Jen Jennings
@jenjennings.bsky.social
All things K-12 education policy. Professor @PrincetonSPIA & Sociology; Director, Education Research Section.
Reposted by Jen Jennings
Who among us hasn't hit up the world's most infamous child sex trafficker for tips on bagging a subordinate 30 years our junior??!!! Let he who is without the first sin...
December 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Who among us hasn't hit up the world's most infamous child sex trafficker for tips on bagging a subordinate 30 years our junior??!!! Let he who is without the first sin...
We're teaching ethics effectively, I see: “We built Cluely so you never have to think alone again...Why memorize facts, write code, research anything—when a model can do it in seconds? The future won’t reward effort. It’ll reward leverage. So start cheating. Because when everyone does, no one is."
Worth reading for lots of reasons, but particularly because it closes with something I see in my work and travels speaking on writing and AI. Many, maybe most students do not want AI-mediated schooling or lives. We can offer them something better. www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We're teaching ethics effectively, I see: “We built Cluely so you never have to think alone again...Why memorize facts, write code, research anything—when a model can do it in seconds? The future won’t reward effort. It’ll reward leverage. So start cheating. Because when everyone does, no one is."
In this excellent column, Grose lays down the missing piece in the college/HS grades convo. When students are consumers, the product they seek is grades, not learning. Harvard, Yale & Stanford used the old grading policy (<35% A-range grade target) to recruit against Princeton. Now it's gone.
@jessgrose.bsky.social connects use of the RW outrage machine in the OU paper-grading case to the culture of student as consumer.
In wealthier areas, this culture has long existed in K-12. Some of what's worsened it is also the result of RW crusades: "school choice" & "parents' rights."
#GiftLink
In wealthier areas, this culture has long existed in K-12. Some of what's worsened it is also the result of RW crusades: "school choice" & "parents' rights."
#GiftLink
Opinion | How One Student’s Failing Grade Became a Cause Célèbre on the Right
www.nytimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
In this excellent column, Grose lays down the missing piece in the college/HS grades convo. When students are consumers, the product they seek is grades, not learning. Harvard, Yale & Stanford used the old grading policy (<35% A-range grade target) to recruit against Princeton. Now it's gone.
Reposted by Jen Jennings
I 💙 ProPublica. Their serious, in-depth reporting is second to none. If you have a few dollars to spare each month, you'd be hard pressed to spend them for anything better than this trusted news source, so rare in our "slap-dash info" age.
December 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I 💙 ProPublica. Their serious, in-depth reporting is second to none. If you have a few dollars to spare each month, you'd be hard pressed to spend them for anything better than this trusted news source, so rare in our "slap-dash info" age.
my most SharkTankable idea is an academic closer. like Mariano Rivera, but for the 9th inning of a paper or book
December 6, 2025 at 8:46 PM
my most SharkTankable idea is an academic closer. like Mariano Rivera, but for the 9th inning of a paper or book
Search for ESA news and you'll get stories on two things: Education Savings Accounts (vouchers) and the Endangered Species Act. Fitting because public schools are starting to feel like an endangered species.
December 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Search for ESA news and you'll get stories on two things: Education Savings Accounts (vouchers) and the Endangered Species Act. Fitting because public schools are starting to feel like an endangered species.
Here, an Iowa public school district with declining enrollment proposes an online school to pull in more students, even as virtual schools consistently harm student learning.
But the potential to enroll more kids - both near and far - is what matters for the district's bottom line.
But the potential to enroll more kids - both near and far - is what matters for the district's bottom line.
December 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Here, an Iowa public school district with declining enrollment proposes an online school to pull in more students, even as virtual schools consistently harm student learning.
But the potential to enroll more kids - both near and far - is what matters for the district's bottom line.
But the potential to enroll more kids - both near and far - is what matters for the district's bottom line.
Lack of trust in water systems increases bottled water consumption. What I’d love to see is a test of what’s in bottled water under different conditions. For example, US bottled water is allowed to have lead up to 5 ppb.
New records show toxic 'forever chemicals' have recently tested above EPA limits in hundreds of cities and towns. Check your local water on our map.
Are there forever chemicals in your water? Here's the latest data.
New records show toxic 'forever chemicals' have recently tested above EPA limits in hundreds of cities and towns. Check your local water on our map.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Lack of trust in water systems increases bottled water consumption. What I’d love to see is a test of what’s in bottled water under different conditions. For example, US bottled water is allowed to have lead up to 5 ppb.
