New national data backs up what we saw in Indiana through @SagamoreInst's Boys & Men work - that boys lost less during COVID and have recovered more since the pandemic, a finding that has run contrary to national dialogue on boys and men. And yet, the finding certainly doesn't lessen the concern about boys and men. Rather, it further highlights the cliff that we saw at the end of high school - as boys, who had done relatively well until that point, graduate high school at lower levels than girls and are far less likely to pursue postsecondary education. As is noted, more work needs to be done on these subjects - and phase II of our work in Indiana is already underway. chalkbeat.org/2026/06/11/gir…

“What really matters is, what is it that these schools were doing?” said Joseph Waddington of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, one of eight authors of the study. “We’re not so much interested in telling a story of how did this sector (perform) versus the other sector — we want to understand why. We want to understand the variation.” Once again, solid evidence of charter performance vs traditional public schools; but that should be the start of the conversation, not the end. When we passed Indiana's charter school law in 2001, we had hoped that the lessons from our charter sector would help inform and improve other public schools. That hope has not really materialized much; but I am happy to see that stated purpose as part this latest report. chalkbeat.org/indiana/2026/0…

VERY IMPORTANT!!! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

This report is consistent with previous findings on achievement, but the first to focus on post-COVID recovery. Also important in light of new accountability systems developing both statewide and in Indy. See full thread…

Hamilton Southeastern, which for many years was the fastest growing district in the state, just announced staff layoffs due to enrollment declines. If it is happening there, then is (or will be) happening everywhere…..

Perhaps I’m just stupid or naive, but I have often wondered how so many of these “public servants” become newly minted multi-millionaires within years of landing in DC. Yes, ban stock trading (or put in blind trust?). And maybe term limits? And maybe no pay when any part of the government is shut down? And maybe a requirement that they and their staffs use (and pay!) “marketplace” health care? I could probably think of more….

I'm reminded--yet again--of E.D. Hirsch, Jr. who famously said "I'm practically a socialist" but became (again, his words) "an education conservative" because that's what it actually takes to advance equity. Shame on you, @washingtonpost for this ignorant tripe.

Fascinating, but not surprising. There was a time when Indiana’s teachers unions would influence such things - back when their PAC was much more influential, perhaps even THE most influential political player in the state. Certainly, for a time, they were the largest contributors to legislative races - indeed, larger than the next 4-5 combined. No exaggeration! And while portraying themselves as education advocates, they actually elected legislative members that would influence ALL parts of Indiana state policy - and nearly always from the liberal/Democrat perspective. And would also scare Republicans away from their positions, for fear that the Union would target them. But alas, no more - at least, not in Indiana. Not sure when the Indiana teacher unions last influenced a consequential race at the state level. But the pinnacle was probably 2012….

I typically don’t like to put myself in boxes or categories, but I think this might be the one exception. I’m very proud of the work we’ve been able to do and look forward to working with others in the “Gentlemanosphere” as @ariblaff puts it: thedispatch.com/article/mano…

Even if the grad rates themselves are right (doubtful, per my last post), data like these certainly call to question the value of their diplomas….

True story. About 3 decades ago, then-Indy Mayor Steve @GoldsmithOnGov called Hudson Institute with a simple question. Why was it that Indianapolis Public Schools had over 4000 9th graders each year, always graduated less than 1000, but had an official graduation rate over 90%? I was asked to explore that question and, long story short, IPS (like a lot of other districts) was simply removing hundreds of kids from their grad rate denominator. Why? Because they had “disappeared.” Most people called that “dropping out” - but not in Indiana. That phone call led ultimately to new legislation to regulate that reporting - which actually predated similar action by the feds a few years later. We thought the issue was fixed; and yet, a few years later, we discovered that schools were counting kids as having “transferred to home school.” Yes… juniors and seniors, some of whom were nowhere close to being on track to graduate, were supposedly transferring to home school! Not likely. Some schools even got those kids’ parents to sign forms attesting to the move. Of course, that was a better option than being reported to authorities for truancy. Not that anything would have actually happened if they did! But parents fell for it. So this also had to be cleaned up through legislation. And yet, today… we are once again seeing similar numbers as those that Goldsmith questioned. Indeed, IPS now has billboards bragging about their 93% graduation rate. Again. Of course, none of this accounts for the lower expectations, as noted in this commentary and elsewhere; nor does it account for the blatant waivers from grad requirements that are being granted, in very large numbers, by districts like IPS. And yet, there is more… a clause in the grad rate legislation, which I helped write many years ago, that permits exceptions for students reported to Indiana’s Clearinghouse on Missing Children. I have no idea how many children that now entails; but why, I dare ask, does the website for that agency have a tab specifically for SCHOOL submissions??? Certainly, that was not the intent. And so, yes… @rpondiscio is probably quite right. Certainly, it seems, that has been true in Indiana for a very long time. Despite multiple efforts to make it better. And again, this does not even touch on the question of what a diploma actually means today. Which can’t be much when schools are giving half of their kids waivers from minimal grad requirements.

Is anybody else watching this guy, as I am? Not just on education, but on the broader issues that are today’s hot buttons. Could he be the common sense that tones down the extremes on the left? And if so, who is doing that from the right? I am quite intrigued. And watching…

“In practice, cultivating an activist impulse w/out deep background knowledge does not produce independent civic agency so much as the appearance of it. Students learn how to act, but not how to judge; how to mobilize, but not how to understand.” So true. aei.org/op-eds/a-republic-if…

An excellent summary of the challenges to our confidence in education. Resolvable? Not easily….. and likely thru actions only, less so thru continued assurances. The Consequences of Shattered Trust educationnext.org/consequenc…

indystar.com/story/opinion/c… I dare to say: I question the value of stating the obvious. But perhaps the added voice can be helpful to those who are more pedestrian in the matter…

It is sad that a letter like this needed to be written. But it was necessary, and is also well-stated, as was true during hours of public testimony. Kudos to the dozens of parents who were critical to this reform opportunity getting done! indystar.com/story/opinion/r…

“This legislation activates a form of local mayoral control that has never before been tried: one that respects school autonomy while providing a single point of accountability for the financial and operational health of public education.” @The74 the74million.org/article/a-b…

"HB 1423 represents one of the boldest structural changes of a school system in our country’s history. We urge Governor Braun to sign the bill into law so the hard work of implementation can begin." indianapolisrecorder.com/com…

Today’s passage of HB 1423 is a groundbreaking win for Indianapolis students. The bill creates a roadmap for ensuring a sustainable, high-quality system of schools within Indianapolis Public School boundaries so that all students can reach their full potential. Full statement:

The Indiana House of Representatives just passed HB 1423 by a vote of 67-30. The biggest structural reform of an American K-12 education system in over two decades is headed to the Governor's desk. A giant win for students in Indianapolis!