This week, Matthew Kraft, professor of education and economics at Brown University, joins The Education Gadfly Show to discuss the intersection of education policy and climate change.

Then, on the Research Minute, Adam Tyner examines whether an elite “exam school” led to better educational outcomes for its students.

Recommended content:

On education and climate change

• Education and climate change: Synthesizing the evidence to guide future research —Matthew Kraft, Sohil Malik, and Grace Falken, Anneberg Institute EdWorkingPaper (2025)
• Does spending on school facilities raise student test scores? —Amber M. Northern, Ph.D., Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• How school HVAC systems affect learning —Ali Schalop, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

The Research Minute

• Optimal school system and curriculum design: Theory and evidence —Glenn Ellison & Parag A. Pathak, National Bureau of Economic Research (2025)
• Threading the needle on selective enrollment public schools —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Feedback welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? Send them to Alicia Anderson at aanderson@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show, Ben Austin, Founding Director of Education Civil Rights Now, joins us to discuss why the Democratic Party lost its way on education policy—and what it must do to rebuild credibility and improve its chances in national elections.

Then, on the Research Minute, Adam shares a new study on state takeovers of school districts, examining who benefits and how these interventions impact district finances.

Recommended content:

• “Democrats have lost their way on education policy. Here’s how to get back on track.” —Ben Austin, The Hill
• “Democrats need to break up with Randi Weingarten” —Ben Austin, The Hill
• “Trump’s school choice initiative puts Democratic governors in a bind” —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• “Help wanted: Ed-reform governors needed (again)” —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• “How state takeovers of school districts affect education finance, 1990 to 2019”—Melissa Arnold Lyon, Joshua Bleiberg, and Beth Schueler, Education Finance and Policy (2025)

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Alicia Anderson at aanderson@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show, Vlad Kogan—professor and director of undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University—joins us to discuss his forthcoming book, No Adult Left Behind: How Politics Hijacks Education Policy and Hurts Kids (out August 21).

Then, on the Research Minute, Adam highlights new findings from the National Bureau of Economic Research on the long-term benefits of participation in scholastic sports.

Recommended content:

• “No Adult Left Behind: How Politics Hijacks Education Policy and Hurts Kids” —Vladimir Kogan
• “When School Board Elections Lose Their Voice” —Anna J. Egalite, Education Next
• “The Benefits of Scholastic Athletics” — James J. Heckman, Colleen P. Loughlin, and Haihan Tian, NBER (July 2025)

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Stephanie Distler at sdistler@fordhaminstitute.org.