The Education Gadfly

@UCgBslxPmmrXPyoDQaBmYCbQ - 1.1K subscribers

Candid conversations and smart ideas for better schools. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute is a nonprofit education think tank dedicated to advancing educational excellence for every child. On this channel, you’ll find episodes of The Education Gadfly Show—our weekly podcast offering candid takes on K–12 policy and practice—as well as webinars and event discussions featuring top researchers, policymakers, and education leaders. Subscribe to stay informed on the latest education research, reform ideas, and policy debates shaping America’s schools.

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College or career? The credential tradeoff #1013 of The Education Gadfly Show

College or career? The credential tradeoff #1013 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

6 views - 1 day ago

AI in schools: Promise or pitfall? | Episode 1012 of The Education Gadfly Show

AI in schools: Promise or pitfall? | Episode 1012 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

35 views - 2 weeks ago

Too many A’s, not enough honesty? #1011 of The Education Gadfly Show

Too many A’s, not enough honesty? #1011 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

33 views - 3 weeks ago

Can we agree on teacher diversity? #1010 of The Education Gadfly Show

Can we agree on teacher diversity? #1010 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

53 views - 4 weeks ago

Can schools keep up with AI? #1009 of The Education Gadfly Show

Can schools keep up with AI? #1009 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

41 views - 1 month ago

What the fadeout effect means for testing, accountability, and school choice #1008

What the fadeout effect means for testing, accountability, and school choice #1008 The Education Gadfly

61 views - 1 month ago

When state curriculum lists go bad #1007 of The Education Gadfly Show

When state curriculum lists go bad #1007 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

45 views - 1 month ago

Can states build coherent early childhood systems? #1005 of The Education Gadfly Show

Can states build coherent early childhood systems? #1005 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

21 views - 1 month ago

Mike gives easy A’s a big ole F #1006 of The Education Gadfly Show

Mike gives easy A’s a big ole F #1006 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

49 views - 1 month ago

Success stories shouldn’t be a secret #1004 The Education Gadfly Show

Success stories shouldn’t be a secret #1004 The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

87 views - 1 month ago

National School Choice Week: Why “school choice” matters—and where ESAs fit #1003

National School Choice Week: Why “school choice” matters—and where ESAs fit #1003 The Education Gadfly

60 views - 1 month ago

Education Savings Accounts: Boffo or bonkers? #1002 of The Education Gadfly Show

Education Savings Accounts: Boffo or bonkers? #1002 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

82 views - 1 month ago

Is tutoring the next big thing? #1001 of The Education Gadfly Show

Is tutoring the next big thing? #1001 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

83 views - 3 months ago

An Education State of the Union #1000 of The Education Gadfly Show

An Education State of the Union #1000 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

55 views - 3 months ago

The good, the bad, and the best research of 2025 | #999 of The Education Gadfly Show

The good, the bad, and the best research of 2025 | #999 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

63 views - 3 months ago

Is the “college enrollment crisis” a myth? | Episode 998 of The Education Gadfly Show

Is the “college enrollment crisis” a myth? | Episode 998 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

76 views - 4 months ago

Webinar: Implementation Is Where It’s At: What’s Next for the Science of Reading?

Webinar: Implementation Is Where It’s At: What’s Next for the Science of Reading? The Education Gadfly

285 views - 4 months ago

Moving from science of reading laws to science of reading success

Moving from science of reading laws to science of reading success The Education Gadfly

27 views - 4 months ago

Moving from science of reading laws to science of reading success | #996 The Education Gadfly Show

Moving from science of reading laws to science of reading success | #996 The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

40 views - 4 months ago

How AI is reshaping what kids need to learn | #995 of The Education Gadfly Show

How AI is reshaping what kids need to learn | #995 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

94 views - 4 months ago

What’s at stake if federal oversight of IDEA weakens? | #994 of The Education Gadfly Show

What’s at stake if federal oversight of IDEA weakens? | #994 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

29 views - 5 months ago

The leaky college pipeline for high-achieving, low-income students | #993 The Education Gadfly Show

The leaky college pipeline for high-achieving, low-income students | #993 The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

50 views - 5 months ago

The collapse of graduation standards | Episode 992 of The Education Gadfly Show

The collapse of graduation standards | Episode 992 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

80 views - 5 months ago

Redesigning school staffing for student success | Episode 991 of The Education Gadfly Show

Redesigning school staffing for student success | Episode 991 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

53 views - 5 months ago

How the Left can learn to love gifted education | Episode 990 of The Education Gadfly Show

How the Left can learn to love gifted education | Episode 990 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

73 views - 6 months ago

Webinar: Are School Boards Out of Touch With Their Constituents?

Webinar: Are School Boards Out of Touch With Their Constituents? The Education Gadfly

194 views - 6 months ago

TFA, Gen-Z, and AI | Episode 989 of The Education Gadfly Show

TFA, Gen-Z, and AI | Episode 989 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

92 views - 6 months ago

Beyond test scores: Debating how to measure school quality | #988

Beyond test scores: Debating how to measure school quality | #988 The Education Gadfly

109 views - 6 months ago

Joyful classrooms, but zero public transparency: Inside an ESA micro-school | #987

Joyful classrooms, but zero public transparency: Inside an ESA micro-school | #987 The Education Gadfly

48 views - 6 months ago

On the negative NAEP news, and the real reason screen time is hurting student learning | #986

On the negative NAEP news, and the real reason screen time is hurting student learning | #986 The Education Gadfly

76 views - 6 months ago

School choice, regulation, and Democrats’ defense of public schools, with Ashley Jochim | #985

School choice, regulation, and Democrats’ defense of public schools, with Ashley Jochim | #985 The Education Gadfly

138 views - 7 months ago

Webinar: Does "Equitable" Grading Lower Expectations for Students?

