Opinion: Expand college students’ role in voting

Note: This op-ed first appeared on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Voter suppression efforts continue in Georgia and beyond. Last month, Georgia’s flagship university, funded by a Republican state legislature and governor, announced it was closing campus polling places ostensibly due to concerns about COVID-19 transmission. But the university made clear football games would go forward, because

Murphy: Half in favor of college rankings

By James Murphy Murphy is a Senior Policy Analyst with Education Reform Now, a non-partisan, non-profit think tank. Alert the marketing department! Email the alumni! The 2020 U.S. News and World Report Best College ranking list is out. Let the criticism begin! The annual ranking, intended to be a tool for students and families, has

Words and Deeds: University of Virginia

By: Katlyn Riggins  The University of Virginia (UVA) is no stranger when it comes to the fight for racial justice.  The infamous “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville left a scar on the university’s campus. The violence in Charlottesville accelerated the removal of Confederate statues from several U.S. cities, and UVA’s Board of Trustees voted

ERN DC Renews Commitment to Equity in Education

We are living in a time where transparency is critical for every organization. As we continue to learn from our past and strive for growth, we recognize that we must reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that public education is just and equitable in Washington, DC. So today, after engaging in many conversations with our community,

Washington Monthly’s College Rankings Are Overrated

By: James Murphy This Monday, the US News Best Colleges lists will be released for the 36th year in a row. Whether it’s college football teams, local Thai restaurants, or public schools, people can’t seem to get enough of rankings. Since we’re not going to get rid of rankings, let’s make them better. That is

Words and Deeds: Washington and Lee University

By: Katlyn Riggins  Since George Floyd’s murder, it has become clear institutional leaders can no longer remain silent on the brutality Black Americans face on a daily basis. Several university leaders have made statements in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, but all too often these words are not backed up by outcomes. Our

Quality, Online College

By Michael Dannenberg & James Murphy What college professors did this past spring—moving courses online with no preparation—was nothing short of heroic. But it also was not very good. Colleges need to aim higher this fall. During the initial shift to online learning, the primary concern for administrators, rightly, was ensuring students could connect to instruction.

COVID-19 Response: High Dosage Tutoring to Accelerate Student Learning

Nicholas Munyan-Penney and Charles Barone Read more about HDT in our latest policy brief.   As COVID-19 continues to disrupt schooling for millions of children across our country, affluent families are hiring private teachers and tutors to offer one-on-one or small group instruction this fall. Our public education system should provide similar modes of personalized instruction

It Can be Done: Improving African-American College Access at Public Flagships

By: James Murphy In a recent post, Words and Deeds, ERN called out the University of Michigan for underserving Black students in the state. We can imagine their objection, namely, that it is difficult to recruit African-American students, particularly those students who are disadvantaged by low-performing schools with little to no college advising, who come

States Need to Step Up on Equity and COVID

By Nicholas Munyan-Penney and Charles Barone  The complications of restarting instruction for the 2020-21 school year in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will require comprehensive and clear planning, especially as it relates to ensuring equitable access to a high-quality public education. This past spring, districts had to put together plans for remote instruction