Think Twice Weekly Report
JULY 20, 2024 - JULY 26, 2024
The Think Twice Weekly Report compiles public education-related policy reports, research and articles of interest to policymakers, educators and stakeholders. This list is not exhaustive but is meant to highlight recent reports that may be used to support or undermine the work of our subscribers in supporting public schools. We encourage you to take a moment to scan these reports and determine if they may be used by policy makers to assist or erode your mission.
Reports Reviewed
GLC seeks to ensure that policy briefs impacting education reform are based on sound, credible academic research. Below are reviews conducted with GLC support.
Review of The Broken Pipeline: Advanced Education Policies at the Local Level
Source: Thomas B. Fordham Institute
Reviewed by: Eunice S. Han, University of Utah
A recent Thomas B. Fordham Institute report describes current policies and practices at the district level across the U.S. that are designed to provide what the report calls advanced and gifted education. A review of the report determines, however, that its conclusions and policy suggestions lack validity.
In her review of The Broken Pipeline: Advanced Education Policies at the Local Level, Eunice S. Han of the University of Utah finds murky terminology, a lack of evidence-based indicators, and issues with the data sources and analyses.
What We're Reading
Research and articles that we want to highlight for subscribers as potential resources:
What aspects of teaching should remain human?
By: Chris Berdik, Hechinger Report
Even techno optimists hesitate to say teaching is best left to the bots, but there's a debate about where to draw the line
Have you Heard Podcast: The Education Wars
By: Have You Heard
This Podcast highlights the new book, The Education Wars: A Citizen's Guide and Defense Manual. The authors help us understand what's driving the intense push to privatize schools, what we'll lose when public schools are gone, and how we can fight to protect and transform public education in this country.
Project 2025's Plan to Eliminate Public Schools Has Already Started
By: Jessica Alcantara & Laura Petty, Time
We are on the brink of a new wave of public school closures, another step in the decades-long project to divest and dismantle the institution of public school. Disguised as "school choice," federal, state, local, and private actors have prioritized paying for private and charter schools, hoarding educational resources for the haves and depleting resources for the have-nots.
As Kamala Harris ascends to Democratic presidential frontrunner, get to know her education record
By: Erica Meltzer & Kalyn Belsha , Chalkbeat
Harris made raising teacher pay a centerpiece of her education platform when she was a presidential candidate. She has also championed desegregation efforts, debt forgiveness and free tuition for two year colleges.
About the Think Twice think tank review project
The goal of the Think Twice project is to provide the public, policymakers and the press with timely academically sound reviews of selected think tank publications. The Think Twice project is funded by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice. The reviews that are part of this project are expert third-party reviews produced by the National Education Policy Center.
About the Great Lakes Center for Education Research & Practice
The Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice is an independent nonprofit organization supported by education stakeholders across the country. The mission of the Great Lakes Center is to support and disseminate high quality research and review of research for the purpose of informing education policy and to develop research-based resources for us by those who advocate for education reform.
