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Wheelock Educational Policy Center

@wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social
432 followers 223 following 68 posts

Engaging in rigorous, #EdPolicy research to transform systems of teaching & learning in Boston & beyond. wheelockpolicycenter.org

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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
AAU @aau.edu · 25/09/2026
AAU recently spoke with Nathan Jones, associate dean of research and professor at Boston University and a former commissioner at the Institute of Education Sciences:
aau.edu
The Vital Role of Education Research in Helping Students Succeed
AAU is composed of America’s leading research universities - 71 research universities transforming lives through education, research, and innovation.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Thanks to @bakerdphd.bsky.social for opening our seminar series with her work on education through congressional testimony! Next: Dr. Seth Gershenson on how peers and experience drive teacher productivity. Oct. 6, 3:00-4:30 p.m., BU CDS Room 1101. RSVP: wheelockpolicycenter.org/event/educat...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Roughly 15% of US students now qualify for special education services, placing pressure on schools amid rising costs and staffing shortages. Hear from WEPC faculty who focus on special education how WEPC’s unique approach to research is finding solutions: www.bu.edu/articles/202...
bu.edu
Helping Create Special Education Policies to Benefit Students and Teachers
Researchers at Boston University’s Wheelock Educational Policy Center are studying ways to improve teacher retention and help more kids access special education
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Our Fall 2026 Education Policy Seminar Series kicks off next Tuesday, Sept 22, with Dominique J. Baker, followed by Seth Gershenson and Christina Weiland. In person, open to all, and focused on education policy. Learn more and RSVP below: wheelockpolicycenter.org/event/educat...
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Education Policy Seminar Fall 2026 Series
All are welcome. The seminar series is geared towards an academic audience and will include detailed and technical discussion about methods used in the research, in addition to the policy context and implications.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Nathan Jones is back at WEPC and BU Wheelock after three years leading NCSER at the Department of Education, reflecting on how special education research has changed and why researchers need to be public storytellers: www.bu.edu/articles/202...
bu.edu
BU Wheelock Professor Reflects on Serving as Commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research
Nathan Jones on what he learned from leading a federal agency during a period of change and why researchers—and universities—need to become better public storytellers
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Expanding early care and education access requires growing the early educator workforce. Our new WEPC brief from @piacar.bsky.social runs the numbers for Massachusetts: for every educator added, roughly four more must be recruited just to replace those who leave. Read the full brief below.
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Understanding ECE Workforce Needs in Massachusetts
Analysis of recent investments in ECE programs in Massachusetts. Shows that a stronger workforce is key to meeting demand.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Our Summer 2026 newsletter is out: a welcome letter from new Executive Director Krystafer Redden, Nate Jones back on our faculty, a new MA enrollment dashboard, an early educator workforce brief, and our fall seminar lineup. Read the issue: mailchi.mp/bu/spring202...
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Joshua Goodman @joshua-goodman.com · 04/08/2026
Want to see in real time what's been happening to public school enrollment in your school district? Through @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social, we've just released a school enrollment tracker for Massachusetts, allowing you to explore the data yourself. wheelockpolicycenter.org/high-quality...
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Massachusetts School Enrollment Dashboard
This interactive dashboard examines the gap between the predicted and actual enrollment in Massachusetts public, private, charter, and home schools.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
WEPC’s new enrollment dashboard helps track student demographic shifts and patterns across Massachusetts districts. Learn more about enrollment across school type, grade, race/ethnicity, and income. Explore the dashboard here: wheelockpolicycenter.org/high-quality...
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Massachusetts School Enrollment Dashboard
This interactive dashboard examines the gap between the predicted and actual enrollment in Massachusetts public, private, charter, and home schools.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The Wheelock Educational Policy Center is thrilled to announce that Krystafer Redden will join us as our new Executive Director, beginning July 27th. Read the full announcement: mailchi.mp/bu/spring-in...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
July is Disability Pride Month. Here at WEPC, we conduct rigorous research on specialized education policies to drive equity and improve support systems for students with disabilities. Explore our research on Specialized Services here: wheelockpolicycenter.org/specialized-...
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Specialized Services
There is both a moral imperative and federal mandate to provide students who require specialized services, such as English language learners and students with disabilities, equal access to instruction...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Special ed oversight is moving from the Dept. of Ed to HHS, bringing the topic to the forefront of the national conversation around education. Worth revisiting: WEPC finds across three states that special education substantially improves learning, with gains right after classification.
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Special Education Substantially Improves Learning: Evidence from Three States
Analysis of the impacts of special education classification on learning outcomes. Shows strong support for positive influence of special education.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Recent research from WEPC on a similar Massachusetts initiative found dramatically increased enrollment as community college was made free. Check out the policy brief below as we continue to build a fuller picture of the future of community college across the country.
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Early Returns: Reversing Enrollment Declines in Massachusetts Community Colleges
Analysis of Massachusetts MassReconnect free community college program. Evaluates enrollment impact, student demographics, financial aid distribution, and persistence rates for free tuition initiative...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Check out and share WEPC's Spring Newsletter! Updates on leadership, brand new initiatives, our latest research, and a new job opening are all below.
mailchi.mp
BU WEPC - Spring 2026 Newsletter
We're sharing a lot of news this spring. 📬 After five remarkable years, our Executive Director Meagan Comb is stepping down — and we're excited to announce what comes next for WEPC leadership. We're a...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
WEPC is hiring a Research Scientist to lead quantitative research on Connecticut's educator workforce! Boston-based, $85-100K, starts Summer/Fall 2026. Learn more below and apply by sending a letter of interest + CV to wheelockpolicy@bu.edu.
wheelockpolicycenter.org
WEPC Job Opportunities - Wheelock Educational Policy Center
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Jennifer Ash to WEPC! Formerly of NCRERN at Harvard, she'll lead PARABL — our new initiative helping education leaders build research agendas that drive large-scale policy change. Welcome, Jenn! @jenn-ash-ed-policy.bsky.social
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Nearly every state is rethinking teacher licensure, but policymakers lack the research to guide those decisions. A new brief from Meagan Comb at WEPC and @cedr.bsky.social at @caldercenter.bsky.social, "Guardrails or Barriers," makes the case for closing that gap. Read the brief: bit.ly/4w1cKtx
bit.ly
Guardrails or Barriers: How changes afoot in teacher licensure could help settle decades-long debates
Change is afoot with teacher licensure. In almost every state we know of, there is a conversation happening about the requirements that determine who can become a teacher. But not all states are movin...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
🚨New research suggests positive learning impacts from special education across three states and larger gains than previous estimates. Full brief: bit.ly/wepcsped26 Stephanie Coffey, @joshua-goodman.com, Amy Ellen Schwartz, Leanna Stiefel, Marcus Winters, Yunee H. Yoon @buwheelock.bsky.social
bit.ly
Special Education Substantially Improves Learning: Evidence from Three States
Analysis of the impacts of special education classification on learning outcomes. Shows strong support for positive influence of special education.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
#AEFP2026 has come to a close, and we are so proud of the incredible work shared by @buwheelock.bsky.social faculty, students, and WEPC partners. Thank you to everyone who engaged with our research. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
The final day of #AEFP2026 is about to start! We still have a few presentations from WEPC and @buwheelock.bsky.social faculty, including work on school enrollment shifts after the pandemic from @abigailfrancis.bsky.social and @joshua-goodman.com. Join us for the final day!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Day 2 of #AEFP2026 is underway! See presentations from WEPC and @buwheelock.bsky.social faculty, including two WEPC moderated sessions and new research on improving and diversifying the STEM pipeline from @joshua-goodman.com and @hanyuncui.bsky.social at 10:00. We hope to see you there!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Just wrapped up “Sharing the Load or Carrying the Costs?” on higher ed finance. Thank you to panelists @mdannenberg1.bsky.social, Jessica Taketa, Eyob Villa-Moges, @jwhitmore.bsky.social for a great discussion on affordability and policy! Learn more: bit.ly/wepcmassreconnect #AEFP2026
