On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Alex Spurrier, an associate partner at Bellwether, joins Mike and David to discuss whether schools in low-income neighborhoods receive less funding than their affluent counterparts. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a new study investigating state finance reforms that secure lasting budget increases for districts.

Recommended content:

• Alex Spurrier, Bonnie O’Keefe, and Biko McMillan, “Leveling the landscape: An analysis of K–12 funding inequities within metro areas,” Bellwether (May 2024).
• "Low- and high-income schools now receive equal funding” —Adam Tyner, Fordham Institute
• “Doing educational equity right: School finance” —Michael Petrilli, Fordham Institute
• Shelby M. McNeill and Christopher A. Candelaria, “Paying for school finance reforms: How states raise revenues to fund increases in elementary-secondary education expenditures,” Annenberg Institute at Brown University (May 2024).

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Daniel Buck at dbuck@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Dr. Katie Jenner, the Indiana secretary of education, joins Mike and David to discuss a proposed, alternative high school diploma in the Hoosier state. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a new study investigating early indicators for college readiness.

Recommended content:

• “Indiana’s new diplomas emphasize flexibility for older students, but some requirements are controversial” —Chalkbeat
• “We all agree that college isn’t for everyone. We should start acting like it.” —Michael Petrilli, Fordham Institute
• Brian Holzman and Horace Duffy, “Empowering educational leaders: On-track indicators for college enrollment,” Annenberg Institute at Brown University (May 2024).

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Daniel Buck at dbuck@fordhaminstitute.org.

On this week’s Education Gadfly Show podcast, Daniel Buck, Fordham’s policy and editorial associate, joins Mike and David to discuss whether and how elementary schools should teach reading comprehension. Then, on the Research Minute, Amber examines a new study investigating the short- and long-term impacts of school closures in the 1990s.

Recommended content:

• Daniel Buck, “Think again: Should elementary schools teach reading comprehension?” Fordham Institute (May 2024).
• "At long last, E.D. Hirsch, Jr. gets his due: New research shows big benefits from Core Knowledge” —Robert Pondiscio, Fordham Institute
• “We need to prepare now for the school closures that are coming” —Tim Daly, Fordham Institute
• Jeonghyeok Kim, “The long shadow of school closures: Impacts on students’ educational and labor market outcomes,” Annenberg Institute at Brown University (May 2024).

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Daniel Buck at dbuck@fordhaminstitute.org.