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.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Social Media’s Like Tossing a ’Tween the Keys to a Harley
When it comes to youth, we should think about social media as sophisticated, double-edged tools to be used carefully and deliberately.
Budget & Finance
Opinion
Three Tips for Spending COVID-19 Funds in Evidence-Based Ways
If COVID-19 funds targeted for evidence-based practices are going to deliver, it's crucial to be clear on what evidence is actually helpful.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
The Company Crowdsourcing Homework Help
Rick Hess speaks with Michal Borkowski, co-founder of Brainly, about how the site crowdsources homework questions to its millions of users.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
How to Improve Teaching After the Pandemic
Figuring out how to let individual teachers do more of what they’re already good at is a powerful place to start the improvement process.
Mathematics
Opinion
What It Takes to Actually Improve Math Education
Barry Garelick, a veteran math teacher and author, shares three reform trends that he sees contributing to problems in math education.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Taking Stock After 30 Years of Charter Schools
Rick Hess speaks with Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, on charter schools turning 30.
States
Opinion
The Right and Wrong Way to Address Concerns About Critical Race Theory
Legislators should consciously echo provisions of the Civil Rights Act brushed aside in the excesses of anti-racist education—not ban ideas.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
An Economist Explains How to Make College Pay
Rick Hess speaks with Beth Akers about practical advice regarding how to choose a college, what to study, and how to pay for it.
School & District Management
Opinion
Pump the Brakes on Drive to End Snow Days
Even setting aside (legitimate) questions about hardware, connectivity, and student preferences, ending snow days deserves careful scrutiny.
Federal
Opinion
Education Outlets Owe Readers More Than the Narratives They Want to Hear
It's vital that serious news organizations challenge runaway narratives and help readers avoid going down ideological rabbit holes.
Mathematics
Opinion
The Case for Game-Based Math Learning
Rick Hess speaks with Andrew Coulson, chief data science officer at MIND Research Institute, about the nonprofit's visual approach to math learning.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Resisting 'Anti-Racist' Education Is Neither Racist Nor Unreasonable
The opponents of anti-racism are reacting to ideas and educational practices at odds with the values and beliefs of most Americans.
Standards
Opinion
How the Failure of the Common Core Looked From the Ground
Steve Peha shares insights from his on-site professional-development work about why the common core failed, in a guest letter to Rick Hess.
Standards
Opinion
Common Core Is a Meal Kit, Not a Nothingburger
Caroline Damon argues Rick Hess and Tom Loveless sold the common core short, claiming the issue was a matter of high-quality implementation.