The Education Exchange

A Faculty Research Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Eric S. Taylor, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Taylor's latest research, which demonstrates how evaluation programs that reward teachers for student performance leads to higher performing teachers. The paper, "Employee Evaluation and Skill Investments: Evidence from Public School Teachers," is available at NBER.org. https://www.nber.org/papers/w30687

The senior director of policy, research, and evaluation at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Drew Jacobs, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Jacobs' latest report, which found that charter school enrollment increased while district school enrollment decreased in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Changing Course: Public School Enrollment Shifts During the Pandemic,” co-written with Debbie Veney, is available now. https://www.publiccharters.org/our-work/publications/changing-course-public-school-enrollment-shifts-during-pandemic

An adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins School of Education and the former superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, Joseph Olchefske, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the history of student-based budgeting, its origins in Seattle, and how parent empowerment following the Covid-19 pandemic could lead to more unbundling of school services.

An Assistant Professor of Education and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, Beth Schueler, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Schueler's latest research, which investigates the impact of state takeovers of failing school districts on learning. The report, "Evaluating Education Governance: Does State Takeover of School Districts Affect Student Achievement?," co-written with Joshua F. Blieberg, is available now. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pam.22338

The president of 50CAN, Derrell Bradford,, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the results of the 2022 midterm elections and its possible ramifications on education in the United States. For more on the election, please see "What the 2022 Midterm Election Results Will Mean for Education Policy," by Frederick Hess. https://www.educationnext.org/what-the-2022-midterm-election-results-will-mean-for-education-policy/

The director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, Robin Lake, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the latest CRPE report, which outlines the path to recovery for students after schools closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The report, "The State of the American Student: Fall 2022," is available now at CRPE.org. https://crpe.org/the-state-of-the-american-student/

The editor-in-chief of Education Next and member of the National Assessment Governing Board, Martin R. West, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the latest release of National Assessment of Educational Progress data, which shows math and reading scores fell between 2019 and 2022. West breaks down the 2022 NAEP results in “Nation’s Report Card Shows Steep Declines in Student Learning.” https://www.educationnext.org/nations-report-card-shows-steep-declines-in-student-learning/

The co-leader of the Eversheds Sutherland Business and Commercial Litigation team, Rocco E. Testani, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the influx of Covid-19 relief funds into schools, and whether or not the money will lead to improved performance for students.

The founder and chairman of Step Up For Students, John Kirtley, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss how choice programs, including tax credits and charter schools, are serving students and families in Florida.

A Senior Advisor at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, George Parker, and the CEO of 7 Ventures, Michelle Rhee, join Paul E. Peterson to discuss how Parker, as president of the Washington Teachers' Union, and Rhee, as Chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools, were able to implement a performance pay plan for teachers in the district.