Opinion Blog


Rick Hess Straight Up

Education policy maven Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute think tank offers straight talk on matters of policy, politics, research, and reform. Read more from this blog.

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.

Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Policy & Politics Opinion 2024 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence: Top 10 Lists
Where scholars rank within their discipline may be more telling than where they are in the overall rankings.
Rick Hess, January 5, 2024
1 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Policy & Politics Opinion The 2024 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings
The rankings recognize the university-based scholars in the United States who had large influence shaping educational practice and policy.
Rick Hess, January 4, 2024
2 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Policy & Politics Opinion The 2024 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Scoring Rubric
Tomorrow, Rick will unveil the 2024 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings. Here is the methodology used to generate those rankings.
Rick Hess, January 3, 2024
10 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Policy & Politics Opinion What It Takes to Be an Effective Public Scholar
Education researchers may have impeccable credentials in the world of academe. But do they move the needle on public debates?
Rick Hess, January 2, 2024
4 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How One State Is Talking About School Improvement
The country's longest-serving state schools chief addresses what's changed in the field of education during her tenure.
Rick Hess, December 21, 2023
6 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Policy & Politics Opinion The 10 Favorite Rick Hess Straight Up Posts of 2023
High-dosage tutoring, teacher pay, artificial intelligence. Those are among the most popular or impactful posts of the year.
Rick Hess, December 18, 2023
2 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion High School Students: Beware of College Career Centers
College career offices aren’t equipped to help students get jobs after graduation. How can high schools help?
Rick Hess, December 14, 2023
5 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School & District Management Opinion When It Comes to Schooling, Everyone Thinks They Have the Answer
If you realize they think you're wrong, you've got a shot at understanding and persuading them.
Rick Hess, December 11, 2023
3 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School & District Management Opinion What It Takes to Reinvent High School
How can district leaders launch innovative and successful schools?
Rick Hess, December 7, 2023
6 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School Climate & Safety Opinion Should Classroom Discipline Be Based in ‘Restorative Justice’?
Discipline often divides conservatives and liberals. Is there room for common ground?
Rick Hess, December 4, 2023
9 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Student Achievement Opinion Who Better to Serve as Tutors Than Teachers? Here's One Way It's Being Done
As schools struggle to address learning loss, absenteeism, and staffing, outside organizations are working to fill in.
Rick Hess, November 30, 2023
8 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Student Achievement Opinion Grade Inflation Teaches Students We Don't Mean What We Say
Education leaders need to stand up for rigor, and they need to support classroom teachers who are committed to putting that into practice.
Rick Hess, November 27, 2023
4 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Accountability Opinion What’s Wrong With Online Credit Recovery? This Teacher Will Tell You
The “whatever it takes” approach to increasing graduation rates ends up deflating the value of a diploma.
Rick Hess, November 20, 2023
5 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School Choice & Charters Opinion Can a Network of Tiny, Teacher-Led Montessoris Spread Like Wildflowers?
Do the strengths of this school network hold lessons for traditional public schools?
Rick Hess, November 16, 2023
5 min read