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
Rick Hess' Top 10 Hits of 2025
In a year full of education news, what cut through the noise?
Teaching Profession
Opinion
After 30 Years as a Teacher, He Became an Interviewer on YouTube. Here's Why
He’s interviewed Nobel laureates, National Book Award winners, and influential education thinkers.
Policy & Politics
Opinion
Standing Up to Education Groupthink
Why is it so hard to push back on popular ideas in education, even when it’s sorely needed?
School & District Management
Opinion
Have Politics Hijacked Education Policy?
School boards should be held more accountable to student learning, says this scholar.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Should States Mandate Student Testing for Choice Programs?
There are pros and cons to forcing state tests on private schools receiving tax dollars.
School & District Management
Opinion
The Difference Between 'Solving a Problem' and 'Changing Patterns' in Schools
Advice on getting new habits to stick.
Federal
Opinion
Can School Reform Be Bipartisan Again?
In a world dominated by social media, is there room for a more serious education debate?
School & District Management
Opinion
Lessons From a 'Vetted' Superintendent's Fall From Grace
The temptation to chase the "new new thing" has big costs for schooling.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Do Cellphone Bans Really Fix Student Engagement?
Can schools offer a more compelling alternative to social media or AI?
Teaching Profession
Opinion
How a Middle School Teacher Became a Viral Sensation
A science educator explains how he balances being an influencer with his classroom practice.
Education Funding
Opinion
The Federal Shutdown Is a Rorschach Test for Education
Polarization, confusion, and perverse incentives turn a serious discussion into a stylized debate.
Families & the Community
Opinion
Parent-School Partnerships Can Drive Academic Gains. Here's How
This family-engagement advocate says collaboration has a track record of boosting achievement.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
What Could the New Federal Tuition Tax Credit Mean for School Choice?
Just what this new program will mean for your state is still uncertain.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
A New Test for Some Would-Be Teachers Might Just Be a Political Move
The goal of an assessment shouldn't be performative politics.