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Spotlight Policy Dialogue is coming up soon at 3:15 in Vevey 1! Sharing the Load or Carrying the Cost? Policies in Higher Ed Finance Panelists: @mdannenberg1.bsky.social, Jessica Taketa, Eyob Villa-Moges, @jwhitmore.bsky.social Learn more with our new brief: bit.ly/wepcmassreconnect #AEFP2026
bit.ly
Early Returns: Reversing Enrollment Declines in Massachusetts Community Colleges
Analysis of Massachusetts MassReconnect free community college program. Evaluates enrollment impact, student demographics, financial aid distribution, and persistence rates for free tuition initiative...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Day 1 of #AEFP2026 features several presentations from WEPC and @buwheelock.bsky.social faculty, including brand new research on early educator wage growth from @piacar.bsky.social. We will also be hosting a can’t miss Policy Dialogue on higher ed finance at 3:15. Join us!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
In just a few days, WEPC will be at this year’s Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) Conference in Chicago! Stay tuned for info on the 15+ panels and presentations from our faculty and staff, and check out a full program below. bit.ly/WEPC-AEFP2026 #AEFP2026 @buwheelock.bsky.social
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
🚨New research looks at early impacts of MA’s free community college policies. Early evidence suggests expanded access & a reshaping of who shows up on campus. Full brief ➡️ bit.ly/wepcmassreco... @joshua-goodman.com, @doughesm.bsky.social, Morgan Fleming, Yunee H. Yoon @buwheelock.bsky.social
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Top story in today’s @NYT’s “Headlines” talks about declining enrollment & districts efforts to recruit families back to the public system. @joshua-goodman.com & @abbyfrancis.bsky.social’s recent work highlighting trends in MA suggest where to focus these efforts. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/u...
nytimes.com
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
A powerful description of the move out of ESL to mainstream classrooms. Along with our state-level analyses (link below), it underscores the need for more thoughtful support of key transitions as we try to maintain strong academic trajectories for students. wheelockpolicycenter.org/partnerships...
wheelockpolicycenter.org
Reclassifying English Learners
The authors of this study use data from Indiana to examine the causal effects of English learner reclassification on later student outcomes, including test scores and attendance rates.
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
This was such a great conversation about the impact of federal research funding. I think a lot of folks outside of academia don't realize the value or impact of federal research dollars- and they need to, if we want that funding to continue! Please listen & share!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Have to love a conference that kicks off w/ an elementary school mariachi band. Excited to present later today at the Education Commission of the States national forum w/ @sparccenter.bsky.social & IDOE on special education workforce shortages.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Last week just-out work by @joshua-goodman.com & @abbyfrancis.bsky.social was featured on the @educationnext.bsky.social podcast. Listen for interesting convo of key insights and implications. www.educationnext.org/the-educatio... Full policy brief at: wheelockpolicycenter.org/high-quality...
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Joshua Goodman @joshua-goodman.com · 25/06/2025
🔥What’s the only thing hotter than this week’s weather?🔥 Our new @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social working paper: “School Enrollment Shifts Five Years After the Pandemic” In it, BU Wheelock PhD @abbyfrancis.bsky.social and I ask: Has the pandemic permanently changed families' schooling choices?
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Joshua Goodman @joshua-goodman.com · 12/05/2025
Today's @bostonglobe.com features my thoughts on the recent, rapid rise of private after school math tutoring. TLDR: These classes have been valuable for our kids and others unchallenged by current school offerings, but also likely exacerabte inequality in math. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/12/o...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
#Earlycollege programs hold lots of promise for increasing college-going/completion rates. But access & opportunity to these innovative pathways are important to understand. We examined representation in ECPs for #EnglishLearners in MA and found... wheelockpolicycenter.org/specialized-...
wheelockpolicycenter.org
English Learners' Access to Massachusetts Early College Programs
The authors of this study examined the extent to which English learners are participating in Massachusetts Early College programs.
