Reposted by Chad AldemanJosh Cowen @joshcowenmi.bsky.social · 27/09/2026“Our voucher school will absolutely make sure your child is learning. No, we don’t need to take the same test as your local public school to prove it to you.” 418627
Reposted by Chad AldemanJulie O'Connor @juliehoconnor.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Officials often brag about NJ's over-90% high school graduation rate. But it’s a mirage, according to a new report by @ChadAldeman. Nearly 40% of the kids who earn diplomas can’t do basic high school math—forcing colleges like Rutgers to pick up the slack. www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/09/fals...njspotlightnews.org'False Hope': Why NJ high schoolers aren’t ready for college | NJ Spotlight NewsNearly 40% of students who earn diplomas can’t do basic high school math 111
Reposted by Chad AldemanConor P. Williams @conorpwilliams.bsky.social · 11/09/2026"Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, when Finnish students were making their big gains, schooling was quite centralized and prescriptive, and classroom instruction was traditional and teacher-led." (Always read @chadaldeman.bsky.social) www.chadaldeman.com/p/remember-f...chadaldeman.comRemember Finland?Finland’s achievement scores have gone straight down hill 022
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Among NYC parents, 92% agreed with the statement that, “My child is progressing in reading the way I would expect.” And yet, just 44% of those students scored proficient on the state test. My latest piece @the74.bsky.social digs into this gap --> www.the74million.org/article/new-...the74million.orgNew York City Parents Think Their Kids Are on Track in Reading. But Are They?Aldeman: If classroom grades show progress and parents discount test scores, students who most need additional help may be the least likely to get it. 010
Reposted by Chad AldemanJoshua Goodman @joshua-goodman.com · 31/08/2026🚨New working paper alert!🚨 Private tutoring chains like Kumon and Sylvan have grown rapidly. Who uses them? Do they improve kids' skills? BU econ PhD student Samuel Nitkin and I provide answers in: "Kumon Up: Private Tutoring Centers and Student Achievement" www.nber.org/papers/w35671 1/? 1516150
Reposted by Chad AldemanThe 74 @the74.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Aldeman: The school staffing boom may finally be ending. Still, most districts serve fewer kids per educator than they did eight years ago www.the74million.org/article/fewe... 011
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 25/08/2026In exchange for over $8,100 in state funds, Iowa’s ESA students have to take the same state tests as public school students do. That seems like a reasonable trade to me: www.chadaldeman.com/p/what-happe... 000
Reposted by Chad AldemanBenjamin Riley @benjaminjriley.bsky.social · 19/08/2026It’s not just that AI negatively impacts learning over the long term, it’s that it also masks the lack of learning taking place along the way. It’s a mental masquerade. 29541
Reposted by Chad AldemanKevin Carey @kevincarey1.bsky.social · 16/08/2026Hard to argue with the first-hand experience of a UC math professor that the system made a bad mistake by banning the use of standardized math tests in admissions. sfstandard.com/opinion/2026...sfstandard.comOpinion: I teach calculus at Berkeley. Some of my students can’t do middle school mathSince the University of California abandoned the SAT and ACT, thousands of faculty say it’s admitting students who aren’t prepared for the coursework. Will UC listen? 88716
Reposted by Chad AldemanJoshua Goodman @joshua-goodman.com · 22/07/2026Really helpful summary of how public school spending: has evolved over time, varies betweens states and student groups, and does not all flow to teacher salaries (particularly in recent years). 074
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 22/07/2026One. Trillion. Dollars. Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social on where that money is going --> www.the74million.org/article/amer...the74million.orgAmerica’s Trillion-Dollar School System: 5 Trends Explain Where the Money GoesAldeman: Enrollment is down, spending has risen substantially and staffing has expanded, yet pay has stagnated and student outcomes remain uneven. 052
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026{new} I have a piece @the74.bsky.social on what I call The Lexington Problem. Basically, what should a state do about districts getting decent reading outcomes despite choosing a weaker reading program?the74million.orgThe Lexington Problem: Beating the Literacy Odds Without the Science of ReadingAldeman: As Massachusetts implements a new literacy mandate, officials must not lose sight of the ultimate goal: helping more students learn to read 110