The idea of restricting online education to older students is worth testing
Online education expands access but diverts students from higher-quality in-person programs. Greater competition lowers tuition but reduces the supply of in-person degrees, from Nano Barahona, Cauê Dobbin, and Sebastián Otero www.nber.org/papers/w34522
December 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The idea of restricting online education to older students is worth testing
The Insttitute for Collaborative Education is a fantastic school that came out of the 1990s Annenberg Challenge, and is now forced to rebrand to Ny.ICE
This is a way worse problem than us em dash lovers have, so I will dial down the kvetching
This is a way worse problem than us em dash lovers have, so I will dial down the kvetching
NYC’s Institute for Collaborative Ed. (ICE) has a branding problem
The progressive public school now refers to itself as Ny.ICE, pronounced "nice," to avoid confusion.
gothamist.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The Insttitute for Collaborative Education is a fantastic school that came out of the 1990s Annenberg Challenge, and is now forced to rebrand to Ny.ICE
This is a way worse problem than us em dash lovers have, so I will dial down the kvetching
This is a way worse problem than us em dash lovers have, so I will dial down the kvetching
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to those interested in school choice.
School choice has radical roots worth remembering, a new book argues
In his book “Radical Dreamers” the political scientist Joseph Viteritti examines the lawyers, researchers, and activists behind the modern school choice movement. He also disputes the notion that it i...
www.chalkbeat.org
December 5, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to those interested in school choice.
What’s in an A? Half of @marcusluther.bsky.social’s HS students said “meeting expectations,” and the other half “exceeding expectations.”
Now I want to survey college faculty asking them what an A means.
Now I want to survey college faculty asking them what an A means.
Gave my HS juniors the following sentence to finish: "getting an A in a class means..."
Then students started sharing out and I started writing down what they said: 👀
Then students started sharing out and I started writing down what they said: 👀
December 5, 2025 at 12:35 PM
What’s in an A? Half of @marcusluther.bsky.social’s HS students said “meeting expectations,” and the other half “exceeding expectations.”
Now I want to survey college faculty asking them what an A means.
Now I want to survey college faculty asking them what an A means.
if it’s not delayed, is it even Amtrak?
December 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
if it’s not delayed, is it even Amtrak?
Reposted by Jen Jennings
Few features of a state’s education system translate exactly to other states.
An exception: 70-75% of voucher users were already in private/home school before taxpayers picked up the check.
A rate remarkably similar in states across the country, including Arizona 👇
An exception: 70-75% of voucher users were already in private/home school before taxpayers picked up the check.
A rate remarkably similar in states across the country, including Arizona 👇
In Arizona, the typical ESA recipient already attends private school, study finds
In Arizona, the Typical ESA Recipient Already Attends Private School, Study Finds
Rand researchers say the data suggests that universal programs could do a better job of reaching the neediest students.
www.the74million.org
December 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Few features of a state’s education system translate exactly to other states.
An exception: 70-75% of voucher users were already in private/home school before taxpayers picked up the check.
A rate remarkably similar in states across the country, including Arizona 👇
An exception: 70-75% of voucher users were already in private/home school before taxpayers picked up the check.
A rate remarkably similar in states across the country, including Arizona 👇
Reposted by Jen Jennings
Columbus school board votes to slash jobs, close schools to save $50M
Ohio spent more than a billion dollars on private school vouchers in fiscal year 2025
#pairedtexts
Ohio spent more than a billion dollars on private school vouchers in fiscal year 2025
#pairedtexts
Columbus school board votes to slash jobs, close schools to save $50M
The Columbus City school board voted to cut hundreds of jobs, district programs and close four buildings to patch a $50 million hole in its budget
www.dispatch.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Columbus school board votes to slash jobs, close schools to save $50M
Ohio spent more than a billion dollars on private school vouchers in fiscal year 2025
#pairedtexts
Ohio spent more than a billion dollars on private school vouchers in fiscal year 2025
#pairedtexts
“it is up to us, as students, to build an environment that values academic freedom and spurns demagogic attempts to discredit our professors in bad faith.”
Your professors aren’t out to get you
When students assume that grading is ideologically motivated and in bad faith — and when they choose to take these concerns straight to reactionary publications that have it out for higher education i...
www.dailyprincetonian.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:39 PM
“it is up to us, as students, to build an environment that values academic freedom and spurns demagogic attempts to discredit our professors in bad faith.”
Becker’s taste-based discrimination should have been called gutter discrimination
Social scientists spent the last 50 years arguing that racism is still prevalent in US even if it's covert (racism w/ a veneer), unconscious (racism w/out intent), or systemic (racism w/out racists).