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Boston University Wheelock College @buwheelock.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Celebration Alert! BU Wheelock ranked for the first time among the top education policy programs in the nation. This highlights the programs significant contributions to shaping policy and advancing research in education! @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social Read More: spr.ly/6181Fszrz
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Dan Goldhaber @cedr.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Terrific group of researchers @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Wohooo!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Our @buwheelock.bsky.social Ed Policy prog. is 1st at the college to be ranked in a specialization area by US News & World Reports. Celebrating our first appearance at #24! Excited to see this stellar group of faculty recognized & appreciative of our past & current leadership for continued support
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Joshua Goodman @joshua-goodman.com · 07/04/2025
Excellent dive into reasons US kids' literacy/numeracy are declining. Big culprits: decreased accountability, smartphones, Great Recession funding drops, pandemic. No signs of help on any of these fronts + Trump/Musk have killed our ability to measure outcomes. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/u...
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
A study worth reading given the impact of recent decisions to claw back remaining ESSER funds, at least some of which were going to do exactly this in New Bedford, Ma. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/03/m...
bostonglobe.com
The Trump administration took away unspent relief funds from Mass. school districts. Here’s how much each lost. - The Boston Globe
Five districts lost about one-fifth or more of their COVID relief.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
NEW FACULTY ALERT! @buwheelock.bsky.social is thrilled to welcome @jo-r-king.bsky.social as our newest Asst Prof of Ed Policy and incoming WEPC affiliate. Thread ⬇️ for more details.
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Abigail Francis @abigailfrancis.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Last week, I presented on MA K-12 public school enrollment trends at the 'Thriving in the Middle School Years' forum hosted by @buwheelock.bsky.social. Very thankful for thoughtful conversations with teachers, parents, and community members! @joshua-goodman.com @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
The 2025 BU Wheelock Forum has an exciting line up, starting off with best-selling author and MacArthur genius fellow @jasonreynolds83.bsky.social THIS THURSDAY 3/27. Full details and registration available at: www.bu.edu/wheelock/new... @buwheelock.bsky.social
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Our very own @abbyfrancis.bsky.social wins the #AEFP2025 early morning 5K run! First timer, first finisher. Way to go Abby!
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Andrew Ho @andrewdeanho.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Research with restricted-use data is more precise, powerful, and relevant. Faculty and staff will be working through the weekend to answer important research questions before we no longer can. This is not normal, necessary, or efficient.
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Reposted by Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Chris Marsicano @chrismarsicano.com · 13/03/2025
Good news! Especially for those at #AEFP2025 / @aefpweb.bsky.social who might use IPEDS: I came across this new R package that allows you to download literally all of IPEDS before it is gone! nehgov.github.io/ripeds/ I tested it yesterday and it works like a charm. Definitely recommend!
nehgov.github.io
Download and Manipulate Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Data
Download and manipulate Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) complete data files using a series of piped functions.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
#AEFP2025 has been quite a success. We're really proud of and excited by the work and thoughtful engagement in policy-relevant, rigorous research on display by all of our @buwheelock.bsky.social faculty, students, WEPC alumni, staff and partners. Thanks for a wonderful few days!
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
#AEFP2025 - Didn't get enough of the special education policy conversation? Stop by 8.03 (New York Room) at 3:30 and hear @christocleve.bsky.social share impacts of new developmental delay legislation on the identification of students with disabilities in Indiana.
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Wheelock Educational Policy Center @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Two afternoon #AEFP2025 sessions being chaired by WEPC faculty including: Faculty Director Marcus Winter at "Charter School Policies & Outcomes" (7.06) and @piacar.bsky.social at "Supporting Early Childhood Workforce Teacher Compensation & Wellbeing" (8.06)
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