America’s Students Need More Math Instruction Each Day
In the United States, most students graduating from high school don’t know what compound interest is before they sign up for a credit card. But in Singapore, Japan, and Finland, students have a better understanding of foundational mathematical concepts as they enter young adulthood. All three of these high-performing countries have one thing in common: […]
The State of the American Student — 2025
Access to Qualified Math Teachers for All Students
Concerns about student math performance in the U.S. have grown in recent years, driven by persistent disparities, pandemic-related disruptions, and stagnating or declining national achievement scores. In response, the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) convened a panel of math experts to identify priority topics in K-12 math education. For the initial topic, we focused […]
Flipping the Script: Searching for Opportunity When a Child Has a Disability
Families of children with disabilities are often at the center of debates about education choice, but their voices are rarely heard directly. In a new exploratory report, CRPE researchers share stories from 28 families in Arizona and Florida using education savings accounts (ESAs) to educate their children with disabilities. Their experiences complicate the dominant narratives: […]
Reflections on Rebuilding New Orleans’ Education System, One School at a Time
This was originally published in The 74. Twenty years ago tomorrow, Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans, including its schools. Students and teachers fled the city — nobody knew how many would return, or where they would live. The post-Katrina reinvigoration of public education in New Orleans is one of the great stories of that city’s recovery. […]
Beyond the Headlines: What Civics Education Looks Like Right Now
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, debates over democracy, rights, and free speech dominate headlines. At the same time, school districts face growing pressure to decide what kinds of civic learning opportunities to offer. Do districts consider a foundational understanding of the U.S. government and its functions enough for […]
What Counts as Civics? A Look at How Districts Define and Facilitate Civic Learning
A new report from the American School District Panel, a research partnership between RAND and CRPE, examines how districts define and facilitate civic learning in an era of political polarization, competing instructional priorities, and uneven state support. Drawing on survey data from 170 public school districts and in-depth interviews with leaders from 18 systems, the study […]
It’s Time for the Left To Come to the School Choice Table
Our Phoenix Rising series aims to elevate diverse perspectives and enable informed debate on urgent topics. For too long, the political Left has allowed the debate over school choice to be defined and dominated by conservatives. In doing so, we’ve neglected the most dynamic lever for equity and innovation in American education while alienating the […]
Pension Costs Are Draining School Budgets. Here’s What States Can Do
Student enrollment is falling at public schools across the country, impacting funding streams and threatening financial solvency, as schools continue to be on the hook for considerable fixed costs like loans or debts. Having to pay out teacher pensions (mostly using current revenue to pay retired teachers) is contributing to this growing problem. But even […]
AI Early Adopter Districts: The Promises and Challenges of Using AI to Transform Education
Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how school districts plan instruction, support teachers, and engage students. AI has the potential to transform the education delivery model and address learning gaps—but without more support, guidance, and resources, it could have the opposite effect. This study examines how 27 “Early Adopter” school districts approached systemic AI adoption during the […]