Education policy maven Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute think tank (AEI), author of books like The Same Thing Over and Over, Letters to a Young Education Reformer, and A Search for Common Ground, offers straight talk on matters of policy, politics, research, and reform. Rick’s takes are his alone and do not represent AEI or Education Week. Follow Rick on Twitter at @rickhess99.
States
Opinion
How One State Improved Its NAEP Scores
Louisiana's state schools chief discusses the importance of reading and math instruction and "letting teachers teach."
Federal
Opinion
The U.S. Dept. of Ed. Has Been Cut in Half. We Have Thoughts
Absent clear explanation and deft management, the push to downsize the department invites confusion and risks political blowback.
Law & Courts
Opinion
Can States Bar Religious Charter Schools? The Supreme Court Will Soon Decide
Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions suggest that bans on faith-based charter schools may violate the Free Exercise Clause.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
An NFL Franchise Is Tackling Chronic Student Absenteeism. Here's How
Athletes understand why showing up every day to work matters. Can they persuade students?
School & District Management
Opinion
'Consulting' Doesn’t Need to Be a Bad Word for Schools
To meet K-12’s pressing challenges, academics, consultants, and school districts need to work together.
Federal
Opinion
Under Trump, the Chairman of the House Ed. Committee Lays Out His Agenda
Rep. Tim Walberg shares the committee's priorities for K-12 education, including "streamlining" the education department.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Schools Experienced a 'Lost Decade.' How They Can Recover
Recent NAEP results underscore concerns about student achievement. A charter school founder suggests what to do.
Mathematics
Opinion
Learning Math Shouldn't Be a 'Hellish Experience'
A former business executive and book author created a free platform for teachers and families to promote math fluency for students.
Reading & Literacy
Opinion
How a Podcast About Reading Promoted Sweeping Instructional Changes
Emily Hanford catalyzed the "science of reading" push but has mixed feelings about some reforms that followed.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
How ‘Innovation’ Fails Education
"Innovation” is mostly an unserious distraction from the real work of rethinking education.
Policy & Politics
Opinion
How Blind Partisanship Harms Schooling
No one political party enjoys a monopoly on truth, good intentions, or rightness
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Teachers Might Embrace Private School Choice. Here's Why
School choice is often discussed in terms of student impact. But what's in it for teachers?
Federal
Opinion
‘Budget Reconciliation’ Sounds Like Wonkspeak. But It Matters for Schools
It won’t enable the Trump administration to make cuts to K-12 programs or abolish the Ed. Department, but it will have other implications.
Federal
Opinion
Betsy DeVos Has Advice for the Next Secretary of Education
In an interview, Trump's first education secretary shares hard-won lessons from her tenure.