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
Why SEL Turned Into a Political Football
Yet again, a school reform that makes some intuitive sense has gotten sucked into a roiling culture war.
Teacher Preparation
Opinion
What’s Ahead for the Nation's First Federally Approved Teacher-Apprenticeship Program?
The model promises to make licensure less costly while opening the profession to a broader pool of potential candidates.
Curriculum
Opinion
A Search for Common Ground: Navigating Tough Classroom Conversations
Should parents or legislators have a say in what subjects educators teach?
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
What Might Prevent Yet Another Tragedy Like Uvalde?
Many proposed policies have downsides, as well as political opposition, but there is one that could help.
Assessment
Opinion
The Future, Present, and Past of 'the Nation's Report Card'
What lies ahead for the nation's only true barometer of the state of K-12 education?
Early Childhood
Opinion
The Not-So-Certain Science of Pre-K
Much of the support for universal preschool proceeds with a blind assurance that leaves difficult questions aside.
Teacher Preparation
Opinion
An Unconventional Approach to Teacher Training
Teacher educators at one university are rethinking the concept of teaching and how to best prepare candidates for the classroom.
States
Opinion
Searching for Common Ground: The Parental-Rights Bill, aka the 'Don’t Say Gay’ Bill
Rick and USC dean Pedro Noguera discuss Florida's law curbing gender and sexuality talk and its impact on students, teachers, and parents.
School & District Management
Opinion
Rethinking Talent, Technology, and the Shape of Post-Pandemic Schooling
The disruption born of this once-in-a-century pandemic could yield a once-in-a-century opportunity to rethink K-12 schooling.
Policy & Politics
Opinion
On Education, Public Confidence in Democrats Has Plummeted
Polls indicate that many people have lost confidence in Democrats, but they still haven't gained faith in Republicans.
School & District Management
Opinion
What Is School Reform, Anyway?
Too often, reform is a spinning wheel of one change after another, serving to exhaust educators and breed cynicism.
Social Studies
Opinion
Overhauling Social Studies in a Polarized Era. One State Chief Tells the Tale
One thing that helped Louisiana accomplish the politically charged task was acknowledging upfront the process would be confrontational.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
Families May Like Their School But Want More Options. That’s Where Course Choice Comes In
Educational choices have grown inside each school as a result of the pandemic. Families should take advantage of this.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Can Computer Coding Be Used to Teach Values? This Scholar Thinks So
Professor Marina Umaschi Bers argues that schools can teach computer coding in ways that develop character and technical skills.