EdFix

In this episode of EdFix , education policy veterans Denise Forte and Andy Rotherham tackle one of the most pressing—and polarizing—questions in American education: should the U.S. Department of Education shrink or shift power to the states? With sharp insights and real-world experience, they unpack the motivations behind efforts to dismantle the department and what that could mean for equity, acc...

In this episode of EdFix , Judge David Tatel , who served nearly three decades on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit—the nation's second highest court—shares his remarkable journey from civil rights lawyer to judicial trailblazer. Blind since his mid-30s, Judge Tatel has dedicated his career to expanding access to justice and improving opportunities for all. He reflects on pivotal mome...

The Southern Education Foundation has played a crucial role in transforming education for African American and low-income students in the South. Dr. Raymond Pierce , former civil rights attorney and dynamic President and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation, dives into the organization's rich history, rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War, and its relentless mission to revolutionize educati...

Dr. Ryan Watkins , Professor of Educational Technology at George Washington University, describes artificial intelligence (AI) as computational tools that can do things that, until recently, we thought only humans could do. He believes that platforms such as ChatGPT bring both groundbreaking opportunities and ethical considerations to education. To embrace the reality of AI in our classrooms, he a...

As President and CEO of ETS (Educational Testing Service), Amit Sevak  is keenly aware of the growing concern over the perceived value of education and standardized testing. To address these challenges, he is leading a transformation at ETS towards a more human-centric approach, with a focus on educator solutions, global mobility, and professional credentialing. And he believes that crafting asses...

For nearly three decades, Jack Jennings was the foremost expert on education policy in the U.S. House of Representatives. His legacy spans some of the most significant legislative initiatives, including the Elementary and Secondary Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Higher Education Act. After leaving Congress, Jack founded and led the Center on Education Policy, a nonpa...

Community colleges welcome learners of all backgrounds and ages with low-cost tuition and open admission policies. According to Robert (Bob) Schwartz , co-author of America's Hidden Economic Engines: How Community Colleges Can Drive Shared Prosperity , these institutions are also extremely well-suited to forge strategic partnerships with industry leaders, skillfully addressing the demands of local...

In October of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court heard two cases challenging race-conscious admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. As a result, most people expect the court's ruling to end affirmative action policies, significantly affecting the way universities consider an applicant's race during the admissions process. In this extended bonus episode, esteemed experts Am...

How does an online secondary school establish a reputation as a legitimate and academically challenging institution? And can we really foster personal connections–so important to youth development–in a virtual environment?   Join us as Head of School Alison Mistretta , Associate Head of School Maria Coyle , and GW Professor Michael Corry unveil the striking success story of the GWU Online High Sch...

Can the lessons from history challenge today's students to stand up to bigotry and hate? If so, are there resources for teachers that can facilitate productive conversations about heavy headlines?  Abby Weiss and Dimitry Anselme , from the non-partisan organization Facing History and Ourselves , discuss the professional development and rigorous content that educators need to help young people wres...

Dr. Holden Thorp believes that education research is as crucial as research in the "hard" sciences—a surprising perspective coming from the Editor-In-Chief of the Science family of journals, a chemist by training, and former Chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill. He warns that scientists' tendencies to emphasize facts and memorization has led to a lack of appreciation for the critical role of pedagogy and...

According to Dr. Eric ("Rick") Hanushek , the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, pandemic learning losses will result in a 6% reduction in a student's lifetime earnings. And since a country's economic growth is tied to the skills of its labor force, he also projects that the United States' gross domestic product will dip 3-4% over the remainder of t...

Dr. Randy Bennett , the Norman O. Fredericksen Chair in Assessment Innovation at ETS, describes tests as "cultural artifacts," many of which were created at a time when our country was much less diverse. So what does that mean for school accountability or university admissions testing today? In an article* for the journal Educational Measurement - Issues and Practice , Dr. Bennett argues that we n...

In recent years, both racially motivated hate crimes and antisemitism have been on the rise. But does the experience of common oppression necessarily lead to coalition? And can we better prepare teachers for conversations that fight bigotry? Dr. Dwayne Wright , GW Director of DEI Initiatives and Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration, and Dr. Benjamin M. Jacobs , GW Associate Resea...

Is a college degree really worth the investment? And does higher education improve inequality in America or make it worse? Dr. Sandy Baum and Dr. Michael McPherson , economists and authors of the book, " Can College Level the Playing Field: Higher Education in an Unequal Society ," discuss the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of our post-secondary education system, and whether it can help t...

The COVID pandemic has demonstrated the danger of irrational, non-scientific thinking. According to Dr. Bruce Alberts , a preeminent molecular biologist, professor, and past president of the National Academy of Sciences, the American public's willingness to accept misinformation points to a failure in science education . Dr. Alberts suggests that changes to science curricula and teacher preparatio...

Since the 1983 report "A Nation At Risk," America's international reputation for K-12 education has been mediocre at best. But is this really the case? Dr. Robert Hauser , Executive Officer at the American Philosophical Society, examined the data and disagrees. In fact, he has found a U.S. school system that could be used as a model for success. In this episode, Dr. Hauser shares what he learned a...

School systems depend on sound decision-making for the safety and well-being of their communities. So what happens during a crisis like COVID-19, when opinions can vary widely on the best path forward? Dr. Jennifer Clayton , Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at GW, and Dr. Jared Cotton , Superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools in Virginia, talk about the tough choices he has faced...

Think tanks engage in research and advocacy, often influencing policy and shaping the national discourse. But are they really home to independent thinkers and scholars, or is their research swayed by the priorities of their funders? Dr. Rick Hess , Senior Fellow and Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), shares his insight into the world of think tanks--wh...

According to Dr. Deborah Loewenberg Ball , mathematics has the power to disrupt white supremacy unlike any other subject in school. As a professor and former Dean at the University of Michigan, Director of TeachingWorks, and elementary school math teacher herself, Deborah pushes back on the notion that math is culturally neutral. In fact, she believes that changing the way we teach math could help...

As a clinician in K-12 education, Adjoa Asamoah witnessed too many injustices in our schools. So she decided to pivot her career to the intersection of policy and politics, where she has worked to tackle systemic inequities across our country. Her efforts to actualize liberty and justice for all have been noticed, and during the last presidential race, she was tapped to be the National Advisor for...

Caroline Adegun began her career as a human resources recruiter. Then a stint working for a celebrity in Los Angeles inspired her to open The Hollywood Wingwoman Talent , the first non-profit talent development firm serving low-income (and sometimes homeless) artists trying to make it in the industry. And recently, she has become a force on social media, taking the new Clubhouse app by storm. With...

Rehabilitation counselors provide independent living support and job readiness training, empowering people with disabilities to integrate more fully into the community. According to Drs. Maureen McGuire-Kuletz and Kenneth Hergenrather , directors of the Center for Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Education , there is a pressing need for more rehabilitation professionals as a generation of co...

When Titilola Harley's plan to become a teacher got derailed, she decided to channel her business acumen to make a difference in schools. Now she approaches education as a consultant, helping schools and organizations work through challenges they've struggled to address on their own. But even though she uses management tools to guide her recommendations, she firmly believes that teachers are the e...

The GW Center on Education Policy (CEP) is celebrating 25 years as a trusted, independent source for education policy research and analysis. Since its founding, citizens and policy makers at all levels have turned to CEP for nonpartisan, evidence-based information about our system of public education. Maria Ferguson, Executive Director of CEP, shares how access to research without "spin"—especiall...