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.
Assessment
Opinion
The National Assessment Governing Board’s Troubling Gag Order
NAGB's recently released restrictions on how its board members can communicate set a troubling precedent.
Social Studies
Opinion
Civics Ed. Is on the Precipice of Becoming Common Core 2.0
Recent efforts to promote civics education suggest little was learned from the Obama-era dispute around the common core.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
There’s Insurance for Homes or Cars—Why Not College Degrees?
Rick Hess talks with Wade Eyerly, the CEO of Degree Insurance, about the company's plan to make investing in a college degree less risky.
Standards
Opinion
After All That Commotion, Was the Common Core a Big Nothingburger?
The Common Core State Standards may not have had an impact on student outcomes, but they did make school improvement tougher and more ideological.
School & District Management
Opinion
Have School Reopening Decisions Been Driven by Union Influence?
Rick Hess speaks with Corey DeAngelis about his findings that districts in areas with stronger unions were less likely to reopen in person.
Education Funding
Opinion
Does Place-Based Giving Make It Harder for Funders to Get Reliable Feedback?
Big donors can be lulled into underestimating the financial, political, and information constraints of place-based philanthropy.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Is Hybrid Home Schooling the Future of Education?
Rick Hess speaks with Mike McShane about hybrid home schooling, which combines the best of home schooling and traditional schooling.
Social Studies
Opinion
Civics Roadmap’s Designers Would Do Well to Heed Their Critics
Supporters of Educating for American Democracy's Roadmap should spend time listening, learning, and addressing legitimate concerns.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
The Stanford Scholar Bent on Helping Digital Readers Spot Fake News
Rick Hess speaks with Sam Wineburg about fake news, digital learning, and how to help children navigate online content.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
When Does Educational Equity Become Educationally Unethical?
Equity stumbles into a truly gruesome place when educators are directed to shortchange students based on how they look or where they live.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
City Year CEO on Supporting Students Through the Pandemic
Rick Hess speaks with City Year CEO Jim Balfanz on how members serve as "student-success coaches," even amidst the pandemic.
Early Childhood
Opinion
Waterford Upstart on Providing Remote Learning to 90,000 Pre-K Kids
Rick Hess speaks with Dr. LaTasha Hadley of Waterford Upstart about its use of adaptive software to close gaps in kindergarten readiness.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Empowering Teachers and Parents to Speak Up on School Safety
Rick Hess shares practical suggestions from Max Eden on how to ensure school discipline reforms are indeed keeping students and staff safe.
Science
Opinion
Working With the Likes of Lego, Disney, and Lucasfilm to Engage Students in STEM
Rick Hess speaks with FIRST's Erica Newton Fessia about inspiring young people's interest in STEM using team-based robotics programs.