The Education Exchange

Aaron Garth Smith, the Director of Education Reform at the Reason Foundation, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Reason's latest report, which details how education funds were spent in 2025. "K-12 Education Spending Spotlight 2025: Annual public school spending nears $1 trillion," co-written with Jordan Campbell, is available now at Reason.org.

Daion L. Daniels, Director of Research for the Indiana Department of Education, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts Program, which documents how many students took advantage of the Arkansas choice program, and its results in student achievement. The 2024-25 Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts Program Annual Report, co-written with Alison Heape Johnson, Joshua...

Martin R. West, the editor-in-chief of Education Next, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the new Massachusetts state high school graduation framework, which will replace the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam.

Joshua Goodman, an associate professor of education and of economics at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Goodman's latest research, which looks into how the job market can impact college enrollment in two-year institutions. "Labor Market Strength and Declining Community College Enrollment," co-written with Joseph Winkelmann, is...

Derrell Bradford, the president of 50CAN, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the state of charter schools in 2025, and where the sector can go as more school choice options become available for families.

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 weighted student funding, and how it can best be implemented to increase 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.

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.

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"

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.

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.

Matt Sigelman, the President of the Burning Glass Institute, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss online courses and certificates, and how many are not delivering the skills employers need. Sigelman's report, "Holding New Credentials Accountable for Outcomes: We Need Evidence-Based Funding Models," co-written with Mark Schneider, Shrinidhi Rao, Scott Spitze, and Debbie Wasden, is available now. https...

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.uar...

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.

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.

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.

Heather Mac Donald, the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Mac Donald's recent article, which is critical of the changes the Trump Administration has made with the National Science Foundation. Mac Donald's article, "Trump Takes on Big Science," is available now from City Journal. https://www.city-journal.org/article/trump-national-science-foundatio...

Ilya Marritz, an independent journalist, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Marritz's recent reporting on the relationship between Alan Garber, the president of Harvard University, and Jay Bhattacharya, who is currently the director of the National Institutes of Health. Marritz's article, "Alan Garber's former student now holds the keys to Harvard's future," is available now from The Boston Globe....

Scott R. Levy, an Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Levy's new book, Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of American Education and Democracy.

Brian Stephens, the CEO of Caissa K12, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss how public schools can make themselves more appealing to students and parents as vouchers and tax credits becomes more popular across the country.

Paul Carrese, a Professor in the School of Civic & Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Columbia University's recent $200 million settlement with the Trump administration.

Derrell Bradford, the president of 50CAN, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss how states might react to the new tax credit scholarship provision that was part of budget reconciliation bill, which was passed by Congress and signed into law on July 4, 2025.

Ester Fuchs, Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science at Columbia University, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the New York City mayoral race, and what it could mean for education in the city.

Robert Maranto, the 21st Century Chair in Leadership in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the Free Inquiry Papers, a project which looks into how freedom of expression was suppressed at institutions of higher education, and how universities can change course. "The Free Inquiry Papers: How to Bring Back Free Inquiry," co-written with...

Robert Enlow, the President and CEO of EdChoice, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss the tax credit scholarship provision that was part of budget reconciliation bill, which was passed by Congress and signed into law on July 4, 2025.