Reposted by Chad AldemanEducation Week @edweek.org · 25/06/2026Kindergartners' Math and Reading Scores Can Predict Their 3rd Grade Performance: But their academic trajectories aren't set in stone, and early intervention is key, researchers say.edweek.orgKindergartners' Math and Reading Scores Can Predict Their 3rd Grade PerformanceBut their academic trajectories aren't set in stone, and early intervention is key, researchers say. 062
Reposted by Chad AldemanPaul Bruno @paul-bruno.com · 15/06/2026"Pensions do not improve teacher effort or selectively retain high-performing teachers." www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.com 142
Reposted by Chad AldemanMatthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 12/06/2026College should be hard www.slowboring.com/p/hard-work-... 9639
Reposted by Chad AldemanCara Jackson @carajackson.bsky.social · 02/06/2026Love education data? The Strategic Data Project is looking for data fellows for placements in Texas, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Trenton, and NOVA/DC. Position description and requirements: docs.google.com/document/d/1... Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET on 6/21docs.google.com[Job Posting] Strategic Data Project Fellow Cohort 18The Cohort 18 application will open on Monday, September 29, 2025. Position: Strategic Data Project Fellow Location: Multiple US Locations (see below) Duration: Summer/Fall 2026 through Summer 2028 ... 0910
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 12/05/2026{new} The *threat* of holding students back if they can't read properly is a warning to schools to make sure each child is on track in literacy --> www.the74million.org/article/3rd-...the74million.org3rd-Grade Retention Isn’t Really About Kids — It’s About Adults Who Teach ThemAldeman: Threat of holding students back if they can't read properly is a warning to schools to make sure each child is on track in literacy. 000
Reposted by Chad AldemanChalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · 07/05/2026Federal data on enrollment, teacher pay, school spending, safety, and more has gone stale — raising questions about what the public can still know about American education.bit.lyWhat happens when the federal government stops updating facts about schools?Federal data on enrollment, teacher pay, school spending, safety, and more has gone stale — raising questions about what the public can still know about American education. 034
Reposted by Chad AldemanMatthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 04/05/2026A huge winner on both politics and substance — pay higher salaries to the most effective teachers. www.slowboring.com/p/we-should-...slowboring.comWe should pay more for the best teachersA popular, compelling, correct idea 5019853
Reposted by Chad AldemanAndrew Bacher-Hicks @abacherhicks.bsky.social · 27/04/2026If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time at @Arnold_Ventures, it’s that nobody submits proposals early. So, consider this a friendly last‑minute reminder: Letters of interest for our Cell Phones in Schools RFP are due this week (5/1). Details: bit.ly/47n9e1L 294
Reposted by Chad AldemanMatthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 20/04/2026An important contrarian take of mine — dogs aren’t people, they don’t need anti-discrimination legislation or public subsidies. www.slowboring.com/p/dogs-arent...slowboring.comDogs aren’t peopleOne of my hottest takes 5735
Reposted by Chad AldemanRyan Nanni @celebrityhottub.bsky.social · 12/04/2026If you win the Masters back to back you should get green pants 712469331
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 17/03/2026"Get kids reading fluently. As much as you can. Have them read and write about books." That was my attempt to very concisely summarize a new book on how to translate the science of reading into classroom practice. Read my full review @the74.bsky.social here: www.the74million.org/article/new-...the74million.orgNew Book Helps Teachers Implement Science of Reading in Their ClassroomsAldeman: Practical guide offers concrete tips and embedded QR codes that link to videos of teachers putting those strategies into practice. 001
Reposted by Chad AldemanSPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 02/03/2026📢Just launched: the SPARC Center Scholars Program! This program aims to support early career scholars in conducting rigorous research on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Learn more and apply by May 1: sparccenter.org/sparc-center... 045
Reposted by Chad AldemanMatthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 05/03/2026Thanks to backloaded compensation and high cost of living, lots of blue states with high average teacher salaries are actually pretty unattractive places for *entry-level* teachers. www.slowboring.com/p/is-a-new-t... 6496
