recommended content: “Democrats have lost their way on education policy. Here’s how to get back on track.” —Ben Austin, The Hill“Democrats need to break up with Randi Weingarten” —Ben Austin, The Hill“Trump’s school choice initiative puts Democratic governors in a bind” —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute“Help wanted: Ed-reform governors needed (again)” —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Institute“How state takeovers of school districts affect education finance, 1990 to 2019”—Melissa Arnold Lyon,  Joshua Bleiberg, and Beth Schueler, Education Finance and Policy (2025)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Alicia Anderson at aanderson@fordhaminstitute.org.