An accessible introduction to the most consequential science of modern life. University of Chicago economist Gary Becker won the Nobel Prize largely for his advancement of human capital theory—the ide...

37 education researchers weigh the evidence

Patrinos, head of the Department of Education Reform and the Twenty-First Century Endowed Chair in Education Policy, joins 11 other educational leaders from across the country who bring extensive expe...

The Honors College's upcoming Pulse Panel will bring together experts in law, philosophy, economics and education policy to examine how AI is reshaping the workforce and what that transformation could...

The New York Times Upshot takes on that question today. Pleased to be quoted alongside my colleagues Robert Maranto and Patrick Wolf. There are no simple fixes in education. But we know much more than we used to about what improves learning — and about the conditions that allow reforms to succeed. Worth reading and debating:

Math and reading scores are in a decade-long slump. We asked three dozen experts: What could turn things around?

UofA education reform researchers Harry Patrinos and Kristen Scott discuss their new book, the LEARNS Act, school choice, early literacy and what it will take for Arkansas students to rebound.

A global online forum exploring how AI is reshaping education, learning systems, and public policy through expert talks and cross-sector dialogue.

Paper2Agent converts research papers into interactive artificial intelligence agents by turning manuscripts, code and data into model context protocol-based tool-invoking systems that reproduce origin...

Artificial intelligence is spreading rapidly through the workplace.

Phoenix, Ariz. (September 15, 2026) - The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is excited to announce the appointment of 12 outstanding educational leaders from across the country to t...

The Surprising and Continuing Global Decline in Student Learning

Across countries and throughout history, students, universities, and expanding access to education have often helped sow the seeds of democratic change. From Greece and South Korea to Czechoslovakia and Indonesia, education has been more than a path to skills and economic opportunity. It can also shape civic participation, political awareness, and demands for accountable government. In my latest Substack, I look at the relationship between education and democracy, and the role education has played in democratic transitions around the world. Education and the Seeds of Democracy

The latest Department of Education Reform newsletter is out — featuring the 2026 OEP Conference, new papers and research from our faculty, recent publications, and more. Catch up on what’s happening at EDRE:

(September 2026) - We provide experimental evidence on the intergenerational impacts of secondary education subsidies in a low-income context, leveraging a randomized controlled trial and 15-year long...

If the UC system is serious about equity, the answer isn't to reinstate a test that measures proximity to wealth and resources.

I have a new commentary in the Thomas B. Fordham Institute on third-grade reading laws and the growing use of exemptions from retention requirements. Drawing on evidence from several states, I argue that exemptions should be paired with mandatory, evidence-based reading support. The goal is not retention—it is ensuring that students learn to read. Read: The Loophole Quietly Undoing America’s Third-Grade Reading Laws

More than a dozen states now require that third graders who can’t read at grade level repeat the grade rather than advance to fourth, where every subject assumes literacy. The theory is sound. But in ...

Abstract. Addressing climate change requires individual behavior change and voter support for pro-climate policies, yet surprisingly little is known about how to achieve these outcomes. In this paper,...

With over a billion young people set to enter the global workforce in the next decade, policymakers must prioritize education and jobs for young women to advance prosperity.

The Nobel prize-winning economist robustly defends his research and core ideas

Across Arkansas, students are heading back to school. Parents are buying supplies, teachers are preparing lessons, and students are beginning another year of learning. It is a good time to remember so...

In 2017, I wrote about the skills that would matter as robots increasingly automated work. Nine years later, AI has made the question even more important. The technology has changed, but the skills that matter remain remarkably durable: reading and math, critical thinking, communication, adaptability, judgment, and working with others. The challenge is making sure education systems can keep up. My latest: The skills that matter in the race between education and technology 2.0

Rural community colleges are building pathways and partnerships to help students find sustainable jobs

Saturday marks the 5th anniversary of the current Taliban rule in Afghanistan. They've had a devastating impact on girls' education. A lesser told story is their impact on the education of boys.

Schooling increases earnings but getting causal information on the impact of schooling requires generating evidence from policy changes. In this paper...