Reposted by Chad AldemanReg Leichty @regleichty.bsky.social · 04/03/2026I had the opportunity to write this week for HMH’s Policy in Motion about what to watch as the FY2027 federal appropriations process gets underway. Early signals from Congress could shape education funding debates in the months ahead. bit.ly/4rbHlknbit.lyFederal funding: What to watch for this year | HMHWith the approval of the 2026 federal budget for education behind us, and the President’s annual budget request for next year around the corner, many education leaders are asking the same question: W... 021
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 24/02/2026{new} In Maryland, a district called Worcester County is producing some of the best academic results in the state. What is it doing differently? Check out my latest piece @the74.bsky.social -->the74million.orgThe Maryland School District ‘Doing the Improbable’ in Teaching Kids to ReadAldeman: Worcester County posts the highest 3rd-grade reading proficiency in the state despite its poverty level. Here's how they do it 000
Reposted by Chad AldemanThe 74 @the74.bsky.social · 12/02/2026Analysis from @chadaldeman.bsky.social: How 12th grade math and reading scores have changed over timethe74million.orgHow 12th Grade Math & Reading Scores Have Changed Over TimeIn the past three decades, the performance curve looks flatter with a few more high scorers but a lot more low performers. 042
Reposted by Chad AldemanAaron Ainsworth @ajainsworth.bsky.social · 11/02/2026I’m really glad to see that our paper is now out at Ed Researcher! We examine turnover among the half of school employees who are not teachers to understand how their turnover compares. Using Oregon data (2007-23) for all public school employees, there are 3 new patterns that we document: A 🧵journals.sagepub.comRevolving School Doors? A Longitudinal Examination of Teacher, Administrator, and Staff Contributions to School Churn - Emily K. Penner, Yujia Liu, Aaron J. Ainsworth, 2026Non-teaching staff comprise over half of all school employees, and their turnover may be consequential for school operation, culture, and student success, yet w... 32012
Reposted by Chad AldemanAEFP Live Handbook @aefplivehandbook.bsky.social · 06/01/2026Value-added models (VAMs), also referred to as growth models, are used in education research and policy to estimate the impacts of districts, schools, and teachers on student outcomes. Read Cory Koedel's chapter to learn more about this topic: livehandbook.org/k-12-educati... 133
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 18/12/2025{new} The rate at which teachers leave the profession has been remarkably stable for the last 40 years. Read my latest for @educationnext.bsky.social --> www.educationnext.org/are-teachers...educationnext.orgAre Teachers Abandoning Teaching?On the contrary, data show teacher turnover remains consistently low 001
Reposted by Chad AldemanDan Goldhaber @cedr.bsky.social · 11/12/2025I almost let this go without saying anything, but I can't. This issue of the non-value (to student test achievement) of the generic MA is such an old one (e.g., www.jstor.org/stable/20439...). Why aren't we learning from the evidence? www.the74million.org/article/is-a...the74million.orgIs a Master’s in Education Really Worth It? Probably Not, Research ShowsAldeman: Educators take on huge debt to earn advanced degrees, and taxpayers foot the bill for higher pay. But an M.A. doesn't make teachers better. 1105
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 02/12/2025{new} It makes sense that for kids to learn, they should be gradually eased into more challenging material. But how gradual is too gradual? A powerful new book argues that America’s classroom literacy practices are moving far too slowly --> www.the74million.org/article/in-n...the74million.orgIn New Book, Researcher Calls Out Dumbed-Down Method of Teaching ReadingAldeman: In 'Leveled Reading: Leveled Lives,' Tim Shanahan argues that protecting students from difficult texts puts them on a treadmill with no exit. 000
Reposted by Chad AldemanRobert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · 21/11/2025I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.robertkelchen.comCollege Prices Have Not Risen Dramatically in the Last Decade—But Will That Change?Higher education is facing a crisis of confidence among the general public, and much of that is driven by concerns regarding affordability. For example, about 80 percent of Democrats and Republican… 0136
Reposted by Chad AldemanThe 74 @the74.bsky.social · 21/11/2025Watch: These schools are beating the odds in teaching kids to read @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.youtube.com/shorts/8hec1...youtube.comThese Schools Are Beating the Odds in Teaching Kids to ReadYouTube video by The 74 032
Reposted by Chad AldemanJames S. Murphy @jamessmurphy.bsky.social · 21/11/2025When satire is actually pretty good advice. theonion.com/nation-s-par...theonion.comNation’s Parents Release Annual Ranking Of Top 50 ‘Perfectly Good’ State SchoolsThe list includes dozens of totally fine schools where students can learn all the same things they’d learn at one of those expensive colleges on the East Coast. 1125
