University of Arkansas education reform department marks 20 years of impact

The Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. Last week, two faculty members from the department joined Ozarks at Large’s Matthew Moore in the Bruce and Ann Applegate News Studio 2 to discuss the beginnings, the impact and the future of their work. You can hearContinue reading “University of Arkansas education reform department marks 20 years of impact”

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS CONCLUDES EDUCATION REFORM THEN AND NOW: A NEW POLICY CONFERENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:Evan Sullivan, Evan@larsonpr.com Education and policy leaders from across the nation discuss the future of education Fayetteville, Ark. – (October 24, 2025) – The University of Arkansas today concluded its two-day Education Reform Then and Now: A Policy Conference, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Department of Education Reform (EDRE). HeldContinue reading “UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS CONCLUDES EDUCATION REFORM THEN AND NOW: A NEW POLICY CONFERENCE”

Education Reform Then and Now: A Policy Conference’ to Celebrate 20 Years, Examine Challenges in Field

The Department of Education Reform is hosting Education Reform Then and Now: A Policy Conference on Oct. 23-25 at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to celebrate 20 years and examine core challenges in education reform… read more here… … There is no cost to attend the conference, but space is limited. Please register hereContinue reading “Education Reform Then and Now: A Policy Conference’ to Celebrate 20 Years, Examine Challenges in Field”

To Make Education Work, Innovation Needs Support

During the pandemic, some students learned math from their country’s top teachers—on national television. In Uzbekistan, when schools shut down, the government partnered with broadcasters to deliver high-quality lessons across the country. Even children in remote areas had access to the best instruction available. The result? No measurable learning loss—an outcome that was almost unheardContinue reading “To Make Education Work, Innovation Needs Support”

No Internet? No Problem.

Uzbekistan’s Televised Learning Success While most countries saw learning losses during COVID-19 school closures, Uzbekistan defied the trend. A new study shows math scores for Grade 5 students rose by 0.29 standard deviations during the pandemic. Even more striking, students tracked from 2019 to 2021 improved by 0.72 SDs. How? Daily televised lessons, taught by top teachers, reached allContinue reading “No Internet? No Problem.”

What Happens to Earnings When We Improve School Quality?

Why Learning—Not Just Schooling—Drives Economic Returns* — Originally published on Substack We know education pays—but what if how much you learn matters more than how long you stay in school? For decades, researchers have measured the value of education by counting years spent in the classroom. But education isn’t just about time—it’s about outcomes. A growing bodyContinue reading “What Happens to Earnings When We Improve School Quality?”

Reaffirming the Value of Education Research

Public skepticism toward education research is rising in the U.S.—but the data tells a different story.My new article explores how rigorous, evidence-based education research has quietly but powerfully improved student outcomes across the country and beyond.From Mississippi’s literacy gains to CUNY’s ASAP program, from Boston’s universal pre-K to global online tutoring trials during the pandemic—independentContinue reading “Reaffirming the Value of Education Research”