Along comes MAGA, which embraces gutter racism while claiming that teaching about racism is racist.
Along comes MAGA, which embraces gutter racism while claiming that teaching about racism is racist.
Trump: "It’s a hellhole right now. And those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain. You have her. She’s always talking about the Constitution provides me with – go back to your own country and figure out your constitution."
December 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Becker’s taste-based discrimination should have been called gutter discrimination
5% of People Detained By ICE Have Violent Convictions, 73% No Convictions
December 4, 2025 at 11:33 AM
5% of People Detained By ICE Have Violent Convictions, 73% No Convictions
Heritage, known for making the best views their own, peddles Phoenix Declaration
“Students should study the best that has been thought & said, engaging in the great conversation amg the competing viewpoints that comprise our intellectual heritage, so that they freely make the best views their own”
“Students should study the best that has been thought & said, engaging in the great conversation amg the competing viewpoints that comprise our intellectual heritage, so that they freely make the best views their own”
#Florida schools are adopting an educational model created by the #HeritageFoundation. This is what indoctrination looks like. Keep an eye on changes to your local education system. Block these developments before their foundations are laid. They will try & roll this out everywhere.
#US #Politics
#US #Politics
December 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Heritage, known for making the best views their own, peddles Phoenix Declaration
“Students should study the best that has been thought & said, engaging in the great conversation amg the competing viewpoints that comprise our intellectual heritage, so that they freely make the best views their own”
“Students should study the best that has been thought & said, engaging in the great conversation amg the competing viewpoints that comprise our intellectual heritage, so that they freely make the best views their own”
Guess which university just approved an Education Studies minor? 🧡🧡🧡
December 4, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Guess which university just approved an Education Studies minor? 🧡🧡🧡
When history textbooks ultimately retell the story of this year, teachers will have to explain this picture to American children.
December 4, 2025 at 10:31 AM
When history textbooks ultimately retell the story of this year, teachers will have to explain this picture to American children.
Trust tech company research at the same level you trust drug company research in medicine.
If they wanted a real evaluation, they would contract w external researchers, preregister hypotheses, and release findings whether positive, negative, or null.
no tech company wants that level of scrutiny
If they wanted a real evaluation, they would contract w external researchers, preregister hypotheses, and release findings whether positive, negative, or null.
no tech company wants that level of scrutiny
Oh, look, another AI tutoring company did its own research and concluded that its own product is highly effective!
AI tutors, with a little human help, offer 'reliable' instruction, study finds. @gtoppo.bsky.social reports
December 3, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Trust tech company research at the same level you trust drug company research in medicine.
If they wanted a real evaluation, they would contract w external researchers, preregister hypotheses, and release findings whether positive, negative, or null.
no tech company wants that level of scrutiny
If they wanted a real evaluation, they would contract w external researchers, preregister hypotheses, and release findings whether positive, negative, or null.
no tech company wants that level of scrutiny
Great, nuanced @mattbarnum.bsky.social piece
My take: Studies demonstrating larger impacts on low-stakes tests & LT outcomes use a no accountability counterfactual that no longer exists. That was the right research q then. But the current policy q is what happens when we mix stronger acc back in.
My take: Studies demonstrating larger impacts on low-stakes tests & LT outcomes use a no accountability counterfactual that no longer exists. That was the right research q then. But the current policy q is what happens when we mix stronger acc back in.
There's a new nostalgia for No Child Left Behind gripping parts of the education world .
I took a deep dive into the research to see whether it's really true that NCLB-style school accountability drove learning gains. Answer: yes—with several asterisks
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/would-more...
I took a deep dive into the research to see whether it's really true that NCLB-style school accountability drove learning gains. Answer: yes—with several asterisks
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/would-more...
Did scaling back school accountability and testing pressure hurt students?
Critics say ending No Child Left Behind and moving to the Every Student Succeeds Act can help explain declining test scores. Here’s what the research shows.
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Great, nuanced @mattbarnum.bsky.social piece
My take: Studies demonstrating larger impacts on low-stakes tests & LT outcomes use a no accountability counterfactual that no longer exists. That was the right research q then. But the current policy q is what happens when we mix stronger acc back in.
My take: Studies demonstrating larger impacts on low-stakes tests & LT outcomes use a no accountability counterfactual that no longer exists. That was the right research q then. But the current policy q is what happens when we mix stronger acc back in.
Reposted by Jen Jennings
I also beg my colleagues to ask for letters of recommendation only for finalists. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE.
December 3, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I also beg my colleagues to ask for letters of recommendation only for finalists. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE.