Chad Aldeman
@chadaldeman.bsky.social
I write about education finance policy and teacher labor markets. Follow that work: https://www.chadaldeman.com/
And helping children learn to read @ ReadNotGuess.com
And helping children learn to read @ ReadNotGuess.com
{new} It makes sense that for kids to learn, they should be gradually eased into more challenging material.
But how gradual is too gradual?
A powerful new book argues that America’s classroom literacy practices are moving far too slowly -->
www.the74million.org/article/in-n...
But how gradual is too gradual?
A powerful new book argues that America’s classroom literacy practices are moving far too slowly -->
www.the74million.org/article/in-n...
In New Book, Researcher Calls Out Dumbed-Down Method of Teaching Reading
Aldeman: In 'Leveled Reading: Leveled Lives,' Tim Shanahan argues that protecting students from difficult texts puts them on a treadmill with no exit.
www.the74million.org
December 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM
{new} It makes sense that for kids to learn, they should be gradually eased into more challenging material.
But how gradual is too gradual?
A powerful new book argues that America’s classroom literacy practices are moving far too slowly -->
www.the74million.org/article/in-n...
But how gradual is too gradual?
A powerful new book argues that America’s classroom literacy practices are moving far too slowly -->
www.the74million.org/article/in-n...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.
College Prices Have Not Risen Dramatically in the Last Decade—But Will That Change?
Higher education is facing a crisis of confidence among the general public, and much of that is driven by concerns regarding affordability. For example, about 80 percent of Democrats and Republican…
robertkelchen.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Watch: These schools are beating the odds in teaching kids to read @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.youtube.com/shorts/8hec1...
These Schools Are Beating the Odds in Teaching Kids to Read
YouTube video by The 74
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Watch: These schools are beating the odds in teaching kids to read @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.youtube.com/shorts/8hec1...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
When satire is actually pretty good advice. theonion.com/nation-s-par...
Nation’s Parents Release Annual Ranking Of Top 50 ‘Perfectly Good’ State Schools
The list includes dozens of totally fine schools where students can learn all the same things they’d learn at one of those expensive colleges on the East Coast.
theonion.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:45 PM
When satire is actually pretty good advice. theonion.com/nation-s-par...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
I'm on the job market!
My JMP studies the role of high school teachers in preparing students for college success
I find significant positive effects of high school teachers on
🔹College admissions test scores
🔹College enrollment
🔹College performance
🧵(1/10)
My JMP studies the role of high school teachers in preparing students for college success
I find significant positive effects of high school teachers on
🔹College admissions test scores
🔹College enrollment
🔹College performance
🧵(1/10)
October 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I'm on the job market!
My JMP studies the role of high school teachers in preparing students for college success
I find significant positive effects of high school teachers on
🔹College admissions test scores
🔹College enrollment
🔹College performance
🧵(1/10)
My JMP studies the role of high school teachers in preparing students for college success
I find significant positive effects of high school teachers on
🔹College admissions test scores
🔹College enrollment
🔹College performance
🧵(1/10)
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
I love this lede from NYT's Victor Mather on the death of the penny
November 12, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I love this lede from NYT's Victor Mather on the death of the penny
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Interactive —10,000 districts, 3 million kids: These schools are beating the odds in teaching kids to read @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.the74million.org/article/thes...
These Schools Are Beating the Odds in Teaching Kids to Read
New analysis compares literacy vs. poverty rates for 10,000 districts, 42,000 schools and 3 million kids. Is your school a Bright Spot?
www.the74million.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Interactive —10,000 districts, 3 million kids: These schools are beating the odds in teaching kids to read @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.the74million.org/article/thes...
{new} Which schools do a good job teaching kids to read?
In a new project @the74.bsky.social, we set out to find schools where third-grade reading scores are much higher than might be expected, based on the schools’ poverty rates alone -->
www.the74million.org/article/thes...
In a new project @the74.bsky.social, we set out to find schools where third-grade reading scores are much higher than might be expected, based on the schools’ poverty rates alone -->
www.the74million.org/article/thes...
These Schools Are Beating the Odds in Teaching Kids to Read
New analysis compares literacy vs. poverty rates for 10,000 districts, 42,000 schools and 3 million kids. Is your school a Bright Spot?
www.the74million.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
{new} Which schools do a good job teaching kids to read?
In a new project @the74.bsky.social, we set out to find schools where third-grade reading scores are much higher than might be expected, based on the schools’ poverty rates alone -->
www.the74million.org/article/thes...
