Recent Research: Education

Research & Commentary: Georgia Parent Trigger

Joy Pullmann
November 21, 2012

A Georgia legislator plans to propose an education reform that has garnered significant national attention: the Parent Trigger.

Research & Commentary: Efforts to Improve Teacher Quality

Joy Pullmann
November 21, 2012

The United States has increased its teaching force 250 percent since 1950, reducing teacher-student ratios from 1:22 to 1:15, but the expansion has not brought higher teacher quality.

Research & Commentary: Objective Teacher Evaluations

Joy Pullmann
November 12, 2012

In the past three years, more than 20 states have passed legislation modifying teacher evaluation systems, and more have committed to do the same in Race to the Top or No Child Left Behind waiver a

Research & Commentary: Education Savings Accounts

Joy Pullmann
November 8, 2012

A new report pinpoints education savings accounts as the next-generation school voucher system for states committed to real education reform.

Research & Commentary: Education Spending and Student Achievement

Joy Pullmann
November 1, 2012

Polls consistently show voters generally think public schools need more money – but they estimate school spending is at most half of what it really is.

The Parent Trigger: Justification and Design Guidelines

Joseph Bast, Joy Pullmann
November 1, 2012

Sometimes, it seems as though the debate over school reform takes place in an alternate universe where time passes but nothing really changes.

The Leaflet: Post-Election Health Care Policy

Kendall Antekeier
November 1, 2012

Next week is the election that will bring hundreds of new lawmakers into office at the state level.

Research & Commentary: Local Control in Education

Joy Pullmann
October 22, 2012

Parents and voters like the idea of local control in education, but they and politicians have differing definitions of it.

Research & Commentary: Multiple Charter School Authorizers

Joy Pullmann
October 22, 2012

Of the 41 states that allow charter schools, approximately 18 allow viable multiple authorizers to applicants hoping to open the schools, which are fully public but given freedom in matters such as

Seven Educational Reasons to Oppose San Antonio’s Pre-K Plan

Jill C. Thrift, Ph.D.
October 18, 2012

On November 6, San Antonio voters will decide whether to increase their sales tax by 1/8th cent to generate $280 million over a period of eight years.