The Education Exchange
Paul E. Peterson
A weekly podcast highlighting education policy news, hosted by Paul E. Peterson, Senior editor of Education Next
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 17, 2025 • 29min
Ep. 419 - Nov. 17, 2025 - Does the U.S. Department of Education Help Student Achievement?
Rocco E. Testani, the co-leader of the Eversheds Sutherland Business and Commercial Litigation team, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the history of the U.S. Department of Education, its impact on student achievement and President Trump's efforts to shut the department down.
Nov 10, 2025 • 36min
Ep. 418 - Nov. 10, 2025 - The Future of the Federal Role in Education
Thiru Vignarajah, the former Deputy Attorney General of Maryland and the former Law Clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the implications for dismantling or abolishing the U.S. Department of Education.
Nov 3, 2025 • 37min
Ep. 417 - Nov. 3, 2025 - Who Are Schools Really For?
Vladimir Kogan, a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Ohio State University, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Kogan's new book, "No Adult Left Behind: How Politics Hijacks Education Policy and Hurts Kids"
Oct 27, 2025 • 44min
Ep. 416 - Oct. 27, 2025 - When Radicals Dreamed Big About Better Student Outcomes
Joseph P. Viteritti, the Thomas Hunter Professor of Public Policy at Hunter College in New York, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Viteritti's new book, Radical Dreamers: Race, Choice, and the Failure of American Education.
Oct 20, 2025 • 31min
Ep. 415 - Oct. 20, 2025 - The Education Exchange: After Mahmoud, How Far Will the Parent “Opt-Out” Movement Go?
Clint Bolick, the 44th Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss how the Supreme Court has shifted its stance on school choice and religious freedom in education in the United States over the years.
Oct 14, 2025 • 30min
Ep. 414 - Oct. 14, 2025 - How Valuable Are Credentials as an Alternative Career Pathway?
Matt Sigelman, President of the Burning Glass Institute, dives into the complexities of occupational credentials. He reveals that only one-third of credentials improve job outcomes, highlighting significant variability in their value. Sigelman discusses which fields produce low-value credentials and details the characteristics that make certain credential providers successful. He also examines the need for evidence-based funding models to ensure credentials meet workforce demands, posing the critical question of their lasting impact on career pathways.
Oct 6, 2025 • 30min
Ep. 413 - Oct. 6, 2025 - Arkansas Makes Case for Benefits of ESAs
Patrick J. Wolf, a professor of Education Policy at the University of Arkansas, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Wolf’s new research, which investigates the effect of education savings accounts in the state of Arkansas.
"2024-25 Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts Program Annual Report," co-written with Daion L. Daniels, Alison Heape Johnson and Joshua B. McGee, is available now.
https://scdp.uark.edu/2024-25-arkansas-education-freedom-accounts-program-annual-report/
Sep 29, 2025 • 33min
Ep. 412 - Sept. 29, 2025 - Men and Women are More Equal and More Different Than Ever
Robert Henderson, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the growing political divide between men and women in the United States.
Henderson's article, "The book that showed me manhood has to be created," is available now at The Boston Globe.
Sep 22, 2025 • 41min
Ep. 411 - Sept. 22, 2025 - How to Save a School District
Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District., joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss how the district has worked to turn around lower performing schools.
Sep 15, 2025 • 24min
Ep. 410 - Sept. 15, 2025 - NAEP Scores of Graduating Seniors Continue to Fall
Martin R. West, the editor-in-chief of Education Next and member of the National Assessment Governing Board, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the latest release of National Assessment of Educational Progress data.