In a new project @the74.bsky.social, we set out to find schools where third-grade reading scores are much higher than might be expected, based on the schools’ poverty rates alone -->
www.the74million.org/article/thes...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
"Imagine two elementary students: One struggles to read because she has dyslexia. The other struggles to read because she received poor reading instruction.
The first student is entitled to specialized instruction ... The second student is entitled to nothing." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/10/28/a...
The first student is entitled to specialized instruction ... The second student is entitled to nothing." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/10/28/a...
What if every student had an IEP?
Students with disabilities should not be the only children who benefit from a federal guarantee of an adequate education, two researchers argue in a new report.
www.chalkbeat.org
October 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
"Imagine two elementary students: One struggles to read because she has dyslexia. The other struggles to read because she received poor reading instruction.
The first student is entitled to specialized instruction ... The second student is entitled to nothing." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/10/28/a...
The first student is entitled to specialized instruction ... The second student is entitled to nothing." www.chalkbeat.org/2025/10/28/a...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
"I want to double back on Sherrill’s casual slams on MS & LA. Do they have some of the “worst schools” in the nation, as Sherrill claimed? And by implication, is NJ doing better than these states? The answer to both...is no." via @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.chadaldeman.com/p/thank-good...
Thank Goodness for Mississippi (and Louisiana)
States like New Jersey can copy their playbook for educational improvements
www.chadaldeman.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
"I want to double back on Sherrill’s casual slams on MS & LA. Do they have some of the “worst schools” in the nation, as Sherrill claimed? And by implication, is NJ doing better than these states? The answer to both...is no." via @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.chadaldeman.com/p/thank-good...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
The dangerous war on Tylenol (and what's really causing the rise in Autism) open.substack.com/pub/matthewy...
The dangerous war on Tylenol
Autism diagnoses have increased because diagnostic practices changed.
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The dangerous war on Tylenol (and what's really causing the rise in Autism) open.substack.com/pub/matthewy...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Just in case you need another reason to read Squawk of Spanish, it’s not only #HispanicHeritageMonth but also #NationalPetBirdDay 🦜
Complement the book with fun mazes, word searches, and crafts. Check out the activity kit here:
static1.squarespace.com/static/5d0e4...
Complement the book with fun mazes, word searches, and crafts. Check out the activity kit here:
static1.squarespace.com/static/5d0e4...
September 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Just in case you need another reason to read Squawk of Spanish, it’s not only #HispanicHeritageMonth but also #NationalPetBirdDay 🦜
Complement the book with fun mazes, word searches, and crafts. Check out the activity kit here:
static1.squarespace.com/static/5d0e4...
Complement the book with fun mazes, word searches, and crafts. Check out the activity kit here:
static1.squarespace.com/static/5d0e4...
“over the last decade, [achievement] declines have not been about specific student groups. Instead, the story is largely about a growing divergence between higher- and lower-performing kids”
Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social --> www.the74million.org/article/stud...
Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social --> www.the74million.org/article/stud...
Student Achievement Is Down Overall — But Kids at the Bottom Are Sinking Faster
Aldeman: It's not about race, income or parents' education. But across tests, grades and subjects, gap between higher and lower performers is growing
www.the74million.org
September 17, 2025 at 12:54 PM
“over the last decade, [achievement] declines have not been about specific student groups. Instead, the story is largely about a growing divergence between higher- and lower-performing kids”
Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social --> www.the74million.org/article/stud...
Read my latest piece @the74.bsky.social --> www.the74million.org/article/stud...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Analysis: Student achievement is down overall, but kids at the bottom are sinking faster.
Read more here from @chadaldeman.bsky.social:
Read more here from @chadaldeman.bsky.social:
Student Achievement Is Down Overall — But Kids at the Bottom Are Sinking Faster
Aldeman: It's not about race, income or parents' education. But across tests, grades and subjects, gap between higher and lower performers is growing
www.the74million.org
September 16, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Analysis: Student achievement is down overall, but kids at the bottom are sinking faster.
Read more here from @chadaldeman.bsky.social:
Read more here from @chadaldeman.bsky.social:
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
The responses here are a nice balm today
Please give me an unironic list of things that have gotten better over the last ten years because I’m spiraling.
I’ll start: you can buy an enormous TV from Costco for like $100 bucks now.
I’ll start: you can buy an enormous TV from Costco for like $100 bucks now.
September 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The responses here are a nice balm today
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Actual importance of college is probably about as high as ever. // Perceived Importance of College Hits New Low news.gallup.com/poll/695003/...
