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.
Federal
Opinion
The Trump Administration Has Mostly Dismantled the Ed. Dept. Should You Care?
Here’s how much the administration has really changed federal education policy.
Curriculum
Opinion
What Policymakers Get Wrong About 'High-Quality' Curriculum
Schools can't fix instruction without fixing curriculum, Doug Lemov warns.
Artificial Intelligence
Opinion
Why AI Hasn’t Transformed Math Instruction (and Probably Won’t)
When it comes to teaching, there are a few things AI can't do well, says this curriculum developer.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Why a Good School Needs Both Coaches and Referees
If teachers are forced into being referees, they can't fill that role properly or coach well, either.
Ed-Tech Policy
Opinion
What’s the Right Way to Limit Phones in School?
A public health expert weighs in on how schools can cultivate healthy tech habits.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Civil Society Is Withering. How to Help Schools Restore Engagement
Can a new wave of initiatives stem the trend of isolation?
Teaching
Opinion
Schools Still Miss Instructional Basics. How to Change That
Veteran educator and author Mike Schmoker calls out what he sees as classroom "malpractice."
Social Studies
Opinion
Do Students Still Need to Learn Geography?
It’s tough to grasp what's going on about Venezuela or Greenland if you don’t know where they are.
Artificial Intelligence
Opinion
AI in K–12: A New Year Reality Check for School Leaders
AI is a boon in later grades, less so in K-5, argues author and educator Michael Horn.
Artificial Intelligence
Opinion
This Professor Won the ‘Nobel for Education.’ Here's What His Work Means for Educators
What skills do students need to make sense of complex systems in the age of AI?
Policy & Politics
Opinion
Who Tops Their Field in the 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Rankings?
A scholar's rank within a discipline may be more telling than their place in the overall rankings.
Policy & Politics
Opinion
Who Are the Nation's Top Education Scholars?
The RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings recognize researchers who shape practice and policy.
Policy & Politics
Opinion
The 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Scoring Formula
Rick Hess unveils the 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar rankings tomorrow. Here's his methodology.
Policy & Politics
Opinion
What It Takes to Be an Effective Education Scholar
The 2026 RHSU Scholar Rankings will be released soon. How do the top researchers attain influence?