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.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
The Case for Virtual Social and Emotional Learning
Can student social and emotional well-being be supported online? Rick Hess speaks with the founder of EmpowerU, which seeks to do just that.
Curriculum
Opinion
Media Coverage of Critical Race Theory Misses the Mark
News accounts of critical race theory focus on topics that are not particularly controversial, while neglecting those that are.
States
Opinion
5 Takeaways for Education From Virginia's Governor Race
In an election where K-12 schooling was widely seen as the central issue, Glenn Youngkin’s victory has important implications for schools.
Education Funding
Opinion
Ed. Finance Guru Marguerite Roza on How Schools Can Best Spend COVID Aid
Marguerite Roza shares ways school leaders can most effectively use federal COVID aid to position students and schools for future success.
Federal
Opinion
It’s Not Just the NSBA That’s Out of Touch. There’s a Bigger Problem
Those who influence educational policy or practice would do well to care about what parents and the public actually want.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
The High School Network Providing Students With On-the-Job Training
Rick Hess speaks with Cristo Rey Network President Elizabeth Goettl about the network's innovative work-study program.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
The Kind of School Reform That Parents Actually Want
Parents' inclination to focus on solving specific problems rather than system change helps explain the appetite for novel school options.
Policy & Politics
Opinion
Schooling Is in Tempestuous Times. Troublemaker Checker Finn Weighs In
Chester E. Finn Jr., a force in American education for more than four decades, talks about testing, school choice, excellence, and more.
Accountability
Opinion
The Pandemic Disrupted Testing. States Should Seize Untapped Accountability Opportunities
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, states have more freedom to revamp their testing and accountability systems than they did under NCLB.
School & District Management
Opinion
National School Boards Association Chooses to Be Part of the Problem
The NSBA chose to blur the distinction between permissible and suspect speech in suggesting the FBI should target unruly protesters.
School & District Management
Opinion
Economist Eric Hanushek Reflects on Winning 'Education’s Nobel Prize'
Rick Hess speaks with Eric Hanushek about winning the 2021 Yidan Prize, his work, and lessons learned during an iconic career.
Education Funding
Opinion
Don’t Plan on That Federal Education Spending Spree
A Democratic spending spree once depicted as inevitable is shrinking before our eyes, meaning big implications for education.
Early Childhood
Opinion
The Problems With Biden’s Universal Pre-K Proposal
An early-childhood education leader expresses concerns that the universal pre-K plan risks separating pre-K from the wider child-care sector.
School & District Management
Opinion
What Ted Lasso Can Teach About Schooling
Kindness, optimism, and good cheer are important things, but they mustn’t be allowed to excuse ignorance, ineptitude, or failure.