Webinar: Does "Equitable" Grading Lower Expectations for Students? The Education Gadfly

192 views - 7 months ago

Innovation, regulation, and school choice, with Mike McShane | Episode 984

Innovation, regulation, and school choice, with Mike McShane | Episode 984 The Education Gadfly

143 views - 7 months ago

Managing district budgets during uncertain times, with Jonathan Travers

Managing district budgets during uncertain times, with Jonathan Travers The Education Gadfly

33 views - 7 months ago

Managing district budgets during uncertain times, with Jonathan Travers | Episode 983

Managing district budgets during uncertain times, with Jonathan Travers | Episode 983 The Education Gadfly

53 views - 7 months ago

Should all state-funded schools take state standardized tests?

Should all state-funded schools take state standardized tests? The Education Gadfly

35 views - 7 months ago

Should all state-funded schools take state standardized tests? | The Education Gadfly Show #982

Should all state-funded schools take state standardized tests? | The Education Gadfly Show #982 The Education Gadfly

142 views - 7 months ago

Education policy and climate change | Episode 981 of The Education Gadfly Show

Education policy and climate change | Episode 981 of The Education Gadfly Show The Education Gadfly

57 views - 8 months ago

#980: Can education reform help Democrats win again? with Ben Austin

#980: Can education reform help Democrats win again? with Ben Austin The Education Gadfly

122 views - 8 months ago

#979: Is too much democracy hamstringing our schools? with Vlad Kogan

#979: Is too much democracy hamstringing our schools? with Vlad Kogan The Education Gadfly

140 views - 8 months ago

#978: Mike on the mic: Regulation in school choice programs

#978: Mike on the mic: Regulation in school choice programs The Education Gadfly

71 views - 8 months ago

#977: New law, new questions for school choice, with Brian Jodice

#977: New law, new questions for school choice, with Brian Jodice The Education Gadfly

100 views - 9 months ago

#976: A new hub for smarter education policy, with Doug Harris

#976: A new hub for smarter education policy, with Doug Harris The Education Gadfly

75 views - 9 months ago

#975: Mike on the mic: On “discrimination” and demagoguery

#975: Mike on the mic: On “discrimination” and demagoguery The Education Gadfly

84 views - 9 months ago

#974: The Risks of the Educational Choice for Children Act, with Jon Valant

#974: The Risks of the Educational Choice for Children Act, with Jon Valant The Education Gadfly

178 views - 9 months ago

#973: Debunking the teacher experience myth, with Linda Darling-Hammond and Anne Podolsky

#973: Debunking the teacher experience myth, with Linda Darling-Hammond and Anne Podolsky The Education Gadfly

191 views - 10 months ago

#972: Indiana’s charter strategy: A red-state roadmap? with Brandon Brown

#972: Indiana’s charter strategy: A red-state roadmap? with Brandon Brown The Education Gadfly

161 views - 10 months ago

#971: A “Quality Check” on school accountability, with Tom Toch and Lynn Olson

#971: A “Quality Check” on school accountability, with Tom Toch and Lynn Olson The Education Gadfly

248 views - 10 months ago

#970: Big moves in the Lone Star state: ESAs come to Texas, with Genevieve Collins

#970: Big moves in the Lone Star state: ESAs come to Texas, with Genevieve Collins The Education Gadfly

271 views - 10 months ago

#969: Charters, church, and the Court with Starlee Coleman

#969: Charters, church, and the Court with Starlee Coleman The Education Gadfly

236 views - 11 months ago

#968: Are school inspections the accountability tool we’ve overlooked? with Erik Robelen

#968: Are school inspections the accountability tool we’ve overlooked? with Erik Robelen The Education Gadfly

102 views - 11 months ago

#967: Mississippi’s secret? Twenty years of persistence and progress, with Rachel Canter

#967: Mississippi’s secret? Twenty years of persistence and progress, with Rachel Canter The Education Gadfly

237 views - 11 months ago

#966: Is calculus king? Rethinking math pathways, with Matt Giani

#966: Is calculus king? Rethinking math pathways, with Matt Giani The Education Gadfly

638 views - 11 months ago

#965: Understanding ESSA Waivers, with Anne Hyslop

#965: Understanding ESSA Waivers, with Anne Hyslop The Education Gadfly

188 views - 1 year ago

#964: Why states should keep testing, with Scott Marion

#964: Why states should keep testing, with Scott Marion The Education Gadfly

261 views - 1 year ago

#963: All about the Educational Choice for Children Act, with Jim Blew

#963: All about the Educational Choice for Children Act, with Jim Blew The Education Gadfly

381 views - 1 year ago

#4125: The mini gadflies: Chaos with a cause

#4125: The mini gadflies: Chaos with a cause The Education Gadfly

201 views - 1 year ago

#962: Replacing DEI with something better, with Richard Kahlenberg

#962: Replacing DEI with something better, with Richard Kahlenberg The Education Gadfly

145 views - 1 year ago

#961: How “No Excuses” charter schools went off the rails, with Steven Wilson

#961: How “No Excuses” charter schools went off the rails, with Steven Wilson The Education Gadfly

353 views - 1 year ago

#960: Why Secretary McMahon shouldn’t waive federal testing requirements, with Charles Barone

#960: Why Secretary McMahon shouldn’t waive federal testing requirements, with Charles Barone The Education Gadfly

63 views - 1 year ago