The Education Gadfly Show

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Scott Marion of the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss the challenges of implementing through-course assessments, which would roll up two or three tests during the school year into a final score for accountability purposes. Then, on the Research Minute, Adam Tyner tells us about a new meta-analysis that finds how schools spend money is more important than how much they spend.Recommended content:Through-year assessment: Ten key considerations —Nathan Dadey, Carla Evans, and Will Lorié“Through-year assessment: Are we asking too much?” —Catherine Gewertz“Through-year assessment: A unified solution to measure grade-level achievement and growth” —NWEAThe study that Adam reviewed on the Research Minute: Danielle Handel and Eric Hanushek, “U.S. School Finance: Resources and Outcomes,” NBER Working Paper (December 2022) Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Gail Post joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss how parents can support their gifted children and advocate for their educational needs. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber looks at a Dallas program that used salary bonuses to attract and retain highly effective teachers at hard-to-staff schools.Recommended content:Gail’s new book: The Gifted Parenting Journey: A Guide to Self-discovery and Support for Families of Gifted ChildrenFordham’s Substack newsletter on gifted education: Advance“The wonderful but weighty challenges of parenting a gifted child” —Victoria McDougald“A formula for creating more equitable gifted and talented programs” —Wall Street JournalThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Andrew Morgan et al., “Attracting and retaining highly effective educators in hard-to-staff schools,” NBER Working Paper (March 2023)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Carole Basile and Brent Maddin from Arizona State University join Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss how a new team-based staffing model could be good for students and teachers. Then, on the Research Minute, Adam Tyner discusses how selective high school admissions could change if schools looked at more than just test scores.  Recommended content:Carole and Brent’s team-based teaching project at Arizona State University: Next Education WorkforceThe Next Education Workforce: Team-based staffing models can make schools work better for both learners and educators —Carole Basile and Brent Maddin“To improve student outcomes, ask teachers to do fewer things better” —Robert Pondiscio and Jessica Schurz“In one giant classroom, four teachers manage 135 kids—and love it” —Hechinger ReportThe study that Adam reviewed on the Research Minute: Marco Pariguana and Maria Elena Ortega-Hesles, “School Choice, Mismatch, and Graduation,” University of Western Ontario (November 2022)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, David Griffith and Paul Bruno join Mike Petrilli to discuss David’s new Think Again brief on whether charter schools drain resources from traditional public schools. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber discusses how academic mobility differs across student groups. Recommended content:Think Again: Do charter schools drain resources from traditional public schools? —David Griffith“Charter school growth increases resources in district-run schools” —Patrick WolfRobbers or Victims? Charter Schools and District Finances —Mark WeberThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Wes Austin et al., “Academic Mobility in U.S. Public Schools: Evidence from Nearly 3 Million Students,” CALDER Working Paper (March 2023) Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Natalie Neris and Hal Woods of Kids First Chicago join Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss what Chicago’s mayoral run-off election between Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas means for the city’s schools. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber looks at the effects of mindfulness-based programs on student mental health and resilience. Recommended content:“Chicago mayoral candidates offer divergent paths on declining enrollment and small schools” —Chalkbeat Chicago“In Chicago mayor’s race, two hopefuls reflect Democrats’ split” —AP News“The Chicago Teachers Union power play” —Wall Street Journal“A shifting mood on crime propelled Chicago’s leading candidate for mayor” —New York Times“Chicago school enrollment declines for eleventh year” —Illinois Policy InstituteThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Jessica Mettler et al., “Mindfulness-based programs and school adjustment: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” Journal of School Psychology (April 2023)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org. 

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Crystal McQueen-Taylor of StudentsFirstNY joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss the battle royale to lift the charter cap in New York City. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber looks at the effects of closing and restarting low-performing schools as charter schools in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.Recommended content:“Charter school expansion faces tough fight in New York” —New York Times“Proof that charters benefit all public-school kids” —New York Post“Because they can: Governor Kathy Hochul’s charter school proposal is modest—so why are teachers’ unions and state legislators so determined to stop it?” —City JournalStill Rising: Charter School Enrollment and Student Achievement at the Metropolitan Level —David GriffithThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Whitney Bross, Douglas N. Harris, and Lihan Liu, “The effects of performance-based school closure and restart on student performance,” Economics of Education Review (June 2023)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Michael Horn joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss what schools can do to protect kids’ mental health and whether social media is making it worse. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber explores why schools seem to make more progress on math tests than reading tests.Recommended content:Michael Horn’s latest book, From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)Creating School for Every Child“Teen girls report record levels of sadness, C.D.C. Finds” —New York Times“How to help young people limit screen time—and feel better about how they look” —NPR“Is politics making kids depressed?” —Wall Street JournalJonathan Haidt’s Substack, After BabelThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Evan Riehl and Meredith Welch, “Accountability, Test Prep Incentives, and the Design of Math and English Exams,” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (September 26, 2022)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Scott Peters of NWEA joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss why eliminating honors classes and other advanced education opportunities in the name of equity is a mistake. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines the connection between public school choice and adult criminality.Recommended content:“How one school district is balancing excellence and equity—and another isn’t” —Brandon L. Wright“To increase equity, school districts eliminate honors classes” —Wall Street Journal“Parents speak out against school canceling honors classes in the name of racial equity” —New York Post“One-size-fits-all education doesn’t work well, but diversity advocates are hitting the accelerator” —Real Clear InvestigationsThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Andrew Bibler et al., “Does School Choice Increase Crime?” NBER Working Paper (February 2023)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Dale Chu joins Mike Petrilli to discuss whether Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are focusing too much on divisive culture war issues in their education platforms. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber explains how higher test scores and college aspirations affected the long-term life outcomes of Massachusetts high schoolers. Recommended content:“The GOP’s dubious ‘protect the children’ platform for 2024” —Dale Chu“Trump plays catch-up with GOP rivals on fights over race and gender in schools” —Washington Post“The Contradictions of Ron DeSantis” —AtlanticThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Preeya P. Mbekeani et al., “Understanding High Schools’ Effects on Longer-Term Outcomes,” Annenberg Institute at Brown University (February 2023)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Kymyona Burk and Tom Greene of ExcelinEd join Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss how Ohio, Mississippi, and other states are implementing research-based literacy policies. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines virtual charter schools’ effect on student achievement in Pennsylvania.Recommended content:The Mississippi study that Kymyona discussed on the show: “The Effect of Retention Under Mississippi’s Test-Based Promotion Policy” —Wheelock Education Policy Center“A new study confirms Mississippi’s promise: ensuring all students can read” —Jeb Bush and Kymyona Burk in the Magnolia Tribune“Gov. Mike DeWine enters the ‘reading wars’ with budget proposal to fund change to ‘science of reading’” —Cleveland.com“Concern over Tennessee’s third grade reading, retention law prompts flurry of bills” —Chattanooga Times Free PressThe study that Amber reviewed on the Research Minute: Sarah A. Cordes, “Cyber versus Brick and Mortar: Achievement, Attainment, and Postsecondary Outcomes in Pennsylvania Charter High Schools,” Education Finance and Policy (February 2023)Feedback Welcome:Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to our producer Nathaniel Grossman at ngrossman@fordhaminstitute.org.