Perceived Importance of College Hits New Low
The percentage of Americans who consider a college education "very important" has slipped below the majority level.
news.gallup.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Actual importance of college is probably about as high as ever. // Perceived Importance of College Hits New Low news.gallup.com/poll/695003/...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
#BookFestival time is here!
Meet me at the #BaltimoreBookFestival in September
And at the #CrozetBookFest this October.
See here for more: www.writebetween.com/events
@freespiritbooks.bsky.social
@charlesbridge.bsky.social
Meet me at the #BaltimoreBookFestival in September
And at the #CrozetBookFest this October.
See here for more: www.writebetween.com/events
@freespiritbooks.bsky.social
@charlesbridge.bsky.social
September 1, 2025 at 8:51 PM
#BookFestival time is here!
Meet me at the #BaltimoreBookFestival in September
And at the #CrozetBookFest this October.
See here for more: www.writebetween.com/events
@freespiritbooks.bsky.social
@charlesbridge.bsky.social
Meet me at the #BaltimoreBookFestival in September
And at the #CrozetBookFest this October.
See here for more: www.writebetween.com/events
@freespiritbooks.bsky.social
@charlesbridge.bsky.social
{new} Join us TOMORROW for a webinar on the education research we need for the future: eduprogress.org/building-a-n...
Building a new education research agenda | EduProgress
On Wednesday, August 27th, I’m going to be moderating a panel for The Collaborative for Student Success on, “Filling the Void: Setting the Academic Research Agenda for Education.”
eduprogress.org
August 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
{new} Join us TOMORROW for a webinar on the education research we need for the future: eduprogress.org/building-a-n...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Reading the Project 2025 doc for the first time. I know irony is dead, but in the education section writing "Stopping executive overreach. Congress should set policy—not Presidents through pen-and-phone executive orders, and not agencies through regulations and guidance." is...
August 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reading the Project 2025 doc for the first time. I know irony is dead, but in the education section writing "Stopping executive overreach. Congress should set policy—not Presidents through pen-and-phone executive orders, and not agencies through regulations and guidance." is...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
(NBC News) - President Donald Trump's pick to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics was among the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with the White House saying he was a "bystander" who wandered over after seeing coverage on the news.
@ryanjreilly.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
@ryanjreilly.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
August 14, 2025 at 12:15 AM
(NBC News) - President Donald Trump's pick to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics was among the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with the White House saying he was a "bystander" who wandered over after seeing coverage on the news.
@ryanjreilly.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
@ryanjreilly.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
{new} Want to see more girls in STEM fields? In my latest piece @studentsuccess.bsky.social, I look at a large study in France which found that math gender gaps start early: weareallsolvers.org/the-gender-g...
The Gender Gap in Math Starts Early - We're All Solvers
Gender gaps in math start have been growing in recent years. A recent report from NWEA found that, from 2021 to 2024, boys have steadily pulled away from girls in both math and science. Importantly, t...
weareallsolvers.org
July 31, 2025 at 1:25 PM
{new} Want to see more girls in STEM fields? In my latest piece @studentsuccess.bsky.social, I look at a large study in France which found that math gender gaps start early: weareallsolvers.org/the-gender-g...
{new} Great teachers matter.
We all know this, but Texas is actually acting on it: www.the74million.org/article/texa...
We all know this, but Texas is actually acting on it: www.the74million.org/article/texa...
Texas Pays Its Best Educators up to $32,000 to Keep Them in the Classroom
Aldeman: Incentive program rewards schools and teachers for educational quality with real cash payments. Your state should, too.
www.the74million.org
July 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM
{new} Great teachers matter.
We all know this, but Texas is actually acting on it: www.the74million.org/article/texa...
We all know this, but Texas is actually acting on it: www.the74million.org/article/texa...
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
This is an incredible story.
In 1965, the feds tried recruiting high school jocks to replace migrant farm workers. It didn't work out so well. www.npr.org/sections/the...
When The U.S. Government Tried To Replace Migrant Farmworkers With High Schoolers
In 1964, a program that brought migrant Mexican laborers to the U.S. ended. So the U.S. recruited American students to pick crops instead. When they saw their living conditions, strikes ensued.
www.npr.org
July 12, 2025 at 3:08 PM
This is an incredible story.
Reposted by Chad Aldeman
Chicago Public Schools budget deficit rises to nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars: www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Here’s why the budget deficit for Chicago Public Schools just went up by $205 million
Macquline King, the interim CEO of CPS, said the budget gap for the district has risen to $734 million due to costs related to pensions and charter schools. District labor leaders and school board mem...
www.chalkbeat.org
June 27, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Chicago Public Schools budget deficit rises to nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars: www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...