Latest Articles
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A New Blueprint for State Standardized Testing
This piece originally appeared in Education Next on February 11, 2025. It is part of a two-part forum.
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A Cautionary Tale About School Closings
This piece originally appeared in The 74.
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Could Tutoring Be the Next Big Bipartisan School Reform?
This piece originally appeared in Washington Monthly on June 23, 2024.
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None of the Above: A New Vision for State Standardized Testing
Statewide standardized testing has played a central role in public education for three decades, providing insights into school performance and driving improvement. But state testing, mandated by federal law, has become increasingly divisive.
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How to Retain Teacher Talent in the District of Columbia
FutureEd Director Thomas Toch presented written testimony to the Council of the District of Columbia on December 8, 2023, addressing principal and teacher retention in the District of Columbia public education sector.
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Smart Strategies for Tackling Teacher Shortages
This piece orginally appeared in The New York Times on October 6, 2022.
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Beyond Bake Sales: The New Parent Activism in Education
While conservative parents’ battles against Covid mandates and diversity efforts have captured headlines, other activist parent organizations have emerged to fight for improved educational opportunities and outcomes for low-income students. A feature piece in Education Next.
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Leaning In: Parents in Public Education
A new generation of far more activist parent organizations is springing up across the country, propelled by the internet, the rise of video conferencing, social media, and millions of dollars in backing from foundations seeking to bring the voices of underrepresented families and communities into the work of school improvement.
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How D.C. Public Schools Improved Teacher Quality, Diversity
This commentary was published in The 74 with Senior Fellow Lynn Olson.
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Changing the Narrative: The Push for New Equity Measures in Education
A wide range of organizations are working to gauge students’ needs and public schools’ performance in ways that go far beyond disparities in test scores and graduation rates. These new metrics—ranging from the availability of advanced coursework to students’ proximity to parks, trails, transit, and grocery stores—challenge traditional definitions of a good school and stand…