Public skepticism toward education research has been growing, with many Americans expressing concerns about its relevance and effectiveness. A 2024 Gallup poll revealed that 73% of U.S. adults were dissatisfied with the quality of public education, marking the highest dissatisfaction rate since the survey began in 2001 (the74million.org). Similarly, a 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 51% of U.S. adults believed the public K-12 education system was heading in the wrong direction, citing issues such as insufficient focus on core academic subjects and teachers introducing personal political views into the classroom. As Bart Epstein, CEO of the Jefferson Education Exchange, put it: “What we are hearing loud and clear from teachers is that they feel as though the research is being done to them and not for them.” This disconnect between researchers and practitioners underscores a growing mistrust in education research and its practical value in real-world classrooms.
However, two recent analyses from Brookings and Education Next show just how important education research has been, often hidden behind the headlines about successful policy implementations. Yes, independent research often with government support has led to recognizable, robust, sustainable, and replicable policy interventions that have made life better for students and their schools.
Some of these examples include:
· Mississippi’s rise in 4th-grade reading scores
· The MDRC evaluation of CUNY’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)
· A randomized evaluation in Philadelphia found that a mailed postcard reminding parents about attendance reduced absenteeism
· Multi-tiered systems of support frameworks
· Boston’s Charter High Schools have positive and significant effects on college preparation, entry, and choice.
· The Market-Level Effects of Charter Schools on Student Outcomes
· A study examining the effects of performance-based incentives and teacher selection on teacher effectiveness found that the IMPACT
More: https://harryapatrinos.substack.com/p/the-impact-of-education-research
Education, economics and public policy 