WonkyFolk

Pat Brantley — CEO of Friendship Public Schools and a 2026 inductee into the National Charter School Hall of Fame — joins Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham for a WonkyFolk conversation recorded live in front of an audience at Friendship's Armstrong campus in Washington, DC. Pat traces her path from Newark to Princeton to Dr. Dorothy Height's civil rights work to Friendship House — and the moment the...

Jorge Elorza — former mayor of Providence, now CEO of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) — joins Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham for a frank conversation about the federal scholarship tax credit, the Democratic Party’s education problem, and what a reset actually requires. They dig into how the new federal tax credit program actually works (and why Jorge and Arne Duncan called it a “no-brainer”)...

AI in education — what's working, what's risky, and what charter schools should do next. Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham are joined by Bellwether's Mary Wells and Marisa Mission for a wide-ranging conversation. They dig into how AI tools are actually being used day to day, why "human in the loop" means more than just a review step, and what cognitive science tells us about the real danger of studen...

WonkyFolk: Lisa Keegan on Educational Opportunity, Accountability, and the Future of Reform In this episode of WonkyFolk , Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham sit down with longtime education leader and reform advocate Lisa Keegan for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about educational opportunity in America. Drawing on decades of leadership experience—from state-level policymaking to national advoca...

In this episode of WonkyFolk , Andy Rotherham and Jed Wallace kick off the year with a deep and thoughtful conversation with Baxter Parker, longtime Denver-based education leader and policy thinker. Together, they explore how Denver’s school reform journey—often hailed as a national model—has evolved from being described as “historic” to something more complex, contextual, and nuanced . Parker sha...

# WonkyFolk: Year in Review - How Many Mulligans Does a Country Get? How many mulligans does a country get before there are real consequences? In this year-end conversation, Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham confront 2025's uncomfortable truths: neither party heard the message voters sent, ed reformers have gone soft on accountability, and we're spending another year arguing while kids fall further b...

In this special episode of WonkyFolk , Andy Rotherham and Jed Wallace sit down with education policy legend Dr. Mike Kirst —a man whose career spans six decades of shaping education in California and beyond. From working in the Office of Management and Budget under the Great Society programs to chairing the California State Board of Education under two governors, Kirst shares an insider’s view of...

Join Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham for an illuminating conversation with Margaret "Macke" Raymond, one of education's most influential researchers. As Director of CREDO (Center for Research on Education Outcomes) at Stanford University and Distinguished Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Macke has spent two decades producing the definitive studies on charter school performance that shape...

Is a massive federal tax credit about to transform American education? 🎓 Join Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham as they dive deep with Shaka Mitchell from the American Federation for Children into what could be the most significant school choice development in years. This isn't your typical education policy discussion – it's about a "seismic" shift that could reshape how families access educational...

Recorded live at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ annual conference in Orlando , this special episode of WonkyFolk features a candid and thought-provoking interview with education leader and author Steven Wilson . Hosts Andy Rotherham and Jed Wallace sit down with Steven to unpack his latest book, The Lost Decade , and explore what it means for the future of education reform. In t...

On this episode of  WonkyFolk , Andy Rotherham and Jed Wallace dig into the surprising 4-4 split from the U.S. Supreme Court on the controversial St. Isidore religious charter school case—and what it means for the future of public education, church-state boundaries, and the charter movement. They also explore big-picture trends reshaping education, from the erosion of academic rigor in K-12 t...

In this episode of WonkyFolk , Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham do what they do best—speculate wildly about the forces disrupting public education today and what might lie ahead. Prompted by Marlon Marshall’s recent insight on the need to “make progress amid the disruption,” the boys take on some of the biggest questions facing schools and policymakers right now. Will the St. Isidore Supreme Court c...

Andy and Jed talk about the evolving landscape of education policy and its implications for both K-12 and higher education. They discuss recent developments, the complexities introduced by political dynamics and regulatory changes, the challenges faced by educational institutions, the impact of immigration on the workforce, and the necessity for reform in response to society's shifting needs. Jed...

In this live Washington, D.C. episode, Jed and Andy tackle the early policy shifts of the new Trump administration and what they mean for charter schools, education funding, and equity . They discuss the chaotic rollout of federal budget cuts , block grants , and DEI policies , analyzing how these moves may shape the future of public education—especially in blue states. With federal oversight in f...

In volume 22, we engage with Karim Ani, the founder of Citizen Math, who shares profound insights into the realm of mathematics education and its implications for democratic discourse. Central to our conversation is Karim's candid reflection on his personal journey, culminating in his decision to retire from American education, a choice influenced by both creative fulfillment and the formidable in...

We missed our November recording due to me coming down with the crud. It left us a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time. Topics we touch upon include: Elections perspective six weeks later Linda McMahon reactions, including a somewhat surprising lack of acrimony across the political spectrum on her nomination. The biggest story in public education this year - Democrats embrace stasis,...

Andy and Jed discuss what the theme music for their podcast should be before shifting to their voting experiences and frustrations with the current political landscape. The conversation delves into polarizing views on education, highlighting voter behavior differences, the impact of California politics, and significant historical events influencing perceptions. The nuances of charter school regula...

In this conversation, Andy and Jed discuss a range of topics related to education policies and the role of teacher unions, particularly reflecting on experiences in Oaxaca, Mexico and the United States. Jed shares his observations about the strong presence and activities of teacher unions in Oaxaca, contrasting them with unions in the U.S. The discussion extends to broader issues within the educat...

Andy and Jed explore the intersection of education and politics in a rapidly changing landscape. They start by analyzing the Democratic Party's surprising silence on education during their convention, delving into why education has become a party splitter and how this could affect upcoming elections. The conversation then shifts to Kamala Harris' role and what her presidency might mean for educati...

In this thought-provoking episode, Andy Rotherham and Jed Wallace are joined by Lynne Graziano from Bellwether Education Partners to dive deep into the complexities and inconsistencies of adolescent laws across the United States. Using Bellwether's new "Edge of Seventeen" report as a cornerstone, this discussion covers a wide range of topics from the age of consent and marriage laws to labor right...

This week Andy and I start out debriefing the ASU-GSV conference and explore why the open and optimistic spirit of that gathering feels so at odds with the vibe that prevails across much of ed reform these days. That leads to a discussion about Andy’s widely read article about ed reformers needing to buck up and realize the progress that has been made in recent decades. That leads me to...

Jed and Andy record WonkyFolk's first live session as they keynote at the Charter Growth Fund. WonkyFolk's first live episode discusses the vital role of charter schools and civic engagement in advocating for education reform, particularly within African American and Hispanic communities. Jed and Andy delve into policy-making dynamics, the influence of political affiliations on educational initiat...

This week, Andy and I are talking about the furries, a fiscal cliff, higher education, and trade schools. You can also watch it on YouTube . Show Notes: https://eduwonk.substack.com/p/theyre-furious-in-oklahoma-plus-baesler https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/17/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-improving-student-achievement-agenda-in-2024/ Bellwethe...

Greetings, CharterFolk! This week, Andy and I are talking with Nina Rees , President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools , regarding charter schools and the American Dream. For those of you who would prefer a video recording, we provide a link to YouTube .  This week some of the topics include: Introductions ( 00:01 ) One of the greatest accomplishments for the Nationa...

Greetings, CharterFolk!  This week, Andy and I are talking with David Griffith , Associate Director of Research at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute , regarding The Education Competition Index: Quantifying competitive pressure in America’s 125 largest school districts , which indicates the death of traditional public schools has been greatly exaggerated.  For those of you who would prefer...