Reposted by Chad AldemanHema Shah @hema-shah-econ.bsky.social · 29/10/2025I'm on the job market! My JMP studies the role of high school teachers in preparing students for college success I find significant positive effects of high school teachers on 🔹College admissions test scores 🔹College enrollment 🔹College performance 🧵(1/10) 1259
Reposted by Chad AldemanDan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 12/11/2025I love this lede from NYT's Victor Mather on the death of the penny 721850
Reposted by Chad AldemanThe 74 @the74.bsky.social · 04/11/2025Interactive —10,000 districts, 3 million kids: These schools are beating the odds in teaching kids to read @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.the74million.org/article/thes...the74million.orgThese Schools Are Beating the Odds in Teaching Kids to ReadNew analysis compares literacy vs. poverty rates for 10,000 districts, 42,000 schools and 3 million kids. Is your school a Bright Spot? 134
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 04/11/2025{new} Which schools do a good job teaching kids to read? In a new project @the74.bsky.social, we set out to find schools where third-grade reading scores are much higher than might be expected, based on the schools’ poverty rates alone --> www.the74million.org/article/thes...the74million.orgThese Schools Are Beating the Odds in Teaching Kids to ReadNew analysis compares literacy vs. poverty rates for 10,000 districts, 42,000 schools and 3 million kids. Is your school a Bright Spot? 111
Reposted by Chad AldemanAndrew Ujifusa @andrewujifusa.bsky.social · 28/10/2025"Imagine two elementary students: One struggles to read because she has dyslexia. The other struggles to read because she received poor reading instruction. The first student is entitled to specialized instruction ... The second student is entitled to nothing." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/10/28/a...chalkbeat.orgWhat if every student had an IEP?Students with disabilities should not be the only children who benefit from a federal guarantee of an adequate education, two researchers argue in a new report. 111
Reposted by Chad AldemanBill DeBaun @billdebaun.bsky.social · 20/10/2025"I want to double back on Sherrill’s casual slams on MS & LA. Do they have some of the “worst schools” in the nation, as Sherrill claimed? And by implication, is NJ doing better than these states? The answer to both...is no." via @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.chadaldeman.com/p/thank-good...chadaldeman.comThank Goodness for Mississippi (and Louisiana)States like New Jersey can copy their playbook for educational improvements 011
Reposted by Chad AldemanMorgan Polikoff @mpolikoff.bsky.social · 25/09/2025The dangerous war on Tylenol (and what's really causing the rise in Autism) open.substack.com/pub/matthewy...open.substack.comThe dangerous war on TylenolAutism diagnoses have increased because diagnostic practices changed. 011
Reposted by Chad AldemanGabriella Aldeman @writebetween.bsky.social · 17/09/2025Just in case you need another reason to read Squawk of Spanish, it’s not only #HispanicHeritageMonth but also #NationalPetBirdDay 🦜 Complement the book with fun mazes, word searches, and crafts. Check out the activity kit here: static1.squarespace.com/static/5d0e4... 001
Chad Aldeman @chadaldeman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025“over the last decade, [achievement] declines have not been about specific student groups. Instead, the story is largely about a growing divergence between higher- and lower-performing kids” Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social --> www.the74million.org/article/stud...the74million.orgStudent Achievement Is Down Overall — But Kids at the Bottom Are Sinking FasterAldeman: It's not about race, income or parents' education. But across tests, grades and subjects, gap between higher and lower performers is growing 021
Reposted by Chad AldemanThe 74 @the74.bsky.social · 16/09/2025Analysis: Student achievement is down overall, but kids at the bottom are sinking faster. Read more here from @chadaldeman.bsky.social:the74million.orgStudent Achievement Is Down Overall — But Kids at the Bottom Are Sinking FasterAldeman: It's not about race, income or parents' education. But across tests, grades and subjects, gap between higher and lower performers is growing 023
Reposted by Chad AldemanJon Becker @jonbecker.bsky.social · 11/09/2025The responses here are a nice balm today 152
Reposted by Chad AldemanMorgan Polikoff @mpolikoff.bsky.social · 11/09/2025Actual importance of college is probably about as high as ever. // Perceived Importance of College Hits New Low news.gallup.com/poll/695003/...news.gallup.comPerceived Importance of College Hits New LowThe percentage of Americans who consider a college education "very important" has slipped below the majority level. 1114