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.
Families & the Community
Opinion
Why Don’t We Talk More About Family Structure in Schooling?
A new report examines the role of family structure on academic success.
Education Funding
Opinion
An Expert Explains How the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Will Work
A former Ed. Dept. official predicts the program will generate $3 billion for scholarships in 2027.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
It's 3 p.m. Do You Know What Teens Are Doing?
A veteran school reformer is focused on how teens are spending their time after the school day ends.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
What Do Parents Look for in a School?
Test scores aren’t the whole story. The CEO of GreatSchools talks about what parents want.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
The Big Flaw With Ed-Tech Tutoring Isn't Technological
Before focusing on the technology, we need to redesign the learning model, Michael Horn argues.
School & District Management
Opinion
How Leaders Can Fix a Broken School Culture
This author argues that much educational advice is out of touch with reality.
Federal
Opinion
What’s Behind the Trump Administration's Push to Reform Head Start?
Assistant Secretary Alex Adams explains the Trump administration’s approach to the early-ed program.
School & District Management
Opinion
How Much Do Instructional Reforms Actually Improve Schools?
A new book asks whether improvement science delivers—and finds the biggest obstacles are mundane.
Artificial Intelligence
Opinion
Howard Gardner: How AI Will Force Us to 'Rethink' Education
The question isn’t whether to use AI but how, explains the father of multiple intelligences.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
We’re Finally Starting to Ask the Right Questions About Ed Tech
Concerns about screen-saturated schools underscore a sense that “innovation” exacts a human cost.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
There's a Lot of Talk About 'Career Readiness.' Have We Thought It Through?
Just because you promote opportunities for career pathways doesn’t mean students are learning.
Teaching
Opinion
Teach For America's New CEO: 'We're Working to Reinspire Belief' in Public Education
The new TFA chief explains what’s behind a 43% uptick in its incoming class.
Federal
Opinion
The Ed. Dept.'s Civil Rights and Special Ed. Offices Are Moving. Here's What That Means
Short-term changes are unlikely to be noticeable. Longer term, they may be consequential.
School Choice & Charters
Opinion
What the International Debate Over School Choice Can Teach Us at Home
A scholar highlights a new push to forge a consensus on parental rights—from New York to Africa.